Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-05-26

were found-dead- The prisoners killed
themselves to avoid living any longer,
and, if so fortunate as to penetrate the
desert of scrub, heath and swamp which
lay between their prison and the settled
districts, preferred death to recapture.
Successfully to transport the remnant OF
this desperate band of doubly convicted
felons to Arthur's new prison was the
mission of Maurice Frere
"Well, Mrs. Vickers," he said, a. he
took a cup Of tea from the hands of that
lady, II suppose you won't be sorry to
get away from this place, eh?"
mo, indeed" says poor Mrs. Wick
ers, with the old girlishness Swallowed
by six years; 81 shall be only too glad.
A dreadful place. Johns duties, how
ever, are imperative. But the windl My
dear Mr. Frere, you've no idea Of 1t;
l wanted to send Sylvia to Hobart Town,
but John would not let her 60"
by the way, how is Miss Sylvia r
asked I'rere. with the patronizing air
which men of his stamp adopt when they
speak Of children.
Not very well, I'm sorry to say" re-
turned Vickers You see, it's lonely
for her here. There are no children of
pilots little girl, and she cannot asso-
ciate with her. But | did not like to
leave her behind, and endeavored to
teach her myself
Hunt There was a-ha-gov
or something, was there notT said
Frere, staring into his teacup. THAT
maid, you know-what was her manner
Miss Purfoy." said Mrs. Vickers, a
little gravely. Yes, poor thing; sad
story, Mr.. Frere."
Indeed | left, you know, shortly
after the trial of the mutineers, and
never heard the full particulars He
spoke careessly, but he awaited the re-
ply with keen curiosity.
"a sad story repeated Mrs. Wick
ers. "She was the wife of that wretch
| ed man, Rex, and came out as mr. maid
in order to be near him. She would
never tell me her history. poor thing
though all through the dreadful accuse
tions made by that horrid doctor. | beg
ged her almost on my knees. You know
how she nursed Sylvia and poor John
Really a most superior creature. thinE
she must have been governess. Hell
conduct was most exemplary. and dur
ing the six months we were in Hobar
Town she taught little Sylvia grea
deal OF course she could not help he
wretched husband, you know. Coul1
she?'
Certainly not!' said Frere, heartily
81 heard something about him. too. Go
into some, scrape. did he .not?"
Miss Purfoy. or Mrs. Rex. as sh'
really was. though / don't suppose Re,
is her real name, either, came into
little legacy from an old aunt in Eng
land and left my service. She took
little cottage on the New Town road
and Rex was assigned to her as he
servant"
II see. The old DODGE says Frere
flushing little. ''Well?'
well, the wretched man tried to es
cape. and she helped him. He was t
get to Launceston, and so on board
vessel to Sydney: but they took tn
unhappy creature. and he was sent dow
here. She was only fined. but it RUNE
her. You see. only few people know
of her relationship to Rex. and she wa
rather respected. OF course. when it be
came known. what with that dreadft
trial and the horrible assertions of ID
Pine-you will not believe me. | know
, there was something about that ma
: | | never liked-she was quite left alon
She wanted me to bring her down her
to teach Sylvia, but John thought thf
it was only to be near her husband, an
, wouldn't allow it"
"Of course it was said Nicbers. i
ing. "Frere. We'll go on the verand
She will never be sa tisfied until she ge
that scoundrel free
, Hes bad lot. then?' says Frer
t opening the glass window and feadin
: the way to the sandy garden.
2 "Oh, a very bad lot" returned Vicl
ers: quiet and silent. but ready for an
villainy. | count him one of the wor
men we have With the exception
one or two more, | think he is II
: worst"
"Why don't you fog emp says Frer
, 'I cut the hides off my fellows if the
show any nonsense
:, well" says Nickers. Il don't ca
: about too much cat myself. Barton, We
was here before me. fiogged tremen
ously, but don't thingk it did any goo
They tried to kill him several time
. You remember those twelve fellows WI
y were hanged? MOI All of course "
y were away"
' "What do you do with emp
ooh, fog the worst, you know; but
don't fog more than a man week
y a rule and never more than fifty lasht
Il They're getting quieter now. Then v
l. iron, and dumb-ells, and maroon them
p do what?'
/ "Give them solitary confinement
y Grummet Island. When a man ge
q very bad, we clap him into a boat wi
l. a weeks provisions, and pull him ov
y to Grummet There are cells cut in t
II rock, you see, and the fellow pulls
It his commissariat after him. and liv