The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-12-20
CHAPTER III-Continued

held out her hand. Her cell proved to
be exactly what the matron had said
1t was-a small, neat willie room. with
a neat little white bed and wash stand.
and small chest of drawers. not un
like that of room In hospital. save
for the steel door with an orifice In the
center of 1t. and connected by lock-
Ing mechanism with all the doors In
that tier of cells so that the throwing
of a lever locked them all simultane-
ously Nance surveyed II with salts
faction. This will do me nicely" she
said. THANK you ever so much.
Matron"
She unnacked her suitcase slowed
her few belongings In the chest of
drawers. removed her hat and sat down
on the bed to read the printed list Of
prison rules. But one OF the rules In.
terested her. She discovered she could
write letters once q month and receive
visitors once a month"; she behaved
herself. Il must be mothers little
lamb" she decided. This Is some
Joint to get out of. but where there's
a will there's way And she set
herself resolutely to discovering the
way.
Before lockIng-up time she thought
she had discovered It. 1t was the
fishermen In the cove Just off San
Quentin point who suggested 1t to her.
In her stroll around the grounds she
inspected the fence. 1t was sixteen
feet high. OF quarter-inch steel mesh,
set on steel posts bedded in concrete,
and it ran along concrete base. A
barefooted woman, using her toes to
cling to the mesh. could climb the fence
readily enough, were 1t not for an
eighteen-inch topping OF barbed wire.
strung In strands four inches apart
and set inward at an angle of forty i've
degrees. One could not possibly sur
mount that Nor could one hurrow
under the concrete base In daylight,
even were the means available Nor
could one. do it at night, because then
one was locked In the cell. But one
could stroll down the main walk to the
sentry box Just outside the entrance
and appralse the situation there. AS
Nance suspected, the gate was kept
locked and the guard had the key, in
deed, the gate was never opened except
to admit new prisoner or an official,
or to provide an exit for q discharged
prisoner or official. However, Nance
did not despair. for the gate was mar
row-two feer-and there was no top
ping on 1t. She decided she would
climb over 1t some day when the
guards back was turned ergo, the
thing to do was to induce the guard to
turn his back
For month Nance gave her thoughts
over entirely to this problem.
Lanny came into Doctor Burts office
and laid letter on his desk. 1t was
dated from San Quentin, on the cheap
prison stationery and read
Dear Miss Lanning:
Il can receive visitors next Sunday.
Won't you please come over and visit
me? I'm so lonely, and you we're so
kind TO me when visited Doctor Burt's
office. have never forgotten you and
never shall. Sincerely.
Nance Belden.
mo. 43.23l.'
Just think, Stevle," Lanny declared
proudly "She hasn't forgotten me, the
poor dear"
i suppose you'll 60 over
Indeed shall 1t would be terrible
II didn't You'll send her something,
won't you, Stevie? think that might
please her. | think she'd appreciate a
portable monograph and a couple OF
dozen records. understand model
prisoners are permitted such lux
| uries.''
Stephen smiled. well, I'll stand for
| that expense, too, Lanny. And | shall
await with Interest the report you will
have to make on your return" Lanny
| beamed &
Inc toll0Wlng Sunday afternoon
therefore. the matron admitted Lanny
to the visitors room and sent fol-
Nance, who arrived on the run ant
cast herself joyously into Lanny's
arms. Then Nance led the latter into
a corner, and speaking swiftly and II
low voice. said
I'VE aren't permitted to be alone
with our visitors, Lanny. You'll notice
the matron remains In the room. Sh,
won't listen TO what we have to say hu
she keeps her eyes on us. VIII yol
smuggle a letter out for me? I've 90
one all written. but the matron reads
all our letters before posting them
and ! can't have her read this one
It's to very dear friend and 1 Jus
couldn't bear to have her read 1t. BE
sides, II she read It. che wouldn
mail It,"
Ianuy'g face grew Bravo ,pn ~,