The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-21

In the eurricle. looking backward hour
after hour, but when that also passed
over and still nothing happened he be
gan to think that either Butter was
mistaken or the major incredulous or
his enemies Of another mind now that
he was gone. At all events he took
heart Of grace and at last thanked
Daintree for what he was doing, with
out asking, however, why he was do
ing it.
On the third forenoon the spires and
windmills of Sydney fringed the sky
Then they mounted a hill. and there
was the harbor sparkling above the
roofs of the convict city.
I'VE had better drop the .Erichsen'
now" said Daintree as they drove up
to the turnpike gate. Il suggest that
Thomas will suffice both Christian
name and surname I think it would
be preferable for the present. What
say you?" Tom consented with per-
feet readiness and Indifference, and he
looked behind him for the last time as
mucbsas to say what was the only thing
on earth about which he was not as in
different as the dead
4Ity d1oNt hi4titi Iiii w
the spot where Nat Sullivan had tum-
bied off his horse and past the notori-
Gus inn where he had lain. 1t flourish
ed still. And still the doleful felon
music filled the air, striking more STAG
cato in this crisp weather than six
months since in the heavy heat, but it
struck to Toms heart no more. On
the quay there was a crowd and
fresh shipIoad of convicts disembark-
ing. but Tom felt no pity for them
either And now. when his indigna-
ton was aroused, il was by the loung-
ing laZiness of road gang. whose
overseers were smoking and chatting
with the conyicts, while the latter
moved neither hand nor foot, and the
sentries yawned at their posts
They want the major there" said
Tom grimlv. He'd have that peck of
stones about their ears If they stood
looking at 1t much longer!'
Daintree turned and regarded him
with particularly pleased and kindly
smile; then Tom knew that he had just
volunteered his first remark since leav-
ing the stockade, and he thought he
knew with what sympathetic patience
waited for. though he only now sus-
pected this from Daintree's smile. His
heart swelled a little. They put up at
an inn, and he made himself more
useful to his new master than he had
been yet
The bungalow was some few miles
out upon the delightful woody shore of
Rose bay. They drove on there in the
afternoon, and the greenwood dipping
beyond the post and rails of the Old
Point Piper road, the lush meadows
dipping beyond that and the azure
arm of the harbor seen through the
one and above the other were all Il
very wonderful change after that ter
rible plateau of the past four months.
Nor had they any feature in common
with the detested region of Castle Sui
Ivan. Tom had seen nothing like this
up country. To crown all, the bunga-
low lay bathed in the richest sunset
when they reached it and Rose bay
deserved that name indeed. for it's sun
lit waters appeared to be dimpled with
wet rose leaves from strand to strand
1t was as though nature herself were
trying to soften that frozen heart and
to welcome Tom Erickson to this haven
of peace
An old man came out to see to the
horses. 4 somewhat younger woman
stood in the mellow light upon a wide
veranda. Daintree greeted them with +
an air-almost the first he had permit
ted himself in Toms company. With
another. however. he took Toms hand
and expressed Enthusiastically the
hope that the threshold of his house
would prove to be also that Of a new
life for Tom
You have left the past behind you,
Thomas" said he, land all your enc
mics with it. Rest assured of that II
they follow you here. they'll have me
they have laid their last finger on you
No; there's brighter future ahead of
you. l trust, and always recollect-I
am your friend"
II suppose you are" said poor Tom
In reply. He could believe and feel
but little even yet.
You suppose l am ?" cried Daintree,
looking rather queerly at Tom. You
shall dine at my table, he then eX-
claimed. You shall have all your
meals with me, Mrs. Fawcett, lay a {
place for Thomas and show him his
room"
1t was little room certainly but an !
Incredibly peasant one. The window
almost overhung the bay. and the bed {
was white feast for bloodshot eyes.
Dinners ready. Don't you spoil it.
young man. by keeping master wait
ng.' said Mrs. Fawcett. and then over
Ter shoulder as she went, MY word,
put you're a lucky one.'
Perhaps he required telling SO. 1t
vas all so difficult TO believe, SO impos-
ible TO understand. But bewiIderment :
lad not yet given place to curiosity.
He was. however, beginning to real |
re that he had fallen from the cruelest
nto the kindest hands on earth when, l
eturning to the veranda, he encoun- c
cred the kind man, with cleaning
we and a set face quite inconsistent f
With that impression. A fox terrier.
ndifferently bred, with one ear up and {
he down. but the most eager eyes,
,ad wildly n, fnf~ xx~h sf.,f