Evening star., 1926-06-06
BORN TO BE HANGED
Bv Austin PARKER

side, examining small riverside
town which was located on his map,
Cooper (State Prison)." At the waters
edge there was gray oblong of stone,
inclosing a half dozen gray oblong
buildings. He laid his course toward
Meridian, bearing slightly eastward.
Still miles away from the rendeZ.
vous he spotted a thin stream OF
black smoke. Harry Myrick's smudge.
mounting in the clear air. He throt'
tied down, so that the engines roar
became a soft purr, almost indistin-
Guishable from the ground, and let
the plane sink in long glide.
1t was a deserted country; few
farms far away, and Meridian, a
sleepy hamlet, cut of: even from the
railroad. To the northward lay for
ests and rocky hills, with the Cana
dian border two hundred miles to
the north.
Harry, smudge extinguished, was
standing beside the big plane. He
trotted forward as Red came to a
stop. Dooley jumped cut, scampered
about his legs.
where's your passenger" de.
manded Red.
I'm the woods" answered Harry dis.
gustedly.
You know who he is. don't you?"
Moan I don't want to. Looks
like louise to me. but what / don't
know isn't going to give me no pains
in the head-sO blow me no low
doWns!'
II won't, eh?" answered Red. He's
the filthiest human being that ever
Val Scott. And you're going to
get yourself in a jam"
Dooley had been circling about after
quarry. He came upon strange
scent and went ki-yi-ing into the
woods. There was a squeal-One
which seemed to have come from an
angry. petulant child-then a fusillade
Of stones.
Slowly the-figure of a man emerged
from behind q row of bushes. He
glanced about in the manner Of one
who comes out of q cave into day
light, gray face oddly set above a mis-
f1t, obviously new dark suit. He ap
preached cautiously for a few steps
and paused.
That's the bird, all right" said
Red in an undertone. You're sure
getting yourself into the gluepot. An
what it takes to get you out I've
got. Bring him over here"
Come on" ordered Harry. What s
eating your"
Red attacked the ropes securing the
propeller. THAT guys so rotten that
even the other prisoners won't asso
ciate with him.
well. what do you want to do?
Should we take him over into Canada
his gangs waiting for him--or tell
him to peddle his papers?"
Neither" snapped Red. Leave
it to me-
Val Scott had approached within a
few yards.
Hey, YOU" said Red. Its going
to take two hours to get this new
propeller on. III take you aboard in
the other plane
Val Scott's head was thrust forward
and his chin trembled with excitement
His hands opened and clenched.
"You-you keep to your side Of the
bargain" he stammered. "or Ill-I'l
kill you. I'll have one of my men kill
you"' His arms moved in a wild
spasmodic gesture.
You're losing your nerve" said
Red scathingly. You got to have
nerve to get away with this. You
don't want to get excited"
VAL SCOTT hitched at the overl.
long sleeves of his coat, stared
ahead Of him, his Adams apple bob
bing. "I got to get free" he muttered
II got to get free! I'm an innocent
man. You understand" His luster
less, pale eyes became suddenly illumi
mated. and one hand made an ire
sponsible slap at his breast. With his
loose clothes, loose gestures and star
ing face he was like an Grating
marionette. I'm going to have my
revenge" His voice rose and cracked
I'm innocent, l tell you.'
"Sure, you are" said Red. eve
wouldn't help you If we didn't know
that. Here, put this on" He hel6
| out the harness of a parachute.
"What-what is it?"
parachute harness, that's all. Just
for safety. We're going to pass some
bad country. and if anything goes
wrong our parachutes'll save us from
getting killed"
1--WE didn't have them before,
challenged Val Scott.
"Sure, you didn't. You didn't neet
'em. See-you landed here all right
| but IL there hadn't been field handy
! you'd of cracked up"
His coddling, softly sympathetic
voice, the same voice he would have
used in gentling a colt, induced the
| man to submit to the harness. The
parachute pack was attached, and the
release cord fastened in front within
convenient reach. Harry Myrick stoot
to one side. eyeing Red Luke. his lips
compressed into a straight line.
Better tell you how to use it.
| said Red, as though it were an after
Thought "If ANYTHING goes wrong