Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-07-06

$50 he is," said Troke, ''but we hain't
a-going to send there for a 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 "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 30 many eyes were fixed. Rufus
Dawes took the tobacco, looked at 1t
hungrily for an instant, and then-to the
astonishment Of everybody-fung it
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 on" 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 we're
similar. Despite the difference in name,
they might be related. They 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 groani
and laughter about him. His magnificent
muscles saved him from the lash, fol
luc dIlldDlc 1IOht lIltu W DEtuh I'LL
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 wearily. 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 Is
that North?'
"A chaplain. He Is only here for a
week or so. There is a new one COM
ing. North goes to Sidney He Is not
In favor with the bishop"
''Silence there!" cries the overseer.
"Do you want me to report yerT
Amidst such diversions the days rolled
on, and Rufus Dawes almost longed for
the coal mines. To be sent from the
settlement to the coal mines, and from
the coal mines to the settlement, was to
these unhappy men a trip"
Go be continued.)