Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-27

worth keeping? He will be better
worth it than before. 1t does them
good"
"That Is not my invariable expert
ence," said Mr.. Strachan, shaking his
head again.
But it is mine" cried the doctor.
'"They are never any good until they
feel your power They never feel your
power until they have first felt the
lash" And he emphasized the senti-
ment by giving the table cut with his
cane.
81 have not always found 1t So"
maintained the other. 'In your place
/ should have let that man go to quar-
ter sessions. There are the makings of
a desperate criminal in him or I'm
much mistaken"
DR.. Sullivan flushed and frightened
beneath his white hairs. like n man on
his methe. desperate crimnal?" he
repeated eagerly. Hes one already.
my dear sir. and ali the better! Wen
see what we can do to tame him.
Well see what we can do to break his
spirit! You know what my son says,
Strachan? He never was beSted by
| a convict yet. 1t would never do for
| him to remain bested by this one. and
| that's another reason why he mustn't
slip through our fingers just yet No;
We shall show him who are his mas
| tiers. We shall bend or break his spirit
as | BEND
He sprang up, with his bamboo cane.
and rushed to the door, as Il sudden
cutlery arose in the yard At the door
| however, even Dr. Sullivan paused
aghast.
"Strachan! Strachan" he cried
"Good heavens! You were right!
Look here"
What had happened will be the bet
| ter understood when it is explained
that the courthouse was not house at
all but a mere ring of weather board
huts, of which the justice room was
one. the lookup another. the Constables'
| quarters third and Il store and sta
BILE a fourth and fifth. The yard thus
formed was Furthermore inclosed by a
! bruShwOOd fence. broken only between
| the stables and the justice room, where
there was a gate instead. and in the
very center of this open space. blot
ting the edge of the deep sky and Scor-
ing the dazzling earth with shadows
! like sears, stood that worse than gal
lows. Mt which men were beaten into
| brnteS and hruteS into devils week
after week throughout the year.
A sergeant and two constables form
ed the garrison of this lodge of law
and order in the wilderness. The ser
geant was an cmancipiSt. and Of the
trio only one had come to the country
on his own account. The third was
actually convict at this very time
and Il glaring ruffian into the bargain
| Originally butcher boy, who had
robbed his master IN the City road, he
| still Smacked of the slaughter house
| with his raw red face and cruel eye
and on this young felon devolved the
congcnial task of administering the
| lash.
In such hands Tom was led to the
trian@leS. with white face. but quick
| cned eyes. The ticket of leave over
seer was also of the party. filing his
pipe and grinning to himself between
his flaming whiSkers. like a man pre-
pared to enjoy the thing thoroughly
The sergeant. however, made hin
stand back little. though with n wink
rs he touched the culprit on the shout
der.
Come my lad" said the sergeant
81. ;nII
when ais said and done"
Tom looked ut him in faint astonish
mont.
I'VE amt obliged to lay It on thai
thick" pursued the sergeant in tn,
same confidential tone. ITS all lcft
to us. 1t needn't hurt him. need 1t
matcs?"
Not if he comes IN to the mark
But he won't. no fear" said the ex
butcher. who had got the cat and was
practicing with it upon the woodwork
Of the whipping frame.
''We'll ask him" said the sergeant
Wen give him the chance. Will yor
come mp to the mark. my son, or vii
you take it hotf'
| Tom looked ut his inquiSitors with {
sullen. puzzled expression and CHANGED
To see the overseer at Il little distance
shaking his head and touching his
pockets.
"Not got any?" cried the sergeant
"You ask him." returned Ginger
"GOt no money! said the sergeant
That's what we mean by coming NJ
to the mark, you know
"A pound apiece" suggested the free
| constable-"that,d soften the Job
tee No. 204l. filed at Washington.