Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-01-13
A Cornishman
BY MURIEL BLAIR
o. 1921. Western Newspaper Union. }


himself, and passed the sleeve of /
ragged coat over his eyes to wi
away the sweat that blinded hir
u. Not fifty yards ahead he saw the r,
=. blaze of smthy fire. Beside 1t Il
" black silhouette of huge old me-
ar bent over the anvil, the fail-like arm
is threshing upon a red-hot shoe.
( The hunted man crept forward.
Mt Though the warm February Nigh
0. gave promise of a Florida sprin,
it though he dripped sweat, the ma
W stretched out his hands toward tn
10 blaze as though to warm them.
= At that momeint there sounded YER
musical and very far away, the ba.
. of a hound. The man slouched to
: ward the smithy and peered in at tn,
j door.
d Can you give stranger a shake
down. misterY' he called to the smith
/ Come in, friend" answered the
smith, not looking up. "Sit down be-
side the fire and rest you a SPELL"
"You be from Tampa, friend?" in
qured the smith, pausing in his work
and looking up for the first time
Something about the mans appear
ance arrested his attention and he
surveyed him again with a casual
glance which, nevertheless took in all
details.
IT'S goodish walk from Tampa"
he continued, without waiting for the
/ n.
other to reply Nigh upon five and
twenty miles it must be-"
you are a Cornishman !" exclaimed
the other, rising from the stool which
he had occupied. 4 was born in Bod
min. haven't heard the speech in
seven years. l."
The hounds note sounded again, far
over the marshes, and another hound
took up the call, and another.
You're from the convict camp. I
reckon" said the smith quietly, as
he began to hammer again. "When
did you get away"
Five nights ago." the stranger
cried advancing into the glow Of the
fire. The smith could see the hide
Gus stripes plainly now, the shaved
head, and the hands blistered with
resin. You'll help meT pleaded the
stranger. Tell them I'm your help and
give me some bread and put an old
suit about me. wouldn't have asked
you if you hadn't been a Cornish
man. I'd have took what wanted.
Look !" ,gssEs~s ls4s.' .rs.---@.--
He showed him the sharp knife and
then replaced 1t in his coat, running
1t between the lining and the cloth.
Friend said the smith, laying his
hammer down and approaching the
other man, you've time to answer a
question or two before l answer you"
"What was your crime, friend?" the
smith continued.
Murder |" the other shouted. ~
killed a man, the lowest and meanest
vermin that ever crawled."
The smith stood facing the convict
quietly, but the kindness in his eyes
had given place to loathing.
"Ill give no help to murderer
he cried. "Whoso sheds mans blood.
by man his blood shall be shed. That's
in the Good Book. Be you gone for
you'll get no help from me-"
you'll hear me first,' the fugitive
pleaded. 'If ever murder could he
justified, this was Wait, nowl I'll
tell you everything there's time to tell
and then I'll go, If you won't help
me-" He went on rapidly, disregard
ing the old mans threatening GEES
lures. 81 was raised In Bodmin and
came to this country eight years ago
to marry my girl, the girl who was
pledged to me. She'd come here first
as lady's maid. There was another
Bodmin man. told him Of Mllly he
fore he set sail to work in the Mines"
"The mines, you say" shouted the
smith, staring into the others face
What minesf"
THE phosphate mines at Hicks
Crossing. He came here. I'd sent
MIlly a message by him, the black
hearted hound I heard no more OF
them, but when | reached the town |
found them both. They had been mar
ried four months. They had a cabin
In the fields. | met her at the door.
Her eye was blackened and her arm
bruised. He'd done that the night
before. | found him In the mines and
put my knife through his heart"
"Whose hearth" screamed the smith.
trembling violently. what was nj,
name7 Whose hearth"
Humans. ! tell you"
The old mans hand fell heavily
upon the shoulder Of the conyictsand
IN his eyes Was strange look Of
peace.
There's On old suit behind that
curtain friend" he said 10 an ex-
presslonlsss voice. Put Il on, fhon
sit Dy the IRE. After while m I
have q bite for you. Haste yoal
liark I"
The hounds were giving tongue
along fbe road
'iiul bui siammered iho CON.
Wet '}ou know lilnmanY
ne married ~ slHN answered ihs
on man quietly