Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-12-17

As AZ happened, HT1NaIe smith was
intensely interested and excited by the
presence of the convicts. He had good
reason to be so, for he remembered,
with yividness and horror that set him
shuddering. how near he had been eight
years before to Just such degradation
as these men were enduring. He was
different parsonage altogether now
different even in name-to the slip of
youth who had thought it distinction
to be the boon companion of so clever
and so dashing man as Louis Vaudois.
The service had made a man of him,
had effected complete change in his
personal appearance; while the mar
row escape from cnviction for forgery
during the period of Vaudois' influence
had so frightened him from wild ways
that there was no steadier member o.
her majesty's red marines than Pri-
vate Smith, sometime Roger Nanbrugh.
But in one respect he did not alter. He
remained stanch to a savage hatred
against the man who had certainly
brought ruin into his life, and by scCun-
drelly insinuating manners and meth
DDS had almost sent him into surround
ings like unto those upon which he
( had gazed with such fascination ever
since the Ravager had been fioated into
dock. 1t is true that the charge against
him at the Old Bailey had not been sus-
tanned. through n defending cOunseFs
clever manipulation of evidence imper-
fectIy presented by TIE prosecution;
but he hated Louis Vaudois no less pas
sionateIy on that account; for he had
- 10
before his iudges-tbe miserable twist
ings, feelings and haltings of the evil
dence, and, above all, the business of
the charge, TO fill his heart with such
fierce enmity as even now set his pulses
Ieaping and boiling with The widest de-
sire for revenge.
4 thrill of excitement went shivering
down his spine, and for an instant trav-
eIed Jelly through his veins as he found
himself ashore and pacing so closely to
the convict who had made vain Overturcs
to Private Atkins, and who was now
softly cumming a once favorite music
hall ditty.
The mans back was turned towards
Private Smith. To all appearance, he
was wholly engrossed by his work. And
the soldier, though fascinated for a
time, was gradually becoming accus-
toned to the others presence when.
| as he passed the man for the twentieth
time, few words falling from the con-
vict in a whispered undertOne caused
his heart to give one great, startled
bound and set all his nerves in more
painful CULVER than ever.
Say, old chap"
But Private Smith passed on mechan-
| icalIy. after faltering moment under
the shock. Every sense was on the
alert with excitement as he turned and
came back towards the convict, his
| heart beating so fast that he came near
! to suffocation. He was waiting with
every sense in his body listening for the
man TO speak again.
"a bit of tobacco, old chap, will
you?"
Again Private Smith passed on. This
commonplace request almost caused him
to burst out into loud, hysterical
! laugh. 1t was so foolish to get into
state of such serious excitement over
the presence of ruffian whose only de-
| sire was "a bit of tobacco" And he con-
tinued upon his march with a steadier
and more confident tread.
But when, after again pacing for
ward, he once more came back towards
his sentry box, his mood was changed.
\ cloud was upon his face, and his brows
were knit in a vain endeavOr to recall
some memory from the locked-up
places within his mind. y repetition OF
| the request had fallen upon his ears;
but the ring of the mans voice was
| iouder than Il had been, and stirred
| Private Smith strangely. He stood in
|. rs box gazing upon the STOPPING con-
|vicT~and striving to remember where
ne had 1sAeaT'Rsneh 9 voice before. But
ne ranscketI his 'IliJs4su in vain; at last
dismissmg his eff or$ to remember with
a rueful reflect On that Perchance the
fellow WAS some old college chum who
had fallen <dpoE evil days, or may he
some old< comrade in arms who had
come toferief. He inclined most to the
eS>9rnpression; and, himself know
ingf<well the luxury of tobacco and the
vEretchedness of solitary man without
VT, his sympathies went keenly out TO
1 the poor devil" who, but for the inter
position of merciful Providence. might
4
| himself. Though well knowing also
| that he was running considerable risk
| by giving the precious weed to the con-
Wet, he resolved TO give just little for
the old-acqUaintance sake which the
mans voice vaguely suggested.
| 1t happened that he had in his pocket
Il cake of tobacco purchased for a tribe
when the Ravager was on the West
Indian station. This he cut into two
| pieces; observing as he did so that the
convict was watching him furtively.
When he resumed his limited parade he
held one of these pieces in his left hand,
and, swerving so as 10 pass nearer TO
the man. he loosened his hold of it and
il fell at the convict's feet.
The man clutched at it with almost
savage Swiftness. and Private Smith
kept upon his way. congratulating him
self on having done kindly thing and
on escaping detection.
But the sight of the tobacco and the
odor of it excited within the convict
a furious covetousness. He had seen
Private Smith return the second piece
to his pocket. and he desired it with
all the greed that was in lis nature.
4 Thn3 Snoo-I pfaca ha would hrva