Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-11-15
CHAPTER XIX (COntinuedO

lou would rather not say" eXclalm.
ed the little man. Very natural, very
natural; but what If l can guess!
What If said his name began with
S. and considered that of his home
stead hardly justified by the facts,
save insomuch as every mans dwelling
Is his CASTER"
Toms face convicted him. 1t was
transtigured with amazement. The
travellers exchanged significant gl0nces
and proceeded to regard him with an
interest obviously redoubled.
How did you knOw?' he cried.
Il knew nothing. l only guessed"
But how"'
More cOnvicts abscOnd from that
particular establishment than from any
other In the colony. Then l perceive
that you are suffering from fifty
lashes"-
"A hundred.'
Indeed? And more convicts are
logged on that farm than on any 9TH
er in the land. A nice place! l know
something about i'll intend knowing
more.'
Slipper laughed.
But you mustn't let hundred lash
O. depress you," resumed the little
gray man In his smooth and soothing
voice. "Why, my friend Wall-eye here
had 1000 in three years-on the same
farm, mind you!-before he came to
me. What do you think of that? But
it's high time l presented you to my
friends. That's Wall-eye. this is Slip
per, and over there you see De Gruchy
scOwling at you: but don't be fright
ened; he's been scowling at us oil the
whole evening"" said the little man.
with a CLEAN Of his eyes behind their
glasses. "You needn't trouble your
head about De Gruchy! The heath
ems name is Peter Pindar. He will
provide for your needs In one moment
And my name is Hockey Simpson, ut
your service!"
His manner all through had been 80
softly grandiose as to point the humor
Of this anticlimax, which. however,
was now lost upon Tom. He was ton
busy trying to rene nber where he
had heard the name of Hockey Simp-
con before. And he had remembered
nothing when soap and water were put
before him by the black fellow, fol-
lowed Immediately by a supply of
lukewarm mutton. which kept him ST.
lent for some time.
Meanwhile his entertainers kept ST.
lence. too, but replenished the fire and
lit their pipes with the burning brands
and rested their eyes on Tom In a
medltative fashion while he ate. It
was he who became communicative
when he had finished. Suddenly think
Ing Of 1t. he told them Of the CHASTITY
discovery he had made among those
very trees about an hour before.
The effect was curious. Neither
Hockey Simpson nor Wall-eye nor Slip
per seemed in the least surprised or
perturbed, but De Gruchy showed
teeth as white as those of the corpse
and ground them horribly. and Hockey
Simpson fixed his spectacles upon De
Gruchy, leaning forward with the tip
Of his hook between finger and thumb.
''The fact Is" said Tom, II thought
1t must be the work of that Italian
brigand fellow"
All but De Gruchy burst out laugh
Ing.
"And when first saw your fire." he
added, Il thought you must be his
bandv
All but De Gruchy laughed louder
than before. De Gruchy hid his sullen,
foreign face in his hands, and the little
gray man held up his hook for silence.
I'VE arer said he.
what? Bushrangers after alIr'
'The band you speak Of"
Then where's the Italianw
'YOu saw him for yourself about IN
hour ago"
And the little mans eyes were twin
king through their horn trimmed lenses
as II he had made joke. But there
was no more laughing outright, though
Tom heard Slipper chuckle and De
Gruchy snarl. AS for himself, he was
shudderng in the most notifying
fashion under the fascinating specta-
cles Of the little gray man.
THAT was your Ieaderw be stammer-
ed out
80 he fattered himself"
"And I thought It was his handl-
work.
1T was mine." said Hockey Simpson
coolly. Indeed, benign smile accom-
panied the confession, as though 1t
were public service he had perform
ed. with the utmost mercy. But Tom