The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-12-09
CHAPTER v.
The Chain Gang.

The Chain Gang.
While Qriswold was graphing
afresh with the problem OF escape, and
planning to desert the Belle Julie at
the next landing. Charlotte Farnham
was sitting behind the locked door OF
her stateroom with a writing pad on
her knee over which for many min.
utes the suspended pen merely how.
cred. She had fancied that her re.
solve, once fairly taken, would not
stumble over a simple matter Of de-
tail. But when she had tried a dozen
times 20 begin the letter 10 Mr.. Gal.
braith, the simplicities vanished and
completely stood In their room.
Try as she might to put the sham
deck.hand into his proper place as an
impersonal unit OF a class with which
society IL ut war, he perversely re-
fused to surrender his individuality.
At the end " every fresh effort she
was confronted by the memorable sum.
ming.up: in n world OF phantoms there
were only two real persons: a man
who had slnned, and a who
was about to make him pay the pen.
atty.
II was all very well 10 reason about
II. and to say that he ought 10 be
made TO pay the penalty: but that did
not make u any less shocking that
she, Charlotte Farnham. should be the
one 90 set the retributive machinery
L. ,..0tap VI .AA ENAys .ha h-A sha
thing to do. and so. after many in.
crectual attempts, the letter was writ.
ten and sealed and addressed. and she
went out to mail It at the clerks
office.
AS It CHANGED. the engines OF the
steamer were slowing for n landing
when she latched her stateroom door.
The doors giving upon the forward
saloon deck were open. and she heard
the harsh voice OF the mate exploding
In sharp commands as the steamer
lost way and edged slowly up TO the
river bank. A moment later she was
outside. leaning on the rail and look.
ing down upon the crew grouped about
the inboard end OF the uptilted landing
stage. He was there: the man for
whose destiny accident and the con.
ventional sense OF duty had made her
responsible: and as she looked she
had a tleeting glimpse OF his face.
1t was %curiously haggard and woe
BECOME; so sorrowfully changed that
for an instant she almost doubted his
identity. The sudden transformation
added fresh q%uestionings. and she be.
gan to ask herself thoughtfully what
had brought II about. Then the man
turned slowly and looked up at her as
II the finger OF hor thought had
touched him. There was no sign OF
recognition in his eyes: and she con.
strained herself TO gaze down upon
him coldly. But when Belle Julie's
bow touched the bank, and the wait
ing crew melted suddenly into a ,enu.
Gus line Of burden.bearers. she fed
through the deserted saloon 10 her
stateroom and hid the fatal letter I'm.
der the pillows In her berth.
That evening. after dinner, she wen,
forward with some OF the other as.
sengers to the rallied promenade which
was the common evening rendezvous.
The Belle Julie had tied up at a small
town on the western bank OF the great
river, and the ant procession OF rousta.
o was In motion, going laden up
the swing stage and returning empty
by the foot plank. Left TO herself for
a moment, Charlotte faced the rail
n again sought TO single out the
man whose fate she nus decide.
She distinguished him presently; q
grimy. perspiring unit in the crew,
tramping back and forth mechanically
staggering under the heaviest loads
n staring stonily at the back OF his
fle leader In endless round; a picture
OF misery and despair. Charlotte
thought, and she was turning away
with the dangerous rebellion against
the conventions swelling again In her
heart when Captain Mayfeld Joined
her.
i Just wanted to show YOU" he
said; and he pointed out a gang OF
men repairing a slip In the levee EN-.
bankment below the town landing. Il
was a squad OF prisoners In chains.
me hgures OF the ~convicts were
struck out sharply against the dark
background OF underground, and the
reflection % the sunset glow on the
river lighted Ut their sullen faces and
FURNISHED the uss-wcrn links In their
leg'fetters.
The chaln'gang," said the captain,
briefly. That's about where the fel.
low that robbed the Bayou State So.
curity will bring up. II they catch him.
Hell have TO be mighty tough ana
~well'seasoned II he lives to worry
through twenty years OF that, don't
you Think"
BIT MiAs Fsruham coul' nni on.