The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-10

kSsNSNES II
Tom took peep as the men folloloeo
the black 1Uomdn into the hopel.
and get me my fifty for yon screw
hammer? Man, but he'll be squeakin
fine the noot'
you've only to say Erickson brought
EN-" added Brummy. land you were
too drunk to see what they were oil
you'd never have taken them in
He'll know different"
AYE. but he's going to pretend" ex
planned the Scot, IAN you've just to dc
the same
Then I'm to lug them back myself
am To-
First thing in the morning, and the
cove'lI tip you the stumpy himself"
THE young cove?'
yes
.Dinna we keep tellin' We it's Mats
idee? He thairsts for that mans
blood as much as l do myself An I'd
Sits juggler If | got the chance"
The villains went on talking for an.
other hour. But the foul truth clogged
Toms mind, and he took in but little
more of what he heard
spiracy, and the arch conspirator was
the beast that Tom had cared for in
his cups, the petty tyrant whose prop
erty he was even now risking his life
to rescue from his own confederates
Tom ground his teeth. He would res
cue it still. And not only Macbeth and
Brummy, but NJ. Nat himself should
see the saddles on their pegs in the
morning.
The villains went on drinking as they
talked. Another cork popped, yet the
moon was still high i'll the lucid heav-
ems when the two convicts staggered
off. Jarman at once put out his light,
and in Il little all was still but the
leaves, the locusts and the tiny tribu-
tary of the Hunter in which Tom had
laved his feet.
He came from behind his tree The
saddles were still outside
He stole near; nearer yet: near
enough to hear Jarman and his gin
already breathing heavily in their
sleep
But they might not be sleeping heav-
lily. and what if they awoke? The STIR
rup irons might ring together Tom
knelt down and crossed the feathers
over the top of each saddle. The new
pigskin might creak, for all the oil it
had absorbed; in fact, it did as Tom
lifted the saddles, and he stood there
with one on each arm ready to fling
them down and to fight for them still.
But nothing happened. SO ne crept
away.
This time he crossed the creek with
out dallying and only halted within
few hundred yards OF the farm build
ings. Here he sat on stump. mopped
his forehead and wondered whe Their he
should take the trouble to elude the
night Waterman Il second time, and as
he sat the moon twinkled in the four
stirrup irons, which shone like silver
they We're so beautifully clean. and as
he was admiring them it suddenly
came home to Tom the groom that he
had cleaned those stirrup irons him
self.
Yes. in spite of all, he had taken a
sort Of involuntary pride in his work
And that was another thing for which
his fellow convicts had cursed and
hated him. But tonight he scorned and
cursed himself for it. with twice their
and an oath broke into a sob
as he caught up the saddles and start
ed to his feet
In a word, the sight of his own hon.
est handiwork so cruelty thrown away
drew blood from a heart that had re-
NAMED adamant under studied prov
ocation and cool but a minute since In
the face of monstrous treachery. To
have done a hands turn for such
wretches. That was the intolerant
thought. 1t awoke the restless rebel
that had slept SO long in this tortured
bosom. Not another stroke of willing
work would he do. He would be as
his fellows from that moment. only.
there and then he would
to hide and dodge no more.
SO ne groom marched boldly upon the
gate across which Mr.. Nat had pointed !
with his whip to the lights Of Castle |
Sullivan and would have slammed the /
gate behind him but for one circum- /
stance. SIR Nat was leaning against i
t now.
Nor was he alone. The girl O'Brien I
vas at his side Tom was upon them /.
before he could check his steps. but he f
lid not try. He strobe mp TO his enemy /
nd stood before him without word.
ut with a saddle speaking for itself
n either arm.
..Nell-vellG' cried Mr.. Nat. What
re you doing out Of your room? And +
What what what have you got
heref-
The new saddles"
so see. Ny saddles What have
gu been doing with them? Where did
Gu find them. eh 2:
Tie tone vas loud and clustering,
Ut uncertain and surprised In the
Moonlight Tom looked his enemy cool
: and steadily in the face. and she girl
rev away from her companion and