Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-04-11
Far Fields
By LEETE STONE
G. by Mcclure Newspaper syudloate.
WNU Service

In the fashion; from their sepa-
rate cages. One was a trusty In a
penitentiary, and the other was a
golden canary. The lifting song of
the bird and the crisp whistle of
the man exchanged daily greetings
across the struggling space that
separated them.
Number 99l pressed his cheek.
bones against the bars of his open
window. Even the metal felt less
cold and unyielding than usual.
zephyrs stirred his sandy hair
which had become much thinner
during the ten years of ~incarcera-
ton. This morning out of the ruts
or resignation which had claimed
his spirit from the first rose a con.
Stunning desire for the far fields of
freedom and the nomad life that
had once been his.
Eyes bent on his little chum whose
cage hung In another open window
over the way this wondrous April
day, Number 991 INDUCED his whim-
sicality of guarded conversation:
Can we stick another winter here.
little one?" he whispered.
Notes of song trilled over to him
as II In direct answer.
Meaning 'Cheerio' and Garry
on and all the rest of the uplift
stuff" Number Dol muttered with
a wry mouth. Nevertheless his
shoulders Strengthened and he re-
sponded with a clear whistle.
About to turn away from the win
dow, his gaze-which had been riy.
eted ON the cage-was caught by the
of a child scrambling onto q
chair which stood beneath 1t. The
child was small and had trouble
making the grade; but finally stood
on the chair and commenced fusslng
with the tiny door of the birds
AT once a woman appeared
on the scene, removed the child
With apparent seedlings and pushing
the chair away.
The significance of this ordinary
Incident flooded the mans mind
with the conviction that some day
child would succeed with its
mischief and his little companion
escape to those far fields Of
'reedom that nagged their hearts
)erpetuaily.
Thus the idea of escape was born
n Number 991 on this day of lovely
promise which had suddenly new
meaning TO him. Amazed, and some
What bewildered, be for the first
line realized how many opportuni-
les ne had missed; wrapped as he
lad been during the years In the
|ull inertia Of confinement and
'rison shop labor.
He felt that escape for the little
'al was destined. Why not for
i'm, too7
The chance to secure tools came
DON and Number 991 became a diff
erent man. He stepped out of the
rison rut of resignation into the
rovince of love of life. A thou.
and sleepless nights had taught
I'm where the night guard of his
ell-block would be at any given
loment. No detail of secrecy elud-
d him. Night by night the four
tile riffs In two of his bars e
nperceptibly deeper.
Intimacy, also, progressed be-
ween the bird and the man. Never
morning that they did not ex-
hange buoyances:
How you coming, friend?" Car
)lled over.
"FineI How bout you, little
Whistled back.
And often the mischeyious child
FETCHED Its arms high for the
age, reinforcing Number 991's pre-
IGNITION that freedom for them
9TH was certain.
The morning came when all bur
he last few strokes Of the file had
zen taken. A few more deft mo-
Ients' work would spell separation
the steel and-escapel Watching
bird across the way, the mans
'dy stiffened suddenly and his
leekbones pressed the bars so
osely that he feared they might
We way.
The child was dragging the chair
1der the canary's cage again. TO.
lyi The child climbed on the
fused with the cage door.
opened 1t. The golden bird
inged swift flight through the open
indow, and downward. beyond the
ans impetuous gaze that strove to
low.
Number 991's Joy mounted to the
of elation. The little pal was
ee TO travel the far fields-trayel
It'll him-to indulge fantasy.
Number 991 remained long at the
Indow planning his own escape
r that very night. He dreamed as
shifted the blossom-scented air
lngrily. Then he noticed the lit
boy; shoulder dropped in peni-
nee; going out Of the house oppo-
te and disappear around the cor
#.
But why did the child return run
ne followed closely by a sleek
ack cat, and carrying something
small, cupped hands aa he