Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-12-13

and saw the flush with which Daintree
very fussily produced Il letter,
THAT is your misfortune. SIR" Tom
heard him retort. and the rap put the
major In II good temper on the spot.
He sang out for n wnrdsman to come
and take charge Of the grntleman's
horses.
Nevertheless" continued Duintree.
Il take 1t that even you. sir. are nc
Quainted with the name of the writer
Of the missive In my hand l am the
bearer. Major IIoneybone." with i'm
mense pomposity "of letter from
my friend. his excellency Sir George
Clips. the governor OF this colony"
Never met him." returned the mn
jor. with q twinkling eye. 1T Is my
first acquaintance even with his hand
writing" Indeed. his excellency had
been not many weeks installed. but 1t
was years since the major had heard
tones SO rich and periods so round rs
those Of his excellency's friend. whom
he thereupon escorted with hospitality
to his house.
Now In this poor hut. opposite that
stOckade full Of felons and In that des-
ert place the major kept n few dozens
Of admirable wine and some boxes OF
excellent cigars. Two Of these were
alight. and the gentlemen had clinked
glasses and taken n sip before Major
Ioncybone would permit himself to
open his eXcellency's letter. Hardly
had he done so when he regretted both
wine and cigars. lie looked UP sud-
denly and In wrath. which, however,
was somewhat disnrmed by the eager
light lie thus surprised In the visitors
strong and dusky face.
what Oh earth do you want him
for? I call this most mOnstrous re.
quest" said Major IIoneybone, and
the last sentence was meant to have
come first until Daintre.'s look invert-
ell them.
"RcquestY said Daintree. raising his
eyebrows slightly.
"Yes. sir request.' cried the major.
Command, sir, Is a thing don't take
from gentleman I've never had the
honor OF settling eyes on. and this Is
one that Sir Richard Bourke. sir, would
sooner have died than give!'
Daintree pursed up his eyes. As 1t
WIS only by patient exercise Of two
characteristic qualities that he had got
the letter at oil, 50 he now saw that
he must trust to those two qualities to
overcome this other masterful man.
He must be diplomatic. he must have
patience. he must pick his way where
he could not force II, and 1t was very
clear that there would be no forcing
this Major IIoneybone.
The letter authorized and begged
the major to deliver and hand over
Thomas Erickson, Seahorse, then IN
dergOlng sentence In the majors iron
gang. to the bearer, who particularly
wished to have him for his assigned
bodyservant and undertook to make
himself thenceforward responsible for
the said convict's good behavior. 1t
was an irregular letter. No reason was
given for granting such a favor at all.
1t did say. however. that Mr.. Daintree
would give his reasons. and with the
letter In both hands, as though on the
point Of tearing 1t up. the major leaned
back in his chair and regarded the 9TH
er with n prolonged and curious stare.
what are your reasonsY he asked
at length.
'He is an innocent man." replied
Daintree impressively.
"a convicted murderer. I under
stand"
Wrongly convicted. I followed his
case. Did your"
'No. sir" said the major. 'They
give me quite enough work out here"
''Well. I did follow It," the visitor
went on. Between ourselves. Major
Honeybone. l did a great deal more
than that The case interested me from
the first. knew something about this
poor lad. That knowledge, together
with the circumstances Of the case,
convinced me Mt the time that he was
an innocent man"
''He Isn't one now" remarked Major
Honeybone.
II am not pauper, SIR" proceed
ed Daintree. with embarrassment. II
don't want this to 90 any farther; but,
you see, l knew something about the