The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-08-10


urgently, into an empty cell, there to
wait for the hospital guard. The body
OF kirkland was taken away In silence,
and Burgess turned rather pale when
he saw North's threatening face. 1T
isn't my fault, Mr.. North he said. IL
didn't know that the lad was chicken
hearted" But North turned away in
disgust, and Macklewain and Burgess
pursued their homeward route together.
Mr.. North, in agony of mind at what
he considered the consequences of his
neglect, slowly, and with head bowed
down. as one bent on a painful errand,
went to see the prisoner who had sur-
'lved. lie found him kneeling on the
ground, Frustrated.
Rufus Dawes!
At the tone Rufus Dawes looked up,
ana seeing who 1t was, waved him off.
Uont speak to me-" he said. with an
impreceatien that made North's flesh
creep. I've told you what I think of
you-a hypocrite, who stands by while
man is cut to pieces, and then comes
ana whines religion to him."
North stood In the center of the cell
with mis- arms hanging down, and his
head bent. "You are right" he said. in
a low tone. II must seem to Won
hypocrite. a servant of Christ? A
Desotted beast ratherl am not come to
whine religion to you. am come to
ask your pardon. / might have saved
you from punishment-saved that poor
boy from death. wanted to save him.
God knows! But 1 have a vice: I am
a drunkard. yielded to temptation, and
- was too late. / come to you, as one
sinful man to another. to ask you to for
give me-" And North suddenly flung
himself down before the convict. and
catching his blood-bespotted hands In
his own. cried, Forgive me, brother. {"
Rufus Dawes, too much astonished to
speak, bent his black eyes on the man,
who crouched at his feet, and ray of
divine pity penetrated his gloomy soul.
He seemed to catch a glimpse Of misery
more profound than his own, and his
stubborn heart felt human sympathy
with this erring brother. "Then In this
hell there Is yet man." said he; and
hand-grasp passed between these
two unhappy beings. North arose, and
with averted face, passed quickly from
the cell. Rufus Dawes looked at the
hand which his strange visitor had tax
en-, and something glittered there. 1t was
a tear. He broke down at the sight Of
it, and when the guard came to fetch
the tameless convict. they found him on
his knees in a corner, sobbing like
child.
The morning after this, the Rev. Mr..
North departed In the schooner for
Hobart Town. Between the oficious
chaplain and the commandant the events
OF the previous day had fixed a great
gulf. Burgess knew that North meant to
report the death of Kirkland. and guess
ed that he would not be backward in
relating the story to such persons in
Hobart Town as would most readily re-
! peat 1t.
Burgess, however, touched with sell
fish regrets, determined to balk the
parson at the outset. He would send
down an official return" of the unfor-
tunate occurrence by the same vessel
that carried his enemy, and thus get
the ear of the office. Meekin, walking
on the evening of the fogging past the
wooden shed where the body lay, saw
Troke bearing buckets filled with dark
colored water, and heard a great splash
ing and sluicing going on inside the hut.
What is the matterT' he asked.
Doctors bin post-morticing the pris-
oner what was logged this morning,
sir" said Troke. "and we're cleanin'
up"
North, on his arrival. went straight
to the house of Major vickers. 'T have
complaint to make, SIR" he said. 81
wish to lodge 1t formally with you. A
prisoner has been logged to death at
| "a
Vickers bent his brow "a serious
accusation, Mr.. North. must, of
course, receive 1t with respect, coming
from you. but I trust that you have
fully considered the circumstances of the
case. always understood Captain Bur
CESS was a most humane man."
North shook his head. He would not
accuse Burgess. He would let events
speak for themselves. 81 only ask for
an inquiry" said he.
Eyes, my dear sir, / know. Very
proper, indeed. on your part. If you
think any injustice has been done; but
have you considered the expense, the
delay, the immense trouble and dissat-
isfaction all this will giveT
mo trouble, no expense, no dissatis-
faction, should stand in the way of hu-
mainly and Justice" cried North.
"Of course not. But will justice be
done2 Are you sure you can prove your
csse? Mind, admit nothing against
Captain Burgess. whom have always
considered most worthy and xealous
officer: but, supposing your charge to
be true, can you prove itP'
Eyes. If the witnesses speak the
truth"
who are they?"
Myself, DR.. Macklewain, the consta-
BILE and two prisoners, one Of whom was
logged himself. He will speak the
truth. believe. The other man have
not much faith In"
Very well; then there is only a pris-
oner and DR.. Macklewain: for II there
has been foul play the convict-constable
will not accuse the authorities. More
over. the doctor does not agree with
you"
mo" cried North, amazed.
"No. You see, then, my dear sir, how
necessary it is not to be hasty in mat
tiers of this kind. l really think that
your goodness of heart has misled you.