The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-08-17
oHApTER xxIII.-toontinued.l

uiu not rate the dDlllIy OF JONI hcA
highly enough. From the instant the
convict had heard his sentence Of life
Punishment, he had determined upon es-
Gaping, and had brought all the powers
Of his acute and interruptions intellect
to the consideration of the best method
Of achieving his purpose. His pretended
piety had accomplished the end he had
assumed it for. He had won the conf
dence of Meekin; and into that worldly
creatures ear he poured strange and
sad history. He was the son, he said,
of a clergyman of the Church of Eng
land, whose real name, such was his
reverence for the cloth, should never
pass his lips. He was transported for
forgery which he did not commit
Sarah Purfoy was his wife. She, an
innocent and trusting girl, had determin-
ed to follow her husband to his place
of doom, and had hired herself as lady's
maid to Mrs. Vickers. my great sor-
row is for the poor woman. She Is In
Sydney, l have heard, and my heart
bleeds for her." Here Rex heaved a
sigh that would have made his fortune
on the boards.
"You might write to her"
"You know the orders, sir-the COM
mandant reads all the letters sent Gould
write to my poor Sarah what other
eres were to read?" and he watched
the parson slyly.
'N-o, you could not" said Meekin,
at last.
The next day Meekin, blushing with
the consciousness that what he was
about to do was wrong, said to his peni-
tent "If you will promise to write moth
ing that the commandant might not see,
Rex, will send your letter to your
wife,"
Heaven bless you, sirv' said Rex,
and took two days to compose an epls-
t.e which should tell Sarah Purfoy how
to act The letter was a model Of COM
position in one way. 1t stated every
thing clearly and succinctly. Not de-
tail that could assist was omitted, not
a line that could embarrass was suffered
to remain. John Rex's scheme OF six
months elaboration was set down in the
clearest possible manner. He brought
his letter unsealed to Meekin. Meekin
looked at it with an interest that was
half suspicious. "Have l your word
that there is nothing in this that might
not be read by the commandantr'
John Rex was bold man, but at the
sight Of the deadly thing fiuttering open
in the clergyman's hand his knees knock
ed together. Strong in his knowledge
of human nature, however, he pursued
his desperate plan. "Read 1t, sir" he
said, turning away his face reproach-
fully. "You are gentleman. can
trust you"
''No, Rex" said Meekin, walking loft
ny into the pitfall; 81 do not read pri-
vate letters" 1t was sealed, and John
Rex felt as If somebody had withdrawn
a match from a powder. barrel
In a month Mr.. Meekin received let
ter, beautifully written, from Sarah
Rex" stating briefly that she had heard
of his goodness; that the Enclosed letter
was for her husband, and that, II it was
against the rules to give 1t him, she beg
Red It might be returned to her unread
OF course, Meekin gave it to Rex, who
NEXT morning handed to Meekin mos
touching and pious production, begging
. MIN To read H. Meekin did SO, and any
suspicions he may have had were a
once disarmed. He was ignorant OF thu
fact that the pious letter contained
nrivate one. intended for John Rex only
which letter John Rex thought so high
" of that, having read 1t twice through
most attentively, he ate 1t.
The plan of escape was, after all,
n,mple one. Sarah Purfoy was to keel
. vessel lowering round the southern
coast Of Van Diemen's Land without ex
citing suspicion. The escape was to D
made in the winter months, II possible
In June or July. The watchfui vesse
was to be commanded by some trus'
worthy person, who was to frequentl
land on the southeastern side, and kee
n lookout for any extraordinary appear
ance along the coast. Rex himself mus
be left to run the gauntlet OF the dog
and guards unaided. "This seems
desperate scheme" wrote Rex, "but
IA not SO wild as 1t looks. have though
over a dozen others. and rejected theI
all This Is the only way. Consider
well. / have my own plan for escap
which is easy IL rescue be at hand. A
depends upon placing trustworthy ma
IN charge of the vessel. You ought
know A dozen such. will wait Ceigl
teen months to give you time to mal
all ARRANGEMENTS" The eighteen month
had now nearly passed over, and til
time for the desperate attempt DIRE
near. Faithful to his cruel philosoph
John Rex had provided scapegoats VIII
BY their vicarious agonies, should ASST
him to his salvation.
He had discovered that of the twent
men In his gang eight had already d
termined on an effort for freedom. TT
names of these eight were Gabbet
vetch, Bohemian, Cornelius. Greenhi
Sanders (called the "Moocher'D, Cox ar
Travers. He would urge these men
their fate, and take advantage of Il
excitement attendant on their absen,
to effect his own escape. while all IL
island is looking for these eight boobie
shall have a good chance to slip ava
unmissed." He wished, however,
have a companion. Some strong ma
who, If pressed hard, would turn ar
keep the pursuers at bay, would be US
full without doubt; and this conrad
victim he sought In Rufus Dawes.
Beginning from purely selfish motiN
to urge his fellow-prisoner to abscor
with him, John Rex gradually four
himself attracted into something iii