Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-07-27


to console you, man. l wanted to give
you some good advicel'
Il beg your pardon, sir. Pray go
on"
Il was going to say, my good fellow.
that you have done yourself great deal
Of injury by your ill-advised accusation
of Captain Frere, and the use you made
Of Miss Vickers' name"
A frown, as of pain, contracted the
prisoners brows, and he seemed with
difficulty to put a restraint upon his
speech. "Is there to be no inquiry, Mr..
MeekinT' he asked, at length. "What
| stated was the truth. Are they not
going to ask her for her story? They
told me that she was to be asked. Sure
ly they will ask her."
81 am not perhaps, at liberty" said
Meekin, placidly, unconscious of the ag-
ony Of despair and rage that made the
voice of the strong man before him
culver, ito state the intentions of the
authorities, but l can tell you that Miss
Nickers will not be asked anything about
you. You are to go back to Port Ar
thur on the oath, and to remain there"
\ groan burts from Rufus Dawes; a
groan so full of torture that even the
comfortable Meekin was thrilled by It.
Come" says Meekin, you can't com
plain. You have broken the law, and
you must suffer. Civilized society says
you sha'n't do certain things, and IL
you do them you must suffer the penalty
civilized society imposes You are not
wanting in intelligence, Dawes, more's
the pity-and you can't deny the justice
of that"
Rufus Dawes, as if disdaining to an
swer in words, cast his eyes round the
yard with glance that seemed to ask.
grimly. If civilized society was progress
ing quite In accordance with Justice
when its civilization created such places
ms that stone walled carbne-guarded
! prison she'd and filled It with such crea-
lures as those forty human beasts. DOOM
ed to spend the best years of their man
hood cracking pebbles in it.
Meditating that night in the solitude
of his cell. he almost wept to think of
the cruel deception that had doubtless
been practiced on her. "They have told
her that l was dead. in order that she
might learn to forget me- but she could
not de that l have thought of her 50
often during these weary years that she
Five years. She must be woman now
My little child a womanl Yet. she is
sure to be child-ike. sweet and gentle.
How she will greve when she hears of
my sufferings. OH my darling. NV darl-
ing you are not deadT' And then. look
ing hastily about him in the darkness.
as though fearful even there of being
seen. he pulled from out his breast lit
. a. c.1a -
coarse. toil-worn fingers. reverently rails
| ing it to his lips, and dreaming over it.
with a smile on his face. al though it
were sacred talisman that should open
to him the doors of freedom.
The usual clanking and hammering
were prevalent upon the stone jetty at
Port Arthur when the schooner bearing
the returned convict. Rufus Dawes. ran
alongside. He sat with his head bowed
down and his hands clasped about his
knees. dsdaining to look until they
reused him.
Halo. Dawesw says Warder Troke
halting his train Of ironed yellow-jackets
$50 you've come back again. Glad to
see yer. Dawesl 1t seems an age since
we had the pleasure Of your company
Dawesw At this pleasantly the train
laughed so that their irons clanked more
than ever. They found it often incon-
venient not to laugh at Mr.. Troke's hui
NOR. Step down here, Dawes. and let
me Introduce yer to your hold friends
They'll be glad to see yer, won't yer,
boFsf Why bless me, Dawes we thort
we'd lost yer! We thort yer'd given us
the slip altogether. Dawes. They didn't
take care OF yer in Hobart Town, ex-
Pect, Ell. boys? Wen Look after yer
here. Dawes, though. You woR't belt
any more"
"pako care. Afr. Troke." said a warn
Ing voice. ''yeu're at it sgain Let the
man alon0i'
Ry virtue Of an order transmitted
frem Hobart Town. they had beguR Ia
attach the dangerous prisoner ia the
last man of the gang. rivetin. the Reg
ircas Of the pair ky means of an extra
! liuk, which oould he removed when neo.
essary; bNt Dawes had sivea Rs sign of
Consciousness. AT the sound Of the
friendly bsne~. however. he Looked up.
and Jaw 4 tall. xaunt man. dressed in a
shabby pcpper and salt raiment. and
wea rias a black handk .rehief knottesl
round hiS tarost. lie was stranger to
| him.
81 beg your pardon. Ar. North" said
Troke, sinking at once the bully in the
sneak. IL didn't see yer reverence"
"a parson" thought Dawes. with dis
| appointment and dropped his eyes.
II know that returned Mr.. North.
coofly. "1f you had. you would have
been all butter and honey. Don't you
trouble youseh to tell a lie; it's quite
unnecessary. What's your name, my
manT'
Rufus Dawes had intended to scowl,
but the tone. sharply authoritative, rous-
ed his automatic convict second nature;
and he answered, almost despite himself,