Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

464 . sets on a piece of high ground in the middle of a stretch of swamp, and nobody ever has any business there—not even boys. There’s an old brick fireplace in the shack. The river is handy, and you can get plenty of water. We'll take blankets along with us, and I’! figure out some way to keep you in grub. You can stay there a month —or longer.” Hope burned brightly on the face of the worn fugitive. The smile threw into relief his wan countenance, and Rodd suddenly . was struck by the great change in B He wasn’t So strong by far as Daniel Rodd had known him in prison. ‘* Maybe,” the fugitive suggested, “it ‘Il be safer to send one of the boys with me.: _ Folks know yqy’re an—an ex-convict, and I s’pose. you attract attention. We might meet somebody on the road.” ‘1 ain’t afraid of that; but I'll send one of the boys. They know the woods better - than me; they’ve played and hunted in ’em all their lives. Ill send one of the boys.” “You'll send the oldest boy, eh?” “Yes, I'll send the oldest boy.” Daniel Rodd called his oldest son, and | the young fellow responded with alacrity. The summons was not distasteful, for ad- venture lurked in the air, and neither he nor his brother had slept since Philip Buck- ley came to the house. “ Abram,” said Daniel Rodd to his son, “Phil Buckley, my friend here, has run off from prison. We’re goin’ to help him get away, and to do that he’ll have to put in some time at Robinson’s sHack. I’m goin’ to let you take him there, and help him carry blankets and grub.” The father gazed thoughtfully into the eyes of the boy. “‘ Abram,” he added, “‘ this man is the best friend I got, outside my family. He shared his grub and tobacco with me. He stole grub for me and give me tobacco when your mother was too poor to send me tobacco. This man was on to the ropes of that prison, and he knew how to get things that I couldn’t get. He lied for me and took punishment for me, so that I wouldn’t lose good time., Men that get to be friends in that place and in that way, never forget it. I hope you under- stand.” Digitized by (Go ogle ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘* Tl take care of him,” Abram promised. “Tl put Him in the shack. and see that everything’s all right.” Two hours later Philip Buckley, j, escaped lifer, was established with blankets and a supply of food in Robinson’s shack. He and the boy brought along old papers and magazines, too, for time would hang heavily on the hands of the fugitive. Abram Rodd got back to his home before daylight, and reported to his father that everything was safe and comfortable at the shack. That afternoon the youth trumped up an excuse to go to town. He returned two hours and, it passed unreticed, he avoided his father. A half-Nur after Abram got back, Daniel Rodd, at work near the house, saw a horse and buggy proceeding along the road. Three men were in the buggy. As they drew nearer, Daniel Rodd recognized them as Sheriff Blackmore, Deputy Sheriff Dun- ning, and Deputy Sheriff Cunningham. They were driving toward Robinson’s Now, it wasn’t strange that the officers should be driving along that road. Neither did it follow that Robinson’s shack was their destination, but Daniel Rodd in- Sstinctively felt that his friend, Philip Buck- ley, was in peril. He felt strangely uneasy, too, about the trip to town of his son. But there was nothing that Daniel Rodd could do. He couldn’t beat the officers to Robinson’s shack, even if he were sure they were going there. And, above ail things, . the officers must not learn of the aid he had extended to the escaped. life prisoner. Oné man in the buggy was a friend of Rodd. That was Deputy Dun- ning.. They had known each other many years. Dunning was one man who did all be could for Rodd during his trial and conviction. Dunning was a friend, but Daniel Rodd wasn’t so sure about the others. They weren’t enemies exactly; perhaps they were merely indifferent ac- quaintances. There was nothing to do but wait and hope, and Daniel Rodd didn’t have long to do either. Early that night the news spread about the countryside that Philip Buckley, a : ke prisoner who escaped from 11 A = Original from 7 O STATE ING