The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-16

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lous figure t. understand alI
They drove on to Maitland. where
they supped handsomely and lay all
night. In the morning TON was vel!
and warmly clothed at the best store
in the TOWNSHIP? And that day tle dif
ference was that he kept turning to
look over his shoulder and tits at
shorter intervals as the day wore on.
'Iss anything following u.s." said
Daintree once.
Not yet" said Tom.
mot yet Why. what do you ex.
pect?"
What deserve said Tom. And
Daintree had the wisdom not to press
him upon this or any other point. He
knew what was alleged against Erich.
sen at Castle Sullivan He had heard
the story from the principal supern-
tendent. He began to think there
might be some truth in it, after all.
Next morning he was sure. They
had put up at an unusually comforta.
bic roadside inn. where Tom had very
excellent room, yet he came down with
wild, unrested eyes and twitching fin.
gers.
ITS no use" he bitterly exclaimed.
Haven't you slept?"
"Not a wink. heard them coming
all night lOng-heard them coming with
the chains. Oh. take me hack! They
have made me the guilty man they
said I was when wasn't. deserve
everything now"
And second day OF terror he spent
In the curricle. looking backward hour
after hour, but when that also passed
over and still nothing happened he be-
gan to think that either Butter was
mistaken or the major incredulous or
his enemies Of another mind now that
he was gone. At all events he took
heart Of grace and ut last thanked
Daintree for what he was doing, with
sut asking, however. why he was do
Ing 1t.
On the third forenoon the spires and
w:ndmills of Sydney fringed the sky
Then they mounted hill, and there
was the harbor sparkling above the
roofs Of the convict city.
I've had better drop the 'Erichsen
now" said Daintree as they drove uI
to the turnpike gate. II suggest that
Thomas will suffice both Christian
| mama ond curnona fhini. n ,xr-nuli
he preferable for the present What
say your Tom consented with per
feet readiness and indifference, and hs
looked behind him for the last time a:
much as to say what was the only thing
on earth about which he was not as in
different as the dead.
They drove down Brickfield hill ovel
the spot where Nat Sullivan had tum
bled of his horse and past the notori
Gus inn where he had lain. 1t flourish
ed still. And still the doleful felOI
music filled the air. striking more STAG
cato In this crisp weather than 81!
months since in the heavy heat. but 1
struck TO Toms heart no more. Or
the quay there was n crowd and ;
fresh shipload of convicts disembark
Ing. but Tom felt no pity for then
either. And now. when his indigna
ton was aroused. ii was by the loung
ing laZlness OF a road gang. whose
overseers were smoking and chattin:
with the convicts. while the latte
moved neither hand nor foot. and th'
sentries yawned at their posts.
They want the major there" sait
Tom grimly. He'd have that peck Of
stones about their ears IL they stooC
looking at II much longer!'
Daintree turned and regarded hin
with particularly pleased and kindl!
smile: then Tom knew that he had jus
volunteered his first remark since leav
In the stockade, and he thought h
knew with what sympathetic patience
his first voluntary remark had beer
waited for, though he only now sus
| pected this from Daintree's smile. Hi,
heart swelled little. They put up a
an inn. and he made himself NOR,
useful 10 his new master than he hat
been yet.
The bungalow was some few mile:
out upon the delightful woody shore o.
Rose bay. They drove on there In the
afternoon. aud the greenwood dippins
beyond the post AMI rails of the OIL
Point Piper road. the lush meadow,
dipping beyond that and the aZur,
arm of the harboF seen through tn,
one aud above the other were all {
very wonderful change after that ter
rii'!c l!ateau Of the past four months
Nor Ind they any feature IN common
with the detcstei region of Castle Sui
Ivan. Tom had seen nothing like tii,
up country. To crown all, the bunga
low lay bathed In the richest sunse
when they reached II aud Rose bay
deserved that maize indeed. for its sun
TIC waters appeared to he dimpied witt
wet ruse leaves from strand 10 strand
II was as though nature herself wrr,
trying to soften that frozen heart am
t. welcome Tom Erickson to this haver
Of peace.
An old man came out to see to tht
horses. 4 somewhat younger woman
stood In tue mellow light upon a wild,
terdntia Dainiruc greeted them wi,l
an air almost the first he had permit
ted himself In Toms company. witt