The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-09

aeekinF he asked at length ~Wha
l stated was the truth. Are they no
going to ask her for her storyg They
told me that she was to be asked. Sure
" they win ask her"
Il am not. perhaps. at liberty" said
Meekin, placidly. unconscious Of the AK
ony OF despair and rage that made the
voice OF the strong man before him
Sssse-, 70 state the intentions Of the
authorities. but l can tell you that Miss
fickers viii not be asked anything about
you You are to go back TO Port Ar
thur on the oath, and to remain there. I"
groan burts from Rufus Dawes: a
groan so full of torture that even the
comfortable Meekin was thrilled BY il.
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 II
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 II disdainins to an
swer In words. cast his eyes round the
yard with a glance that seemed to ask.
ing quite In accordance with Justice.
when It's civilization created such places
as that stone-walled. carbine- guar ded
prison shed, and filed il 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 was dead. In order that she
might learn to forget me: but she could
not do that l have thought Of her so
often during these weary years that she
must sometimes have thought Of me.
Five years, She must be a woman now.
My little child a woman, Yet. she Is
sure to be child-like. sweet and gentle.
How she viii grieve when she hears of
my sufferings. Oh, my darling. my iarl-
ing, you are not deadr' And then. look
Ing hastily about him In the darkness.
As though fearful even there Of being
seen. he pulled from out his breast a lit
lie packet. and felt II lovingly with his
'oarse. toil-worn fingers. reverently rails
ng II to his lips. and dreaming over IL.
With smile on his face. as though II
we're sacred talisman that should open
o him the doors of freedom.
The usual clsnking and hammering J
Tere prevalent upon the stone jetty at /,
'ort Arthur when the schooner bearing
be returned convict. Rufus Dawes. ran
longside- He sat with bis head bowed
own and his hands clssped about his
nees. disdaining TO look until they :
oused him.
Halo. Dawes says Warder Troke. :
altinx his train Of ironed yellow-jackets. =
SO you've come back again. Glad to
e yer. Dawes 1t seems an age since
e had the pleasure Of your company.
awes" At this pleasantly the train
ughed- so that their irons clanked more q
an ever They found ii often incon-
intent not to laugh at Mr.. Troke's hui
or Step down here. Dawes. and let
E introduce yer to your hold friends a.
ieyn be glad to see yer. won't yer, az
Us? Why. bless me. Dawes. we thort al
I'd lost yer, We thort yer'd given Us a
E slip altogether, Dawes. They didn't OF
ke care Of yer in Hobart Town, / ex- nj,
CT. Ell. boys7 Wen look after yer 70.
re. Dawes. though You won't bolt -,
y more"
Take care. Mr. Troke.' said a warn IN
, voice. you're at 1t again, Let the Da
N aloney' pr
By virtue of an order transmitted a Z
m Hobart Town. they had begun to
aeh the dangerous prisoner to the cor
/ man Of the gang. riveting the leg sce
rs Of the pair BY means Of an extra -
(. which could be removed when nee -
airy: but Dawes had given no sign of pr
sciousness- At the sound Of the cue
ndly tones. however. he looked M. the
saw a tall, gaunt man. dressed In A qui
bby pepper and salt raiment. and lea,
ring a black handkerchief knotted ..wI
nd his throat He was a stranger TO sa~,
beg your pardon, Mr.. North" said "a
ke, sinking at once the bully IN the a.. 80,
TX Il didn't see yer reverence INV
A parson" thought Dawes. with dis l
ointment. and dropped his eyes. lssu
know that" returned Mr. North. foul
~. eff you had. you would have Of
an outter ana money. Don't you Wish
bic youself to tell a lie; it's quite 49,,
y, ~ '" my ami
ufus Dawes mad intended to scowl
the tone. sharply authoritative, rous- II
is automatic convict second nature: enjo
he answered. almost despite himself. emb
fus Dawes" and
d." said Mr. North, eying him With ,vb,.
lrious air Of expectation that had -
thing plying In IT, This Is the are
is IL? thought be was to 20 to of
,oal mines" Al
o he Is" said Troke, but we hain't fact.
ng to send there for fortnit. and cess
e meantime I'm to work him on the anne
OF
H." said Mr. North again. Lend actin,
our knife. Troke." =.
ID then. before them all, this curious ~ y
m took a piece of tobacco out Of .r'es
aged pocket, and cut of -ckaw" tneir
Mr.. Troke's knife. Rufus Dawes direc
What he had not felt for three days bags
interest in something. He stared custo
he parson In unaffected astonish- norr
Mr.. North perhaps mistook the no,v
ing Of his fixed stare, for he held -
he remnant Of tobacco to him. io'N'
: chain-line yibrated at this. and lrle~
u-d Al -. a.