The National tribune., 1892-10-06

|
heard of but never seen the poor creature"
| Knocking the ashes from his cigar, the Major
| crossed his legs and drew for his listener a
photograph of Milly, the waif, which did
| not fatter hor.
"she stole your rings, did she?' asked
| Leona.
"Yes; entered my rooms night before last
and deliberately robbed me-"
1.-The rings were recovered, weren't they ?'
"Of course; they were found Oh her person
absolute proofs of guilt; but that doesn't settle
| the case. She is one of these waits that poison
| the air they breathe, and for the honor OF Sheba
we ought to make an example of her,"
"Of course; and if we could discover who
killed the unknown man near the mines we
| should make also an example of him.
The Major blew wreath Of smoke from his
mouth which for half o second hid him from
the Queen of Sheba.
"Will they really whip this girl?" asked the
woman.
why not? It is the sentence Of the court,
and little birchng won't hurt her: but. on
the other hand, it will have q salutary effect"
"She won't be able to stand much, my dear
Major"
20, she's tougher than you think; she's
roughed it far beyond her years, and she'll
turn up in some other camp to play thief, with
perhaps the same result.
who'll do the whipping, Major?"
Me4iCan OICk.
"That wiry little cat?" smiled the Queen
of Sheba.
"He's dandy, and, despite his lttlsness, has
the strength Of a Samson He used to be whip
per in Hangtown, and knows how to bring
blood or raise welts, just as the occasion
quires This time it will be blood"
The vindictiveness with which Maj. Matt
land was pursuing this helpless and homeless
waif of the mountains was enough to bring out
the indignation of a person less merciful than
the Queen of Sheba. She did not interpose an
objection when all knew that the lifting of
her jeweled hand in Mlly's behalf would over
ride the sentence of the court and keep down
the hand and whip of Mexican Dick.
She saw Maj. Doll depart with her usual
hauteur and grace. She bowed him from the
house. even let him kiss her in the hail. but
the moment he was gone she sprang back to
the parlor. aud, sinking upon the sofa there,
buried her face in her hands and cried: Jim
Jim!" in accents of agony.
The Queen Of Sheba was troubled with Sc
cret of the past; but it was her sole property,
and she remained on the sofa, in communion
with her thoughts, till the shadows Of the
houses lengthsncd on the plaza and the wild
orgies of Sheba were once more in full blast.
Meanwhile. in a small cabin, which was as
dark as the dungeons of Venice stood, or rather
crouched. the victim Of the Black Tribunal.
In all Sheba there was not hand merciful
enough to be lifted in her behalf. She had
been conducted from the court to the shanty
with the dread sentence ringing in her cars,
and knew that at the hour of midnight she
would be taken upon the square and publicly
whipped for her confessed crime.
She shuddered when she thought Of her
white skin Guivering beneath the blows of
Mexican Dicks lash. She trembied when siIe
looked out and heard there the measured tread
of the guard who trampsd his beat in front of
<tac aba tn ,foi
and perish among it's pathess forests.
Mily murmured not aloud. Since her first
plea when captured she had opened not her
mouth for mercy. She might have wondered
If the Queen of Sheba, one Of her own sex,
woman like herself. would not interfere with
the sentence If she knew Of it; but she must
have heard of the trial Yes, they could not
keep such an event from the mistress of the
gold camp. Leona had heart as cold as her
persecutors, and would not put forth hand to
ward off the indignity of the lash!
The night darkened, and the hours wore en-
toward MiIly's ordeal.
She stole to the window and looked out, lean
ing on the scant sill and seeming to throw her
thoughts far beyond the stars which frightened
the heavens
Il took them didn't deny that; but they
were mothers rings. | know that. Mother.
mother How did they ever fall into the hands
of Maj. Doll?"
There was no answer. The dark form of the
sentry slipping by oomed like a spectsr OF doom
between her and the stare, and then faded out
of sight.
Il took them," she went on. "If they bad
seen me l would have done the same; and they
will whip mo for it. This fendish whpper
with the yellow skin will take delight in max
ing the mark Of the cat on my back"
Silence came down in the little hTt. Milly
fell back to the cot which rested in one corner
and, sitting on the edgs of it, shut her eyes and
repeated the sweetest name on earth -
" "rnother!"
1he stars and clocks OF Sheba denoted the
midnight hour. when there began a general
exodus from the dens Of vice. Men poured out
and headed for the plaza. where there were
numsious lights. showing that something unu-
susl was about to take place under the great
tree which threw its branches over the scene.
Men had dapgied from the stout limbs Of this
very tree They had gone from the precincts
of the Black Tribunal to a death beneath the
far.spreading bougbs and from thence to
nameess grave on the mountain.
Now, not hanging but whipping was to
take place there. 1t was an innovation.
The back OF a fair young girl was to be torn
by the unsparing lash laid on by man who
had nothing but his brutal face to commend
him to the court of SheDa.
Milly, conducted by guard, was led to the
plaza, whore, with white face she looked at
the crowd gathered there Her hands were
tightly shut; she had braided up her wealth of
ohesnut hair, and had arranged her simple
garb for the trial. The mob gave Nay and
watched her to see if she trembled but she
was as calm as Summers morn.
At one side of the plaza stood Maj. Doll.
cigar between his lips and on his face the cold,
cruel smile of the merciless tough. He eyed
Milly, the waif, with the eye of g hawk, gloat-
ing over her position, and when dandyfed
Mexican Dick carrying in his hand the whip,
stepped into the arena, lie grinned malici0usy.
There were few preliminaries to the carrying
out of the sentences of the courts of Sheba.
Conducted to the middle of the square. the girl
was placed full in the light, and at a signal
from a man who stood across the plaza, the
hand of Mexican Dick fell upon her shoulder.
Milly started like person stupg by viper.
She looked into the yellow face before her and
would have shrunk back if by quick jerk
Dick had not barred her shoulder.
wild shrek went up from the throat Of
the homeless creature. Shs who bad faced the
court could cot stand jh!s ipdignity; but the
hand of Dick pulled her back.
"Shes branded" cried the Mexican, look
ing up and catching the eyes OF MAJ Doll.
by the heart of the Holy Mother! the girl is
marked with the cross! p"
There was u movement Oh the part of the
crowd but Maj. Doll was in advance OF thom
all. Eager to SEQ the mark on the white
shoulder, he was advancing toward Mlly, when
q voice called him to malt.
The Oueen of Sne eha stepped forward in the