Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-10-25
CHAPTER NNIlI

"NIIE nearest magistrate was an
81 .Anglo-Indian Of the name OF
Strachan. another employer Of
convict labor on large scale
and disciplnarian second only to DIR.
Sullivan himself. The two We're close
friends and Indispensable to each other
In certain ways Both, In fact. We're
magistrates but no magistrate was
competent to deal judicially with his
own offending convicts. and thus an
interchange of mutual favors was kept
up between the pair.
They would meet on Mondays ut the
courthouse situated midway between
their respective strongholdS. and at
this courthouse DIR. Sullivan would
Oblige Mr. Strachan by sentencing any
servant Of the latter 10 rs many lashes
as his master liked. while Mr.. Strachan
was only too glad to do the same for
DIR. Sullivan. SO great was the mu-
tual convenience that either pOtentate
was delighted to hold special in
Quiry in any exceptional case to obllge
the other, and one was held according
sault upon his masters son.
A mounted messenger was dispatch
ed to Mr.. Strachan, who sent back
word that he would be at the court
house as soon after II o'clock as pos
sible And he arrived within few
minutes Of DIR. Sullivan. his red beard
ed overseer and the culprit. who had
;,l,% In, xv.1,f o1,
he still Wore.
The doctor led his brother magis-
trate aside. and Tom, raising his lacl
luster eyes for once. watched them
walking arm in arm In the sunlight
for several minutes before entering
told the constables the kind Of man
Tom was. Tom heard hir, without q
word or look. The constables agreed
that, whatever else he was, he was
them. too. but sat doggedly in the
strong sunlight, with sullcn eyes upon
the two magistrates, whom he instinc-
lively knew to be deciding his fate
before the case began. Not word
had he spoken since the irons had been
clamped upon his limbs and clasped
about his soul.
Not word did he speak In the jus-
tice room within. His attention, how
ever, was engaged ut the outset by the
extremely moderate tone in which the
charge was preferred against him. DR..
Sullivan. put on his oath, gave q per-
1ectly true account Of what he had
himself seen and heard in the small
hours of that morning. He even ad-
mltted. In response to q question from
the bench his impression that his son
was the first to raise hand and add
ell Of his own accord hope that that
circumstance would be taken into due
consideration on his servants behalf.
Tom could hardly believe his ears.
He was still lost In wonder at this ex-
traOrGinnry intercession on the part of
DIR. Sullivan. Of all men, when Mr..
Strachan addressed him In q tone no
less clement and benign.
You are charged" said he, with q
very grave offense. which you do not
attempt to deny. In the ordinary
course should feel compelled to COM
NIT you to another court, and your
lightest punishment would be q term
In the chain gang. even If you were not
sent straight away to Norfolk island.
1t Is your good fortune, however, to
have been assigned to a humane and
merciful master, who has spoken for
you as l am bound to say should not
have done In his place. He has mag
unanimously made the most Of the one
slender point that might he urged in
your favor. He has begged me to deal
with you here and now. He is gener-
ously anxious to give you another
chance, Of which. for your own good,
would exhort you to take grateful ad-
vantage. Meanwhile you have not me
to thank. but DR.. Sullivan entirely, for
the ridiculously inadequate punish
ment which l am about to order you.
You Will be taken into the yard, and
you will receive fifty lashes with the
cat o nine tails"
at these words Tom turned very
white and opened his lips as II to
speak. but shut them tight without
syllable. His logged eyes cleaned,
his handouts ratified and his leg irons
clanked together as the constables took
MIN by either arm and led him with
out murmur from the room.
did / say too much:" asked Mr..
Strachan. biting at cheroot, when the
magistrates were left alone.
Not one word" replied the doctor
cordially. Il am infinitely obliged to
you for saying what You did-for the
cohstables' benefit particularly. They
seemed to see nothing wrong"