The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-09-13

|NNtf HAN kFlNttc1 Ill eu(h ln@iliOle over
lures. Enrsged at this obstinacy. Frere
sentenced his victim to the 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 misd0ings, 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-
uon, Iroke. lounging AZ the door Of the
new prison. beheld with surprise the fig
ure OF the e~ommandant's lady.
What is it. ma'amy7 he asked.
scarcely able to believe his eyes.
u want to see the prisoner Dawes"
Hes he's under punishment.
ma'am."
"wha do you meanG Are they fog
ging hims~
No; but = but he's dangerous.
ma'am."
do YOU wish me to complain TO the
commandantF cries Sylvia. with a touch
Of her old spirit, and jumping hastily
at the CONCLUSION thai the jailers were.
perhaps. torturing the convict for their
own entertainment. .Open the door at
nce-at once.'
Thus commanded. TrOke. with a hasty
growl Of its being no affair Of his. and
he hoped Mrs Frere would tell the cap
tain how il happened" flung open the
door Of a cell on the right hand of the
doorway. II was so dark that at first
Sylvia eould distinguish nothing but the
outline Of a framework. with something
stretched upon il that resembled a hui
man body. Her first thought was that
the man was dead. but this was not so
groaned- Her eyes. accustomed
to the gloom. began to see
the punishment was. Upon the
hoor was placed an iron frame about
six feet long. and two and a half feet
wide. with round iron bars. placed trans
Fersely. about twelve inches apart The
nan she came TO seek was bound in a
horizontal position pom this frame. with
is neck projecting over the end of il.
II he allowed his head to hang. the
Hood rushed 10 his brain. and sufocated
linn. while the effort to keep il raised
every muscle TO agony pitch.
His face was purple. and he foamed at
be mouth Sylvia uttered a cry. This
5 no punishment; it's murderi Who
this?
The commandant." said Troke. sui
emily. 1
Il don't believe IT, Loose him. I say.
4ailey-you. sir, there The noise
nd brought several warders to the spot. {
Do you hear nse7 Do you know who /
ann Loose him. I sayf- In her eager q
ess and compassion. she was on her :
nees by the side Of the internal ma !
hine, plucking at the ropes with her a
elicate fingers "Wretches. ron have o
ut his feshi He Is dying, Help You c
ave killed him. o
The prisoner. In fact. seeing this angel q
mercy STOPPING over him. and hearing
ose to him the tones Of a voice that On
" seven years be had heard bat in his :.
teams. had tainted Troke and Hailev. }.
by her vehemence. dragged the -
retcher ont into the light. and hastily
Il the lashings- Dawes rolled of like d'
log. and his head fell against Mrs CT
rere- Troke roughly pulled him aside t
ID called for water. Sylvia. trembling "
sympathy. and pale with passion. g,
n upon the crew How long has -
been like thisT, %
AN hour" said Troke.
"A her' said a stern voice at the door. CT
has been there nine hours 70
~Wretches," cried Sylvia. you shall ha
ar more of this Oh. OH / am sick I'll
she felt for the waIl-'T-I-" "A
watched her with agony on his o..
e, but did not move. II faint. ~ -
e uttered a ~despairing cry that was
without a touch Of anger. 'sNr.
rthi do you not see7 OH Take me pr
ne-take me homerv And she would cal
re fallen across the body of the tor Of
ed prisoner had not North caught her a 1
his arms sat
Rufus Dawes. awaking from his SIN ass
+, saw. In the midst Of a sunbeam =
ich penetrated a window In the CORR no.
/. the woman who came 10 save his -
supported BY the priest who came ~
his soul. and, staggering 10 his oh'
es. he stretched out his hands with ms
oarse cry Perhaps something in the aft
on brought back TO the dimmed re- dea
Of the commandments wife soa
image Of a similar figure stretching inc
h its hands to a frightened child In -.
Hfot|A@CNo AaATCh AInrs one start n
and, pushing back her hair. bent a Z
full. terrified gaze upon the face Of soa
k~neeling man. as though she would MIN
read there an explanation Of the ban
iowy memory which haunted her. II %,
ossible that she would have spoken. sbei
Notwithstanding the excitement had AZ
n Of those hystericaI crises ,r
n were common to her7gently drew
still gazing. back toward the gate. the
convict's arm fell, and an indeina- noof
resentment Of evil chilled him as he cred
Id the priest slowly draw the fair agai
q creature from out the sunlight into lave
grim shadow Of the heavy archway. ston
an instant the gloom swallowed s~'
!. and then they passed out Of the nooi
archway into the free afr Of heav- tne
the sunlight gIowed golden on Gu
faces. ing d,
'ou are Ill.," said North. you will a9aii
Why do you Iook 50 vild1yTs was
is itTr she whispered, more 10 -
er to her owl thoughts than to his =,
.ion-"what Is IT that links me 10 :" y
mann What deed-what terror on II
memory Il fremhlc ufeh ~~~~If~. Cuuu