The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-08-03
The Getaway of
Big Bill
BY AUSTIN FLEET


Y copyright. isss. western Newspaper Union
Il Blg BlI was not the man to shrink
from facing the music, hut Ia dle
for murder committed by that little
rat Giovanni was m impossible posi-
tlon 10 BE- placed 10.
II lie had been framed. and he had
never tud q chance to put the gun
i whore II belonged Tie had been miles
away from the scene ~ old Merriman's
murder
Kate Hands had framed him. But
Kate hal eiglou-sonetimes "
!, Kate coufessed-that was his only
chance. a. be lay on his cot In the
condemned cell and saw man after
man ~ his predecessors start for the
death chamber with "a wave of the
hand and CHEEKY goodbye 10 his
fellows In the adjacent cells.
lie had told Father Lucas about
Kate. Father Lucas had not believed
him Yet be- could have extracted
confession from the periured woman.
J Father Lucas regarded Big Blll rs an
lmpcnlient sinner. Big Bul hated
him
That was why be had no compunc-
'lons about what he had planned lie
, had been refractory prisoner. and.
as a condemned man, be had been
humored II BIG Hl chose To spend
all his DAYS huddlod up In his
blankets. the wnrcon was not going
90 hale him forth. with two days be-
fore the execution
Big Bin was waiting for Father
Lucas at dead ~ night He had told
'he warden be wanted 20 confess
! someihlng-sowethiug Important and
urgent Zig Biu knew Father Lucas
would come
} The guard unlocked us cell. strodc
- hts bed. and touched him on the
} shoulder. "Fnther Lucas Is here. Bill
be said
\ moment later 'he black -robef
, CURE ~ the priest entered the cell.
The cell door clicked. Big Bill got
J up.
} you wanted 70 see meT' asked
Father Lucas.
Bln unanswered round him Yes,
father" be- answered. and the blow
that followed went home 10 just the
!, place Blll had tapped 81 often In the
prize ring Father Lucas dropped I'M
! conscious across the bed
, Ia an incredibly short time Big
Bul had stripped ~ Father Lucas's
; black gown and arrayed himself In II.
lie drew the blankets about the un.
I conscious form. lie took the Fathers
4 crucinN. lie waited.
y "a \
3 seriousness before the guard looked Int
Those moments we're agony. And the
!, unconscious man was already begin.
> ming 10 stir Then. to his intense re-
: lief. Bill heard the guards step out.
side and tapped on the door.
you're through early Father the
4 guard began; and. al the sight 81
BINS face he started. The next In
slant a staggering blow had stretched
him prone on the cell floor and Big
4 nm had The keys and had locked him
in.
BINS cries meant little to him-for
a few moments. anyway Occasionally
liza Southern prisoner Italian or
SIcilian. lost his head. IIysterical
outbreaks we're not So rare that the
guards would come rushing 10 the
4 spot. Big Blll walked steadily along
4 the dlmly No corridor.
\ guard came hurryng along. iiig
Blll aycrtcd his face. The guard
\ passed without noticing him Father
4 Lucas was a familiar figure In the
pcuiicntiary.
Bll walked into the wnrden's office.
|aNHa -
. even glance up rs the hack-robed
J figure passed. Iilll reached the gate
- the prison. II was now or never
\ guard stood on duty there with
4 his loaded rifle Rls Rill had never
seen his facc--as matter of fact, the
man attended the short.term part ~
\ the penltcntlury. II be did not know
the man, Il was probable that the
y man would take him Tor an assistant
n Cuul,ssnr.
4 lie looked al HIM "Going ont.
FnthorT' h. asked. Your pass,
, please"
D Big Ru was uoupiussod only Tor
\ au instant. Then be put his hand
into his gown and pulled out paper
The guard looked 40 Il Ia a puzzled
D way.
\ tie was SIN barring the gate NJ
!. that instant Bs HiS heard shouts be-
bud him Men came running the
} Imprisoned euatd. the warden and, be-
! hiud lhem, the tsure OF Father Lucas.
lie loupcd - the sentry grasped
: lipl around tie neck. aud struggled
fur the key Next Instant he was
\ lnrne down under leap ~ men.
he ceased 20 struggle
"Nou fool II was the warden
speaking tie Was waving the pau.r
\ that RI Eiil had taken from the
4 priests gown. Read. II you've got
: e,e- To- your h,ad. Mli"
rig Bill read with iucredulity, tie
\ turJed his pleading eyes on Father
4 I.utas.
Kate has confessed 20 me-" said
Father Lucas. Giovanni has been
\ arrested. You may be free But