The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-05

church warden until an accursed organ
fund brought trouble In Its trair So
here am. ond here ! was while our
late friend was cutting threats In IT.
ally, vet he thinks I'm going to knuckle
under to him forever Likely. wasn't
IT. No. no: be was 0 bold enough
man. but he'd met another and ven,
ture to say that tonight my first In
command we're on bigger job than
we ever should hare tackled under
friend Francisco" .
II "Hear. hear cried Slipper. while
Wall-aye nodded again. and Tom
caught an evil CLEAN between De
Gruchy's fingers. There followed a
pause, for the mellifluous gray man
had taken OF his sneetacles and was
breathing on the lenses with as tram
quill Il deliberations rs though he We're
still in the village schoolroom. ruling
innocent children instead of grown
men rs infamous as himself. IS
Tom watched him still. Indeed his
eyes had scarcely left this venerable
villain from the moment 1t appeared
he, was one, and now his fascination
was complete. He glanced at his own
legs. crossed in unconscious imitation
Of the little bushranger. and his trou-
fers were all stained and his boots.
still stiif from the blood that had run
down and into them, drawn by the
lash. Then he looked at Hockey, so
wicked and strong and sly. and his
heart leaped rs he had never thought
to feel it leap again. Here was the
man for whipped dog to follow! He
leaned eagerly forward and begged
and crayed admission to the band as
another might have pleaded for his
life. ss
Hockey Simpson surveyed bin
strangely. "WeIl, WELL" said he Il
was thinking IL would never do to
leave yon here"
"N'hy not?" Iii
"You We're probably heading for the
sea" .ss.
IL was"
well. the ensign and his men are,
without doubt, between the sea and
ourselves. You might have fallen In
with them" IA.
THAT would have been my lookout"
"Mine. too. perhaps"
"what do you mean?"
"You might have put them on my
scent" ...
Tom had seen ii coming. yet he lost
his temper when II came.
so you think that of me?' he cried.
"You see how I've been treated, and
yet you think that"
81 did think It," was the reply. Il
don't say / do now. No: il never oc-
Cured to me to trust you Oh the
grounds you suggest"
Then what did II occur to you
to do!'' ~[.
Hockey Simpson shrugged bis shout
ders as one who would rather not say.
ITO tie me 10 tree perhaps and
leave me there to starve." -
Hockey Simpson bit his thin lips 70
avoid smiling. but bent his gray head
r'hel that was impossible. and Tom
bending his. saw that the cork was OF
the polished steel hook and its point a
sha.p as needle. The little gray man
WIS feeling II with his thumb as b.
still tried to swallow bis smiles.
II see!' said Tom In a low voice
ayes. now see.'
I'VE never do things by halves" OBJ
served Hockey. SUCKING a bead q
blood. not without ostentation, from
the end OF his thumb. 1--WE do then
with all our might
$50 !. see" repeated Tom. well
and so do I. You stick at nothing
I'll stick at less. Ill be with you Il
what you please. from whist to whole
sale murder. only give me the chance
Man alive. can't You see for yourself
I'm as desperate as any Of you
Haven't you told me the mounted 20
lice are between me and the sea
Then what do you suppose want will
my life except to sell Ii as dear as pos
sibIe and he done with IL AZ quick
I tell you" cried Tom. 'Tm the yeT.
man for you! See here. You're on
> short. Take me In his place and sery
me the same II turn out worse thai
my word!'
Ills sudden yehemence. his Impns
stoned nlaumer. his teTcred and Infnr
ated eyes all had their effect upon ID
bushgaugers. who now. with the e,
ceptlOn OF Peter Pindar aud De Grt
chy. got up and held a whispered col
sultatlon sume few PAGES from the frI
Tom watched them eagerly. aud enc
time the wall eyes or the fire III spet
tacles were turned upon him he mad
ready TO rise. But now aud then the
' glanced nj De Cruelty instead. VIII
, was still nursing a sullen face. an
at such times their whispers fell lowe
c still, 40 that Tom was at once stnftle
n aud interested when q new voice gUl
ble1 intlIis ear:
=, "Yabber.yabber 'louga him-bIm b1
IL budgefle him no uSe!''
Il was Peter Plndar. whose oil
!. locks and curling beard nodded dl
guste1ly In DE Gruchy's direction.
why notf" said Tom. "what u
n ha dana -