Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-03-19

~ ~ Of - a OAAftAAWW AAAUAHAAA L8H3Wa
shall provide you with suitable clofk
4 Ing and shall drive you to the rnsI
way station myself have leave q
absence 10 my pocket. granted to snl
fortnight ago. but. 20 be honest wsts
! y0u J have NOT used Il because hav.
had no money with which 10 enjog nar
SELF ] shall travel with you myself 4
Petrograd- You viii have acted as nss
clerk 10 the prison. and take some IT,
teress h you In my company you are
absolutely secure. No one will wen.
ture even q question. Arrives al
PetFograd. VIII drive with you to che
docks. you shall take me on board
your ship. and we will drink q hottre
81 champagne together. What DO yom
think ~ my planY'
~cApItnI!. Gerald replied.
Il will conduct you now" the gov.
ernor announced ito Number Twenty
nine We Will lock ourselves. In his
cell You shall explain the scheme 70
him and change clothes. I Will bring
pen and Ink with me. also the deeds
which will put Harmon P. Cross in
possession OF my oil properties. You
shall pay over the drafts. After that
you must be patient"
y am ready" Gerald declared. ris-
ing TO his feet.
Krossneys unlocked a drawer and
took out a bunch Of keys which shons
like siIver--the only clean thing. It
seemed to Gerald. that he had seen IN
the prison. They tramped up two
lights Of stone steps.
Il am 9 humane man." the governor
said. -and II does not please me TO
turn my prisoners into vermin. ! have
cells underground. without light or
air. which were used by my predeces-
SON. ! have had them blocked up.
You will tnd II NOT so terrible here"
They had reached a long, white /
washed passage with arched roof This
governor dismissed the attendant who
had followed them. inserted the key
into the lock OF the door over which
20" was painted In black figures, and i
entered himself. mOtiOning Gerald TO
follow him.
In the sudden somber twilight OF the
CELL GeraId's first Impressions were
that man opposite had hanged him.
self against the wall. At their en-
trance. however. the figure dropped to
the ground. releasing his clutch OF
the rusty bars TO which he lad been
tall. thin young man, with
sunken checks. long. unkempt hair. and
4fft1A a. 49,
bright, stood gaxing 81 them. Hia
clothes seemed to he the remains OF
prison uniform. The trousers. always
too short. had worn sway at-the bottom
Of the legs and he wore neither socks
nor shines. He stared AZ the two men
LAT Gerald especlally--in wonder. but
remained silent.
lyon speak EngllshT' Gerald In
Iuired.
Number Twenty-nine shock his head.
u speak French hetter.r he replied.
"What we're you doing when we
anne int" the governor asked.
Number Fwenty-nIne smiled wanlv.
"For an hour every day he told ?
hem. sometimes for more. spring o
M catch those bars. and I hang on Z
Until I am tired can always see the 0
ky; sometimes. II I am feeling strong.
can llft myself 80 that / see a little
4 the country"
Well, you have something better to
o now" the governor declared "You :,
pere a man when you were brought In. !,
have seen you play q mans part. Re :
lember. u you faint or do anything !,
polish. you spoil everything. Set your /.
seth and take or your clofhea You :
re going to be set at liberty =
Number Twenty-nIne scarcely fal- q
sred.
II am to be shot. suppose he said
holly. II trust that your wariens are
etter marksmen than they are sol y
Iers" 20
''There Is long story" Gerald inter. - -
sned, "of which the governor Will tell = s.
"a rs much as be chooses I am an =.
nallshnan. sent here BY relatives OF =
,urs. have been able to arrange for - -
,ur freedom. In few days time, y
IA viii be afeaming Tor England. Z.
sCut Il Short the governor inter -
pte0. II win do all the explaining s
Gerald took letter from his pocket =
'ok.
"Read thar letter" Ne invited. sit y
from Pauline Che a my friend. I =.
4 Lerd Doinbey. en- Eugilshman- We
all meet At ReEFpgrao later On the =,
sawsr win explain everything. -,
take or your clothes. You ~
n have to wear mine for couple Of =,
VS."
The young man took or his coat al s.,
vet mechanically. aia shirt was -
Sxed He bad apparently 40 under.
laAes. Hsa fingers began 70 shake. -
Il cannot, ne falsered. -
.But Il u necessary.r Gerald as
red hlm. 'Sea | am bait undresaed
lself.r
He epok an hls cost and walsfccaf ~
khA slebt OF bis sllk undereI0thea. -
ether nmn 0sBan sU0aemly 70 sob - -,
sK~@z hMvA had na water here eor ! $50