The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-16

RUFUS h4Hc4 ual NctI 4 ilELll<Al u
the settlement when q newcomer appear
ed on the chain gang. This was youni
man Of about twenty years Of age. thin
fair and delicate His name was Kirk
land. and he belonged to what wers
known as the educated" prisoners. He
had been clerk IN banking house. and
was transported for embezzlement,
though. by some. grave doubts as TO his
guilt we're entertained The command
ant. Captain Burgess. had employed him
~ butler In his own house. and his fate
was considered lucky" one. So.
doubtless II was. and might have been.
had not an untoward accident occurred
Captain Burgess. who was a bachelor Of
the old school" confessed an amiable
weakness for swearing Kirkland be-
ionged to Methodist family. and owned
q piety utterly out Of place in that re-
gion- The language Of Burgess made
him shudder. and one day he so far for
got himself and his place as TO raise his
hands to his ears. sI'Il soon cure you
OF that cried Burgess. and forthwith
ordered him 10 the chain gang for '.in-
subordination-
He was received with suspicion BY the
gang. who did not like white-hapded
prisoners Troke. by way Of expert
ment In human nature. perhaps. placed
him next to Gabbett- When the muster
bell rang. and the gang broke up. Rufus
Dawes, on his silent way 10 his separate
cell. observed a notable change Of GUS
tom In the disposition Of the new con
Wet Instead Of placing him In a cell by
himself, Troke was turning him into the |
yard with the Others
I'm not TO go in thereY says the en-
bank clerk. drawing back in dismay from l
the cloud Of foul faces which lowered |
upon him
But you are. them says Troke. The
governor says night in thereu take the
starch out of yer. Come. IN yer 90"
Let him out. watchmanr' said North.
who happened by.
Cant. sir, without an order from the
I order you. sirF' North cried. indig-
nant-
VERY sorry. your reverenve: but your
reverence knows that darea't do such a
thing"
North rushed away to the command
ant. and the instant his back was turned.
Hailes. the Waterman. flung open the
door and darted into the dormitory.
Take thatr he cried. dealing Kirk
and blow on the head with his keys.
hat stretched him senseless. There's
more trouble with you aristocrats than
'nough- Lie quietr'
The commandant. reused from his .
lumber. told Mr. North that Kirkland
night stop where he WAS, and that he'd
hank the chaplain not to wake him ND i
eeauss prisoner set up q bowling. 7
North returned to the prison discon- :
olateiy, found the dutiful Hailes Mt his !.
ost. and all quiet whats become Of :
1irklandr" he asked
'Fretted hisself to sleep. yer rever
nee, said Hziles, In accents Of par :.
atnl concern Poor chspi It's hard :,
y such young 'uns as he. SIR
In the morning Rufus Dawes. coming
his place on the chain gang. was
ruck by the altered appearance of ID
hkland- His face was Of q xreenizh =
n, and wore an expression of bevil- ~
red horror. ca
cheer up. man. said Dawes, touch
with momentary pity ITS no good 81
ing In the nopes, you know" rs
What do they do II you Try to boltY' IN
,ispered Kirkland all
XIII you" returned Dawes, In q tone tel
surprise at 80 preposterous q ques-
a hin
Thank Godr' said Kirkland. Ia
Tho work Of the gang that afternoon
. the carrying Of some heavy logs to
water-side, and Rufus Dawes OBJ W,
we'd that Kirkland was exhausted tur
6 before the task was accomplished. wit
n
! he, not unkindly. kin
10 had hardly uttered the words ror
On the boy flung himself beneath the a
In another instant the train would ron
. been scrambIinE over his crushed 6
y, had not Gabbett stretched out an lool
! hand and plucked the would-be sui mi.
} from death ~.
Hold on to me-" said the giant I'm cool
enough to carry double self
Kirkland uttered q cry, and then. som
ling up his irons with bis hands. B
rarted to run for the water. Of
Halt. you young foolg' roared Troke. Mac
Ing his carbine- But Kirkland kept from
Oily on for the river Just as he an
he'd IL, however. the figure Of Mr.. Bay
IN rose from behind pile Of stones. zttel
rland jumped for the jetty, missed "Y
footing and fell into the arms Of the CESS
lain Il
You young vermin-you shah pay ed d
thisw cries Troke- You'll see II &C
won't remember this day men,
)h, Mr.. NORTH" says Kirkland. was
, did you stop mel I'd rather be Il
than stay another night In that said
=" entoJ
Iou'n get II, my ladg' said Cab &C
when the runaway was brought road,
your blessed hide'l feel for thu Be
II It don'tP' half
rkland only breathed harder. and from
d round for Mr. North; but Mr.. fat 0
had gone The new chaplain was and {
rive that afternoon, and It was In joines
ent on the old one to be present At row. "
reception dsylii
BIKE reported tho ex-bank clerk that wv
to Burgess, and Burgess, who was 1T
! to 20 to dinner with the new chan sw
disposed Of his case out of hand 10 ssJ
d 10 bolt. chi Must stop that this !
lashes, Troke. Pick out some great
man, viii you That last fellow tell y
had ought to have been tied M Car
elf His Jogging wouldn't have rsnda