The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-09-06


servants enabled Sarah Purfoy 70 ia
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, il was not unusual for
assigned servants to marry among the
free settlers, and when it was heard
that Mrs. Purfoy, the widow of a whal
ing captain. had married John Carr, her
storekeeper, transported for embezzle-
mens 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 a fine wife and fine fortune.
there were many about him who would
have made his existence in Australia
I 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
long time his search was unsuecess-
fuL Much as she loved the seoundrel
Sarah Purfoy did not scrupie to tell him
that she had bought him. and regarded
nlm as her property He knew that if
he made any attempt TO escape from his
marriage bonds. the woman who had
risked so much to save him would not
hesitate TO deliver him over to the au-
thorities
know you don't care for me now.
John. she said. with grim eomplacen-
cy; but your life is in my hands. and
If you desert me / will bring you to the
gallows-"
In vain. in his secret eagernesx to be
rid of her, be ragged and chafed. He
was tied hand and foot. She held his
money, and her shrewd wit had more
than doubled it. She was aII-powerful.
and ne could but wait until her death
or some lucky accident should rid him
OF her. and leave him free TO follow out
the scheme he had mafured. sOnce rid
Of her. he thought. in his solitary rides
over the station of which he was the
nominal owner. THE rest Is easy. | shall
return to England with plausible story
of shipwreck. and shall doubtless be re-
eeived with open arms by the dear
mother from whom | have been so long
parted Richard Devine shall have his
OWE again"
One day the chance came 10 him
His wife was Ill. and the ungratefuI
seoundrei stole FIVE hundred pounds.
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 bis life with the utmost caution
This was the tale ne hit upon: He had
been saved from the burning Hydaspes
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, speeu-
lator. sailor, he had toiled for fourteen
years. and had failed Worn out and
penitent, be had returned home to find
corner of English earth In which TO lay
his weary bones The tale was plausible
enough, Aud in the telling of IL he was
armed at all points. There was little |
fear that the navigator of the captured |
Osprey, the man who had lived In Chill. |
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 tes-
tator was In the first hopeful glow of
paternity. By it's terms Lady Devine
was to receive a life interest Of three
thousand a year in her husbands prop
srty-which was placed in the hands of
.wo trustees until her eldest son died.
,r attained the age of twenty-five years.
When either of these events should oc-
:ur. the property was to be realized.
Lady Devine receiving sum Of hun
ired thousand pounds, the remainder go
ng absolutely to the son, If living. The
rustees appointed were Lady Devine's
ather. Col Wotton Wade, and Mr.. ST.
as Kuaid, Sir Richards solicitor. Col.
Wade. before his death. had appointed
lis own son. Mr.. Francis Wade, to act
n his stead. When Mr.. Quad died
francis Wade continued alone In his
rust. Sir Richards sister and her hus-
and, Anthony Frere, of Bristol. we're
ong ago dead. and theis representative.
faurice Frere, content at last In the
ot that fortune had sent him, had given
10 all thought Of meddling with his I'M ;
les business. John Rex. therefore, in
he person Of the returned Richard, had
ut two persons to satisfy-Mr. Fran !
is Wade and Lady Devine.
This he found to be the easiest task
ossible. Francis Wade was an invalid
irtuoso, who detested business, and
those ambition was to be known as
nan Of taste. The possessor Of small
income, he had resided at
forth End ever since his fathers death.
When, at his sisters urgent wish, he
ssumed the sole responsibility of the
state, he put all the floating capital |
1to three per cents. and was content to :
ee the interest accumulate. Lady De-
inc had never recovered the shock Of
circumstances attending Sir Richards
cath, and elinging 10 the belief In her
on's existence, regarded herself as the
lere guardian of his interests. to be
isplsced at any moment by his sudden
sturn- The retired pair lived thrs to-
ether, and spent In charity and hric-a- | {
rae about fourth Of their mutuni in c
Dme. BY both Of them the return Of
he wanderer was hailed with delight.