Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-28
CHAPTER XXXIv.
THE WARDEN'S CALLER.

II ming IL DenlnQ me, IldTCL1eQ WILLS
Ting to the prison gate.
i Come on, Boil" growled the outer
guard. standing by the open inner
gate. Thought you was never COM
ing"
frown gathered on the face OF the
guard, I once more cleared up the sit
uation with dispatch.
Lamblike he marched before me to
the Fort and was quickly locked into
that silent room.
/ rushed back to the office and found
the bookkeeper still unconscious, and
was greatly relieved to discover that his
heart was still beating.
1t was a most 6istasteful task to bind
his hands behind him with his own
suspenders and to gag him with his
coat sleeves.
When I stepped out of that office
and locked the door behind me, ! was
In complete charge Of that State
prison, whereof, moment later, the
gates stood re open. All had to do
to - free was to walk out Of the prison,
proceed to the prison garage and, In
the warden's own car, depart in peace
obviously a warden going about his
lawful occasions in the prison car.
But even one additional hour before
the news was broadcast might make
difference between successful escape
and a burst for freedom inglorious and
ineffective.
Thus thinking, I hurried across to
the administration block" and set
about smashing the telephones and
Geographic instruments and cutting
every wire that entered the Admins
This work I bethought me that, ere
borrowing his car, might put the
warden where he would do least harm
for the longest time.
If 1 made off at once, leaving him
peacefully slumbering, he would arise
and stroll over to the prison at about 9
o'clock-and the hunt would be up.
Straint," not only would the discovery
be postponed, but when 1t did arrive the
absence Of the warden would inevitably
increase the confusion.
Straight from the Administration
block" hurried. passed through the
wide-open gateways and walked boldly
up to the front door of the lonely
house, close by, where, alone with his
elderly Irish housekeeper, dwelt Warden
O'Shaughnessy.
How to get into the house? had
not stopped to think OF the bolted
doors. nor of fastened windows. How
was I to place the warden under ar
rest II / couldn't get to him?
Another bright thought. Promptly I
rang the front-door bell and then flung
q handful of gravel at the bed room
window.
I viii say the warden was prompt
and distinctly peevish.
;. What SnS tnI in he'll III. x,n he began ere
Quick, warden!" interrupted.
| ~
whats up, them" reared the war
"Don't roIghtly know, sorr," I replied,
divvle'
who are your"
Guard Mulligan, sorr
"I'll be there :. )" snapped the
warden, and as, clad in long over
the darkness he felt the prod Of an
automatic.
up with them. quicki" snapped.
"And step back into the house"
Back went the warden. his hands
above his head and q look Of conster-
nation on his face.
do exactly what tell you-and
make 1t snappy-for can shoot you
here and now and make my getaway"
ouIe dLhB' uAo"Aeu SAe "@A'
"Don't talk. Who's in this house
except you?"
IAN old dame" replied the warden.
"She won't do a thing to you
March to her room and lock her
In"
With my pistol touching his back,
the warden preceded me up the stairs,
opened a door at the back OF the
1Alr h. Enwy m
closed and locked the door, and Of
fered me the key.
Pocket it, quick" I ordered. land
then raise your hands . Walk in
front of me to where the garage key
Is; then to the garage and unlock IT"
The warden hung in doubt for the
fraction of q minute, glancing at the
pistol leveled at. his stomach. raised
another and pointed 1t at his face.
Jump to It, warden" said. You
can die IL you want to-but I'd like
to spare your life"
He promptly turned about. and leo
| the way downstairs and out Of the
| house to the garage.
Have you got the key7" asked.
mo"
Get it then, quick"
There isn't one"
I laughed, even as I realized with
some chagrin that could have come
| straight TO the garage ana taken the
car without this waste Of precious
! minutes.
But then, again. reflected. it was
we'll worth the lost time, to have the
warden safely under lock and key, and
so to postpone the hour of discovery
and pursuit in the morning.
The warden threw open the garage
doo".
Fill the petrol tank and start the
| engine" l ordered, standing we'll away
from the warden ana covering him
| with a pistol.
! S;tSfied that the tank was full. the
| engine running and the car in readi-