The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-05-04

soldiers. If the first rush proved suc-
cessful, the vessel was theirs. Rufus
Dawes thought of the little bright-hair-
ed child who had run so confdingiy to
meet him, and shuddered.
''Therer said the Grow, with sheer
ing laugh, ''what do you think Of that7
Does the girl look like disappointing MS
noww
There was silence for a minute or two.
The giant was plunged In gloomy abb
straction, and Vetch and the Moocher
interchanged 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 Ats Of recollection.
his friends found 1t best to leave him
to himself.
Rufus Dawes was no longer stimulat-
cd by outward sounds, his senses appear
ed to fail him. The blood hushed into
his eyes and ears. He made violent,
vain effort to retain his consciousness,
but with a faint cry fell back, striking
bis head against the edge Of the bunk.
The noise reused the burglar In an In
slant. There was some one In the berthl
The three looked into each others eyes,
In guilty alarm, and then Gsbbett dash
ed round the partition.
ITS Dawes!' said the Moochsr. 1--WE
had forgotten himv'
Hell Join us, mate, he'll join usv
cried Vetch, fearful Of bloodshed.
Gabbett. finginR 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. Hes 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 a 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 feverw he roared, with
a terror-stricken grimace. 1--WE seen
1t 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 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 nufi1n'."
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 a
the entrance of the fetid and sitting
prison-seemed to mock their miseries
1t was as though heaven laughed a
them. By one of those terrible anC
strange impulses which animate crowds
the mass, turning from the sick man
leaped toward the doorway. The inte
rior Of the prison flashed white will
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. II thought the news would
rouse EN-"
Gabbett-all the savage in his BLOOD
stirred by the sight of flashing eyes anC
wrathful faces-would have thrown him
self forward with the rest, but Vetcl
plucked him back.
eth he over In a moment" he said
"It's only a fit they've got"
(ro be continued.l