The Winslow mail., 1897-03-20
# HIS REVENGE. 4


| TONED 10 the others presence WneH, dS
he passed the man for the tWentieth
time, few words falling from the con
vict in whispered undertone caused
| his heart to give one great startled
bound and set all his nerves in more
! painful quiver than ever.
Say, old chap"
! But Private Smith passed on mechan-
! ically, after faltering a moment under
the shock Every sense was on the
alert with excitement as he turned and
came back toward the convict, his
heart beating so fast that he felt near
to suffocation. He was waiting with
every sense in his body listening for the
man to speak again.
ga bit of tobacco, old chap, will your
Again Private Smith passed on. This
commonplace request almost caused
him to burst out into a loud hysterical
laugh. 1t was so foolish to get into
such a state of serious excitement over
the presence of a ruffian whose only de-
sire was a ''bit of tobacco" And he
continued upon his march with a stead
ier and more confident tread.
But when, after again pacing for
ward, he once more came back towards
his sentry-boX, his mood was changed.
A cloud was upon his face, and his
browS were knit in vain endeavor to
recall some memory from the locked
up places within his mind. A repetition
of the request had fallen upon his ears;
but the ring of the mans voice was
louder than it had been, and stirred
Private Smith strangely. He stood in
his box gazing upon the STOPPING con-
vict and striving to remember where
he had heard such q voice before. But
he ranSacked his mind in vain; at last
dismissing his effort TO remember with
a rueful reflection that perchance the
fellow was some old college chum who
had fallen upon evil days, or may be
some old comrade in. aims who had
come to grief. He inclined most to the
latter impr eSsiOn. and, himself know
ing well the luxury % tobacco and the
wretchedness of a solitary man with
out it, his sympathies went keenly out
to the poor devil" " hO, but for the
interposition of merciful Providence,
might easily have been felon-comrade
with himself. Though we'll knowing
also that he was running considerable
risk by giving the precious weed to the
convict, he resolved to give him just a
little for the old acquaintance sake
which the mans voice vaguely sug-
gested.
1t happened that he had in his pocket
a cake of tobacco purchased for trife
when the Ravager was on the West In
dian station This he cut in two pieces.
observing 'o7 - si7 40 +be.t tl-e ~v--,LsS
was watching him furtively. When he
resumed his limited parade he held one
of these pieces in his left hand and,
swerving so as to pass nearer to the
man, he loosened his hold of it and it
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 a kindly thing and
on escaping detection.
But the sight Of the tobacco and the
odor of it excited with the convict
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 his nature. Thar
second piece he would have.
Private Smith was expecting a NUT
tered word of thanks; but that was not
what came when he once more strobe
past the recipient of his precious gift.
The convict shifted his position, ever
so slightly, yet sufficient to enable him
to glance over his shoulder with an ugly
scowl at the approaching soldier.
"That other piece" he demanded,
fiercely, cor I'll split on you, by heav-
emf
Private Smith saw his face clearly
for the first time; and at the sight his
heart stood still for an instant and
then commenced beating at madly fu-
rious and painful speed. A flash Of in
tensest hatred ran through his blood.
for there was no longer any mystery
about the mans identity; and as he
moved out of hearing Of that now we'll
remembered voice he cursed himself
with the most savage fury for the folly
which had once more placed him in the
power of Louis Vaudois.
His first belief was that, having rec
ognized him, Louis Vaudois had done
this thing with the mere desire to bring
misfortune down upon him. When,
however, he presently recalled how al
tered IN personal appearance he had
become since that day when last he had
seen Louis Vaudois, this fear cleared
away, leaving only black hate within
his soul. So, he decided, the giving of
the second piece would satisfy his once
friend and enemy. He had nothing to
fear or to lose beyond that But he
was reluctant to do this; it maddened
him to think Vaudois, under even such
conditions, was able to oyerreach and
compel him to an act he would of his
own will leave undone.
And yet there was apparently no
other course before him than to accede
to the ruffian's demands. He had ar
rived at this conclusion, and with a saw
age reluctance was preparing to sub
NIT to the inevitable when a thought
flashed through his mind and set his
pulses leaping with a sudden hope of
retaliation. Would Louis Vaudois be
fool enough to fall into the trap? That
was the only question.
Swiftly he made his preparations, and
then strobe firmly-yet with pulses