I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang Page #3

Here's $7.

When you get to Stanton,

look up Barney. Here's his address.

- He'll take care of you.

- Thanks, Bomber.

- Nervous?

- A little.

No matter what happens,

it's better than this.

Get them over there.

What do you think?

Looks pretty good to me.

Getting out here.

All right, get out over in there.

Hey, boss, we need some more help here.

Some of you boys give Bomber a hand.

All right, Allen. Get back to work.

Bring those dogs over here!

He won't get far.

Stand where you are.

Where do you suppose he's gone?

Let's try these woods over here.

Come on. Go get him.

Get him.

You look like a new man.

- Now show me something in a cheap hat.

- Yes, sir.

How did you get the scratches?

Lumberjacking, up in the hills.

Is that a fact?

I know many of them fellows up there.

Funny I ain't seen you before.

- Look out.

- I'm sorry.

How do you do?

Well, if it ain't old John Law himself.

- How's the rheumatism?

- Good.

If they don't take me off nights

and put me on days, I'm gonna...

I'll... What's the use?

What's new? Anything?

Nothing.

There was a break on the Merritt County

chain gang this morning.

They say he's headed up this way.

What's the guy look like?

He's about 5'10'', heavy black hair...

brown eyes, stocky built,

around 30 years old.

Name is Allen, James Allen.

- Get us a hot towel, will you?

- Coming up.

Hope it's hot enough for you.

Those guys haven't got much chance

getting away with it, have they?

No. We've got the depot

and all the highways out of town covered.

They can get this far and no farther.

Thanks. Come in again.

How was it? Close enough?

Plenty.

So you hung it on the limb?

It's good to see you, kid.

- Well, how do you suppose I feel?

- What? How?

Bomber tipped me off where you were.

- All right for Bomber.

- Say, you got a place I can hide out?

- Sure, come on. I'll fix you up.

- That's great.

How are all the boys on the chain gang?

No, but I had to keep my eyes open

every minute.

Do you think I'll be safe here tonight?

It's a cinch,

unless the cops pull another raid.

But don't worry about that.

They're probably too busy

looking for you to raid any joints like this.

All I need is some sleep.

I'll lam out of here early in the morning.

Make yourself at home.

We got everything you dream about

in the chain gang.

Here. I guess you still know

what this is good for?

Thanks. I got a tough day

ahead of me tomorrow.

Well, I got a tough night ahead of me.

I got to beat it now, Jim.

But the place is yours.

Wait a minute.

I'll get somebody

to see that you're comfortable.

Linda, come here.

This is Jim Allen, a pal of mine

from the chain gang. He's just escaped.

- Listen, never mind the advertising.

- It's all right with Linda.

Take good care of him, babe.

He's my personal guest.

- So long, Jim. I hope you make it.

- Thanks.

You've got plenty of what it takes

to pull an escape from that place.

I'm not safe yet.

Not until I'm out of the state.

If there's anything I can do to help you,

just say the word.

Thanks.

There's nothing you can do.

- How about a drink?

- No.

- You don't mind if I take one, do you?

- No, go right ahead.

Here's to you.

A guy with your nerves

got the breaks coming to him.

I know what you're thinking.

I understand.

You're among friends.

You have about 35 minutes to wait.

The train is late.

- You want everything on this one, too?

- Yeah, same as the first one.

Well, look who's here.

Chief of police, in all his glory.

Must be looking for somebody important.

All right, boys, keep your eyes open.

All aboard!

There he is!

Did I get your ticket?

Here it is.

Booneville? You must have got on

without me seeing you.

They were chasing somebody.

I guess you were watching.

- They were after an escaped convict.

- Catch him?

No, the guy they caught

turned out to be a hobo.

They're still looking for the convict.

I guess we can use you. What's the name?

- Allen.

- Is that the first or last name?

Yeah, the first name.

The full name is Allen James.

- Report 8:
00 tomorrow morning.

- Yes, sir.

Say, James...

that's a swell idea you had

about the bend up there.

- I told the boss it was your suggestion.

- You did? That's very nice.

I don't think you'll be swinging a pick

much longer.

This is the room that's for rent.

Very nice room.

What are you asking for it?

- $25 a month. And that's very reasonable.

- Very.

But it's more than I feel I can pay.

I'm sorry, because I like the location.

It's not far from the bridge I'm working on.

I'm sorry, too...

because I'd like to rent this room

to a gentleman like yourself.

But you don't know anything about me.

I can tell. You look like you'd be friendly.

Not like a stranger around the house.

- How much would you be willing to pay?

- Really, it's out of the question.

Well, suppose I made it $20.

That's silly.

You can easily get your price for it.

I'm willing to let it go for $20. To you.

Well, it's a mighty nice room.

You'll like it.

- Hello, honey.

- Hello.

- All you do every night is study.

- I'll never get anywhere if I don't.

Anyway, that's not so.

We were out last night.

- I don't think you like me anymore.

- Of course I do.

We can't always be playing around.

Anyway, what's that got to do with it?

I don't know,

but you don't act like you used to.

- Now I don't seem good enough for you.

- You're imagining things.

No, I'm not. When you were first here

you weren't this way.

You've grown tired of me.

I was silly enough to believe you

when you said you loved me.

I said I loved you?

Now, Marie, you know that's not so.

I never said that.

You're just trying to put me in a spot.

And you know it wasn't love

just as well as I do.

So that's the way you feel?

You can't make me out cheap

and get away with it.

I know what I'm talking about, see?

And someday you're gonna be sorry.

Come in.

Well, so you really think you're leaving?

I'm moving to a bigger place.

I can afford it now.

In other words, that means

we won't see each other anymore.

No, I guess we'll see each other sometime.

You don't mean that.

Marie, I appreciate all you've done for me,

but I couldn't love you.

I can't change my feeling towards you

any more than...

I can change the color of my eyes.

I know I'm speaking bluntly, but frankly...

this will save us both a lot of misery.

And is that your only reason for leaving?

- That's a pretty good one, isn't it?

- Not very.

Of course, when a fellow wants

to ditch a girl he'll do most anything...

providing it doesn't land him

back in the chain gang...

where he probably belongs.

Here.

It's from your brother.

- You wouldn't...

- I wouldn't tell...

if I had a reason to protect you.

- What do you mean?

- I wouldn't tell...

if you were my husband.

- Well, it means plenty of work.

- I'm used to that.

Yes. On the other hand,

all work and no play...

Makes Jack.

How about knocking off

and having a little recreation?

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