Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-07-21
"Who are fheY2'

VIII you swear to the three others !!
81 was in the chain gang at Macqua-
rie Harbor with them for three years
Sylvia, hearing this hideous reason for
acquaintance, gave a low cry, and fell
into her fathers arms.
"Oh, papa, take me away! | feel as If
/ was going to remember something ter
rible.''
Amidst the deep silence that prevailed
the cry of the poor girl was distinctly
audible in the court, and all heads turn
ed to the door. In the general wonder
no one noticed the change that passed
over Rufus Dawes. His face flushed
scarlet, great drops Of sweat stood on
his forehead, and his black eyes glared
in the direction from whence the sound
came, as though they would pierce the
envious wood that separated him from
the woman whose voice he had heard.
Maurice Frere sprang up and pushed his
way through the crowd under the bench.
whats this !" he said to Vickers, al
most brutally. "What did you bring her
here for? She Is not wanted. l told
you that"
II considered it my duty, sir" says
Nickers with stately rebuke.
THAT rufilan Dawes frightened her"
said Meekin. "a gush of recollection,
poor child. There, there, calm your
self, Miss Vickers. He is quite safe"
Enlightened her, eh?'
yes" said Sylvia, family, "he fright
ened me, Maurice. l needn't stop any
longer, dear, need l."
NO" says Frere, the cloud passing
from his face. Major. l beg your
pardon, but l was hasty. Take her home
at once. This sort of thing Is too much
for her" And so he went back again
to his place, wiping his brow, and breath
Ing hard, as one who had just escaped
from some near peril.
Rufus Dawes had remained in the
same attitude until the figure Of E'rere,
passing through the doorway, reused
him. "Who is she?' he said, in a low.
hoarse voice, to the constable behind
him.
Miss Vickers,' said the man, shortly,
finging the information at him as one
might fling a bone to a dangerous dog.
Miss Vickers." repeated the convict.
still staring in a sort of bewildered
agony. They told me she was dead"
The constable shifted contemptuously
at this preposterous conclusion, as who
should say: IF you know all about it,
animal, why did you ask?' And then,
feeling that the liked gaze of his inter
rogator demanded some reply, added:
You thort she was. I've no doubt. You
did your best to make her so, I've
heard"
The convict raised both his hands with
sudden action of wrathful despair. as
though he would seize the other. despite
the loaded muskets, but, checking him
self with sudden impulse, wheeled round
to the court. "Your honor! Gentle
men! l want to speak"
The change in the tone of his voice,
no less than the sudden loudness of teh
exclamation, made the faces. hitherto
bent upon the door through which Mr..
Frere had passed, turn round again. To
many there it seemed that the notorious
Dawes" was no longer in the box, for in
place of the upright and defiant villain
who stood there an instant back was a
white-faced, nervous, agitated creature,
bending forward In an attitude almost of
supplication, one hand grasping the rail
as though to save himself from falling
the other outstretched toward the bench
Your honor, there has been some dread.
full mistake made. want to explain
about myself. | explained before, wher
first | was sent to Port Arthur, but thu
letters were never forwarded by the com
mandant. OF course. that's the rule. anC
l can't complain. I've been sent Their,
unjustly, your honor. l made that boat
your honor. l saved the majors wifi,
and daughter. I was the man; l did i
all myself, and my liberty was sworr
away by a villain who hated me.
thought until now that no one knew tn,
truth, for they told me that she wa,
dead" His rapid utterance took tn,
court so much by surprise that no on,
interrupted him. 81 was sentenced I,
death for boiling, sir, and they reprievec
me because l helped them In the boat
Helped them! Why, l made it! Sh,
will tell you so. l nursed her, l carried
her in my arms, I starved myself TO
her. She was fond of me. sir. She was
indeed. She called me Good Mr.
Dawes"
At this a coarse laugh broke out
which was Instantly checked. The judg
bent over to ask, docs he mean Mis-
Fiekers? 2" and in this interval Ruff
Dawes, looking down into the court
saw Maurice Frere staring up at hin
with terror in his eyes.
Il see you, Captain Frere, coward an
liar! Put him in the box, gentlemen
and make him tell his story. She'll con
tradict him, never fear. Oh, and
thought she was dead all this while!"
The judge had got his answer fror
the clerk by this time. Miss Wicker
had been seriously Ill, had tainted jus
now In the court. Her only memorie
of the convict who had been with her /
the boat were those of terror. The sigh
Of him just now had most seriously a
tected her. The convict himself was a
inveterate liar and schemer. and hi
story had been already disproved b
Captain Frere. Rufus Dawes, still er
~deavoring to speak, was clanked ava
with amidst a buzz of remark and SUI
mise.
The trial progressed without furthe
Incident. The defense set up by Re
was most ingenious. He was guilty {
a~bsconding, but his moderation migl
3 plead an excuse for that. His only oil
1 Aaa4 - -