The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
FICTION

The realization had 1lleQ nef mlnd With bitterness toward the world in general, but her heart warmed when she thought of the very, very few who had stood unflinchingly by her through the terrible ordeal.
 She rose and went to the window. Outside rain was falling consistently. Everything looked gray and cheerless. It was an ideal night for flight. eShe would escape! The law should not punish her for crime of which she was innocent in thought and deed! They had no right to keep her there. Primi- tive instincts of self-preservation waxed strong in her heart, although flight, she knew would be regarded as confession of guilt
 Then her thoughts recurred to Bristow. What wuold he say when he discovered she had flown? And how could she bear to leave him? Once taken, the step would be irrevo- cable. There could be no further communi- cation between them, for such course would only lead to her detection and rearrest. Once out of this place of horrors, she deter- mined never to return alive Yet Bristow would be the better for her going. She could never be aught to him but mem- ory. In time he must forget.
 q will go,' she said decisively, turning to the girl who had been watching her with , troubled, affectonate eyes. She crossed to her cousin't side, wound her arms about her and wept long and softly. When she looked up, her face had taken on an expression of inflexble determination, as one who has fought a great battle against desire and conquered.
 The night advanced rapidly. Down below on the street all became quiet. The jaler retired and silence stole over the place.
 A whispered word from her cousin told Nerissa that the time for action had ar- rived.
 Imbued with determination to escape die in the attempt, the two girls ap- preached the window of their cell.
 The storm had gained in fury and nothing could be heard above it's eerie warning. The nearest prisoners were far away at the other end of the building. It was impos- sible that they could become cognizant of what was transpring in the women's dormi- tory.
 The Italian girl immediately began draw
 
 across one of the bars. After time Nerissa took her place and the labor which prom ised freedom went on with undiminished vigor. Following fifteen minutes of the hardest kind of work, the first bar gave way. Then the task became easier It was not long before they stood, breathless but triumphant, before an opening large enough to admit of their passage to the outside world.
 Peering down into the gray darkness, they discerned shadowy form. low whistle was borne to their ears. It was answered by the Italian girl. Then the rope was cast out into the night It Tapped wildly in the wind for moment, then tautened under the grasp of the man below.
 ''You first" said the strange girl.
 With fear and trembling Nerssa made her way out of the window. The small rope cut and burned her hands cruelty, but at last she reached earth, faint and shaken by the peril through which she had passed.
 No word was spoken, but by common im- pulse they waited for the girl above to de- scend. She emerged from the window anu came downward hand-over-hand with 9 skill that denoted long practice.
 "Hurryr' whispered the man who stood muffled and unrecognizable in the darkness.
 The girl had almost reached the ground when a startling interruption occurred. A sudden flash of lightning illumined the scene. By its glow the Sheriff was exposed