Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-03
CHAPTER xXIII.-(Continued.,

1he experienced convict disciplinarian
did not rate the ability of John Rex
highly enough. From the instant the
convict had heard his sentence of life
banishment, he had determined upon es-
gaping. and had brought all the powers
of his acute and INSCRIPTIONS 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 a 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
a 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-
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. Could
l write TO my poor Sarah what other
eyes 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, l will send your letter to your
wife"
Heaven bless you, sir" said Rex,
and took two days to compose an epis-
tie 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 a de-
tail that could assist was omitted, not
line that could embarrass was suffered
to remain. John Rexs scheme of six
months deliberation 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 commandantT
John Rex was a bold man, but at the
sight of the deadly thing fluttering 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 it, SIR" he
said, turning away his face reproach
fully. You are a gentleman. l car
trust you"
"No, Rex" said Meekin, walking loft
lily into the pitfall; Il 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 month Mr.. Meekin received let
ter, beautifully written, from Sarah
Rex" stating briefly that she had heard
of his goodness; that the lnclosed letter
was for her husband, and that, If it was
against the rules to give it him, she beg,
ged it might be returned to her unread.
OF course, Meekin gave it to Rex, who
next morning handed to Meekin a most
touching and pious production, begging
him to read it. Meekin did so, and any
suspicious he may have had were at
once disarmed. He was ignorant of the
fact that the pious letter contained a
private one, intended for John Rex only,
which letter John Rex thought so high
ly of that, having read it twice through
most attentively, he ate it.
The plan of escape was, after all, a
simple one. Sarah Purfoy was to keep
a vessel lowering round the southern
coast of Van Diemen's Land without ex-
citing suspicion. The escape was to be
made in the winter months, If possible,
In June or July. The watchful vessel
was to be commanded by some trust
worthy person, who was to frequently
land on the southeastern side and keep
a lookout for any extraordinary appear
ance along the coast. Rex himself must
be left to run the gauntlet of the dogs
and guards unaided. "This seems
desperate scheme" wrote Rex, "but it
Is not so wild as it looks. have thought
over a dozen others, and rejected them
all. This is the only way. Consider it
well. I have my own plan for escape,
wnlCn is easy II rescue De ut manu-. All
depends upon placing a trustworthy man
In charge of the vessel. You ought to
know a dozen such. l will wait eigh-
teen months to give you time to make
all arrangements" The eighteen months
had now nearly passed over, and the
time for the desperate attempt drew
near. Faithful to his cruel philosophy,
John Rex had provided scapegoats who,
by their vicarious agonies, should assist
him to his salvation.
He had discovered that of the twenty
men in his gang eight had already de-
termined on an effort for freedom. The
names of these eight were Gabbett,
vetch, Bohemian, Cornelius, Greenhill,
Sanders (called the "Moocher'D, Cox and
Travers. He would urge these men to
their fate, and take advantage of the
excitement attendant on their absence
to effect his own escape. while all the
island Is looking for these eight boobies,
I shall have a good chance to slip away
ry;shaI