Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-18

CreaSey withdrew his hand from
Toms arm and edged further away on
his knees. A deep sigh rose from a
dozen breasts; then as the chaplain
was about to offer up prayer there
came Il sudden crash at Toms side,
and the wretched Carter was founder
ing on the floor in commissions. The
rest were hurried back to their cells,
ana Creasey executed a breakdown
while Tom quietly undressed.
But that's all ri%ht' cried the for
mer, stopping suddenly. Its no more
N l expected. cause, you see, I'm an
innocent man an allus was; that's why
you never caught me showing the
white Erickson, though once or twice
you thought you did. Jiggered If you
wouldn't believe anythink. a mug like
you. Why. | used to blk you every
blooming night for fun Not but what
I'm sorry it's all up with you, Old
man: though it's a nice an comfy
! death. YOU told me so yourself, and
you know we've all got to die some
day. Besides. you done yours-no
denying it-but l never done mine at
all, SO it's fair an square enough, you
must admit"
The little cur was snoring in ten
minutes. He was removed to the
| Transport side next morning. And
Tom, left in solitude, would have Civ
en- some days of the twelve remaining
| to have had him back.
The execution was fixed for the 3Oth.
| lie would never see another June.
Bassett came from day TO day with
news of the petition. 1t was being
signed, but not as freely as Vt first
Bassetts disappointment was patent to
the condemned man. The smart young
fellow was in fact beginning to weary
| of his uphill work and to think about
the bill.
SO next day Tom asked BaSsett
whether the noble unknown had also
| abandoned hope and effort.
Not he" said Bassett in a half dis
| gusted tone. He is moving heaven
and earth; seeking private interviews
with the home secretary if not with
the king himself He's quite capable
of it. y wonderful man when he gets
an idea into his head"
But what put this idea into his
head"
Heaven knows"
| Tom looked the attorney through and
| through and asked another question.
did YOU tell him how much l should
like to see him before l die-to thank
| him." -.a,-
Il did, but he is too busy working
for you. He said that would do you
more good"
Il see" said Tom sadly: another
| CullifOrd. Then why is he doing 1t?
Culliford was paid. He paid him. But
| why. again: See here, you Bassett.
Both you and he dlsbelieve in mel
know it nOw-but you are tired of your
| job, and he is not Why not? | be-
| lieve you know! Then tell me. and let
us part friends once and for all. You
need bother your head no more about
me, only tell me what you must know"
81 know nothing"
! "Then what you suspect"
Bassett considered; had his private
conviction chat there was a woman
in it, on the tip of his tongue. but Ill
| timately shook his shrewd, cool head
There was nothing to be gained by
speaking out A dying mans gratitude
was nothing And there might be
something to be lost. At any rate the
safe side was the wise side, with that
bill not even properly drawn up, so
Tom and his solicitor parted coldly for
the last time, and Tom tore up that
slip of writing which had been handed
to him at Marylebone. but rclentcd
next moment and treasured the torn
pieces till the end.
And now at last his gallant spirit
surrendered itself to the apathy OF
sheer despair. and the physical col
lapse which supervened was almost as
complete as that Of the brave but bro
ken heart. A sudden outbreak of NOR
bid appearances brought the surgeon
in hot haste to clean the foul tongue,
to regulate the irregular pulse. moisten
the parched skin and. in a word. to
keep his man well enough to die on
the following Tuesday. The good Mac
murdo would as lief have given him a
draft of deadly poison, but such hui
manity would have sent himself TO the
| SdllONS lilSlcuu ~ tilt Sui ScOH
his best for the poor doomed body, and
the chaplain did his best for an i'm
mortal soul still filed with bitter re-
bellion and rage. But this physician
was less successful, though not less
kind-praying in his chamber for the
poor impenitent, but yet doing what
in him lay to further such efforts as
were still being made for a reprieve.
Even on the last Sunday, when the
stern divine furnished that incredible
barbarism, the condemned sermon. the
humane gentleman was upon the other
tack and in almost hourly communion
ton with Daintree himself.
Tom could not guess at that The
last to enter, the first to leave, the
crowded chapel, he did so with the
sense of his indignity heavier upon
him than at either Marylebone or the