Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-07-27


$50 he Isl said Troke, "but we hain't
a-going to send there for fortnit, and
in the meantime I'm to work him on the
chain"
oh" said Mr.. North again. Lend
me your knife, Troke."
And then, before them all, this curious
parson took a piece of tobacco out of
his ragged pocket and cut off a 'chaw"
with Mr. Troke's knife. Rufus Dawes
felt what he had not felt for three days
-an interest in something. He stared
at the parson In unaffected astonish
ment. Mr.. North perhaps mistook the
meaning of his fixed stare, for he held
out the remnant of tobacco to him.
The chain-line vibrated at this and
bent forward to enjoy the vicarious de-
light of seeing another man chew to-
baccO. Troke grinned with a silent mirth
that betokened retribution for the favor
ed convict. Here" said Mr.. North,
holding out the dainty morsel upon
which so many eyes were fixed. Rufus
Dawes took the tobacco, looked at 1t
hungrily for an instant, and then-to the
establishment of everybody-hung 1t
away.
From convict mouths went out a re-
spectful roar of amazement, and Mr.
Troke's eyes snapped with pride of out
ragged janitorship. you ungrateful
dogv he cried, raising his stick.
Mr.. North put up hand. THAT will
do, Troke," he said; 4 know your re-
spect for the cloth. Move the men on
again"
Get Onp' and Dawes felt his newly
riveted chain tug. 1t was some time
since he had been in a chain gang, and
the sudden jerk nearly over balanced
him. He caught at his neighbor and
looking up, met a pair of black eyes
which cleaned recognition. His neigh
Dor was John Rex. Mr. North, watch
ing them, was struck by the resemblance
the two men bore to each other. Their
height, eyes, hair and complexion were
similar. Despite the difference in name,
they might be related. '"Fhey might be
brothers." thought he. Poor fellows!
never knew a prisoner refuse tobacco
before" And he looked on the ground
for the despised portion. But in vain.
John Rex, oppressed by no foolish senti-
ment, had picked it up and put 1t in his
mouth
SO Rufus Dawes was relegated to his
old life again. and came back to his
prison with the hatred of his kind, that
his prison had bred in him, increased a
| hundred-fold. 1t seemed to him that
the sudden awakening had dazed him,
that the food of Light so suddenly let in
upon his slumbering soul had blinded his
| eyes, used so long to the sweetly cheat
! ing twilight. He was at first unable to
! apprehend the details of his misery. He
knew only that his dream-child was alive
and shuddered at him; that the only
thing he loved and trusted had betrayed
! him; that all hope of justice and mercy
! had gone from him forever; that the
| beauty had gone from earth, the bright
ness from heaven; and that he was doom
! ed still to live. He went about his work,
unheedful of the jests of Troke, ungalled
| by his irons, unmindful of the groans
and laughter about him. His magnificent
muscles saved him from the lash, for
the amiable Troke tried to break him
| down in vain. He did not complain, he
did not laugh, he did not weep. His
mate" Rex tried to converse with him,
but did not succeed. In the midst of one
of Rex's excellent tales Rufus Dawes
would sigh YEARLY. There's something
on that fellows mind" thought Rex,
prone to watch the signs by which the
soul is read. "He has some secret which
weighs upon him."
Then Rex came to a conclusion. His
mate was plotting an escape. He him
self cherished a notion of that kind, as
did Gabbett and Vetch, but by common
distrust no one ever gave utterance to
thoughts of this nature. 1t would be toe
dangerous. HE would be a good com
rade for a rush." thought Rex, and re-
solved more firmly than ever to ally
himself to this dangerous and silent com.
panion.
One question Dawes had asked which
Rex had been able to answer, "Who IL
that North p
"A chaplain. He is only here for g
week or so. There is a new one com
ing. North goes to Sidney. He is moi
in favor with the bishop"
Silence there" cries the overseer
"Do you want me to report yerY'
Am: LIST such diversions the days rolled
on, and Rufus Dawes almost longed fol
the coal mines. To be sent from the
settlement to the coal mines, and from
the coal mines to the settlement, was t
these unhappy men a "trip"
Go be cOntinued.l
|