Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-10-17
"What are you doing qpith those horsesP'

WitUt UTE yoU UOt1Ly lDttI tHOSC nOTSeSf
"And you give it to mev cried MIR.
Nat. you don't keep it to use YOUR
self? We'll, we'll, you've not made a
bad beginning, Erichsen. You looked
after me when I was bowled over, and
you saved my horses when most Of
you chaps would have been the first
to take 'em. That landlords an old
lag himself. I know how to treat the
breed. l never was bested by one of
you yet, so put that in your pipe and
smoke it, But you're a wonder, you
are! Seen the inside Of a Sydney pub
and come out sober. Well, there's one
like that to every hundred inhabitants,
to say nothing of the sly grogshops.
It's a warm place. Sydney, 1 can tell
you. But the Sydney sun, that's hotter
STILL
1t was under a brilliant moon, how
ever, that Tom had his last glimpse Of
the town for several months to come.
Nor did he ever see it's sad sights again
with the same startled eyes nor hear
its sad sounds with the same thrill Of
horror. 1t was a different nature-it
was another man-that came back to
Sydney after many weeks.
The exodus in the meanwhile proved
a pleasanter experience than had at
first appeared possible. The small adj
venture at the Bull and Tumbledown
had established some degree Of mu-
tual regard between Mr.. Nat and his
new groom. Their ride up country
spread yer the better part of a week,
during which time the master suffered
more than onc as he had been suffer
ing when the man first met him. But
In the intervals he treated Tom with a
certain stupid good humor, which,
however, never for a moment conceal
ed the capacity for an equally stupid
cruelty, and the nearest approach to a
quarrel on the way was occasioned by
the brutal beating of the pack horse,
in which Tom interfered. They We're
good friends, however, on the whole,
and once or twice Mr.. Nat made quite
an interesting guide. In Parramatta
he pointed out a large building, like Il
poorhouse, and offered to wait outside
while Tom went in to choose a wife.
ga wife!' said Tom, with a shudder.
what is the place."
"They call it a factory. 1t is for the
women what Hyde Park barracks are
to you fellows. They go there till
they're assigned and afterward when
they're turned into government. Cut
In and take your choice. I'm not jok-
Ing. I've chosen 'em for our men be.
fore today, and you're the sort that
deserves one. Get a lightweight, and
We'll take her up on the pack horse"
Tom shook his head and thought of
Claire until they stopped at an inn
where a new surprise awaited him.
The respondent landlord stared when
he saw Tom and tilted a white top hat
over his eyes, but not before the latter
had recognized a fellow convict per
Seahorse. They had parted in the bar
rack yard, where Tom had seen the
other carried off by a gorgeous female
In a nankeen pelisse and bright green
veil, to whom he had been assigned.
ON now caught a glimpse of the nan
keen pelisse in the bar parlor, and as
he rode away he asked Mr.. Nat wheth-
er convicts were ever assigned to their
wives.
"They have been often enough" was
the reply, "but it's being put a stop to
now. Why, some Of the best shops in
Sydney are carried on by convicts as
signed to their wives and on capital
which was originally the proceeds of
the robbery the husband was Jagged
for! The wife brings It out and is here
to meet him when he lands! At least
that used to be the dodge. but Bourke