Part 53 (1/2)

II

Slowly the autuer, as if unwilling to depart But I a for the winter Another s with tardy step, but at last the weeks dwarf into days, and with joyful heart we count the last hours

To-reet the sunshi+ne He will at once coe the ireat plan

His self-confidence and faith will carry conviction, and stir theht or rented without loss of time, and the environs inspected Perhaps operations could not begin till spring; meanwhile funds are to be collected to further the work Unfortunately, the Girl, a splendid organizer, is absent from the country But my friends will carefully follow the directions I have entrusted to Tony, and through him I shall keep in touch with the developments I have little opportunity for _sub rosa_ mail; by means of our cipher, however, we can correspond officially, without risk of the censor's understanding, or even suspecting, the innocent-looking flourishes scattered through the page

With the trusted Tony ain I rehearse every step in the project, and study every detail My mind dwells in the outside In silent preoccupation I perfore More rarely I converse with the prisoners: I must take care to comply with the rules, and to retain my position To lose it would be disastrous to all my hopes of escape

As I pass the vacant cell, in which I had spent the last year ofof a sparrow breaks in upon hts

The little visitor, als the duster to drive it away, but the sparrow hovers about the door, and suddenly flutters to my shoulder In surprise I pet the bird; it seems quite tame ”Why, it's dick!” the assistant exclai back!” reat joy I discover the faint s last summer, when the Warden had ordered my little companion thrown out of thewonderful that it should return and recognize the old friend and the cell! Tenderly I warhts my little pet must have seen since he was driven out into the world! what struggles and sorrows has he suffered!

The bright eyes look cheerily intomute confidence and joy, while he pecks froar Foolish birdie, to return to prison for shelter and food! Cold and cruel must be the world, er than even love of liberty?

So ates and soon return again, driven back by the world--even like you, little dick Yet others there are ould rather go cold and hungry in freedom, than be warm and fed in prison--even like me, little dick And still others there be ould risk life and liberty for the sake of their friendshi+p--even like you and, I hope, Tony, little dick

CHAPTER xxxIV

THE DEATH OF dick

_Sub Rosa_, Jan 15, 1900

TONY:

I write in an agony of despair I aain It was all on account of my bird You remember my feathered pet, dick Last summer the Warden ordered him put out, but when cold weather set in, dick returned Would you believe it? He canized rew as tame as before--he had become a bit wild in the life outside On Christ near my cell, Bob Runyon--the stool, you know--came by and deliberately kicked the bird When I saw dick turn over on his side, his little eyes rolling in the throes of death, I rushed at Runyon and knocked hi could have passed off quietly, as no screas about But the stool reported me to the Deputy, and I was locked up

Mitchell has just been talking to ood old felloas fond of dick, and he pro the position vacant for me, he says; he put a man in my place who has only a few ain

I am not disappointed at your infor It's unavoidable, but I am happy that preparations have been started How about those revolvers, though? You haven't changed your mind, I hope In one of your letters you seem to hint that the matter has been attended to

How can that be? Jim, the plumber--you know he can be trusted--has been on the lookout for a week He assurescame, so far Why do you delay? I hope you didn't throw the package through the cellar hen Jim wasn't at his post Hardly probable But if you did, what the devil could have beco discovered: there would surely be a terrible hubbub Look to it, and write at once

A

CHAPTER xxxV

AN ALLIANCE WITH THE BIRDS

I

The disappearance of the revolvers is shrouded in mystery In vain I rack my brain to fathom the precarious situation; it defies cos Jim's certainty that the weapons did not pass between the bars of the cellar, momentarily allays my dread But Tony's vehee, throws me into a panic of fear My firm faith in the two confidants distracts me with uncertainty and suspense It is incredible that Tony should seek to deceive il at the point of delivery; there is little probability of his havinghe has, what has become of it? Perhaps it fell into some dark corner of the cellar The place must be searched at once