The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-09-07

lures. Enraged at this obstinacy. Frere
sentenced his victim to tho "spread-
eagle" and the "stretcher."
Now, the rumor of the obduracy OF
this undaunted convict. who had been
recalled to her by the clergyman at their
strange interview, had reached Sylvia's
ears. She questioned her husband con-
corning the convict's misdoings, but,
with the petulant brutality which he in
variably displayed when the name of
Rufus Dawes intruded itself into their
conversation. Maurice Frere harshly re-
fused to satisfy her.
One sultry afternoon, when the COM
mandant had gone on a visit of 'inspec-
ton, Troke, lounging at the door of the
new prison, beheld with surprise the fig
ure of the commandments lady.
What is it, ma'am?' he asked,
scarcely able to believe his eyes.
Il want to see the prisoner Dawes"
Hes - he's under punishment,
ma am"
What do you mean? Are they fog
ging him?"
''No; but - but he's dangerous,
ma am"
do you wish me to complain to the
commandant?" cries Sylvia, with a touch
of her old spirit, and jumping hastily
at the conclusion thar the jailers were,
perhaps, torturing the convict for their
own entertainment. "Open the door at
Once-at once!'
Thus commanded, Troke, with hasty
growl of its ''being no affair of his, and
he hoped Mrs. Frere would tell the cap
tain how it happened" flung open the
door of a cell ON the right hand of the
doorway. 1t was so dark that at first
Sylvia could distinguish nothing but the
outline of a framework, with something
stretched upon it that resembled a hui
the man was dead, but this was not so
he groaned. Her eyes. accustomed
themselves to the gloom. began to see
what the punishment" was. Upon the
floor was placed an iron frame about
six feet long, and two and half feet
wide. with round iron bars, placed trans
versely. about twelve inches apart. The
man she came to seek was bound in
horizontal position upon this frame, with
his neck projecting over the end of it.
If he allowed his head to hang, the
blood rushed to his brain, and suffocated
him. while the effort to keep it raised
strained every muscle to agony pitch.
His face was purple, and he foamed at
the mouth. Sylvia uttered a cry. This
is no punishment; it's murder. Who
ordered this?''
1.-THE commandant," said Troke sui
lenly.
II don't believe it. Loose him, I say.
Hoilovf-unn c;r
had brought several warders to the spot
do you hear me? Do you know who
I am? Loose him. 1 sayw In her eager
ness and compassion. she was on her
knees by the side of the Internal ma
chine, plucking at the ropes with her
delicate fingers. "Wretches. you have
cut his flesh! He Is dying! Help! You
have killed him.
The prisoner, in fact seeing this angel
of mercy STOPPING over him, and hearing
close to him the tones of a voice that
for seven years he had heard but in his
dreams. had tainted. Troke and HALEY,
alarmed by her vehemence. dragged the
| stretcher out into the light. and hastily
cut the lashings. Dawes rolled off like
| log, and his head fell against Mrs
Frere. Troke roughly pulled him aside
and called for water. Sylvia. trembling
with sympathy. and pale with passion.
| turned upon the crew. "How long has
he been like this?''
IAN hour" said Troke.
| "a lie" said stern voice at the door,
"He has been there nine hOurs!''
"Wretches!" cried Sylvia, you shall
hear more of this. Oh, oh! am sick"
she felt for the wall-"I-I@"
North watched her with agony on his
face, but did not move. II faint L"
She uttered a despairing cry that was
not without a touch Of anger "Mr.
Northi do you not see? Oh! Take me
home-take me home"' And she would
have fallen across the body of the tor
tured prisoner had not North caught her
in his arms.
Rufus Dawes, awaking from his stu.
por, saw, in the midst Of a sunbeam
which penetrated a window In the CORR
dor, the woman who came to save his
body supported by the priest who came
to save his SOUL and, staggering to his
knees. he stretched out his hands with
a hoarse cry Perhaps something in the
action brought back to the dmmed re-
membrance of the commandments wife
the image of a similar figure stretching
forth it's hands to a frightened child in
the mysterious far-off time. She start
ed, and, pushing back her hair, bent a
wistful terrified gaze upon the face of
the kneeling man, as though she would
fain read there an explanation of the
shadowy memory which haunted her. 1t
is possible that she would have spoken,
but Notwithstanding the excitement had
produced one of those hysterical crises
which were common to her-gently drew
her, still gazing. back toward the gate.
The convict's arms fell, and an indefina-
BILE presentiment of evil chilled him as he
teheld the priest slowly draw the fair
young creature from out the sunlight into
the grim shadow of the heavy archway.
For all instant the gloom swallowed
them, and then they passed out of the
prison archway into the free air of heav-
en-and the sunlight glowed golden on
their faces.
You are ill.," said North. you will
faint. Why do you look so wildly?"
''What is it?' she whispered, more in
answer to her own thoughts than to his
question-''what is it that links me to
that man? What deed-what terror