The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-08
CHAPTER XIV.

me LAST long lay.
A long day, the last OF many long
days he told himself. was ended, and
John North stood by his window. Be
low in the yard into which he was
looking, but within the black shadow
cast by the jail, was the galiows-
Though indistinguishable I'm the dark
ness. its shape was scared on his
brain, for he had lived In close tel
lowship with all 1t emphasizeG IL
was his gallows, 1t had grown 10 com
, pletton under his very eyes thar is
might destroy him In the last hour.
> There had been for him a terrible
!. fascination in the gaunt thing Snat
7 gave out the odor OF new wood;
thing men had made with their own
., hands; clumsy device to infiict
brutal death: leftover from bar
j barism which denied every claim OF
, civilization and Christianity! Now.
as the moon crept up from behind the
distant hills, the black shadows re
!, treated, and as he watched, timber by
timber the gallows stood forth dis
tinct in the soft clear light. In few
hours, unless the governor inter
fered, he would pass through the door
directly below his window. He pic
tured the group of grave-faced nerv'
Gus officials. he saw himself bound
and blindfolded and helpless In their
midst.
His fingers closed convulsively
about the iron bars that guarded his
window, but the feeling OF horror
that suddenly seized him was remote
from selfpity. He was thinking oil
Elizabeth What unspeakable wretch
edness he had brought into her lifei
, and he was still TO bequeath her this
squalid brutal death! 1t was the
GROWING shame and misery to the
long months of doubt and fearful sus
pense.
Up from the earth came the scent
I, OF living growing things. The leaves
OF the great naples in the court
house grounds rustled in the sprinl
= breeze, there was the soft incessani
: hum OF insect life, and over all the
white wonderful moonlight. But he
! had no part in this universal renewal
he was to die his purposeless unhe-
role death In the morning. For him
- self he could almost believe he no
.. longer cared; he had fully accepted
the idea He had even taken his faic-
20 well of the Few in Mount Hope who
n had held -steGdfast in their friend
snip, and there only remained for him
TO die decently; TO meet the newt
in able with whatever courage there was
H. in his soul.
ne heard Brockett's familiar step
70 and suddenly intent and listening, he
s faced the door: but the deputy came
ly slowly down the corridor and as he
entered the CELL paused, and shook
~ his head.
NO word yet, john he said re-
d gretfully.
rs the train in?" asked North.
Yes, ConkIin went down to meet
e IT, He's just back; | guess they'll
come on the ten-thirty"
N North again turned listlessly to-
n ward the window.
d Il wouldn't own myself beat yet.
s joint" said the deputy.
i've gone down at every crisis! /
n didn't think the grand jury would In
dict me, didn't think would be con-
$ victed at the trial." He made q weary
0 gesture. What right have to think
+ they will be able TO influence the gov
e ernor?"
t There was moments silence
broken by the deputy
"Ill be outside, and II you want
anything let me know"
II was the death-watch, and poor
Brockett was TO keep it
North fell to pacing his narrow
! bounds Without, the wind had risen
and presently there came the pattsr
OF rain on the roof Thick darkness
again enyeloped the jail yard: and
the gallows-his gallows-was no
longer visible. For an hour or more
the storm ragged and then 1t passsu
as swiftly as it had gathered. Once
more he became aware OF the inces-
SAINT hum OF the insect world. and the
rustling OF the great naples In ths
court house grounds
AS he listened TO these sounds.
from somewhere on in the distance
he heard the shrek OF an engines
whistle They we're coming now II
they came at all. In spite OF himself.
his hope revived. To believe thar
they had failed was out OF the ques-
ton. and the beat OF his pulse and
the throb OF his heart quickened.
He endured twenty minutes OF sus-
, pense, then he heard voices; Brockett
threw open the door, and Elizabeth.
whlte-faced and shaking, was before
: him.
John" she cried, with such an.
, guish that in one terrible instant ali
nope went from him.
His soul seemed 10 stand naked nj
the very gates OF death. and the
vision OF his brutal ending came be
fore his burning eyes Words of pro
! test trembled on his lips. This en-
. dured but for an imperceptlbfe space
of time, and then that larger pity
4 which was not for hiself but for Elm.
I abeth, took him quickly to her side.
John" she cried again. and Neld
q out her arms.
a DO not speak, know" he said
!. Her head dropped on his shoulder,
and her strength seemed TO forsaks
II her.
Il know. dear he repeated
IL I'VE could do nothing" she gasped
,e You have done everything tina,
- love and devotion could do
She looked up into his face.
al You are not afraidg" she whis
We pered, clinging to him.
II think not" he said simply.
ed You are very brave, john shall
TRY 20 be brave, also"