Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-07-28

$50 he is" said Troke, but we hain't
a-going to send there for fortnit, and
In the meantime I'm to work him ON the
! chain"
"Oh," said Mr.. North again. Lend
me your knife, Troke."
And then, before them all, this curious
parson took piece of tobacco out of
his ragged pocket, and cut Off "chaw''
with Mr.. Trokes knife. Rufus Dawes
felt what he had not felt for three days
An interest in something. He stared
at the parson In unaffected astonish-
ment. Mr.. North perhaps mistook the
meaning of his fixed stare, for he held
out the remnant of tobacco to him.
The chain-line vibrated at this, and
bent forward to enjoy the vicarious de-
light of seeing another man chew to-
bacco. Troke grinned with a silent mirth
that betokened retribution for the favor
ed convict. Here" said Mr.. North,
holding out the dainty morsel upon
which 80 many eyes were fixed. Rufus
Dawes took the tobacco, looked at It
hungrily for an instant, and then-to the
establishment of everybody-fung 1t
away.
From convict mouths went out re-
spectful roar of amazement, and Mr..
Troke's eyes snapped with pride of out
ragged authorship. you ungrateful
dogw he cried, raising his stick.
Mr.. North put up hand. THAT will
do, Troke," he 'said 4 know your re-
spect for the cloth. Move the men on
again"
Get on!' and Dawes felt his newly
riveted chain tug. 1t was some time
since he had been in chain gang, and
the sudden jerk nearly over balanced
him. He caught at his neighbor, and
looking up, met a pair of black e-es
which cleaned recognition. His neigh
Dor was John Rex. Mr.. North, watch
ing them, was struck by the resemblance
the two men bore to each other. Their
height, eyes, hair and complexion were
similar. Despite the difference in name,
they might be related. They might be
brothers." thought he. Poor fellows!
l never knew a prisoner refuse tobacco
before" And he looked on the ground
for the despised portion. But in vain.
John Rex, oppressed by no foolish senti-
ment, had picked it up and put 1t in his
mouth.
So Rufus Dawes was relegated to his
old life again, and came back to his
prison with the hatred of his kind, that
his prison had bred in him, increased
hundredfold. 1t seemed to him that
the sudden awakening had dazed him,
that the food of light so suddenly let In
upon his slumbering soul had blinded his
eyes, used SO long to the sweetly cheat
ing twilight. He was at first unable to
apprehend the details of his misery. He
knew only that his dream-child was alive
and shuddered at him; that the only
thing he loved and trusted had betrayed
him; that all hope of justice and mercy
had gone from him forever; that the
beauty had gone from earth, the bright
ness from heaven; and that he was DOOM
ed still to live. He went about his work.
unheedful Of the jests of Trokc, ungalled
by his irons, unmindful of the groans
and laughter about him. His magnificent
muscles saved him from the lash, for
the amiable Troke tried to break him
down in vain. He did not complain, he
did not laugh, he did not weep. His
mate" Rex tried to converse with him,
but did not succeed. In the midst of one
of Rex's excellent tales Rufus Dawes
would sigh YEARLY. There's something
on that fellows mind" thought Rex,
prone to watch, the signs by which the
soul Is read. HE has some secret which
Welgns upon MIN.
Then Rex came to a conclusion. His
mate was plotting an escape. He him
self cherished a notion of that kind, as
did Gabbett and Vetch. bat by common
distrust no one ever gave utterance to
thoughts of this nature. 1t would be too
dangerous. "He would be good com
rade for rush." thought Rex, and re-
solved more firmly than ever to ally
himself to this dangerous and silent COM
panion.
One question Dawes had asked which
Rex had been able to answer, "Who Is
that North?"
"A chaplain. He Is only here for a
week or so. There is a new one com
Ing North goes to Sidney. He is not
In favor with the bishop"
Silence therev cries the >overseer.
do You want me to report yer?''
Am. LIST such diversions the DAYS rolled
on. and Rufus Dawes almost longed for
the coal mines. To be sent from the
settlement to the coal mines, and from
the coal mines to the settlement, was to
these unhappy men trip"
Cro be continued-l