The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-02
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
CHAPrER XIX.

story OF their desperate escape had be-
come indistinct TO the general public
mind Now that they had been captured
In remarkable manner. popular belief
invested them with all sorts Of strange
surroundings They had been-aecord-
Ing to rePorr-kings over savage island
err. chiefs Of lawless and ferocious pi-
rates. respectable married men in Jaws.
merchants in Singapore. and swindlers
In Hongkonx- Their adventures had
been dramstized AZ a thester. and the
popular novelist Of that day was engag-
ed in work descriptive Of their won
drous fortunes
John Rex. the ringleader. was related.
II was said 70 noble family. He had
every prospect Of being satisfactorily
hanged. however. for even the most out
spoken admirers Of his skill and courage
could not But admit that he had com
mirted an offense which was death By
the law. The already crowded prison
WAS recrzmmed with half q dozen life
sentence men. brought up from Port
Arthur TO identify the prisoners Among
this number was stated 10 be the no
torious Dawes
This statement gave fresh food for
recollection and invention II was re-
membered that s-the notorious Dawes"
was the absconder who had been brought
away BY Captain Frere. and who owed
such fetrered life rs be possessed 70 the
fact that he had assisted Captain Frere
10 make the wonderful boat In which
the msrooned party escaped II was
remembered. also. how suIlen and morose
he had been on his trial i've years before.
and how he had laughed when the com
mutation Of his death sentence was an
nouneed 10 him
Miss Sylvia viekers also received an
additional share Of public attention Her
romantic rescue BY the heroic Frere. who |
was shortly to reap the reward Of his de- |
votion In the good old fashion. made her |
almost as famous as the villain Dawes. |
or his confederate monster. John Rex
IL was reported that she was TO give evil /
dence on the trial. together with her
sfsaneed husband. they being the only /
two living witnesses who could speak Il
TO the facts Of the mufiny IL was re-
ported also that her lover was. nat
uraIy. most anxious that she should not
give evidence- as she was affected deep
~ By the illness consequent on the suf-
fering she had undergone. and in a
state Of pitiable mental confusion as to
the whole business These reports caus-
ed the court. on the DAY Of the trial.
10 be crowded with spectators. and as
the various particulars of the marvellous
history Of this double escape were de
tailed the excitement grew more intense
The aspect Of the four heavily iron pris-
Dners caused sensation which, in that
rity Of the ironed. was quite novel. and
bets were offered and taken as to the
inc Of defense which they would adopt
Mr. Meekin- sitting in the body Of the
rourt- felt his religious prejudices sadly
shocked By q sight of John Rex "A per
'eer wild beast my dear Miss yickers.-
Re said returning In pause during the
examination Of the convicts who had
'een brought TO identify the prisoner. TO
he little room where Sylvia and her
'ather were waiting He has quits a |
igerish look about him"
Poor man. said Sylvia, with a shud-
ler
The major tapped his fingers impa-
isutiy- Come here. Poppet.- he said.
and look through this door. You can
&c them from here. and II you do not
ecognize any Of them. / cant see what
The raised dock was just opposite 10
be door Of the room in which they were |
itring. and the four mznscled men. each a
nth an armed warder behind him. were I
isiblc above the heads Of III ecrowd-
mo. papa" she said. with a sigh of 1
slief. Il can't recognize them az all"
Az she was turning from the door. a .
dice from the witness box behind her }
~ - nd L l 4.
ok again The court itsssf appeared. at | q
rat moment, affected. for murmur ran a
trough il. and some of1cizl cried. ISL Z
'ncer' {
The notorious criminal. Rufus Dawes.
10 desperate Of Port Arthur. the wild c
.ast whom the newspapers had judged II
ot nt to live, had just entered the wit d
~ box He was a man of thirty. In | n
- prime Of life, with torso whose
VASCULAR grandeur not even the lift | y
ng yellow jacket could altogether con b
al. with strong. embrowned and nerv- b
II hands. and upright carriage, and . IN
Iir Of fierce black eyes that rosmed Z
Ter the court hungrily-
Not all the weight Of the double irons "
rnying from the leathern thong around b.
> massive Ioius. could mar that ele- Y
nee Of attitude which comes only from ID
rfect muscular development Not an "a
e frowning faces bent upon him could -
,rn an accent Of respect into the con
nptuous tones IN which be answered II,
bis name. Rufus Dawes. prisoner of ar
} crown" n
Come away. my darling" said Wick Ii
J. alarmed at his daughters blsnched
. and eager eyes III
WATT she said. impstientIy. listen ba
for the voice whose owner she could no
see. Rufus Dawes, Oh. I have Of
lrd that name beforer' -,
You are a prisoner Of the crown AZ ~
penal settlement Of Port Arthur r.,
Yes" IN,
sylvia turned to her father with stc
sthless inquiry in her eyes -Oh Ca
"a. who Is that speaking7 know the de,
ne. I know the voice. wi
That Is the man who was with ron mi
the boat. dear" says yickers. grave
The prisoner" inc
The eager light died out Of her eyes. wa
In its place came a look Of disap- abs
ntment and pain Il thought Il was pie
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