The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-07-28
Prisoners and Cdpfives
$500
BY III. s. MERRIMAN

is familiar to him. I surmiss that 1t
must be worse than being in Siberian
prison ones self !"
1t Is easy to set down the words, but
to render the slight twang, the wonder
full power of expressing pathos that lay
hidden in this mans tongue, Is task be-
yond any pen. Tyars stopped him with
a quick gesture of the head as II to inti-
mate that all this was no news to him.
"Why," he asked CURLY, "are you
showering all this upon met Do you
think that am the sort of fellow to turn
| backW
"Oh, no !" answered Easton In an alter
ed tone. Then he turned in his chair
and, unlocking drawer In the pedestal
Of his writing table, he drew forth sew
eral eather-bound books, which he set
upon the table in front Of him. "Oh,
no |" he said, turning the pages. only
you seemed to be of opinion just now that
the pastime Of staying at home and pull
ing strings had it's advantages"
80 it has," was the cool reply; but
that in no way alters the case as far as
l am concerned"
"Then l apologize" said Easton, rails
ing his eyes without moving his head. /
thought, perhaps-well, never mind T.
what do you thinkT
81 had a sort Of notion that some other
interest had sprung up-that you were
getting sick Of all this long preparation.
"And wished to back out?" suggested
Tyars in his high-bred indifference.
As he spoke he looked up and their
eyes met. A strong contrast-these two
pairs of eyes. The one, large, placid; the
other quick keen and restless. Although
Easton's gaze did not lower or finch, his
eyes were not still they seemed to search
from corner to corner Of the large glance
that met his own.
II am afraid" he said, ignoring the
!, question, that I am getting trife skep-
teal. have had more than one dis
appointment. Our doctor-Philippi, you
know-has been appointed sanitary In
> spector Of the town of Lille, or something
! equally exciting. He has intimated that
: while fully sympathzing with our noble
scheme he can only help us now with his
y purse and his prayers. do not imagine
? that his purse will assist you materially
6 to steer through the ice on a dark night
:, :, in the Sea Of Kara"
ut comes, no doubt" said Tyars, hall
, apologizing for the French doctor'i
treachery, from his failure to realize
;, the whole thing. The nation took up TIM
- question of the slave trade without I
9 moments hesitation, and that was on
~ upon which there were undoubtedly argu
ments upon both sides Of equal weight
y We are not sure now that the compare
" lively small proportion Of the human rae
-, victimized by the slave trade has reall
. . benefited. The state Of Russia and he
. system of government is disgrace t
the whole world-yet the whole worl
- closes Its eyes to the fact. The Siberia
L. exiles, In my estimation, call for NOR
- sympathy than those thick-skinned, dense
no Drained negroes"
r. Easton said nothing. His father ha
Id been a slave owner, but he fact wa
oh unknown to Tyars, and he did not thin
it necessary to mention 1t. Had the slay
ce trade never been suppressed, Matthe
,e Mark Easton would have been one Of tt
a. richest men in America. As 1t was,
ey sat daily in this little Office in the cit
or of London conducting-to all outwaI
st. appearances-a small and struggling con
i'm mission agents business. 1t was som
X what characteristic Of the man and b
country that Claud Tyars should be q
mt lowed to remain In ignorance of the
ng matters.
fiji Easton now turned to the leather-bouI
books, and the two men sat far into Il
his day discussing questions strictly technic
ip- and strictly confined to the fitting out
ice the small vessel lying in the London do
he for an expedition to the Arctic ses
Even in the discussion of these deta
ar each man retained his characteristic ma
Ike ner of treating outward things. East
use was irresponsible, gay and light, VIII
or beneath the airy touch there lurked
'ou truer frmer grasp of detail than is pr
Is sessed by the majority Of men. I
all queer little face was never quite gra'
even while speaking Of the most serio
In matters. His manner was, througho
ich suggestive of the forced attention Of
at schoolboy, ready to be led aside at
thy, slightest interruption, while the relati
are Of hard facts and the detailing Of 10
ust statistics ran from his glib tongue wi
out the least sign Of effort.