Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-10-18
- E.yv. EfORNUNG,
RoSue's =: s: 6; 6:
March. .:..: :::: 6: ;: S.: ::::...
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
over tbs. toy of each saddle. The new
I,ehiu might crcak. for all the oil 1t
had absorbed: in fact. ii did as Tom
lifted the saddles, and he stood there
with one on each arm ready to fling
them down AMI IL fight for them still.
But nothing happened. So lie crept
away
This time he crossed the creek with
ont dH!'y.ng "I.l only halted within
Il few hundred yards of the farm build
ingS. Here h. sat on IL stump. mopped
Ills forehead and wondered whether lie
should take the trouble to eludc the
night Waterman Il second time, and Us
he sat the moon twinkled In the four
Stirrup irons, which shone like silver,
they We're 50 beautifully clean. and rs
he was udlniring them 1t suddenly
came home TO Tom the groom that he
had cleaned those stirrup irons HIM
self
Yes. In spite of all. he had taken IL
sort of involuntary pride In his work
And that was another thing for which
his fellow convicts had cursed and
hated him. But tonight he scorned and
cursed himself for 1t, with twice their
bitterness. and an oath broke into sob
as he caught up the saddles and start
ed to his feet
In word. the sight Of his own hon
est handiwork SO cruelty thrown away
drew blood from heart that had re-
manned adamant under studied prov
Ocation and cool but minute since In
the face Of monstrous treachery. To
have done a hands turn for such
wretches! That was the intolerant
thought. 1t awoke the restless rebel
that had slept so long In this tortured
bosom. Not another stroke Of willing
work would he do. He would be as
his fellows from that moment, only,
beginning there and then. he would
condescend to hide and dodge no more.
So the groom marched boldly upon the
gate across which Mr.. Nat had pointed
with his whip to the lights Of Castle
Sullivan and would have slammed the
gate behind him but for one circum-
stance. Mr.. Nat was leaning against
1t now.
Nor was he alone The girl O'Brien
was Mt his side. Tom was upon them
before he could check his steps, but he
did not try. lie strobe up to his enemy
and stood before him without a word,
but with saddle speaking for itself
on either arm.
"Well-wellY" cried Mr.. Nat. what
are you doing out Of Your room? And
what - what what have you got
there?"
'The new saddles"
$50 see. My saddles. What have
you been doing with them? Where did
you find them, eh?'
The tone was loud and clustering,
but uncertain and surprised. In the
moonlight Tom looked bis enemy cool
ly and steadily In the face, and the girl
drew away from her companion and
gazed at Tom. who never so much rs
glanced at her rs he replied:
''rhey We're stolen. Thieves broke
into the saddle room and stole your sad
dies. heard them and followed them,
but never saw their faces close to
and wouldn't swear to voice. fol-
lowed them to Jarman's hut, and, you
see, I've brought you your saddles
back"
Mr.. Nat never said word. His blue
eyes glared fxedly at Tom out of a
white face, from which the girl O'Brien
edged farther and farther away.
mo: can't tell you who the men
were." continued Tom. ''but can tell
you who put them up to 1t. 1t was not
q convict. Mr.. Sullivan, but a meaner
hound than any convict on your farm.
One who has special spite against
me-the Lord knows why! So he brib-
ed these men to take the saddles sim
ply In order to get me into trouble.
What do You think Of that? I over
heard all about 1t out at Jarman's hut.
l heard his name too. Would you like
to know what 1t is"
"Sure it's himself-the dhirty divilw
And Peggy O'Brien was at Toms
side. with one hand clutching his arm
and the other pointing scornfully at
the baleful blue eye and the vile. Quiv-
ering lips Of the younger Sullivan.
What followed was the affair Of q
moment. 1t was as II q mad bull had
made a rush, though whether Mt tho
girl or Tom or both 1t was impossible
to say. Tom thought the first, dropped
the saddles, and his right arm flew out
from tho chnnIdnp ho
heavy thud, and Nat Sullivan lay in q
hemp on the ground. with q livid mark
between the ear and tho eye that lay
upturned to the moon.
we've kilt'm! Ye've kilt'mw cried
the girl. clinging in terror to Toms
arm.
II hope 1 have" he answered. 1T
Will be q good thing done for oil con-
cerned."
"Whisht! They'll be afther hearin'
ye. Look behindw
Even as he turned the gate swung
open. and there was DR.. Sullivan him
self. with his frogged coat flying and
his night shirt tapping outside his nan
keen brooches. The Waterman Roberts
was at his masters naked heels, close.
ly followed by Ginger. the overseer, In
similar dishabille. These two seized
Tom. who showed no semblance Of re-
sistance. while the doctor knelt over
the fallen man and felt his heart.
"Only stunned" said he. looking up
"But you shall smart for this, you mis-
creant, II you don't hang yet! The
very man he warned me against-the
very man whose part I took against
him! What have you to say for your
self. you rufaan. before have you put
In irons and locked upT'
you saw the blow. DR.. Sullivan?
you dare to ask me? With my own
eyes. you villainv'
\''Then you also saw the cause"