The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-08-24

opportune death Of one of her assigned
servants enabled Sarah Purfoy to in
stall the escaped convict in his room. In
the strange state of society which pre-
vailed of necessity in New South Wales
at that period, it was not unusual for
assigned servants to marry among the
free settlers, and when it was heard
that Mrs. Purfoy, the widow of whal-
ing captain, had married John Carr, her
storekeeper, transported for embezzle-
ment, and with two years of his SEN
tence yet to run, no one expressed sur
prise. Indeed, when, the year after,
John Carr blossomed as an "expiree."
master OF fine wife and a fine fortune,
there were many about him who would
nave made his existence in Australia
pleasant enough. But John Rex had no
notion of remaining longer than he could
help, and ceaselessly sought means of
escape from his second prison house. For
a long time his search was unsuccess-
1ul. Much as she loved the scoundrel,
sarah Purfoy did not scruple to tell him
that she had bought him, and regarded
MIN as her property. He knew that if
ne made any attempt to escape from his
marriage bonds, the woman who had
rlsked so much to save him would not
hesitate to deliver him over to the au-
thorities.
i know you don't care for me now.
john" she said, with grim complacen-
cy; but your life is in my hands. and
if you desert me 1 will bring you to the
gallows."
In vain, in his secret eagerness to he
rid OF her. he ragged and chafed. He
was tied hand and foot. She held his
money, and her shrewd wit had mora
than doubled it. She was all-powerful
and he could but wait until her death
or some lucky accident should rid him
OF her, and leave him free to follow ont
the scheme he had matured. "Once rid
OF her. he thought. in his solitary rides
over the station of which he was thu
nominal owner. ''the rest is easy, shall
return to England with a plausible story
OF shipwreck, and shall doubtless he re-.
celved with open arms by tho dear
motner rom whom l have been 50 long
parted. Richard Devine shall have his
own again."
One day the chance came To him
His wife was Ill, and the uneratefui
scoundrel stole FIVE hundred nounds
and, taking two horses, reached SYDNEY.
and obtained passage in a vessel bound
for Rio.
Having escaped from thralldom, John
Rex proceeded to play for the great
stake OF his life with the utmost caution.
This was the tale he hit upon: He had
been saved from the burning Hydaspee
by vessel bound for Rio Ignorant of
the death of Sir Richard, and prompted
by the pride which was known to be a
leading feature of his character. he had
determined not to return, until fortune
should have bestowed upon him wealth
at least equal to the inheritance from
which he had been ousted. In Spanish
America he had striven to accumulate
that wealth In vain. As traveller. specu-
lator, sailor, he had toiled for fourteen
years, and had failed. Worn ont md
penitent, he had returned home to find a
corner of English earth in which to Ia v
his weary bones. The tale was plausible
enough, and in the telling Of It he was
armed at all points. There was little
fear that the navigator of the captured
Osprey. the man who had lived In Chilli.
and "cut out" cattle on the Carrum
Plains. would prove lacking in knowl-
edge OF riding, seamanship, or Spanish
customs. Moreover, he had determined
upon a course of action which showed
his knowledge of human nature.
The will under which Richard Devine
inherited had been made when the ties.
tator was in the FIRST hopeful glow of
paternity. By Its terms Lady Deyine
was to receive a life interest Of three
thousand a year In her husbands prop-
erty-which was placed in the hands of
two trustees until her eldest son died
or attained the age of twenty-five years.
When either of these events should oc-
cur. the property was to be realized.
Lady Devine receiving a sum of a hun.
dred thousand pounds. the remainder 60
ing absolutely to the son, If living. The
trustees appointed were Lady Devine's
| father, Col. Wotton Wade, and Mr.. 81.
las Kuaid, Sir Richards solicitor. Col.
Wade, before his death. had appointed
his own son. Mr.. Francis Wade, to act
| in his stead. When Mr.. Quad died
Francis Wade continued alone in his
trust. Sir Richards sister and her hus.
| band, Anthony Frere, Of Bristol. were
long ago dead, and their representative
Maurice Frere, content at last in the
lot that fortune had sent him, had given
up all thought of meddling with his I'm.
cle's business. John Rex, therefore. In
| the person of the returned Richard. had
but two persons to satisfy-Mr. Fran.
els Wade and Lady Devine.
| This he found to be the easiest task
possible. Francis Wade was an Invalid
virtuoso, who detested business, and
whose ambition was to be known as q
man of taste. The possessor of a small
Independent income, he had resided a
North End ever since his fathers death
When, at his sisters urgent wish, he
assumed the sole responsibility of thu
estate, he put all the floating capita
into three per cents, and was content t.
see the interest accumulate. Lady De
vine had never recovered the shock Of
tn circumstances attending Sir Richard.
death, and clinging to the belief in he1
sons existence, regarded herself as tn.
mere guardian of his interests, to b,
displaced at any moment by his sudder
return. The retired pair lived thus to
gether, and spent in charity and bric-a
brac about 4 fourth Of their mutual in
come. BY both Of them the return O
the wanderer was hailed with delight