Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-01

were near the outskirts OF sydney
when Mr.. Nat rolled quietly out OF his
saddle and lay lnsensible In the mid
die of Bryck1eld hill.
Tom WINS at his side In an Instant
No bones were broken. He was SIM
ply fast asleep. Tom shook him up
and managed to get him to the nearest
inn, where he again fell asleep. anathe-
matizlng 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 felon by trusting
him In such hands as these. The thing
had not even the excuse Of an irregu-
Iarity. There was a brand new gov
eminent document sticking out OF q
pocket of the loud check coat within
few inches Of the bloated face. and
Tom guessed rightly that 1t referred to
himself. Then there had been more
preliminaries than he had thought, but
that only made matters worse, since
what was a scandal In itself was Inn
measurably more scandalous as part
and parcel of system.
Evening came, and Mr.. Nat still lay
snoring. with his swollen lips wide
apart. Tom had not left him yet bo-
Ing partly occupied with bis 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 at last he did so after
turning the key behind him and put
ting 1t In his pocket.
He went first to the stables, where he
was surprised to find the horses sad
died and bridled In their stalls. He
had unsaddled them himself after en-.
gaging the room for Mr.. Nat. There
was nobody about. however. to afford
an explanation. and 1t occurred to Tom
that the sooner they did get away the
better. So he left the horses as they
were. but looked into the tapro0m on
his way upstairs, when oil he heard
and saw confirmed his impression not
only of that particular inn, but OF the
widespread corruption OF the convict
town. A cattle stealer was drinking
with constable and openly boasting
before the latter Of his exploits. AS
Tom listened. however. he heard some
thing else that interested him more. 1t
was the sound Of hoofs In the yard
behind the inn. He darted out and
met man riding his masters horse
and coolly leading the other two.
"What are you doing with those
horses?"
whats that to youT Hands of or
I'll brain ye!"
They're my masters. Come out OF
that saddle. All! You would. would
you?"
And Tom, receiving the loaded whip
on his forearm. sprang at the riders
neck and brought him heavily to
earth among q dozen boofs. Then he
caught and tethered oil three animals
and returned to his man as the latter
was sitting up and rubbing his eyes
in the moonlight. He was little
horsy bowlegs. and Tom dragged him
all the way Into the taprOom In the
sitting posture, only relinquishing him
at the constable's feet.
Here's something for you" he cried.
"Caught him In the act OF riding OH
with my masters horses"
"Why, it's my 'ostler" roared the
landlord.
81 was only fetching of 'em round to
the door, COS I thought they was
goin'w whined bowlegs.
otis you that I'll get run In, I'm
thinking" remarked the constable Sc
vereIy to Tom.
"Fetching them roundw cried the lat
Ter. "Then why didn't you say so,
and what made you strike at me when
I said they were my masters horses!
Oh. see the kind of place I'm in"
And he rushed upstairs to the room
and nearly trod on something crouch
ing at the door that fed with futter,
while little instrument fell from the
keyhole and rang upon the floor. Tom
picked 1t up. unlocked the door and
strobe In.
Mr.. Nat took some waking, but start
ed up at length with clinched fists ana
an oath.
"We're In den Of thieves!' whis-
pered Tom. Don't you remember me!
Your new grooml We must get out OF
this as quick as we camp
"Why, where are weY'
eat an inn, the Bull and Tumble
down."
Mr.. Nat whistled and flung his legs
over the side Of the bed.
"One of the worst houses in Sydney"
said he. "Rlng the bell, If there ID
one"
There was one, and woman servant
answered its summons.
"Send I'D the landlord" said Sullivan,
"and tell him to bring plenty of change.