Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-22
CHAPTER XII.
Mh nn.-l.-a

The Reprieve.
Precisely at I'VE minutes before ten. on
| that fateful Friday morning. the handcar
reached the spot on N street where Mat
had seen 1t disappear the night before.
step. boy. stor,'' called Jack. straight
ening himself with AN effort, "Tn get on
here; the rest OF you can 90 on to the sta
ton" He dropped from the car and clam
bered stifTiy up the slope.
He had seen man approaching. on big
gray mule. Placing himself directly in the
path of the startled traveller. he hourished
his pistol and shouted, Get down and
gimme that mewl!
why. Jack Perry! What the deucer'
called the rider. He was miner whom
Jack had known in Virginia City.
That's all right" exploded Jack I'm In
too damn a hurry to answer any fool oues-
lions. You can come around to the jail and
get the critter!'
He swung into the saddle.
How about this hanging the miner
called after him, but Jack had astonished
the mule into galop and was already
nearly out of sight.
He reached the jail just as the clock in
the tower was striking ten. The little COM
pany-sherIfr. guard and prisoner-were set
ting out from Vaughan's cell. for in spite
of all Mats efforts everything had gone like
ClOckWork that morning, everybody nao
been on time
The clock had finished striking the hour
and was beginning to toll when Jack flung
himself from the mule and dashed UP the
steps. Along the gloomy hall he flew as II
his great, bulky body had been endowed
with wings, and came upon the sad group
|. as they turned the first corner. He caught
from his breast folded paper and held 1t
high above his head.
"Reprieve! Reprieve! Reprieve! he
shouted until the walls rang.
The three men stopped abruptly; the one
In the middle threw up his hands and fell
as if he had been shot.
My God, I've killed him now! JACK
cried, and threw himself on his knees be-
side the PROSTATE FORM
Stand abck, can't your he exclaimed
fiercey to Mat and the guard, who were
bending over him.
Here out of the way! He picked up
the senseless body as If 1t had been
childs. and carried it down the hall TO the
cell it had left few minutes before. They
followed him.
"ouen the door!'' he ordered savagely.
and they opened it.
He laid the limp form tenderIy on the bed.
Now, get out of here!" he commanded,
"and stay out. An if any d-n son of-a
gun shows his head here III smash his
facet"
They retreated In disorder and told the
jail whence the news spread through the
town, that a reprieve had come the parson
had dropped dead and Jack Perry had gone
crazy from overexertion and grief.
Ony of these statements was true.
Jack had not gone crazy, and the parSon
was not dead. faint fiutter could be de-
tected at the wrist when Jacks big finger
pressed it. He stretched himself on the
cot and dragged Vaughans body over on
his own. There 1t lay, relaxed and help
less, on the great, generous frame that
throbbed from head to foot with desire to
give and give and give.
Beyond any outline or impression of
dream Clement had .drifted.. at first. At
shape themselves into thoughts and feel
ings. He thought he was on raft. far out
at sea. 1t was strong and tight. He felt
secure. But resting upon 1t. stretched at
full length he could feel the tide rise under
him, could feel the motion of the waves.
Gradually the outlines filled. the impress
sions grew distinct. He saw through part
ing eyelids the gray walls of his cell. The
raft on which he lay-was Jack $ great,
generous body; the rising of. the tide-was
his breath; the motion of the wayes-was
the beating OF his heart.
He stirred and sighed Jacks free hand
went to his hip pocket and drew out a
flask. He pulled the cork with his teeth
and put the bottle to Vaughan's lips.
What is it?' Vaughan asked family
Its life, parson. said Jack solemnly.
you've got to take it, even If you don't
wanter. You were ready to take the other,
the black dose, now take this.
Vaughan obeyed. The fiery liquor tingled
through his veins. He fell into natural
sleep.
Jack gently laid him down hung over
him. gloated over him.
There a short, sharp. decisive tap
at the door
"H-lw cried Jack Indignantly.
please let me speak with you, Mr..
Perry" called woman's voice
In high dudgeon Jack tiptoed to the door.
opened It, stepped out and closed it behind
him.
Katharine Chisholm stood in the hall.
The MONDAY light from the narrow win
dow fell full on her. She had thrown back
her hood. Her heavy cloak dropped from
her shoulders, displaying the black gown
she wore beneath.
Jack. He frowned down upon her from his
great height. She looked back at him tim
Idly. Her beauty had never had such an
appeal in it; and for this he distrusted her
the more.
She put out her hand He pretended not
to see it. Her eyes swan with sudden
tears
This amt no place for you, ma am"
he said roughly.
More for me than for you she re-
turned bravely. Men for life, women for
DEATH" She whispered the word.
Jacks keen glance pierced her
SO that was it; she thought the man was
dead. He would let her think so.
Il should calc'late the parson'd had about
enough-of--wimminl" he said brutality.
"Ahr' she breathed 1t was a cruel stab.
But she persisted
Dear good kind Jack" she pleaded.
give me-his precious body!-All my days
to me!-And yet it is SO little No woman
ever claimed 50 llttle!'
It's all most of 'em wanti'' he muttered
under his breath She did not hear him.
Just to care for it-as his mother might,
she went on. 'to prepare 1T for the long
sleepi" She stretched out her hands with
an indescribably pathetic gesture.
''What'u folks say?" he asked slowly.
She blazed at him. We've been fnfiu-
enced by that long enoughi 1t was for that
you dragged him to prison. and his soul SO
white it made yours pitchy black
What folks say! That was why you sent
him to the gallows-him to the gallows, o
my Cod
And he gave you his hearts blood. the
urtiring service of his hands, his brain, his
thought, his prayers!'
The tears rained down her face. Still he
would not spare her He would be sure OF
her: and for this he thrust her through and
through.
They say twas because he wanted to
please you that he done it, I've thought so
myself, sometimes