Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-07-26

out, you 'gallows bird. and show your
nose inside the palisade again II you
dare!'
| Tom replied with his eye, and only
scorn was in its steady gaze. When
the other ceased, he waited a little to
ascertain IL that were oil; then he
turned upon his heel. opened the door.
walked out and shut 1t very quietly
behind him.
There were high voices in the kitch-
en- as he went his way. And Tom
himself was less cool when he reached
his room, where, indeed, he lay awake
half the night still wondering whether
Nat Sullivan had ever struck Peggy
4. O'Brien and whether Peggy would
admit 1t IL he had. But in the end he
slept soundly on the clean straw with
which he first took care to line his
bunk.
/ Soundly, but not long, for In the mid
die of the night, as 1t seemed to Tom,
the changing Of a great bell brought
him to his feet in state OF high alarm.
He slid into his trousers and rushed
out. 1t was that black hour before
dawn, and at first in the failing star
light he could see nobody; then he de-
serted figure in long coat parading
to and fro before the huts, but the bell
was silent, though still swaying from
the twisted arm of gigantic gum
tree. when Tom ran up and inquired Of
this man what 1t meant. He found
he was speaking to the night watch
man, who said his business was to ring
the hell first an hour before sunrise,
then half an hour later and lastly when
the sun appeared.
$50 you're to be groom?" added the
Waterman. II wouldn't swap my Job
for yours
MOP" said Tom.
Not me! Cause why? I'm on all
night. but Off all day, SO see less of
the coves than any other blessed man
on the place. Now you'll see more Of
'em, and Lord help you IL you trot out
a lame nag or piece Of harness the
old cove can't see his ugly mug I'M I
wouldn't be in your shirt for some
thing; It'll be stickin' to your back by
this day week."
Tom was returning to his room when
a sash was softly raised In the main
building, and there was Peggy at an
outer window in an inky shower bath
Of pitch black hair. She beckoned him
with her finger, but transferred 1t
swiftly to her lips.
| you did we'll! You did well.' she
whispered. II was in the holy terror
lest you answered Mr.. Nat II you'd
done that
She shuddered and shut her lips.
well, what IL had?" said Tom. be-
ginning to feel sorry he had not
| "Nlver ask mel" she returned. "Only
bear In mind that what they'll call in.
science Is crime out here. Give 'em
cheek, an It's twenty-five or fifty-an'
now I've told ye! IT'S we'll ye should
know. There's some poor Teller from
here gets 1t livery Monday as liver Is.
But you mustn't; so niver cheek 'em,
me dear, and niver come near me
kitchen amy more. Sure It'd be the
dlth of young gintleman like you"
"Would it?' said Tom. well, never
you fear. Peggy! I'm not such a fool
as all that, and I'll give them no rea.
son, you may depend"
| They may be afther maxim. one.
Tom, dear. Faith an they'd have one
ready made II they cot ye hercl There's
| the second bell. For Gods sake be off
AN reminder Peggy's words"
"I'll go when I'm ready. Peggy. not
dow or you'll take off my fingers.
Your hand again! It's to you shall
owe my whole skin"
| He gave her his hand. She took 1t be-
tween both of hers and pressed 1t With
a feryor that should have given him
another warning on the spot. But her
kind voice only put him in mind Of
Claire so far away; nor did he hear II
again for some few days. Now and
1 then she would wave to him from the
kitchen window. but 1t was always to
wave him back. More often he waved
to her from the stable door, but she
invariably shook her black head at him
with the greatest vigor.
Meanwhile her words came true.
Mr.. Nat had conceived a palpable
spite against the new groom. and from
things the latter heard In the convicts
hut, where he went for his meals, he
might have understood the reason
these same things making him the lesi
eager to see very much more Of ReggJ
the cook. Still, he gave her a wayf
whenever be espied her in the distance
4 80
for he owed the girl much already. Fl
was daily profiting by her good advice
Eince no day passed without Its meas
lure of willful prpvocation from tht
ruftianly Nat. But Tom was not to b
provoked by sheer OF taunt or oath
Moreover, he made On excellent groom
and, being seen no moro about IN
house, gave no further occasion to tn
enemy. who dropped his overt perse
cutions, but detsstel Tom the NOR
for his unexceptionuble conduct.
This feeling was intensified by tn
effect OF that conduct In a ccrtai
q Quarter. Tom became quite favorit
with the despotic old army surgeon
) and Mr.. Nat went In constant drea
of his ..sunstrokes" in Sydney and o
Q the road coming to his fathers ear
y 1t was this dread that decided him
t let Tom alone and to bide his ow
time for revenge, for, besides bein
privy to the sons Irregularities an
dangerously established In the father
r favor, the new groom had indeed dor
h Mr.. Nat an injury of which he himse
n | was all unconactoy1s D0yS grew In