Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-08-04

thing Of my own history began Luke
nervously.
That u unnecessary. am sure, "
said Mr. Hall gently 1T cannot pos
sibly bear upon this present question
NO. cir; perhaps not, but still
think I'd rather"
Go on, them am listening"
We'll, sir, entered service early,
and was In many good situation; but
latterly could rot keep my places
The curse OF my life as 1t has been
the curse OF many another one, was the
drink. The place where lived before
! went to Mr.. Hughes-who. you know,
was murdered--I left on that account;
checked the master, and he said |
mad stolen his wine. That was true.
However made up my mind on go
Ing to my new situation to turn over
new leaf"
And you did not succeed?"
NO, sir. / went on very well for
short time; but. II 1t is not wicked to
speak so OF the dead, he was a most
provoking old gentleman. Frequently
he would find fault without any sort
OF occasion; and on that particular day
OF the dinner-party he had been more
than unusually cantankerous. That and
my old habits made me take to the
liquor again. felt annoyed and put
out, and was nipping' pretty freely
throughout the day. After the dinner
was over, | took a bottle of sherry from
the cellaret. and drank it up in my
room"
Yes" said Mr.. Hall; "and you were
not quite sober in the morning"
Il was three-parts drunk when
awoke. and could not clearly bring to
mind anything which had occurred ON
the previous night"
Just SOL"
We'll, you know the rest. I was
convicted, condemned and ultimately
pardoned- Edward Bartlett, the foot
man, swore in his evidence against me
at the trial that / had been often talk
ing OF how | should like to raise money
enough to take me out to Australia"
And had you done 500"
Believe me. sir, as there's Heaven
above and as l sit here, 1t was he who
was always speaking OF coming out |
here. Such a notion never entered my
head"
well, but how does this bear upon
the question 7"
II will tell you, sir. Ny brother
Robert was in court when | was tried.
He had been for some years in the
Metropolitan Police, and, unlike me,
was steady in his habits. Bob always
had his head screwed on right; and.
putting two and two together, he made
up his mind that tho missing man and
woman had somehow or other made
their way out here!"
Eyes, yes-I understand" said Mr..
Hall
"His letter explains the rest" con-
tinued Luke. Il came out here as
quickly as | could-not only in the
hopes of tracing them and bringing
them to justice, but. must confess, of
sharing the thousand pounds reward"
"Exactly--very natural,"
"On the way out, on board ship, I
was drinking pretty freely; but it was
not until my journey up by the coach
that 1t began to tell upon me. When
got to Sullivan's | felt in an unnat-
nrally excited state-sort of Wild
cannot tell you how"
81 hope never to know from person.
II experience" said Mr.. Hall, smiling;
but l can easily imagine. You felt
what the men up here call jumpy'?"
Just so, sir. felt it coming on;
md. when heard of my brothers dis
appearance, l was taken"
well, we won't talk about that--I
know all the rest"
Thank you, sir" said Luke. wiping
he perspiration from his forehead at
he bare recollection of the agonies he
lad endured. "One thing most par
icularly wish to ask you. SIR" he con-
inued, after a pause-"is 1t true that
3aynes received letter from Sydney
hat night by the mall, telling him his
lister was dying?"
poor Baynes! Well. Luke. you GER
ainly have 1t nrmly implanted In your
mind that that harmless youth was
mixed up In some way or other In your
ragedy. To answer your question.
O the best Of my belief Bsynes did get
letter to that effect"
"To the best OF your belief"
Yves: for | did not see It."
But you have locked mailbag 7"--
Eyes"
"And you saw the letters taken out?"
Eyes. l took them out myself; but
a.. lottar WAS NOT ampuUsf fhovr Ia