Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-09-27

cial," or gentleman convict, as 5Iuitt;;::
rs Tom We're termed. The applicant
was a genial graybeard, with philo-
sophie eye. which looked Tom we'll up
and down ut their interview.
"What l want" said he, ''is a tutor
for my son. hear you are universe
ty man. May ask what makes you
stare?"
81 tutorw
"WellT"
"You can't know what 1 was trans
ported for"
"Oh, yes, do l could wish 1t had
been for something else, certainly; but
that doesn't make you any the less
university man. And the other spe-
to give you n trial. But We'll drop that
name Of yours, which I'm afraid may
be known in my house, and you shall
start fair. In half an hour. then, Jones,
Gball call for you in my chaise."
And Tom actually found himself
household before he had time to realize
his good fortune. The other servants
were ordered to treat him with respect.
His pupil was put entirely In his
charge. He had his meals with the
family and had reveled for one night
in a deliciously clean bed and bedroom.
when the master Of the house came to
him In the morning with a very wry
face
Its oil up, Jones'" said that philoso-
pher. with the blunt intimacy which
had made Tom like him from the first.
MY good wife has discovered who you
are, and she refuses to leave her bed
while you remain In the house. She
has read Of you In the English papers.
cOnfOund them. and she simply won't
have you ON the premises! 1t seems un-
reasonable when you consider that our
cook was a bloodthirsty baby farmer.
our coachman Il professional burglar
and so on right through the staff-ha-
bitual criminals every one-which I
don't think you are. Still there's an
other side to 1t. There's the boy to he
considered. and though l think you're
the very man for him, mothers feel
ings must be studied in such matters.
You see like you well enough to be
perfectly frank about the matter, but
the fact is the chaise Is waiting for US
outside"
So ended that chapter, and Tom was
back at barracks in time to hear the
clank Of chain gangs shutting family
out to work and the swish and whistle
of the morning lash. Those two instru-
ments supplied the street music Of the
convict city. There were few days
and few hours when you might not
hear their melancholy duet. To Tom
the sound Of it was still physical tor
ture, the more unbearable after this
cruel taste Of better things. Nearly
oil his shipmates had been assigned
and taken away In his absence. Only
one other Special was left, q London
clerk transported for fraud. Toms
late master, friend Of the superin-
tcndent was allowed to carry him of
In Toms stead, and long afterward
the latter heard the curious sequel of
his own misfortune. So thoroughly
did his successor teach what he knew
that both tutor and pupil were pres
emily transported to Van Dieman's
Land for life.
The incident was sufficiently dis
heartening at the time, and yet 1t had
Its hopeful side. 1t revealed the posi-
bilities Of the assignment system, or,
rather, its better possibilities, from the
convict's point Of view. As a punish
ment 1t must needs prove a farce in q
community which preferred to estimate
convicts by their capacity Gs cOlonists
rather than by their crimes as felons.
Such was Toms comforting reflection,
Tor not yet did he realize how entirely
the condition Of the convict was de.
pendent upon the character of the
master; but, having had one good mas
ter. though for so brief a period, he
looked cheerfully for another.
The other, however, was slow to
come. His false start seemed to tell