The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-09-20

coldIy and sadly. as one who knows that
remonstranee is vain. and Is yet con-
strained to remonstrate.
"Oh. dear. My Lady Proper. How
refined W. are gettingr'
There, | did not mean TO annoy you.
said she. YEARLY. Don't let Us quarrel.
for goodness sake"
The INSTRUMENTATION of which Rufus
Dawes had been guilty was insignificant
1t was the custom Of the newly hedged
~constables Of Captain Frere to enter the
wards at night. armed with cutlasses.
tramping about. aud making a great
noise. The men in Dawes gang were
often searched more than once in a
night. searched going 10 work. searched
at meals, searched going to prayers,
searched coming out. aud this in the
toughest manner.
Now. Rufus Dawes, holding aloof. as
was his custom. from the majority of his
companions had made one friend-if so
mindless and battered an old wreck
could be called a friend-Blind Mooney.
One of the many ways in which Rufus
Dawes had obtained the affection of the
old blind man a the gift Of such frag-
meuts Of tobacco as he had himself from
time to time secured. Troke knew this;
and on the evening in question hit upon
an excellent plan Admitting himself
noiselessly into the boat she'd. where the
gang slept, he crept close 10 the sleeping
Dawes. and counterfeiting Moneys
mumhling utteranee, asked for ..some to-
bacco." Rufus Dawes was but half
awake. and Troke felt something put
into his hand He grasped Dawes arm.
and struck a light. He had got his man
this time. Dawes had conveyed TO his
fancled friend a piece of tobacco almost
as big as the top joint Of his little fin
ger.
One can understand the feelings Of a
man ~entrapped by such base means.
Rufus Dawes no sooner saw the hated
face of Warder Troke peering over his
hammock than he sprang out. and. ex-
erting TO the utmost his powerful mus
cles, knocked MFR. Troke fairly of his
legs into the arms Of the incoming CON
stables A desperate struggle took place.
at the end of which the convict. over
powered by numbers. was borne sense
less to the cells. gagged and chained
TO the ring bolt on the bare flags While
in this condition he was ~savagely beaten
by FIVE or six c~onstables. To this MAIN
ed and manacled rebel was the com
mandant ushered by Troke the next
morning.
~Ha. ha. my man. said the com
mandant- Here You are again, you see
How do you like this sort of thing?'
Dawes. glazing. makes no answer.
"You shall have fifty lashes. my man.
said Frere. Wen see how you'll feel
them
The fifty were duly administered. and
the commandment called the next day.
The rebel vas stiIl mute. Frere gave
him Fifty more Iashes. and sent him the
next day to grind cayenne pepper. This
was a punishment more dreaded by the
convicts than any other. The pungent
dust filed their eyes and lungs, causing
them the most exerueiating torments-
For a man with a raw back the work
was one continued agouy- In four days
Rufus Dawes. emaeiated, blistered.
blinded, broke down.
Captain Frere, kill me at once.s he
said.
"No fear said the other. rejoiced at
this proof Of bis power. You've given
in; that's all I wanted Trcke. take him
to the hospital"
The next day Frers visited him. com
plimenfed him on his courage. and offer
ed to make him a constable Da ives
turned his SCARED back to his torturer.
and resoluteIy declined to answer.
II am afraid you have made an enemy
of the commandanf." said North the nex
day. why not accept his onerT
Dawes cast on him a glance of quiet
scorn- .And betray my mates? I'm
not one of that sort"
North pityingly impiored the stubborn
mind to have mercy IN the Iacerated
body. but without effect. His own way
ward heart gave him the key to read
the cipher of this mans life "a noble
ruined" said he to himself.
what is the secret of his historyY'
One day this bond was drawn so close
as to tug at both their heart strings.
The chaplain had a flower in his coat.
Dawes eyed 1t with hungry looks. and,
as the clergyman was about to quit the
room. said, "Mr. North, win you give
me that rosebudTs North paused irres-
and. finally. as If after a strug-
gle with himself, took It carefully from
his button hole and placed it In the pris-
oner's brown, SCARED hand. In another
instant. Dawes believing himself alone,
pressed the gift to his lips. North turn
ed abruptly, and the eyes Of the pair
met. Dawes flushed crimson. but North
white as death. Neither spoke.
but each was drawn closer to the other,
since both had kissed the rosebud pluck
ed by Syivia's fingers.
Since the tobacco trick Mooney and
had been placed In the new
together with a man named
Bland, who had already twice failed TO
kill himself. When old Mooney la
his hard case, Bland proposed
the three should put In practice a
In which two at least must sue
ceed. The scheme was a desperate one,
and attempted only In the last sxfrem-
ify. II was the custom of the ring" |
however, to swear zach of It's members !
to carry out 10 the best of bis ability
this last invention Of the convict disci-
plinsd mind. should two other members
bis assistance.
The scheme was simplicity Itself. That
evening. when the cell door was secure
locked, and the absence of a visiting
TALLER might be counted upon for an
at least, Bland produced a straw.