The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-30
CHAPTER xxIu.-(Continued.3

The experienced convict disciplinari
did not rate the ability Of John r.
highly enough. From the instant d
convict had heard his sentence Of Ii
Punishment. he had determined upon e
Gaping. and had brought all the powe
OF his acute and INSCRIPTIONS intelle.
TO the consideration of The best meshc
OF achieving his purpose. HIS pretende
piety had accomplished the end he ha
assumed II for. He had won the cont
dence Of Meekin; and into that world
creatures ear he poured a strange an
sad history He was the son. he said
OF a clergyman Of the Church of Eng
land. whose real name. such was hi
reverence for the cloth. should neve
pass his lips. He was transported fo
a forgery which he did not commit
Sarah Purfoy was his wife. She. al
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 Yickers- 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.
<td HlA<Al write 10 ucr.
you know the orders. sir-the com
mandant reads all the letters sent Could
l write to my poor Sarah what other
eyes were to readY and he watched
the parson slyly.
No. 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 win promise to write moth
ing that the commandant might not see.
Rex. ! win send your letter to your |
wife"
Heaven bless you. sirr' said Rex,
and took two days to compose an epis-
lie which should tell Sarah Purfoy how
to act The letter was model Of com
position In one way. 1t stated every
thing clearly and succinctly. Not a de
tail that could assist was omitted. not
. line that could embarrass was suffered
% remain John Rex's scheme Of six
months elaboration was set down in the
'iearest possible manner He brought
lis letter unsealed to Meekin. Meekin
ooked at it with an interest that was
af suspicious Have l your word
hat there IS nothing in this that might |
ot be read by the commandantY' Ii
John Rex was q bold man, but at the |
lsht Of the deadly thing futtering open &
! the clergymAn's hand his knees knock Z
1 together Strong In his knowledge I
human nature. however. he pursued c
Is desperate plan Read II, sir" he q
i'd turning away his face rspToach- II
lily You are a gentleman I can b
ust you" n
mo. Rex" said Meekin. walking loft s.
, into the pitfsll: Il do not read pri- b
tie letters" Ii was sealed. and John
ex felt as II somebody had withdrawn a,
match from a powder barrel VI
In a month Mr.. Meekin received let
:. beautifully written. from Sarah at
r." stating briefly that she had heard hi
his goodness: that the lnclosed letter Ia
u for her husband. and that. IL It was co
ainst the rules to give il him, she beg pa
il might be returned to her unread Ia
course. Meekin gave Il to Rex. who on
It morning handed to Meekin a most sis
ching and pious production, begging DR.,
4 to read IT, Meekin did 50. and any ira
PIGEONS he may have had were at we
. dissrmed- He was ignorant Of the clio
{ that the pious letter contained a We,
rate one. intended for John Rex only.
en- letter Jonn Rex thought 30 high hsr
If that, having read II twice through sai,
t attentively. he ate it. the
he plan OF escape was. after all. grin
pie one Sarah Purfoy was to keep ak
essel lowering round the southern r
Il of Van Diemen's Land without ex- Job
Ig suspicion The escape was to be strz
e In the winter months. II possible. a.
Tune or July. The watchful vessel pre-
to be commanded BY some trust
ny person. who was to frequently
on the southeastern side. and keep IT.
,kout for any extraordinary appear smel
along the coast Rex himself must souf
1T to run the gauntlet Of the dogs nd
saaros unaiaeo- ms seems veei
rate scheme" wrote Rex. but II wes,
/ 20 wild as It looks have thought find
nozen others. and rejected them tensi
This Is the only way. Consider II ed hi
/ have my own plan for escape. and
Is easy II rescue De al hand All tweel
Ids upon placing a Trustworthy man Islam
arge of the vessel You ought TO az ne
a dozen such I will wait ei9h- 10 "a
months to give You time to make tons
The eighteen months kis .
now nearly passed over. and the Purfe
for the desperate attempt drew spend
Faithful to his cruel philosophy. Black
Rex had provided scapegoats who. oyste,
err viearious agonies, should assist three
ms SALVADOR mate,
had discovered that of the twenty DANCE
n his gang eight had already de- On
led on an effort for freedom. The Blunt
Of these eight were Gabbett man a
Bohemian. Cornelius. GreenbfII semap
Rs (called the @Moocher'J. Cor and motion
IS. He would urge these men m The
fate, and take advantax 20 of 81. three
nent attendant on their absence the oil
Ct his own escape while all the and HI
is looking for these eight boobies six. :
have good chance to slip awev to sixt
ed He wished, however. ~ dreds.
companion. Some strong man The
pressed hard. would turn and out I
e pursuers at bay, would be use- ba
Ihout doubt; and this comrade- That N
he sought In Rufus Dawes. Mum
ming from a purely selfish motive "Prisor
! his fellow-prisoner to abscond The
I'M, John Rex gradually found mailman
NJ 81 - l