The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-20

rounced BY q frown that had in IL more
Of pain and apprehension than of mere
annoyance Meanwhile the major. WIZ.
was still comparatively active man.
was bearing down upon the intruder
with the help of his furled umbrella.
and the gentleman in the curricle was
very soon asked what the mischief he
wanted there.
mischief. my good man. replied n
rich deep voice, a little overladen with
superior scorn. Nothing more mis-
chieyous. | take it, than q few words
with the superintendent of this gang
Perhaps Won will be 50 extremely con
descending as to give him my card
Il am he said the major what
can do for your
1.-THE honor of glancing at my card"
said the stranger. with a bow as elab-
crate as his scorn.
well sir!'
"My name may be familiar to you
@Neyer heard it in my life replied
the major bluntly However, he add
ed as the other colored terribly. II live
out of the world, Mr.. Daintree. as you
perceive"
Tom was at work quite near. and he
heard the name distinctly. He, TOO.
had never heard it before, and yet he
had some dim recollection of the face.
SO that he was watching it intently
and saw the flush with which Daintree
very fussily produced letter.
THAT is your misfortune, sir" Tom
heard him retort, and the rap put the
major in good temper on the spot
He sang out for a wardsman TO come
and take charge of the gentleman's
horses.
Nevertheless" continued Daintree
Il take it that even you, sir, are ac
quainted with the name of the writer
of the missive in my hand. l am the
bearer, Major Honeybone,"" with i'm
mense pomposity, "of letter from
my friend, his excellency Sir George
Gipps, the governor of this colony
Never met him." returned the ma
jor, with a twinkling eye. 1T is my
first acquaintance even with his hand
writing" Indeed, his excellency had
been not many weeks installed. but ii
was years since the major had heard
tones SO rich and periods so round as
those of his excelleney's friend. whom
he thereupon escorted with hospitality
to his house.
Now in this poor but. opposite that
stockade full of felons and in that des-
ert place, the major kept few dozens
of admirable wine and some boxes of
excellent cigars. Two of these We're
aIight, and the gentlemen had clinked
glasses and taken a sip before Major
would permit himself to
open his excellency's letter. Hardly |
had he done so when he regretted both
wine and cigars He looked up sud |
denly and in wrath, which. however, |
was somewhat disarmed by the eager |
light he thus surprised in the visitors |
strong and dusky face.
what on earth do you want him |
for? / cali this most monstrous re- |
quest" said Major Honeybone, and |
the last sentence was meant to have |
come first until Daintree's look inyert |
ed them.
"Reauest?' said Daintree, raising his |
eyebrows slightly.
Yes. sir request.' cried the ajor. |
Command. sir. is a thing don't take |
from gentleman I've never had the |
honor of setting eyes on. and this is
one that Sir Richard Bourke, sir. would |
sooner have died than give!''
Daintree pursed up his eyes. AS it
was only by patient exercise Of two
qualities that he had got
the letter at all, so he now saw that
ne must trust to those two qualities to
overcome this other masterful man.
He must be diplomatic, he must have
he must pick his way where
lie could not force it. and it was very
lear that there would be no forcing
his Major Honeybone.
The letter authorized and begged
he major to deliver and hand over
Thomas Erickson, Seahorse, then I'M
iergoing sentence in the majors iron
rang, to the bearer, who particularly
Wished to have him for his assigned
and undertook to make
himself thenceforward responsible for
he said convict's good behavior. It
vas an Irregular letter. No reason was
.iven for granting such a favor at all.
t did say. however. that Mr.. Dafntree
would give his reasons, and with the
etter in both hands. as though on the
oint of tearing it up, the major leaned
ack in his chair and regarded the 9th
r with a prolonged and curious stare.
What are your reasons?" he asked
t length.
HE is an innocent man." replied
,aintree impressively.
"a convicted murderer. I under
tand"
Wrongly convicted. l followed his
ase. Did you?"
mo. sir" said the major ..They /
i've me quite enough work out here"
well. I did follow it." the visitor G
-ent on Between ourselves. Major
Ioneybone, | did a great deal more G
ian that The case interested me from
lie first. l knew something about this f
DOR lad. That knowledge, together
18th the circumstances of the case. a
me at the time that he was T
Il innocent man.
He isn't one now" remarked Major \
-oneybone.
II am not pauper, SIR proceed e
| Daintree With embarrassment Il q
on't want this to go any farther; but
eu see. / knew something about the 4
~. and. in short, | found the money !,