Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-10-04

and aged voice. "Only one. ch? What
have you done with the other twoT
Couldn't get them. sir" responded
Mr. Nat In a tone quite new 10 Tom.
1t was a very model of 1ilial respect
and dutiful subservience.
Couldn't get them, sir! Why, what
dye mean?" the old man Numbered.
I'VE applied for two laborers and a
groom. Why couldn't you get them?'
1.-THE fact Is did," stammered Nat.
"only two out Of the three We're hope
less cases. In the last stages of-of''-
"PhthisisT cried DR.. Sullivan, who
was an old army surgeon and the bug
bear Of sick convicts and malingerers
alike. Not phthlsis. eh?"
THAT was 1t. sir-the very word the
doctor used when made him overhaul
them. He said 1t was no use my TAX
Ing them. as they'd certainly die on
our hands,"
'Humph. He may have been right,
but I'd trust Il convict to sham death
itself-with anybody but me-" said the
old gentleman. looking hard Mt Tom.
Il wish I'd seen them myself. How
ever. I'll take his word and yours and
complain to the assignment board
'I've done all that. sir" hurriedly IN
terrupted the son. II stayed the week
out doing nothing but complain.
They'll remember me. l promise you.
It'll never happen again to us Then
at the end Of the week couldn't resist
another Sunday. and You wouldn't
grudge 1t me. father. If you'd heard
the sermons l heard In st. Philips
church morning and evening. I must
tell you about 1t later on"
"YOu must. you must. No; l don't
grudge you that. my boy. heaven
knows" said the old man. Modified In
moment. Ho took bamboo cane
from under his arm and raped Tom
smartly across the shoulders. and
what Of this rascal?" no added.
"What's he good forr'
Groom"
"Can the rufiian rider
mot so badly"
understands horses, does he. ana
has behaved himself on the wayT'
Eyes. on the whole, very we'll"
''Then let him take them round to
the stables and come back here for his
supper. He may have 1t in the kitchen
tonight; only recollect. you convict.
that If you misbehave either there or
anywhere else on Castle Sullivan you'll
smart for 1t pretty quick and pretty
heavy. Recollect that. You're here as
q convicted felOn, not free man, and
l don't care what you've done to get
here. Whatever it was. the punishment
for 1t Is scandalously light But the
punishment for anything you DO amiss
on my estate shall be oil the heavier
on that account So now you know.
And don't you say you hadn't fair
warning at the start"
With this DR.. Sullivan shook his cane
In the new grOOm's face and called his
oversaer. for whom he had directions
to which Tom did not listen. He was
more interested in q lighted door on
the right, where stood a female on the
threshold Of what he conceived to be
the kitchen and whittier Mr. Nat him
self had thrown furtIve glances. But
now father and son went indoors arm
In arm. The Overseer came up, a gruY
man with flaming whiskers, and Tom
caught him also looking wistfully to-
ward the lighted door before he was
hidden to come this way"
So he followed the fiery whiskers to
the stables, a long log building some
little distance beyond the house, and
here Tom was 80 smart In unsaddling
and so quick to find chaff bin and oat
sack and saddle room that his surly
companion was moved to rude i'd
vances
You're pretty handy" he growled.
"Been a groom before"
"Only since we left Sydney"
well. you're In luck too The groom
here has a room to himself next the
saddle room. Come and I'll show II
you"
The room In question was very small
and sQualid. with a fixed bunk and
foul paillasse. but Tom thought it
would be delightful with nice clean
straw, and to be alone at nights was
to compass I'm unexpected and I'M
speakable luxury. Ginger whlskers
pointed out the other convicts' quarters
on their way back to the house. They
We're the slab huts opposite the pail
SADIE. Two were large. the others all
small. That was the overseer's hut
with the big chimney and the little
veranda.
And who's the OversesrT' inquired
Tom. Mr.. Nat3"
mo. l am. and hark'ee. my beauty,
here we arc at the kitchen, and you're
well set up youngster. amt your But
no games. with the girl or there'll be
trouble! In you 60. You'll thank me
for the warning when you've seen q
bit"
Tom thanked him then and there
and was In the kitchen next moment.
1t was empty, but from the adjoining
scullery there came a sound of scuf.
fling, followed by q crash which ar