The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-05-04

soldiers. If the first rush proved sue
cessful the vessel was theirs. Rufus
Dawes thought of the little bright-hair-
ed child who had run SO confidingly to
meet him, and shuddered.
There" said the Grow, with q sheer
ing laugh, what do you think of that?
Does the girl look like disappointing us
now:''
There was silence for a minute or two.
The giant was plunged in gloomy alb
| straction, and Netch and the Moocher
interchanged a significant glance. Cab
bett had been ten years at the colonial
penal settlement of Macquarie Harbor,
and he had memories that he did not
confide to his companions. When he in
dulged in one of these fits of recollection.
| his friends found it best to leave him
to himself.
! Rufus Dawes was no longer stimulat-
ed by outward sounds, his senses appear
ed to fail him. The blood hushed into
Ills eyes and ears. He made a violent,
vain effort to retain his consciousness,
but with a faint cry fell back, striking
his head against the edge Of the bunk.
The noise reused the burglar in an in
slant. There was some one in the berth
The three looked into each others eyes,
in guilty alarm, and then Gabbett dash
ed round the partition.
''It's Dawes" said the Moocher 1--WE
had forgotten him.
Hell join us, mate. he'll join us"'
cried Vetch, fearful Of bloodshed.
Gabbett. flinging himself on to the
PROSTATE figure dragged 1t. head fore
most, to the floor. The sudden vertigo
had saved Rufus Dawes life. The rob-
Der twisted one brawny hand in his
shirt, and pressing the knuckles down.
prepared to deliver a blow that should
forever silence the listener, when Vetch
caught his arm. "He's been asleep" he
cried. Don't hit him! See, he's not
awake yet"
A crowd gathered round The giant
relaxed his grip, but the convict gave
only deep groan, and allowed his head
to fall on his shoulder.
Gabbett took another look at the purp-
ling face and the believed forehead, and
then sprang erect, rubbing at his right
hand, as though he would rub off some
thing sticking there.
Hes got the fever" he roared. with
a terror-stricken grimace 1--WE seen
it before to-day. The typhus is aboard
and he's the fourth man down.!
The circle of beast-like faces, stretched
forward to 'see the fight" widened at
the half-comprehended. ill-omened word.
1t was as though a bombshell had fallen
into the group. Rufus Dawes lay on the
deck motionless. breathing heavily. The
savage circle glared at his PROSTATE
body. The alarm ran round, and all the
prison crowded down to stare at him.
All at once he uttered groan. and turn
ing. propped his body on his two rigid
arms, and made an effort to speak. But
no sound issued from his convulsed jaws.
Hes DONE" said the Moocher brutal
ly. "He didn't hear muffin"
The noise Of the heavy bolts shooting
back broke the spell. The first detach-
ment were coming down from ''exercise"
The door was flung back. and the bayo-
nets of the guard cleaned in a ray Of
sunshine that shot down the hatchway
This glimpse of sunlight-sparkling at
the entrance Of the fetid and sitting
prison-seemed to mock their miseries.
1t was as though heaven laughed at
them. By one of those terrible and
strange impulses which animate crowds,
the mass, turning from the sick man,
leaped toward the doorway. The inte
rior of the prison flashed white with
suddenly turned faces. The gloom scin-
tillated with rapidly moving hands "Air
air! Give us air!'
THAT'S itv' said Sanders to his COM
panions. 81 thought the news would
rouse EN-"
Gabbett-all the savage in his blood
stirred by the sight of flashing eyes and
wrathful faces-would have thrown him
self forward with the rest, but Vetch
plucked him back.
It'll he over in a moment" he said
cts only a fit they've got"
ITO be contiuuedl