Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-08-11
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
kirkland was dead.


Gabbett reluctantly united the thongs
that bound Rufus Dawes. Two con-
stables were alongside him in an instant,
for sometimes newly tortured men grow
desperate This one, however, was ST.
lent with the last lash, only, In taking
MS shirt from under the body of the
boy, he muttered "Deadr, and in his
tone there seemed to be touch of
envy. Then finging his shirt over his
oleeding shoulders, he walked out, de-
fiant to the last.
Game, amt he?" said one constable
70 the other, as they pushed him. not
urgently, into an empty CELL there to
wait for the hospital guard. The BODY
OF Kirkland was taken away in silence.
and Burgess turned rather pale when
ne saw North's threatening face. 1T
ISM my fault Mr.. NORTH he said. 81
didn't know that the lad was chicken
hearted. But North turned away In
disgust, and Macklewain and Burgess
pursued their homeward route together.
MI. North, in agony of mind at what
ne considered the consequences of his
neglect, slowly, and with head bowed
down, as one bent on painful errand.
went to see the prisoner who had sur-
ViVed- lie found him kneeling on the
ground, Frustrated.
Rufus Dawesp,
AT the tone Rufus Dawes looked up,
and seeing who it was, waved him off
Dont speak to me-" he said, with an
lmpreceation that made North's flesh
creep I've told you what 1 think of
you-a hypocrite, who stands by while
a man is cut to pieces. and then comes
and whines religion to him."
North stood in fho oar+ar
with his arms hanging down, and his
mead bent. You are right" he said. In
low tone. II must seem to you a
hypocrlte. | servant of Christ? A
oesotted beast rather! 1 am not come to
whine religion to you. 1 am come to
ask your pardon. 1 might have saved
you from punishment-saved that poor
boy from death. / wanted to save him.
God knows! But 1 have a vice; 1 am
drunkard, yielded to temptation, and
i was too late. l come to you, as one
sinful man to another, to ask you to for
give me- And North suddenly flung
himself down before the convict, and
catching his blood-bespotted hands in
his own, cried, Forgive me, brother"
Rufus Dawes too much astonished to
speak, bent his black eyes on the man,
VINO crouched at his feet, and ray of
divine pity penetrated his gloomy soul.
He seemed to catch a glimpse of misery
more profound than his own, and his
stubborn heart felt human sympathy
with this erring brother. Then in this
hell there is yet a man." said he; and
hand-grasp passed between these
two unhappy beings. North arose, and
with averted face, passed quickly from
the cell. Rufus Dawes looked at the
nd NH fe
en-, and something glittered there. 1t was
a tear. He broke down at the sight of
it, and when the guard came to fetch
the tameless convict, they found him on
his knees in a corner, sobbing like
child.
The morning after this, the Rev. Mr..
North departed in the schooner for
Hobart Town. Between the oficious
chaplain and the commandant the events
of the previous day had fixed a great
gulf. Burgess knew that North meant to
report the death of Kirkland and guess
ed that he would not be backward in
relating the story to such persons in
Hobart Town as would most readily re-
peat it.
Burgess, however, touched with sell
fish regrets, determined to balk the
down an official return" of the unfor-
tunate occurrence by the same vessel
that carried his enemy and thus get
the ear of the office. Meekin, walking
ON the evening of the fogging past the
wooden shed where the body lay, saw
Troke bearing buckets filed with dark
colored water, and heard a great splash
ing and sluicing going on inside the hut
what is the matter?' he asked.
Doctors bin post-morticing the pris-
oner what was logged this morning,
SIR" said Troke, "and we're cleanin'
up"
North. on his arrival, went straight
to the house of Major Vickers. 81 have
complaint to make, SIR" he said. "I
wish to lodge 1t formally with you. A
prisoner has been logged to death at
Port Arthur. 1 saw it done"
Vickers bent his brow. "a serious
accusation, Mr. North I must. of
course receive it with respect, coming
from you. but l trust that you have
fully considered the circumstances of the
case. I always understood Captain Bur
CESS was a most humane man."
North shook his head He would not
accuse Burgess. He would let events
speak for themselves 81 only ask for
an inquiry" said he.
eyes, my dear sir, I know Very
proper, indeed, on your part, If you
think any injustice has been done; but
have you considered the expense, the
delay, the immense trouble and dissat-
isfaction all this will give?'