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DRAMATIC.
G. D. 1631.
THE PRISONER'S ESCAPE.
Approximate Length, 500 feet.
Price, $60.00.
A man is seen to obtain his liberty by leaping from one of the windows of a prison and running across the plain. He is observed by a sentry, who fires at him and raises an alarm, causing instant pursuit of the convict, who, in his race to elude his pursuers, suddenly appears before an old lady, who is playing with a little girl, her grandchild.
He begs her assistance, saying that he has escaped from jail, and pleading with her to help him. The child joins in the plea, and the lady hides him behind a bush and throws her cloak over him, and commences to play with the child. When the prison guards come up they ask if she has seen an escaped convict; pointing in another direction, she sends the soldiers off on the wrong track, and when the coast is clear she calls the man out. He blesses and thanks the old lady, and goes on his way to freedom.
Returning to his old haunts, he is welcomed by his boon companions, who rejoice with him at his escape. But he is persuaded, after being plied with liquor, to join in an attempt at burglary. Very reluctantly he commences this work, and tries to get out of it. On the threat that he will be held up to justice if he does not do his pal's will he is compelled to go with him. In getting througli a window they disturb the slumbers of a little child, whom the burglar recognizes as the child which accompanied the lady who helped him to escape. Taking the child in his arms, he consoles it and calms it to sleep, while his companion ransacks the house.
Gently he replaces the child in its cradle, where, nestled in comfort, it goes to sleep holding the finger of the man. He tries to release it, but fears to awaken the child, and as his heart softens he is unable to use force, and the tight hold of the sleeping child defies his weak efforts. The lady of the house discovers the other burglar and calls the police, who capture and take him off to jail. The lady, still trembling with fear, goes to the bedroom of the little child, and to her astonishment discovers another burglar, held by the little child, and recognizes in him the man whom she had helped to escape. He explains the predicament in which he was placed. He again asks her charity, sympathy and help, and for th« sake of the little child who has kept him a prisoner all the while, she listens to his plea, and pointing out through a window to a church which is seen in the distance, she begs of the man to go to the church and commence a better life. He agrees to this, and is soon at the church making his vows before the altar, and rising
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