Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-11-22
By
E.W. HORNUNG.

kick no more against fate SO plain
and SO persistent So he decided as
be rode. too slowly for his spirit, to
deliberate crime, for despite philosO
ply his one immediate longing was for
gallop to rekindle blood which the
murder Of De Gruchy had turned from
fire to ice. aud q greater comfort than
be would have owned to himself came
OF his resolve to save and protect Peg
gy and Miss Sullivan from this ruth
less crew. Otherwise he was one Of
them and would play his part. But he
was not yet the villain be had hoped.
Objective details impressed him little
at the time. And yet he was left with
the very sharpest memories Of floating
gum trees and dropping moon. Of the
masks they all put on and the battered
top hat that Hockey wore above his,
the pistols that they loaded and the
brace Of horse pistols handed to him
self: the little conversation on the way,
the startling Of an old man kangaroo
that shone an instant gray and glossy
In the moonlight, then doomed and
bounded into silence and the shades;
Of all such things, in fact, to the final
plan Of attack and division Of VII
lainy. made almost within sight Of the
devoted homestead.
At the time, however, though Tom
listened Gas he thought) attentively and
was much consulted In the strength of
his present knowledge Of the place. no
grasped very little beyond his own in
structiOns. He was to show them the
overseer's hut the night Waterman
would already be on their side or
dead. then he was to station himself
beneath the great bell and to ring It
furiously SO soon rs Ginger was haul
ed out and his hut set we'll on fire.
Tom was also to answer to the name
Of Francisco and to affect q foreign
accent, because the Italians terrible
reputation had been the best part Of
him.
The bell and the fire were calculated
to tempt both Sullivans forth unarmed.
At all costs those two were to be taken
alive. And them" said the little man,
poking Wall-eye in the ribs with his
hook.
What them" inquired Tom.
I'VE shall do unto them rs we've all
been done by"
but you were never here yourself?"
Next door to It," returned Hockey
Simpson. II was at Strachan's, and
this old tyrant ordered me my ffties.
Wen see how he likes them himself
just for start"
Il wish 1t was Strachan's we were
coming to-" muttered Tom, with flash
OF his former passion.
It'll he his turn next"
But when?"
''TOmorrow-if all goes we'll"
Then you don't mean to stop at
Castle Sullivan" cried Tom, amazed.
you'll see." rejoined Hockey, land
SO shall l. There's no saying where I
may stop with seventy convicts at my
back"
Seventy convicts! That was the
rough number ut Castle Sullivan.
Then what was this to which the little
man was leading them? No petty rob-
berry. after all! A grand rebellion in
stead! Toms heart lightened at the
thought. He gaZed ut the confident
little man, looking more like monkey
dressed up MS a highwayman and
perched upon horse, and he felt that
he could have followed so spirited a
leader with all the spirit he himself
had left but for the thing that had
been done before his eyes that night.
There was no more, however, to be
said. They were at the farm.
At the gate (not the gate Of former
scenes; this one lay east beyond the
stables) oil dismounted but the little
general. who was to keep his saddle
as generals do. The others led their
horses to the stables, and. while Wall
eye stalled them. Tom showed Slipper
and the black his old lair. Another
convict had succeeded him as groom,
and In few moments young Brummy
was dragged forth by Peter Pindar.
So far from Offering any resistance,
however. the obliging youth ut once
posal. His zeal and enthusiasm au-
cured well for the other seventy In
the huts. Under his eager guidance
the Waterman, Roberts, was immedi-
ately captured IN his sleep beneath the
bell. whereupon that official Joined the
enemy with no more demur than
Brummy. Indeed, he went the length
Of shaking hands with the supposed
Italian and personally thanking him
for having come Mt last.
Hockey on his horse cut this profess
sion short and drove both prisoners b.
fore him toward the overseers hut,
which Tom had already pointed out.
The latter was now left In charge Of
the bell rope. with last order not to
ring until the hut was well ablaze.
Il thought he was gov'norT Tom
heard Roberts remark.
THE less you think the better" re-
torted Hockey. But about this over
seer Of yours-a ticket of !esye. l IN