Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-02

my GEAR Sir. and all the better! Well
see what we can do to tame him.
Wen 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 bcsted 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 sudden
outcry arose in the yard. At the door,
however, even DR.. Sullivan paused
aghast
"Strachan! Strachanv' he cried.
Good heavens! You We're right!
| Look here!'
| What had happened will be the bet
ter understood when 1t is explained
that the courthouse was not a house at
all, but a mere ring of weather board
huts. Of which the Justice room was
one. tue lookup another. the constables'
| quarters third and store and sta
BILE 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 n 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 scars, stood that worse than gal
lows. at which men were beaten into
brutes and brutes into devils week
after week throughout the year.
4 sergeant and two cnnstables form
ed the garrison of this lodge of law
and order in the wilderness. The SER
geant was an emancipist, 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 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 OH this young felon devolved the
congenial task of administering the
lash.
In such hands Tom was led to the
triangles, with white face. but quick
ened eyes The ticket of leave over
seer was also of the party, filling his
pipe and grinning to himself between
his flaming whlskers. like man pre-
pared to enjoy the thing thoroughly.
The sergeant, however, made him
stand back little, though with wink
as he touched the culprit on the Shout
| der.
Come, my lad" said the sergeant
confidentially, at needn't hurt you
when all's said and DONE"
| Tom looked at him in faint astonlsh.
mcnt.
1--WE amt obliged to lay 1t on that
thick" pursued the sergeant In the
same confidential Tone Its all left
to us. 1t needn't hurt him, need 1t.
mates?"
mot If he comes up to the mark.
But he won't, no fear!" said the ex-
butcher, who had got the cat and was
practicing with 1t upon the woodwork
of the whipping frame.
well ask him. said the sergeant.
"We'll give him the chance. Will you
come up to the mark. my son, or will
you take 1t hot?"
Tom looked at his inquisitors with
sullen, puzzled expression and Glanced
to see the overscer at little distance
| shaking his head and touching his
| pockets.
mot got any?" cried the sergeant.
"You ask him." returned Ginger.
/ Got no money!" said the sergeant.
THAT'S what we mean by coming up
to the mark, you know"
"a pound apiece" suggested the free
constable-"th atd soften the job
He stared at them in logged def
ance.
~ told you so,"' said the butcher.
throwing down the cat. Lets truss
him up
Even pound between u.s. the ser
geant had said, when the butcher be.
gan to gl,imble and Toms lip to curl
and this settled it.
i ..Up with hint" cried the sergeant
We'll teach you to sheer at us. my
gamecock! Stop bit, though. His
legs won't stretch in these here Irons.
Who the blazes put them on?' And
the Jealous officer knelt himself to nm
fasten pair Of anklets coupled by
short but massive chain and employed
Illegally by DR.. Sullivan on his farm.
1 A pair of figure 8 handouts had been
locked upon Toms wrists at the same
time. but both his wrists and his hands
were small. and during the night he
had found that he could slip out Of
these at any moment. He was out of
them now before soul dreamed Of 1t,
so slyly did he stand to have the
shackles Off his feet.
The heavy handled scourge lay on the
ground. Its raw faced wielder was
halfway out of his coat. The other
constable was talking to Ginger in the
shade. The sergeant had undone the
second anklet and was just rising from
his knees with the pair.
Next moment he was on his back In
j the dust and Tom was planted before
the triangles. with the scourge caught
Iup by the thongs In his two hands and
the heavy handle whirling round his
head.
/ The butcher rushed at him with one
sleeve still in his coat and received the
butt end of his pet instrument full
upon the forehead. where great green
wart sprang out as IL by magic even
MS he reeled away. 1t was at this
there arose the outcry which brought