The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-21

With that he rose to go. but Size got
between him and the door.
"Glory be 70 God. an It shan't be
the lastr' said she. her bosom heaving
and 4 tear III her eye. "peggy's your
frind. remember that. sosr. an it's tae
cook cain be the usefullest frind to the
assigned servants. II ye'd only Say
ont what 1t Is that's throublin' We SO
this minute" s ,+
"Coming up here as convict, that's
all, Peggy"
There's hundreds more in thin:
huts fornlnst u.s." &c.,.
"That's no comfort. I'm afraid. Yol
see. am very selfish. think only OF
myself" Et@e" IL. 49,
! "But they're all .convicts here. livery
mothers son but the ould cove and
Mr.. Nat"
"What. the overseer tooT
"Ginger? It's Ginger we call IN, an
a dacent man at most times Is Gin
ger, though you needn't be tellin' m
said SO. But faith. he's no betther
| uinh TIC tSst vi uS' ii uc iSu Gull
vict now he's ticket-of-lave. an It's
very wan Of us'll be that, sorr, If we
i've long enough"
"Yes? Don't sir me. Peggy. Call me
Tom. I'm not even like Ginger. you
know. I'm convict of the deepest
and the newest dye"
"An' what am t.
.Not you. too, Peggy"
"Me, too. Tnm. an it's siven year
I'm here for. So don't you make such
a song of it. me dear, or it's me yell
be putin to the blush"
Indeed lie bad done so already And.
70 believe Peggy, the second blush
ever seen at Castle Sullivan was still
maatling her pleasant face when
spurs jiug!ed again Ia the scuIlery, and
Mr.. Nat stood Oh the inner threshold.
Some moments he stood there without
a word furious glitter in bis cold
blue eye. his lewd Mouth showing
through his beard like Il cash. Peggy
shrank back. Tom was wondering II
the brute lad ever struck her. when
be was addressed in voice that shook
with IN governed ferocity.
\ What are you doing here. Erich
sem were the words.
IL have just had my supper. l was
told to have il here"
"Oh, you've had II, have your Then
why the devil haven't you cleared
out:" reared young Sullivan. losing all
control. II tell you what. Peggy, this
mans cold blOoded murderer. That's
what he is. and that's what he's here
for. Why they didn't hang him God
knows. but they didn't. so we've got
the benefit instead, Let me never
catch him In here again. He'd cut your
throat as soon as look at you. Clear
out you gallows bird. and show your
nose inside the palisade again II you
darer'
Tom replied with his eye. and only
scorn was In its steady gaze. When
the other ceased. he waited little TO
ascertain II that were all; then be
turned upon his heel. opened the door
walked out and shut It very quietly
behind him.
There were high voices In the kitch'
en- as he went his way. And Tom
himself was less cool when he reached
bis room. where. indeed. he lay awake
half the night still wondering whether
Nat Sullivan had ever struck Peggy
O'Brien and whether Peggy would
admit 1t II he had. But In the end he
slept sonndly on the clean straw with
which he first took care to line bis
bunk.
Soundly, but not long. for In the mid
die OF the night, as II seemed to Tom.
the Changing Of great bell brought
him TO his feet In state OF high alarm.
lie slid into his trousers and rushed
out II was that black hour before
dawn, and at FIRST In the failing star
light he could see nobody: then be de-
scried figure In q long coat parading
to and fro before the huts. but the bell
was silent. though still swaying from
the twisted arm Of q gigantic gum
tree. when Tom ran up and inquired OF
this man what II meant He found
be was speaking to the night watch
man. who said his business was to ring
the bell first an hour before sunrise.
then half an hour later and lastly when
the sun appeared.
$50 you're to be groomT added the
Waterman. II wouldn't swap my jot
for yours"
"Noy' said Tom.
mot me. Cause whyi I'm on oil
night. but or all day. 30 see less OF
the coves than any other blessed man
on the place. Now you'll see more OF
'em. aud Lord help you II you trot Out
lame nag or a piece Of harness the
old cove can't see his ugly mug inl
wouldn't he In your shirt for some
thing: it'll be stlckin' to your back by
this day weekv'
Tom was returning to bis room when
q sash was softly raised In the main
building. and there was Peggy &C On
outer window In an inky shower bath
OF pitch black hair. She beckoned him
with her finger, but transferred II
swiftly 10 her lips.
"you did WELT You did wellr' she
whispered. Il was in the holy terrot
lest you answered Mr.. Nat. IL you'd
done that
ghe shuddared ana shut her Inns.