Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-03-26
CHAPTER v--continued

led your regiment into Germany.
was IN trench myself for Ave days at
q stretch. Those things don't really
mntter Five days was quite Ions
enough there IN the mud. We didn't
worry about soap then. Get on with II,
please
Number Twenty-Five closed his eyes
az he shed his last garments Then he
drew on Gerald'G Presently the gov
ernor laughed.
Upon my word" he declared. at is
better than I thought. / have ordered
the barber into the next cell. He Is a
prisoner himself. so there is not much
chance Of his blabbing. Come along
We viii be hack In i've minutes he
added. turning 70 Gerald. in time TO
take your orders for lunch. chi 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 fearfuily. Everything was worse
than he had feared. The floor was Of
concrete. and there was not a single
article Of furniture of any description
IA the room except a straw mattress
already full OF holes The door had
apparently mot been swept for weeks
While he SAT there. however, there was
the click of key IN the door and
burly Russian entered. without a
word he commenced some effort at
cleansing the place When he had
finished. he threw In q rug and disap-
peared. Gerald breathed a little more
freely. Then he heard footsteps out
side again. The governor and Mum
Der Twenty-nIne entered. the latter
curiously changed In appearance.
by all the saints, the governor
chuckled. Il 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 a docu-
ment into Number Twenty,nlne's
pocket.
"you may not know It" be said.
s.but you are now the owner OF five
hundred acres Of forest where oil may
SONS day be found"
lie rored 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 sme 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
viii 60 10 attend your own funeral
From now until one or perhaps half
past one tomorrow morning. you will
nave to make the best Of 1t. I viii
,ome and superintend your removal
myself and let you know that all Is
YELL
81 shall try TO sleep until then
5erald announced. Il am very tired"
you shall have little meal In my
nice in the intervals OF being
hanged. the governor promised him.
I shall lock the door and no one will
now. Now. Mr. Harmon P. Cross.
lease. American Spectator who has
ought my oil fields. come with me.
am going to drive you to the train.
Number Twenty-nIne held out both
is hands to his delIverer. There was
simple dignity In his few words
"Sir,1 he said. Il know nothing OF
on, but my life win not be long
n0ugh for me 10 express my gratitude
he day after tomorrow
THE day after tomorrow there viii
E much for us to talk about. . Gerald
lterrupted ''What I have done.
ave done joyfully. SO far. II has been
iueh easier than / expected
The governor and his charge took J
lelr leave. The door closed behind !
lem. Gerald heard their footsteps /
lie away on the paved floor. He
rev himself down on the mattress J,
I'd tried 20 sleep. II was an lmpos- !,
bic taak but there was plenty 20 i
ink about. At one o'clock the same !.
lrly Russian entered. bearing a bowl !.
something which was half stew. half :
up. Gerald smeIt II. looked at Il, and !.
( It in a distant corner o. the rDom I,
hen he walked back and forth. count :
z how many PAGES II took him from
all to wall Presently, with q fhrob :.
joy, he remembered his cigarette Z
se. He smoked two cigarettes. :,
Fterward. be do8eA for a little kime. =
ward evening. he amused himself =
ring 70 make hts predecessors daily :.
mp. n was not anfiI the seventh af- =
mpf that he succeeded. and then tire =
81 Of the bars cut SC deeply into bis :.
Inns that he Iea 20 almost af once. =
eight O'Clock, the Russian appeared
ain with q bow1 81 Soup sfmlIar to :.
E lasl. oersI6 waved II away
mot hungryY ths man asked 10
Gerald nss0ok his head Somehow o. -
seE II wan relief ~ fad that ne q.
q nog shut ouf altogether from COM
a.,fs4 eEzs. sssss.s4<f~. ..r..aa.4