Philip Rutley and Jack Shore were duly arraigned for abduction and
felony, tried and convicted on both counts, and each was sentenced to
a maximum penalty of twenty years in the state penitentiary at Salem.
Even then Rutley's penchant for conspiracy asserted itself. One
afternoon, just four months after the prison doors closed on them, the
inner corridor guard was killed, a second overpowered and knocked
unconscious. So swiftly and silently was the work done that before
discovery six convicts had escaped to the outer court. There, however,
on a general alarm being sounded, three of them were shot down from
the walls. The others surrendered.
One of the convicts who was shot and died almost instantly was Philip
Rutley.
When last heard of, Jack Shore was still serving his time in an
industrial department, devoting his talents to the manufacture of
stoves, and reducing his sentence by good behavior.
The first act of Mr. Thorpe after his happiness had been restored was
to recognize substantially Smith's invaluable service to the family.
Sufficient to say that Smith was presented with a ticket good for one
first-class passage to the "Emerald Isle" and return, and in addition
to his four months' vacation on full pay, a goodly sum in cash for
incidental expenses.
That Smith appreciated Mr. Thorpe's generosity, is begging the
question. On arrival in the old country, he found conditions had
changed since he left there thirty years ago. The old haunts of his
boyhood days had been transformed. The old folks had long since
departed this life--"God rest their souls!" His friends and
acquaintances had disappeared from the county or were no more--strange
faces everywhere--all had changed save the old parish church; that
alone remained undefined by the ravages of time.
"And now, my duty done, Oi'll go back to America." On taking his
farewell, sad and impressive thoughts occupied his mind. "Shall I
niver see the ould sod again, the dear ould land that gave me birth,
the grain ave its hills, and the dear little shamrock--long life to
it." And as a mist gathered in his eyes, he reverently knelt, lower he
bent, till his lips touched the grassy ground, which he lovingly
kissed.
"Farewell, an' may it plaise God to bring yees from the gloom ave
tribulation into the sunshine ave happiness and prosperity. Farewell,
dear ould Erin, my heart'll be wid ye always."
The End.
About the book:
Title: An Oregon Girl
Subtitle: A Tale of American Life in the New West
Author: Alfred Ernest Rice
Illustrator: Colista M. Dowling
Original Publisher: Glass & Prudhomme Co., Portland, Oregon, 1914
Original Copyright: 1914, by Alfred Ernest Rice