Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-10-06
CHAPTER ~

Rex told Mr.. Meekin, who, the next
day, did him the honor TO visit him,
that, under Providence, he owed his
escape from death to the kind manner
In which Captain Frere had spoken OF
him."
II hope your escape will be a warning
to you, my man." said Mr. Meekin, "and
that yoq will endeavor to make the rest
Of your lie an Rtonement for your early
errors"
Indeed / will, SIR" said John Rex.
who had taken Mr.. Meekins measure
very accurately, "and 1t Is very kind
Of you to condescend to speak so to a
wretch like me. All, sir, | wish | had
attended to the gospels teachings when
| was younger. | might have been saved
from all this"
you might, indeed. poor man; but the
Divine Mercy Is inhnite-quite infinite.
and will be extended to all Of us-to
you as well as to me-" Cribs with the
air Of saying, what do you think Of
thatT) Remember the penitent thief.
Rex-the penitent thief"
Indeed | do. sir
II will speak 10 the authorities about
change In your dietary SCALE return
ed Meekin. patronizngly I'm the
meantime. Just collect together In your
mind those particulars Of your adven-
lures OF which you spoke. Such a re-
markable history ought not to be lost. -
Thank you kindly. sir. / will, sir.
Ali little thought. when | occupied
the position Of gentleman. Mr.. Meek
in, that ! should be reduced to this.
But II is only just, sir. Good morning.
and haavap hlaps H. "a
with his tongue IN his cheek for the
benefit OF his yard mates; and so Mr..
Meekin tripped gracefully away, CON
WINGED that he was laboring most sue
cessfully In the vineyard. and that the
convict Rex was really a superior per-
son.
Il will send his narrative to the
bishop said he TO himself. at will
amuse him. There must be many strange
histories here, IL one could but find them
out"
As the thought passed through his
brain his eye fell upon the notorious
Dawes" who, while waiting FOR the
schooner to take him back to Port Ar
thur, had been permitted to amuse him
self by breaking stones
A fanciful visitor, seeing the irregular
ly rising hammers along the line. might
have likened the shed to the interior Of
some vast piano. whose notes an unseen
hand was erratically lingering. Rufus
Dawes was seated last of the line. This
was the place nearest the watching cop-
stable. and was allotted on that accom-,
to the most ill-favored.
well. Dawes" says Mr.. Meekln
measuring with his eye the distance he'
tween the prisoner and himself as ora
might measure the chain of some faro.
cious dog. How are you this mornlno
DawesT
Dawes, scowling In parenthesi, Ia.
tween the cracking Of two STONES NO.
understood to say that he was v.rv
well. 'e''
81 am afraid, Dawes" say. NJ.
Meekin, reproachfully, that Won bav.
done yourself no good by your onthur.t
la court on Monday. / understand tbat
public opinion is quite incensed agal6sf
you" 's'
Dawes, slowly arranging one lar0.
fragment of bluestone in a comfortsbIs
basin OF smaller fragments, made no
reply.
II am afraid you lack patience
Dawes. You do not repent 81 your Of
lenses against the law, / fear"
The only answer vouchsafed BY the
roned man was a savage blow. which
split the stone into sudden fragments
and made the clergyman skip a step
backward.
You are hardened ruflan, sir, Do
you not hear me speak to your came
to console you, man. | wanted to give
you some good advicel'
Il beg your pardon, sir Pray 20
on"
Il was going to say, my good fellow
that you have done yourself a great deaf
OF injury BY your lll-advised accusation
Of Captain Frere, and the use Won nads
Of Miss Vickers' name"
A frown, as Of pain. contracted the
prisoners brows, and he seemed with
oincuity to put restraint upon his
speech. rs there to be no inquiry, Mr.
MeekinT he asked. at length. what
l stated was the truth. Are they not
going to ask her for her storyl They
told me that she was to be asked. Sure
ly they will ask her"
Il am not, perhaps. at liberty" said
Meekin, plscidly. unconscious Of the ag-
ony Of despair and rage that made the
voice Of the strong man before him
quivex. ito state the intentions of the
authorities, but l can tell you that Miss
Yickers will not be asked anything about
you, You are to 90 back to Port Ar
thur on the oath, and to remain there"
A groan burts from Rufus Dawes; a
rroan so full Of torture that even the
comfortable Msskin was thrilled By It.