The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-02

man
You are not sure about the last man
WIN you swear TO the three othersy'
4 was IN the chain gang at Nacqua-
RE Hsrbor with them for three years.
Sylvia. hearing this hideous reason for
acquaintance. gave a low cry. and fell
into her fathers arms.
Ga. papa. take me away. feel as Il
l was going TO remember something ter
rible.-
Amidst the deep silence that prevailed
the CRY Of the poor girl was distinctly
audible in the court. and all heads turn
ed 10 the door In the general wonder
no one noticed the change that passed
over Rufus Dawes. His face flushed
scarlet. great drops Of sweat stood on
his forehead. and his black eyes glared
IN the direction from whence the sound
came. as though they would pierce the
envious wood that separated him from
the woman whose voice he had heard
Maurice Frere sprzng up and pushed his
way through the crowd under the bench
What's thisf- he said 70 vickers. al
most brufslly. what did you bring her
here FORT She Is not wanted. told
you that
Il considered ii my duty. SIR says
Niekers with stately rebuke
That rnfnan Dawes frightened her
said Msekin- "A gush Of recollection.
poor child There. there. calm your
self. Mss yiekersL He Is quite safe"
Frightened her. eh p
Yes said Sylvia. family. "he fright
ened me. Maurice / needn't stop any
longer. dear. need +"
No" says Frere. the cloud passing
from his face Major. l beg your
pardon. but I was hasry- Take her home
az once This sort Of thing is too much
for her" And 50 be went back again
10 his place. wiping his brow. and breath
Ing hard as one who had just caped
from some near peril
Rufus Dawes had remained in the
same attitude until the figure Of Frere.
passing through the doorway. reused
him who IS she?'' he said. in low.
hoarse voice. 10 the constable behind
him
Miss yiekers.- said the man shortly.
tinging the information ar him as one
might ding bone TO dangerous dog
Miss Vickers~ repeated the convict.
still staring in a sort Of bewildered
agony They told me she was dead
The constable shifted eontempfnously
At this preposterous conclusion. as who
should say IF you know all about il.
animal why did you sskY And then.
feeling that the fred gaze Of his inter
rogstor demanded some reply. added. |
You thort she was. I've no doubt You |
lid your best 10 make her so. I've |
heard
The convict raised both his sands with /
sudden action Of wrathful despair. as
houxh he would seize the other. despite
he loaded muskets. but. checking him
elf with sudden impulse. wheeled round 4
% the court Your honor, Gentle
men. l want 10 speak"
The change in the tone Of his voice.
10 less than the sudden loudness Of teh
made the faces. hitherto
tent upon the door through which Mr..
'rere had passed. turn round again To
many there il seemed that the notorious
Dawes" was no longer in the box. for in
lace Of the upright and defiant villain
rho stood there an Instant back was a
rhite-faced. nervous. agitated creature
ending forward In an attitude almost of
one hand Trssping the rail.
$ though TO save himself from falling.
be other outstretched toward the bench
Your honor. there has been some dread
nj mistake made I want 10 explain
bout myself I explained before. when
rst | was sent to Port Arthur. but the
.tters were never forwarded By the com
landznt- OF course. that's the rule. and
can't complain I've been sent there
njusrly. yoGr honor I made that boat.
our honor. I saved the majors wife
nd daughter I was the man. I did Il |
I myself. and my liberty was sworn
way By a villain who hated me-
fought until now that no one knew the !
nth. for they told me that she was
szd" His rapid utterance took the ,
,urt so much By surprise that no one
terrupted him II was sentenced TO
sath for boiling. sir. and they reprieved
e bees use | helped them in the boat.
elped them, Why. / made II, She
III tell you So / nursed her, I carried I
r IN my arms. I starved myself for I
II. She was fond Of me. sir. She was. {
deed She called me Good Mr..
awes-'" 1
At this a coarse laugh broke out. c
iich was instantly checked The Judge n
Mt over to ask. Does he mean Miss
ckersT- and In this interval Rufus
ives. looking down into the court.
" Maurice Frere staring up az him |
th terror In bis eyes
Il see you. Captain Frere. coward and =
r. Put him in the box. gentlemen. l.
make him tel his story. She'll CON b
dict him. never fear. Oh. and I 81
'rsht she was dead all this xhiler- h,
The judge had got his answer from ..
. clerk by this time Miss yickers
! been seriously III, had tainted just
y In the court. Her only memories
the convict who had been with her in q
boat were those Of terror. The sight
him just now had most seriously af.
ted her The convict himself was an
eterate liar and schemer. and his M
y had been already disproved By
plain Frere. Rufus Dawes. still en- L.
voring TO >peak. was elanked away
n amidst a buzz Of remark and sur
he trial progressed without further n,
dent The defense set up By Rex y.
J most ingenious. He was guilty Of
conding. but his moderation might
ID an excuse for that His only OBJ d