The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-07-27
CHAPTER Xxx.

Rex told MIR. 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 be a warning
10 you, my man." said Mr.. Meekin, "and
that you will endeavor to make the rest
of your life an atonement for your early
errors"
"Indeed / will, sir" said John Rex,
who had taken Mr.. Meekin's measure
very accurately. 'and 1t is very kind
Of you to condescend to speak so to
wretch like me. All! sir, wish / had
attended to the gospels teachings when
! was younger. might have been saved
from all this"
You might indeed poor man; but the
Divine Mercy is infnite-quite infinite,
and will be extended to all of us-to
you as well as to me-" Crhis with the
air of saying, What do you think of
thatTD Remember the penitent thief,
Rex-the penitent thief"
Indeed do, sir"
II will speak to the authorities about
q change in your dietary SCALE" return
cd 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. l will, sir.
All! l little thought, when / occupied
the position Of a gentleman, Mr.. Meek
In, that l should be reduced to this.
But 1t 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 so Mr..
Meekin tripped gracefully away, con-
vinced that he was laboring most sue
cessfully in the vineyard, and that the
convict Rex was really superior per-
son.
II will send his narrative to the
bishop" said he to himself. st will
amuse him. There must be many strange
histories here, If one could but and them
out"
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, might
have likencd the 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
4 to the most ili-favored.
"Weli, Dawes" says Mr.. Meekin.
measuring with his eye the distance be-
tween the prisoner and himself, as one
might measure the chain Of some Zero.
cious dog. "How are you this morning
DawesY
Dawes, scowling In a parenthesis he
tween the cracking of two stones. was
understood to say that he was very
we'll
u am afraid, Dawes" SAYS Mr.
Meekin, responsibility, shat you have
done yourself no good by your outburs,
tn court ON Monday. / understand that
public opinion Is quite incensed against
you"
Dawes, slowly arranging one large
fragment of bluestone in a comfortable
basin Of smaller fragments, made nc
reply.
81 am afraid you lack patience
Dawes. You do not repent Of your of
lenses against the law, fear"
The only answer vouchsafed by tn,
ironed man was a savage blow, whiel
split the stone into sudden fragments
and made the clergyman skip a ste
backward.
"You are hardened rufian, sir! D
you not hear me speak to you? I cam
to console you, man. wanted to Civ
you some good adyice!'
II beg your pardon, sir. Pray 9
on"
ST was going to say, my good fellow
that you have done yourself great de-
of injury by your ill-advised aceusatio
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
tificulty to put restraint upon n