Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-20

~ ~ tNculuB dl luTet DGllS. L
l drop my handkerchief, get to wor,
at the time agreed on. The sentry vii
be safe"
Rufus Dawes, though his eyelid.
would scarcely keep open, and a terrible
lassitude almost paralyzed his limbs
eagerly drank in the whispered sentence.
There was conspiracy to seize the ship.
Sarah Purfoy was in league with thu
convicts. She had come on board armed
with a plot, and this plot was about tc
be put in execution.
True, that the head of this formida
Bile chimera-John Rex, the forger-was
absent, but the two hands, or rathe,
claws-the burglar and the prison break
er-were present, and the slimly made
effeminate Crow, If he had not the brains
Of his master, yet made up for his fac
cid muscles and nerveless frame by
cat-like cunning and a spirit of volatility
that nothing could subdue. With such
powerful ally outside as the mock
maid servant, the chance of success was
enormously increased. There were one
hundred and eighty convicts and but fifty
soldiers. If the first rush proved sue
cessful, the vessel was theirs. Rufus
Dawes thought of the little bright-hair-
ed child who had run so confidingly to
meet him, and shuddered.
There" said the Grow, with a sneer-
ing laugh, what do you think of that +?
Does the girl look like disappointing us
nowP
There was silence for a minute or two.
The giant was plunged in gloomy alb
straction, and Vetch and the Moocher
interchanged a significant glance. Cab
bett had been ten years at the colonial
penal settlement of Macouarie Harbor.
and he had memories that he did not
confide to his companions. When he in
dulged In one Of these fits of recollection.
his friends found it best to leave him
to himself.
Rufus Dawes was no longer stimulat-
ed by outward sounds, his senses appear
ed to fail him. The blood hushed into
his eyes and ears. He made a violent,
vain effort to retain his consciousness.
but with faint cry fell back, striking
his head against the edge of the bunk
The noise reused the burglar in an in
stant. There was some one in the berth.
The three looked into each others eyes,
In guilty alarm, and then Gabbett dash
ed round the partition.
It's Dawes" said the Moocher. 1--WE
had forgotten himv'
Hell join us, mate, he'll Join u.s."
cried Vetch, fearful of bloodshed.
Gabbett, finging himself on to the
prostrate figure, dragged it, 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 deep groan, and allowed his head
to fall on his shoulder
Gabbett took another look at the purp-
ling face and the bedewed forehead, and
then sprang erect, rubbing at his right
hand, as though he would rub off some
thing sticking there.
Hes got the fever" he roared, with
terror-stricken grimace. "Tve 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, il-omened word
1t was as thougha 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 a 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 muffin"
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-sparklng at
the entrance of the fetid and sitting
to mock their miseries.
1t was as though heaven laughed at
them. By one of those terrible and
strange impulses which animate crowds,
the mass, turning from the sick man,
leaped toward the doorway. The inte-
rior of the prison flashed white with |
suddenly turned faces. The gloom scin-
tillated with rapidly moving hands. "Air,
air! Give us air!"
That's it" said Sanders to his COM
panions. II thought the news would
rouse 'em."
Gabbett-all the savage In his blood |
stirred by the sight of flashing eyes and
wrathful faces-would have thrown him
self forward with the rest, but Vetch
plucked him back.
It'll be over in a moment" he said.
It's only fit they've got"
(To he contnued.)
His EayOrfte.