The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-08

Sullivan. near the Hunter river, and
never was bested by a convict vet, no,
nor an emancipist either, my fine fel-
low! There keep the rest, but you
lead me straight downstairs and out TO
my horses or you may have something
else to keep besides"
In another minute they We're in their
saddles, and as they rode away Tom
put skeleton key in his masters hand.
saying he had picked it up outside the
bedroom door.
"And YOU give it to metz cried Mr.
Nat "You don't keep it to use your
self? Well. well. you've not made a
bad beginning, Erickson. You looked
after me when / was bow1ed 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. / never was bested by one of
you yet, so put that in your pipe and
smoke it. But you're wonder. you
arei Seen the inside of a Sydney pub
and come out soberl Well, there's one
like that to every hundred inhabitants,
to say nothing of the sly grogshops.
It's a warm place. Sydney, L 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 its 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
Sydney after many weeks.
The exodus in the meanwhile proved
a pleasanter experience than had at
first appeared possible. The small ad-
venture at the Bull and Tumbledown
had established some degree of mu-
tual regard between Mr.. Nat and bis
new groom. Their ride up country
spread over the better part of week.
during which time the master suffered
more than once 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 fnterfered. 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
poorhouse, and offered to wait outside
while Tom went in to choose a wife.
"A wifer' 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 new surprise awaited him. |
The respondent landlord stared when |
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
Tom now caught a glimpse of the nan
keen pelisse in the bar parlor, and as
he rode away he asked Mr.. Nat wheth-
sr convicts were ever assigned to their
wives
They have been often enough" was
he reply, but it's being put 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
he robbery the husband was Jagged
'or! The wife brings it out and is here
% meet him when he lands, At least
hat used to be the dodge, but Bourke
.ried hard to put his foot on it. and If
Tou hear of case just let me know"
So Tom said no more.
But the most interesting roadside
character was encountered at a con-
store much farther on the
way, where Mr.. Sullivan nudged Tom
Ind made him take note of a portly
nan in magnificent waistcoat, who
ang song in the most charming bari
one while the travellers were having
heir supper
do you know who that VASE said
TOMS master when they were once
more on their way. THAT was Hunt,
he aceomplice of ThurtelI. who muir
ered a man called Weare. You re-
oember il. do you? Well, that's the
nan, and he just bears out what l say
we don't care kick what A convict
las done in the old country so long as
lie don't so doing it again out here
But there, / keep forgetting you're one
ourself. Somehow or other you're not
Ike the rest, and you take my advice
nd so on like you've begun" AS he
aused the voice of Hunt was waited
o their ears in a new song that died
cry sweetiy on the soft night air.
The latter stages of the journey were
marked by looks of recognition wher-
yer young Sullivan baited his horses.
ut by never a single look of welcome,
nd an ominous climax was reached
vhen the little cavslcade passed
tockade and chain gang within
wenty miles of their destination
Here was long line Of heavily ironed
IL t. 1