The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-11-27

better than | thought. i nave OruereO
the barber into the next cell. He Is a
prisoner himself, so there is not much
chance Of his blabbing. Come along.
We will be back in five minutes" he
added, turning to Gerald. ''Ln time to
take your orders for lunch. Ell? Give
you time to settle down."
They passed out. Gerald felt a queer
sense of loneliness as the door closed
behind him. He looked around him
half fearfully. Everything was worse
than he had feared. The floor was OF
concrete, and there was not a single
article of furniture Of any description
In the room except q straw mattress
already full of holes. The floor had
apparently not been swept for weeks.
While he sat there, however, there was
the click of key in the door and q
burly Russian entered. Without q
word he commenced some effort at
cleansing the place. When he had
finished. he threw in rug and disap-
peared. Gerald breathed little more
freely. Then he heard footsteps out
side again. The governor and Num-
Der Twenty-Five entered. the latter
curiously changed In appearance.
"By all the saints" the governor
chuckled, 81 never realized that the
barber was so wonderful a person
This little scheme Of mine marches
well. Now, then, for your share"
He handed fountain pen to Gerald.
who Endorsed the draft he had brought.
wrote out further check for thou
sand pounds. and handed them, to-
gether with his American passport, to
Krossneys. The latter thrust docu-
ment into Number Twenty-nine's
pocket
"You may not know It," he said.
"but you are now the owner Of I'VE
hundred acres Of forest where oil may
some day be found"
He roared with laughter Neither
Of the young men moved a muscle.
snow, listen. both Of you," he went
on, 'the only automobile In the town
awaits me outside. We depart In q
minute. Say your farewells, you two.
At one o'clock tomorrow morning" he
concluded, turning to Gerald, "you will
be moved into cell 101,' and later you
will go to attend your own funeral.
From now until one or perhaps half
past one tomorrow morning, you will
have to make the best Of 1t. will
come and superintend your removal
myself and let you know that all ID
WELL"
81 shall try to sleep until then, "
Gerald announced. 81 am very tired"
"You shall have little meal In my
office in the intervals Of being
changed" the governor promised him.
81 shall lock the door and no one will
know. Now, Mr.. Harmon P. Cross,
please, American Spectator who has
bought my OIL fields, come with me.
am going to drive you to the train. !"
Number Twenty-Five held out both
his hands to his deliverer. There was
a simple dignity In his few words.
"Sir," he said, 81 know nothing Of
you, but my life will not be long
enough for me to express my gratitude.
The day after tomorrow"
"The day after tomorrow there will
be much for us to talk about" Gerald
interrupted. "what have done,
have done joyfully. So far, 1t has been
much easier than I expected"
The governor and his charge took
their leave. The door closed behind
them. Gerald heard their footsteps
die away on the paved floor. BE
threw himself down on the mattress
and tried to sleep. It was an impos
sible task but there was plenty to
think about. At one o'clock the same
burly Russian entered, bearing bowl
Of something which was half stew, hall
soup. Gerald smelt 1t, looked at It, and
set 1t in a distant corner Of the room
Then he walked back and forth, count
Ing how many PAGES It took him from
wall to wall. Presently, with q throt
Of Joy, he remembered his cigarette
case. He smoked two cigarettes
Afterward, he dozed for q little time
Toward evening, he amused himself
trying to make his predecessors daily
jump. It was not until the seventh ct
tempt that he succeeded, and then TIL
rust Of the bars cut so deeply into hll
palms that he let 60 almost at once
| At eight o'clock, the Russian appeare<
again with q bowl of soup similar 4
the last Gerald waved II away.
'Not hungryT the man asked u
German.
Gerald shook his head. Somehow O
other, It was a relief to hnd that n
was not shut out altogether from com
munication with the outside world.
"You speak German. chr he asked
The man shook his head.
"Few words"
Bring me something better to eat,
Gerald begged. "Can't have som
beerT
The man held out his hand and Gel
/ aid filled II with silver. BE disay
peared and returned presently Wiz
two bottles Of beer concealed IN III
baggy trousers. and loaf OF breau
'Not understand this" he said, shaA
Ing his head. "where Number TWENTY
nine gomez