The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-07-27
CHAPTER Xxx.

Rex told Mr.. Meekin. who, the next
day, did him the honor to visit him,
that, under Providence. he owed his
escape from death to the kind manner
In which Captain Frere had spoken of
him.
Il hope your escape will he a warning
to you. my man." said Mr.. Meekin, land
that you will endeavor to make the rest
of your life an atoaement for your early
errors"
Indeed will, sir" said John Rex,
who had taken Mr. Meekin's measure
very accurately. land it is very kind
of you to condescend to speak SO to a
wretch like me. All! sir. l wish l had
attended to the gospels teachings when
! was younger. l might have been saved
from all this"
you might, indeed. poor man; but the
Divine Mercy is infinite-quite infinite,
and will be extended to all of us-to
you az well as to me-" This with the
air of saying, What do you think of
that?D Remember the penitent thief,
Rex-the penitent thief
"Indeed 1 do, sir
II will speak to the authorities about
q change ia your dietary SCALE" return
ed Meekin, patronizingly. I'm the
meantime. just collect together in your
mind those particulars of your adven-
lures Of which you spoke. Such re-
markable history ought not to be lost -
Thank you kindly, sir. will. sir
All! l little thought, when l occupied
the position of a gentleman, Mr.. Meek
In, that l should be reduced to this.
But it is only just, sir. Good morning,
and heaven bless you, sir!' said Rex.
with his tongue in his cheek for the
benefit of his yard mates; and 50 Mr..
Meekin tripped gracefully away, con-
WINGED that he was laboring most sue
cessfully in the vineyard, and that the
convict Rex was really 4 superior per-
son.
II will send his narrative to the
bishop" said he to himself. "It will
amuse him. There must be many strange
histories here, if one could but find them
cut"
As the thought passed through his
brain his eye fell upon the notorious
Dawes" who, while waiting for the
schooner to take him back to Port Ar
thur, had been permitted to amuse him
self by breaking stones.
A fanciful visitor, seeing the Irregular
" rising hammers along the line, mixht
have likened tho shed to the interior of
some vast piano. whose notes an unseen
hand was erratically lingering. Rufus
Dawes was seated last of the line. This
was the place nearest the watching con-
stable, and was allotted on that account
to the most ill-favored.
"Wer, Dawes" says Mr.. Meekin
measuring with his eye the distance be.
tween the prisoner and himself, As one
might measure the chain Of some fero
cious dog. How are you this morning
DawesT'
Dawes, scowling in a parenthesis no.
tween the cracking Of two stones. was
understood to say that he was yer,
well.
Il am afraid. Dawes" saws Mr.
Meekin, reproachfully. that you hay,
done yourself ne good by your outburs
In court on Monday. / understand tha,
public opinion is quite incensed agains
you"
Dawes, slowly arranging one larg,
fragment Of bluestone in a comfortabl,
basin of smaller fragments, made n,
reply.
II am afraid you lack patience
Dawes. You do not repent Of your of
lenses against the law, l fear"
The only answer vouchsafed by tn,
ironed man was a savage blow, which
split the stone into sudden fragments
and made the clergyman skip a stel
backward.
"Yeu are hardened rufnan, sir! D
you not hear me speak to you? l cam
to console you, man. l wanted to Civ
you some good advice"
81 beg your pardon, sir. Pray g
on"
II was going to say, my good fellow
that you have done yourself a great dea
of injury by your ill-advised accuse tiol
Of Captain Frere. and the use you mad
of Miss Vickers' name"
A frown, as of pain. contracted tn
prisoners brows' and he seemed wit
iifaculty to put 4 restraint upon HI