The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-08-10
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continue

enlng, rolled off the bed and rose to his
feet. He saw the empty brandy bottle
on his wooden dressing table, and re-
membered what had passed. With shak
Ing hands he dashed water over his ach
ing head, and smoothed his garments
The debauch of the previous night had
left the usual effects behind it. His
brain seemed on fire, his hands were hot
and dry, his tongue Glove to the roof
of his mouth. He shuddered as he view
ed his pale face and red eyes in the
little looking glass. Stealing into the
sitting room, he saw that the clock
pointed to half-past six. The fogglng
was to have taken place at halt-past
five. Unless accident had favored him
he was already too late. Fevered with
remorse and anxiety, he hurried past
the room where Meekin yet slumbered
and made his way to the prison. AS
he entered the yard Kirkland had just
got his fiftieth lash.
STOP! cried North. Captain Bur
CESS, l call upon you to STOP"
you're rather late, Mr.. North" re-
torted Burgess. 'The punishment is
nearly over"
North stood by, biting his nails and
grinding his teeth during six more lashes.
Kirkland had ceased to yell now, ana
merely moaned. His back was like a
bloody sponge, while in the interval be-
tween the lashes the swollen nesh
twitched like that of a new-kllled bul-
lock. Suddenly Macklewain saw his
head droop on his shoulder. Throw
him off! Throw him off, he cried, and
Troke hurried to loosen the thongs.
"Fling some water over him!" said
Burgess. Hes shamming."
A bucket of water made Kirkland
open his eyes. Il thought So" said
Burgess Tie him up again"
mo; not if you are Christians! cried
North.
He met with an ally where he least
expected one. Rufus Dawes flung down
the dripping cat. "I'll fog no more"
said he.
"WhatY' roared Burgess, furious at
this gross insolence.
"I'Il fog no more. Get some one else
to do your bloody work for you.
won't"
"Tie him upv cried Burgess, foaming.
"Tie him up! Here. constable, fetch
man here with a fresh cat. LII give
you that beggar's fifty, and fifty more
on the top of 'em; and he shall look on
while his back cools."
Rufus Dawes, with a glance at North.
pulled off his shirt without word,
and stretched himself at the triangles.
His back was not white and smooth,
like Kirkland's had been, but hard and
scanned. He had been logged before.
Troke appeared with Gabbett, grinnlng.
Gabbett liked fogging. Itwas his boast
that he could fog man to death on a
place no bigger than the palm OF his
hand. He could use his left hand equal
ly with his right, and if he got hold OF
a "favorite," would :cross the cuts"
Rufus Dawes planted his feet firmly
on the ground, took fierce grasp of the
slaves, and drew in his breath. Mackle-
vain spread the garments of the two
men upon the ground. and, placing Kirk
land upon them, turned to watch this
new phase in the mornings amusement
He grumbled a little below his breath
for he wanted his breakfast. and when
the commandant once began to fog,
there was no telling where he would
ty lashes without a murmur, and then
Gabbett ''crossed the cuts" This went
on up to fifty lashes, and North felt
himself stricken with admiration at the
courage of the man. IF it had not
been for that cursed brandy" thought
he, with bitterness of self-reproach, 81
might have saved all this" At the hun
dredth lash, the giant paused, expecting
the order to throw off, but Burgess was
determined to 'break the mans spirit. "
"Pll make you speak, you dog, if ]
cut your heart OUT" he cried. Go on
prisoner"
For twenty lashes more Dawes was
mute, and then the agony forced from
his labOring breast a hideous cry. But
it was not a cry for mercy, as that OF
Kirkland's had been. Having found his
tongue, the wretched man gave vent to
his boiling passion in a torrent He
shrieked imprecations upon Burgess
Iroke and North. He cursed all sol
diers for tyrants, all parsons for hypo
critics. He called on the earth to cape
and swallow his prosecutors. for HEAVIER
20 open and rain fire upon them, for hel
to yawn and engulf them quick. 1t wa.
as though each blow of the cat forced
out of him a fresh burst of beast-likt
rage. He seemed to have abandoned
his humanity. He foamed, he raved
he tugged at his bonds until the strons
slaves shook again; he writhed himselt
round upon the triangles and spit impo
tently at Burgess. who jeered at his tor
ments. North, with his hands to hi.
ears, crouched against the corner of tn,
wall, palsied with horror. He would
fain have fed, but horrible fascination
held him back.
In the midst of this-when the ca
was kissing the loudest, Burgess laugh
Ing his hardest, and the wretch on tn,
triangles filling the air with his cries
North saw Kirkland look at him will
what he thought a smile. Was it ,
smile? He leaped forward. and uttere,
q cry of dismay so loud that all turned
"Hullo" says Troke, running to tn
heap of clothes, 'the young 'un's slippe,
his windv'
Kirkland was dead.
Throw him OFF, says Burgess
aghast at the unfortunate accident; an,
Gabbett reluctantly united the thong
that bound Rufus Dawes. Two con
stables were alongside him in an instant
for sometimes newly tortured men grow
desperate. This one, however, was 81
l.nt with the last LASH ONLY in takin