Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-13

crates delay, shuiiled back and forth
from shelves to table and stove
| All ut once Odcll narrowed his lids
until only mere slit remained.
through which he gazed with greater
intensity at his jailcr's movements;
Tor Tony had brought Il battered tin
tray To the table and placed upon
~ Il plate OF ham and beans. a steam
ing cup OF coffee, and Il great hunk
of bread
1t was cvidcHtly his intention 20
feed the other prisoner, and Odcll
mentally writhcd at his inability to
establish communication with Miller.
u only he could reach that tray un-
observed ana place upon it some token
which would show his subordinate
that he was near at hand aad OH the
lookout Tor chance to escape. II
Tony would but turn his back for a
| minute.
But il the opportunity should come
what object could lie place upon the
tray? He thrust one hand down eau.
tiouSly beneath the blanket hut found
as he had supposed. that his pockets
had been cmp;icd: not even a stub Of
PENCIL or scrap of paper remained
Al that moment. as IL in answer to
his uncNprcsscd prayer. faint
! "lialloa" BOUNDED from tho landward
direction. and with q Grunt of relief
| Tony turned and rushed from the
room. the tray forgotten.
! odcll sprang from the couch with
the rccEicssncss OF desperation; but
| he had not taken his weakness into
| account. and the room whirlcd about
him so that he reached out blindly to
| - t. IL,
back o: chair and as his vision
cleared again he saw that hanging
across it were his collar and necttic.
the latter Of Il curious blue and black
design. Would Miller recognize it?
| Outside he could hear the two men
calling to each other. and it was evil
| dent that Pete was still some dis
| tance away: but no time could be lost.
| odcll took UP the hccktie and tried
| fcvcrishly TO tear off Il fragment from
| the end, but the strong silk resisted
! Ills efforts. He looked hastily about
| him. and his eyes rested upon the
! sharp knife with which Tony lad
sliced the ham. Selling it. he hacked
and tore at the silk until Il short strip
of il came off In his hand. Then h.
rouScd u piece OF bread from the cen
ter Of the portion OF loaf upon the
tray, thrust the bit OF silk into the
| aperture, and replaced the soft bread
10 mask it's presence.
| The knife he Sccrctcd beneath the
| mattress OF the couch. and reclining
| again he pulled the filthy blankets
un to HIS chin.
! Tctc's voice had lowered ms he ap-
| preached; but il had pcrccptibly
thickcncd since his departure, and h.
stumbled as hc asccndcd the step.
which led up 10 the porch.
| Not 4 ------ - bit OF snow in the
| whole - ----- burg he ended with
= hiccoush of disgust. They don't
seem to know what it is. Tony. my
Toy. hut | got the mex, best thing
20 it,"
"whisky?" Tony's voice was not
| ovcrcn;huSiaStic.
| And laudanum y foxy old hick
in tho first farmhouse down tho road
sod me the booze. and ! got the
other in the drugstore. Wen make
Il niEht of it,"
Gimme d.; bottle and 20 feed
your bold foist," Tony interrupted, to
| odclrs vast relief. "l fixed de tray
O. eats cause yousc was gone so
-- - long ! iggercd dat yousc
ia" blew.
Tho door opened aud Fct" staEGHr
''' IN. seized the tray. and departed;
! while Tony seated himself astridr Il
hair and raised the bottle 10 hi.
| Fps.
| The fates had been more Kind than
| odcll had dared to hope. lie knew
the swift and doadening effect Of tn
"'N'"'" Wh''h i''e M" brought;
""' "h'n once tue men Snccunbcd
~ ''s influence escape wound d" as
| sur" re S'''''hc" MS ears TO iist"n
"' '"' "'r''''o" from winch Pei"
Won" return Tor ne had AS yet no
."'' Whcrc Miner was confined lie
| '''" hr"'" t"c FORMER cross the
'''' >"eSTe"" '"' steps again
""' '"'' was an '"u'd IL be Miller
! ""H =" some "'h'r h"Ia'hE' an out
"o"S' or Sh"" perhaps u $" he
'""'h scarcely nope 10 Nhu IL III the