Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-16

not travelled above dozen miles
toward the sea he faIcied he had
snelled at eighteen. but this he
declined to believe uatil the gray man
produced tattered map and pricked
out the positions with his hook. Tom
then gave in, but climbed into De
Gruchy's saddle with incomplete con-
victlons upon the point The delirium
u his falnished fight still magniSed
both the time and the space which II
had covered. Thinking of the murder
done before his eyes and looking on
these villains whom he had Joined, he
could half believe he was delirious
Still. The Incredible thing was that in
two more hours he would be back upon
that hated spot whittier he had sworn
never to return alive.
But q mans fate was stronger than
his will, as it seemed to Tom during
that midnight ride when not care, but
very merciful sort of fatalism, sat
behind the reckless horseman. Fatalis-
tic he had felt before, but never with
this result Hitherto the feeling had
only deepened his despair, whereas
now it was his single solace 1t con-
soled him for the horrors he had coun-
tenanced that night, it even nerved
him for what deeds he must himself
commit before the night was out.
In the laws eye he was branded
murderer as 1t was. He seemed des-
tined to deserve that brand. He would
kick no more against fate so plain
ca isfo Ia hN
he rode, too slowly for his spirit, to
deliberate crime, fer despite pAi.oso.
ply his one immediate longing was for
q gallop to rekindle blood which the
murder of De Gruchy had turned from
fire to ice, and greater comfort than
he would have owned to himself came
Of his resolve to save and protect Pes.
gy and Miss Sullivan from this ruth
less crew. Otherwise he was one of
them and would play his part. But he
was not yet the villain he had hoped.
Objective details impressed him little
at the time. And yet he was left with
the very sharpest memories of floating
gum trees and dropping moon, Of the
masks they all put on and the battered
top hat that Hockey wore above his.
the pistols that they loaded and the
brace of horse pistols handed to him
self; the little conversation on the way,
the startling of an old man kangaroo
that shone an instant gray and glossy
In the moonlight, then doomed and
bounded into silence and the shades;
OF all such things, in fact, to the final
plan of attack and division of vii
lainy, made almost within sight of the
devoted homestead.
AT the time, however, though Tom
listened Gas he thought attentively and
was much consulted in the strength of
his present knowledge of the place, he
grasped very little beyond his own In
structions. He was to show them the
overseers hut the night Waterman
would already be on their side or
dead, then he was to station himself
beneath the great bell and to ring it
furiously SO soon as Ginger was haul
ed out and his hut set we'll on fire.
Tom was also to answer to the name
of francisco and to affect foreign
accent, because the Italians terrible
reputation had been the best part of
him.
The bell and the fire were calculated
to tempt both Sullivans forth unarmed.
AT all costs those two We're to be taken
alive. "And then'' said the little man,
poking Wall-eye in the ribs with his
hook.
What then?' inquired Tom.
We shall do unto them as we've. all
been done by"
But you were never here yourself?"
Next door to it." returned Hockey
Simpson. II was at Strachan's, and
this old tyrant ordered me my fifties.
Well see how he likes them himself
just for a start"
wish 1t was Strachan's we were
coming to-" muttered Tom, with flash
Of his former passion.
'It'll be his turn next
But when!"
"Tomorrow-if all goes WELL"
Then you don't mean to stop at
Castle Sullivan" cried Tom, amazed
You'll see," rejoined Hockey, and
80 shall l. There's no saying where /
may stop with seventy convicts at my
back"
Seventy conyicts! That was the
rough number at Castle Sullivan.
Then what was this to which the little
man was leading them? No petty rob-
berry, after all! A grand rebellion in
stead! Toms heart lightened at the
thought He gazed at the confident
little man, looking more like monkey
dressed up as a highwayman and
perched upon horse. and he felt that
he could have followed so spirited
leader with all the spirit he himself
had left but for the thing that had
been done before his eyes that night.
There was no more however, to be
said They were at the farm.
At the gate mot the gate of former
scenes; this one lay east beyond the
stables) NIL dismounted but the little
general, who was to keep his saddle
as generals do. The others led their
horses to the stables, and, while Wall
eye stalled them, Tom showed Slipper
and the black his old lair. Another
convict had succeeded him as groom,
and in few moments young Brummy
was dragged forth by Peter Pindar.
So far from Offering any resistance,
however, the obliging youth at once
put himself at the bushrangers' dis
posal. His zeal and enthusiasm au-
cured we'll for the other seventy In