Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-08-17
cHAprER xxIII.-1Contlnned.l

convict had heard his sentence of life
Punishment, he had determined upon e.
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 1t for. He had won the CONT
dence Of Meekin: and into that worldly
creatures ear he poured 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 ladys
maid to Mrs. Vickers. MY great sor-
row Is for the poor woman. She is in
Sydney, 1 have heard and my heart
bleeds for her." Here Rex heaved
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
/ write to my poor Sarah what other
eyes were to read2" 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 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 20 compose an epis-
tie 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 de-
tail that could assist was omitted, not
a line that could embarrass was suffered
to remain. John Rex's scheme of six
months elaboration was set down in the
ciearest possible manner. He brought
his letter unsealed to Meekin. Meekin
looked at 1t with an interest that was
half suspicious. "Have | your word
that there is nothing in this that might
not be read by the commandant"
John Rex was 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 gentleman. can
trust you"
"No, Rex" said Meekin, walking loft
lily into the pitfall; Il do not read pri-
waite letters" 1t was sealed, and Jobh
Rex felt as if somebody had withdrawn
a match from powder barrel.
In month Mr.. Meekin received a 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 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
Iy Of that, having read it twice through
most attentlvely. he ate 1t.
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, II 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
he left to run the gauntlet Of the dogs
and guards unaided 'Srhis seems a
desperate scheme" wrote Rex, "but II
Is not so wild as 1t looks. have thought
over dozen others. and rejected them
all This Is the only way. Consider II
WELL have my own plan for escape
which is easy If rescue be at hand. 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 tc
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
l shall have good chance to slip away
unmissed." He wished. however. tc
have a companion. Some strong man
who, II pressed hard. would turn and