Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-24

ant TO Withdraw his order. Inc cOm-
mandant. however, speedily discovered IN
Rufus Dawes signs of insubordination,
and set to work again to reduce again
still further the spirit" he had 30 In
geniously "broken." The unhappy con-
vict was deprived of food, was kept
awake at nights, was put to the hardest
labor, was loaded with the heaviest
irons. Troke suggested that, IL the tor
tured wretch would decline to see the
chaplain, some amelioration of his con-
dition might be effected; but his sugges-
tions were in vain. Firmly believing
that his death was certain, Dawes clung
to North as the savior of his agonized
soul, and rejected all such insidious over
lures. Enraged at this obstinacy, Frere
sentenced his victim to the spread
eagle" and the "stretcher."
Now, the rumor Of the obduracy of
this undaunted convict, who had been
recalled to her by the clergyman at their
strange interview, had reached Sylvia's
ears. She questioned her husband con-
cerning the convict's misdoings, but,
with the petulant brutality which he in
variably displayed when the name of
Rufus Dawes intruded itself into their
conversation, Maurice Frere harshly re-
fused to satisfy her.
One sultry afternoon, when the COM
mandant mad gone on a visit OF inspec-
ton, Troke, lounging at the door Of the
new prison, beheld with surprise the fig
ure of the commandant's lady.
what is it, ma'am?" he asked
scarcely able to believe his eyes.
81 want to see the prisoner Dawes v
Hes - he's under punishment
maam."
"What do you mean? Are they fog
ging him?''
mo; but - but he's dangerous
ma am"
"Do you wish me to complain to the
commandant?" cries Sylvia, with toucl
of her old spirit, and jumping hastily
at the conclusion that the jailers were
perhaps, torturing the convict for thei
own entertainment. "Open the door a
once-at oncew
Thus commanded, Troke, with hast.
growl of its being no affair of his, ant
he hoped Mrs. Frere would tell the cap
tain how it happened" flung open tn
door of cell on the right hand of tn
doorway. 1t was so dark that at frs
Sylvia could distinguish nothing but til
outline of a framework, with sometl.in
stretched upon it that resembled a hu
man body. Her first thought was tina
the man was dead, but this was not s
he groaned. Her eyes, accustome
themselves to the gloom, began to Sc
what the punishment" was. Upon tn
floor was placed an iron frame abou
six feet long, and two and a half fee
wide, with round iron bars, placed trans
versely. about twelve inches apart. Th
man she came to seek was bound In
horizontal position upon this frame, wit
his neck projecting over the end Of II
If he allowed his head to hang, tn
blood rushed TO his brain, and suffocate
him, while the effort to keep it raise
strained every muscle to agony pitch
His face was purple, and he foamed a
the mouth. Sylvia uttered a cry. "Thi
is no punishment; it's murder! VIII
ordered this?"
''The commandant," said Troke, SUI
lenly.
81 don't believe it. Loose him, I say
Hailey!-yOu, sir, therep The nois
had brought several warders to the spot
''Do you hear me? Do you know VIII
I am? Loose him, say!" In her eager
ness and compassion. she was on he
knees by the side of the internal ms
chine. plucking at the ropes with he
delicate fingers. "Wretches, you hav
cut his flesh. He is dying! Help! Yo
have killed him.
The prisoner, in fact, seeing this ang,
: of mercy STOPPING over him, and hearin
close to him the tones of voice tina
for seven years he had heard but in hi
dreams. had tainted. Troke and HALEY
alarmed by her vehemence, dragged tn
stretcher out into the light. and hastil
cut the lashings. Dawes rolled off lik
a log, and his head fell against Mr.
|, Frere. Troke. roughly pulled him asid
and called for water. Sylvia, tremblin
with sympathy, and pale with passion
turned upon the crew. "How long ha
he been like this?'
"An hour" said Troke.
: "a ie." said a stern voice at the doc
"He has been there nine hoursv'
"Wretchesw cried Sylvia, "you sha
near more OF tnlS. On, on! L am SICK
she felt for the wall-"I-I-
North watched her with agony on h
face, but did not move. 81 faint. L
: She uttered a despairing cry that We
a not without touch of anger IN
t North! do you not see? Oh! Take n
n home-take me homer And she wou
:, have fallen across the body of the to
r tured prisoner had not North caught h,
: in his arms.
Rufus Dawes, awaking from his ST
por, saw, in the midst of sunbea
: which penetrated a window in the corr
e dor, the woman who came to save h
: body supported by the priest who can
g to save his soul; and, staggering to h
t knees, he stretched out his hands wit
:. hoarse cry. Perhaps something in IL
o action brought back to the dimmed r
e membrance of the commandant's wi
the image of a similar figure stretchir
8 forth its hands to a frightened child
d the mysterious far-off time. She star