Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-01-07
CHAPTER xxi.
A Finai Accountilg

A Final Accounting
With the dawning Of mi ming there
were many rumors ahoat itihe village.
The story of Seadog's relafe, the send
ing for old Ringwold, al the dying
condition of the two men bad reached
the public ear. Stories o. mysterious
disclosures we've also beig told and
the people were wrought Up to unusual
excitement.
1t was known that CaIiain Budlong
had remained at the plse all night;
that Sankals was there md that the
militia surgeon had been Iept busy and
that about daylight old Bumbo, the
lawyer, had been sent iol
Sankala and Dan Laphm had also
been seen to visit the Rhgwold cabin,
and they had taken a lage bundle OF
papers to the Seadog houe.
The interior of the seiiog house pre-.
sented an interesting phure. On
bed lay old Seadog cain and weak.
He was breathing easily and his physi-
cal suffering had been l,Iled by heroic
scientific treatment. But the agony
which racked his brain il undesirable.
1t is only those who han suffered with
guilty conscience whis looking death
in the face that could properly sympa-
thize with Charles Seadog.
On another bed in the same room lay
the aged Rinwgold. He had under
gone a complete change, The feeble
old form which had for so many years
responded to the appeals OF life and
raised itself up as though coming from
the grave, had reclined to rise no Il ore.
His work was over. His mission was
about performed. Yet bis brain was
as clear as a bell His eyes as bright
as youth.
Seadog's family hoyered about him.
The surgeon stood At his bedside
Bumbo, the lawyer, sat at table near
by.
sankala held her aged protectors
hand. Dan Lapham stood at the foot
of Ringwold's bed. Captain Budlong
was at the door to answer the questions
of the curious.
"Tell the whole truth, Charles, tell
it all. have proved to you that San
kala is his child. She is entitled to
his interest in the property. Do fair
by hel upon your soulm
So spoke old Ringwold, fsebly but
encouragingly to Seadog.
"After my return from Siberia
looked up the boy. had located you
long before. When l got the papers
arranged l persuaded him to come with
me to America, but he had marrying
on the brain and would not come until
the ceremony was periomed and his
young bride was ready tocome," contin-
ued Ringwold. eve were ali poor in
finances and had to take the old sail
boat. The voyage was long one and
the child, Sankala, was born on board
the vessel. The surgeon of the craft
made out birth certificate and Bumbo
has it there. l took it from the hands
of the child's mother as the ship went
down and have kept it ever since.
"She is the only heir and entitled TO
his share OF the property. The other
papers will show what this il. | re-
ceived the final documents Yesterday.
Bumbo has them. Do Justice, Seadog,
do justice, upon your soul, tell it all!''
Seadog' very momens were num-
bered. The wound With he had re-
ceived in the last encounter with the
southside fishermen had developed a
case OF blood poisoning and no power
on earth now could save him. OF this.
he was fully informed. While the fact
that he was about to face the final trf.
bunal where man is called upon TO give
an accounting, may have had some
thing to do with soiteling seado0's
heart, he was confronted with the evil
dence of his wrongs on earth and of the
Just rights Of others. 4
He told the story Oh pw he had
wronged sankala's fail; low he had
willfully caused Ringd exile 10 ST.
bel ia and how he had 1l'I n Amorico
with his illgotten gains. or his aeon
mutations here, his auditors already
knew. He had iesrned.el the Saline
OF sankala's father and aNtber from
the old country and had found their
names on the ships register. and know
ing that they were dead and having no
knowledge of the birth OF sapkala
thought all trouble from that source
had ended.
When he had completed his story
which was reduced to whiting by Bum.
DO, he was completely exhausted, but
the merciless attorney insisted on a
further statement.
"Seadog, you are n vour RIGHT
senses, are you not?'
Yes" came the repk feebly.
You realize that The end is an
proaching2"
II do" replied the ding man.
"You make this statement az vorr
dying declaration, /" insstad the tscb-
nical linn of the law.
az do"
"Well, one moment mora sesdoo
There is still more left .pndona Won
might as well make cean breast Of Il
while you are at il. Ror ~eroer,bar
the deed Dan Lapham'l htber s;oned9
Well, l have the ev5snca ,sadv IN
bring action to have itssk aside You