Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-02-03
CHAPTER XII.


1 hear once more the harsh grating
OF prison key behind me. and 1 am
fain to groan aloud a. l lean against
the wall. All IL dark before my eyes.
whilst my anguishsd soul cries. Lost!
Lost! God-forsakenw
Suddenly feel a rough hand grasp
my shoulder. l am swung forward, and
hnd myself the center Of score Of faces,
all peering and srinning into mine.
L realize that l am In q general cell {;
that these are my fellow prisoners, and
the wrathful blood leaps to my head. 1
shake myself free and turn hsreely to see
who has dared to molest me. In my pres
ent desperate mood am not to be trihed
with.
My looks fall on a short, broad, pow
erfully built man in the black sheepskin
cap Of Cossack, under which q pair
of bold eyes glitter and dance like Wild
fire. He stands before me now, with his
broad, brown hands on his sides. his body
thrown back, and both attitude and mien
bespeaking insolent defiance
"Confound Jour impudence! What
mean your roar.
Il merely wish to look at you, broth
er," he replies with cool deliberation.
Il am interested. we are all interested in
our brother In ahiiction."
You insolent, presuming houndw l
gnash on him In fury. The laugh that
goes round makes 1t blaze up like oil on
flames. l make rush SO violently and
Unexpectedly on the Cosssck that he
staggers back, and but for those behind
him would have fallen.
A hubbub Of voices Is raised: "Go on!
At him! Show your mettle, little father!
Embrace, brothers! At him! At him.
The Cossack has regained his balance.
His huge nostrils swell out. his breath
rushes through them with a snorting
noise like a horse. He bends his head
forward as does Z bison preparing for
attack. In another moment he has dart,
ed on me, and his preternaturally long
arms encircle my middle like bars OF
iron.
Squeeze him! hug him! Well done
Yerack!" shrek the voices. accompanied
with such noises as are used to encourage
fighting dogs. l draw In my breath, and
lifting the Cossack of his feet, ding him
from side to side to try and shake him
of. but in vain. He clings to me like q
bulldog. cannot fight 4 man whilst hs
hangs to me like this. 80 we struggle to
gether silently. neither gaining an advan
tage for full FIVE minutes; until a sudder
movement OH my part brings Us both ts
the ground. on top of my adversary
And now he looses his hold. and instant
ly catch the gleam Of steel!
Ny hand closes on his wrist like q wise
I wrench the weapon from his grasp ant
ding 1t from me.
Coward" l hiss, and deal him a blow
on the head that makes 1t rssound, lik,
the cracking Of q cocoanut against tn,
floor.
His limbs relax. A deep groan escapel
his breast, and I am free to rise. / dt
so, and stand gasping for breath anC
looking down ON my PROSTATE foec Hi
jaw drops. and his black eyes roll up, ex
hibiting the whites, giving him thu
ghastly semblance Of death. And nov
that my passion has spent itself, l shud
der with disgust at my own folly ant
degradation.
II fear you have finished him." OBJ
serves some one.
Served him Hshtr' growls another
HE is a coward and q traitoT.'
"Yes. yes, serve him rshtv' Join In tn,
rest "You have acted like a tzuA man
You are Of the hight ssrt."
Their compliments only increase M
disgust. What care I for the opinion
of such as thesel I make NO reply, bu
stalk over to the furthsst corner Of tn,
cell and ding myself dowp on one O
the inclined boards that are ranged rount
the wall.
watch them draw the insensibls Cos
sack to another board, and lave hi
brow with water from q pitcher. Almos
Immediately he rsvives and sits up, seek
Ing me with his rowing eyes. When the!
have found me, he rises aud staggers to
ward me.
II am hound and thou art a brav
mani" he says hoarsely. Forgive me
1t was the evil one prompted me to US
the knife. He had possession Of me ant
I knew not what didw
He waits not for my reply, but sud
denly leaves my side, picks up the knit
from the floor where had hurled II, an,
returns 1t to me.
Take It." he urges, 1t 10 thine!
smuggled 1t In concealed In the folds o
my sash. Slay me with It II thou wilt
Ny life 10 thine"
As he speaks thus, his voice shake
with emotion and his dark face work
strangely. am touched with the man
contrition In spite of myself.
Keep the dagger" l say. ut may b
useful to thee, and give me rather tn,
handv
Remember my words: Ny life
thinev' he reiterated. Thou hast bough
Yerack, body and souk"
And without another word, withou
giving me the chance Of expressing tn
regret that is on my lips. that shoul,
have taken his harmless sport SO badly
he goes back to his board and stretche
himself on 1t. His fellow prisoner
crowd round him with questions and re
marks, but he regards them not. an,
fuynins to the wall. remains perfectl