The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-18
"In one family they wouldn't keep


the barrack triangles. while a bloated
lower lip stuck out like tongue be-
tween his short fair beard and mus
tache. 'sThere never yet was the lag
that bested Nat Sullivan" he added,
with another OF his oaths, .and you
don't look the fool to try 1t on. So be
ready 10 an hour sharp. or you look
ontr'
us he Nat Sullivan" said Tom to
the officers as the stout young man
staggered off.
"Ay. ay,' said they: that's the cele-
brated Mr.. Nat"
.CelebratedT'
They're all that, you'll find, are the
Sullivans Of Castle Sullivan. You wait
and see. ] shan't say nothing to set
You agen 'em. but wish you Joy OF
each other. don't you. Bill?'
Bill laughed. and Tom troubled them
with no more questions.
Mr. Nat did not come in an hour. He
came In three. swaying Ia his saddle.
bnt still managing to lead pack horse
and q horse for Tom. His blue eyes
were now half closed. and Tom under.
stood him TO curse the sun and to nut.
ter something about fresh touch that
morning. They rode of. however. aud
were near the outskirts of Sydney
when Mr. Nat rolled quietly out of his
saddle and lay insensible In the mid.
die Of Brickield hill. 4
Tom was at bis side In an instant.
No bones were broken. He was sim
ply fast asleep. Tom shook him ND
and managed to get him to the nearest
Inn, where he again fell asleep. anathe-
matizing the sun. and so never stirred
for hours ~
And the convict servant stood over
the grunting carcass Of his free mas.
ter. and now he marveled at the sys.
tenn which sought to accomplish the
amelioration OF the fel0n by trusting
him In such hands ms these. The thing
had not even the excuse OF an irregu.
larity. There was q brand new gov.
ernment document sticking out Of a
pocket OF the loud check coat within
few inches Of the bloated face. and
Tom guessed rightly that II referred to
himself. Then there had been more
prellminaries than he had thought. but
that only made matters worse. since
what was scandal In itself was i'm.
measurably more scandalous as part
and parcel Of system.
Evening came. aud Mr.. Nat still lay
snoring. with his swollen lips wide
apart. Tom had not left him yet be-
Ing partly occupied with his own
thoughts and partly taken up with the
various sounds OF the inn Some OF
these sounds were sinister. as when
stealthy steps came along the passage
and an unseen hand tried the bedroom
door. which Tom had locked. He did
not care to leave the room. not know
Ing what the other might have In his
pockets. but nc last he did SO after
turning the key behind him and put.
ting II In bis pocket.
He went FIRST 10 the stables. where he
was surprised to find the horses sad.
died and bridled 10 their stalls. He
had unsaddled them himself after en-.
gaging the room Tor Mr. Nat. There
was nobody about however. TO afford
an explanation and It occurred to Tom
that the sooner they did get away the
better. So be left the horses as they
were. but looked into the taproom on
bis way upstairs. when all he heard
and saw confirmed bis impression not
only OF that particular inn. but OF the
widespread corruption OF the convict
town. A cattle steaier was drinking
With . constable and openly Boosting
before The latter Of bis exploits. As
Tom listened. however. be heard some.
thing else that interested him more. II
was the sound OF hoots IN the yard
behind the Inn He darted out and
met o mao riding bis masters horse
and coOlly leading the other two
what are you doing with those
horsesf'
]. whats that &C you Hands OF OF
III brain ye!''
They're my masters. Come out o,
that saddle. All! You would. would
your
And Tom. receiving the loaded whip
on his forearm. sprang AZ the riders
neck and brought him heavily to
earth among dozen hoofs. Then be
caught and tethered all three animals
and returned TO his man as the latter
was sitting up and rubbing his eyes
IN the moonlight He was a little
horsy bowlegs. and Tom dragged him
all the way into the tapnoom In the
sitting posture. only relInquishing him
nc the constable's feet.
Here's something for your he cried.
Caught him In the act OF riding or
with my masters horsesf'
why, It's my 'ostlerl' reared the
landlord.
II was only fetching OF 'em round to
the door. COS I thought they was
goIn'r' whined bowlegs.
"lfs you that Ill get run In, I'm
thinking" remarked the constable &c.
Vereiy to Tom. f.
"Fetching them roundr' cried the lat.
ter. Then why didn't you say so.
nnd what made you strike at me when
said they were my masters horsesf
sal