The log cabin Democrat., 1921-07-12
Mollie's Life
 Prisoner By HAZEL SMITH

l twice, when she nad gone into her | fathers office while the convicts were exercising in the prison yard outside She asked him about the man.
 Jeff Lowndes?" inquired the old warden, drowning. You'd best not interest yourself in him, Mollie. There's other Iifers' may get their i sentences commuted some day. but he never will"
 What did he do, fatherT' asked the girl
 He murdered a man in cold blood, Moll, dear"
 He doesn't look like a murderer father" said Molle.
 But 1t was morbid to let her thoughts dwell on any of the prison- CTS. Why was she thinking of him tonight as she crouched beside the upper window, watching keenly the winding road that led to HaiterS? Downstairs her father sat before the prison gates, his rifle across his knees. There had been ominous ru- mors in town of lynching party. to kill the negro who now covered in the furthest cell of the prison, charged with an unspeakable crime. But old Warden Davis was of stern stuff and he had let it be known that he would lose his life before he lost his prisoner. However, he had telephoned to the capital for militia company.
 Something stirred along the wind ing road and the low. muttering mur- mur of an angry mob came to the girl faintly. She flew downstairs.
 Father, they're coming.' she ex- claimed. The warden was alone, for the six guards had all joined the mob
 Give up, Davis" yelled the fore most of them. Give up that nigger and you can go free. We ain't got nothing against you"
 The man who had addressed him | halted irresoluteiy.
 ''I know you, Simms, for all your mask" said the warden. Now boys, | are you going to follow that man to | your death? Go home, you fools"
 Suddenly there came a revolver crack from the mob and the old man pitched forward, struggled to rise, and | sank back with a groan. His knee was shattered. At the sound of the | shot Mollie had sprung to her fathers side. She snatched the rife and point | Ing it at Simms. fired. The man reeled | and fell. The mob shrank back and | in an instant she had dragged her | father inside the gate and closed it. |
 Upon the wall of the office hung the keys. Acting now by blind in stinct, Mollie seized the heaviest of | all, the key which opened the door of Lowndes' cell. She ran down the fagged passage, gasping. The key clicked in the lock, and the convict | rose in astonishment to see the girl | standing there.
 Come" she cried and ran back !!
 The girl dragged him into the of ! flee and flung the shutters close and | barred the door, She thrust the rife i into his hands. You'll save my fa- ther" she cried. "I trust you. They | are maddened now by the sight of | blood, but they shall never set foot in here as long as live"
 "Or l." he answered, and kneeling beside the window, opened a chink | in the shutters and thrust the rife forth
 Turn back or I frel" cried the | convict. As they paused he knew that he had them at his mercy. Sul- | lenly they obeyed and withdrew toward the gate. Then from beyond l the road tramping was heard Sol diers came at double-quick toward the | prison. It was the militia company from the capital.
 A moment later and the last of the assallantS was racing to safety Two officers bore the man who had been shot into the office and placed him at the warden's side. The elder man opened his eyes.
 Thank God, warden, we came in time" said the commanding officer. What have they done to you1 A knee wound? You'll be up and around in a week, man. But as for him"
 Simms moaned and struggled into a sitting posture his head resting against the officers shoulder. He NdS ohOt llilOuSl tuC pouy Hc Coulu not live an hour.
 -to-tell-you-" he nut tered, and then his eyes met those of the convict's
 "Listen-before die" he gasped. Hes not-guilty. I-shot-Bert Smith. We had a feud. I-put-the knife beside-Lowndes bed while he slept 'cinnocent l."
 His head fell back and an instant later he sighed the eyelids nuttered and closed. The officer rose.
 Hes dead" he said.
 But even in that moment an un- quenchable joy rose up in the rirl's heart as she met Lowndes' eyes and knew that the promptings of her heart had not been in vain.