Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-06-20
The TRAGEDY OF
THOMAS HEARNE
(Continued.)

\SSHeiudCusl
Matters moved quickly with us. I
hired stout horse and a two-wheel-
ed cart for month from the landlord
to whom talked neolithic man Of an
evening, impressing him with learn
ing. acquired from the reports of that
worthy society the Devonshire asso-
citation. l preferred to drive myself,
declining the boy offered for that pur-
pose, There were no other prepara-
tions to make; and so, on the day fol-
lowing. that earnest student, Mr..
Abel Kingsley, might have been seen
smoking his pipe on the cairn hill
In a white macintosh, for was there
not threat of rain in the air? while
Mr.. Thomas Hearne lay hid amongst
the stones watching the effect of the
signal through his pocket telescope.
He reported all well; julius Craig had
undoubtedly noticed the white water
proof. and understood that we were
waiting for him.
l could talk to you for an hour of
our doings in the next three weeks.
We lived on the edge Of powder
barrel in which we had set the fuse.
Never a morning but we were up
with the sun, staring to windward for
signs of the weather Would 1t be
today, tomorrow = not at all? A
nervous man would not have stood
that strain; but we were not neu-
rouc couple, the old chap and l.
AS hard and keen and clever as a
lad of 21 was Thomas Hearne. 1t
was he who spent the day in Ply
mouth, returning with wig and long
overcoat that might temporarily con-
ceal the convict's identity until he
could change his yellow prison uni
form for the clothes / had already
bought; 1t was he who gathered to
himself all the weather lore of the
village until he had become a better
prophet than the wisest veteran of the
moors. Two fogs we had, but dur
ing the first the convicts were kept
within the walls; while before the
other caught them the warders had
time to rush the gangs back to their
cells. Yet Hearne never lost temper
at these delays, cheering me back into
patience with the strength of his own
certainty.
Don't you worry, Kingsley" he
would say; what is fated to happen
cannot be prevented, and Providence
will see to it that julius Craig comes
to us soon."
His affection for the convict seem
ed to fill his life. No risk, no labor
was too heavy; no storm would drive
him from his post. Often when
smoked by the inn fire he was crouch
ing patiently amongst the rocks on
the cairn hill, as If it were his only
son for whom he waited. There was
something inhuman in his merciless
self-sacrifice; but had no reason to
complain, for 1t lightened the burden
on my shoulders.
1t was at three o'clock on Tuesday
May 9, that Julius Craig escaped.
Poor devil! If he had but known!
Hearne and had quarreled that
morning over the fog question. Per-
haps both our tempers were wearing
thin, but that was no excuse for his
dropping from argument to insults. /
dare say he thought my language Just
as bad; but that didn't make the trou.
BILE any lighter. There was fog in
the air, he said, though even the land
lord laughed at the idea when l put
the question to him. Finally the old
man walked off in huff, though l had
so far given way as to promise that
/ would bring the cart to the ruins
by lunch time.
sulked about the inn until the pa,
pers came from Plymouth. When I
had finished reading them 1t was nigh
one o'clock. A leg of lamb was cook.
ing in the kitchen. Just because
Hearne preferred cold ham sand
witches or a draughty hill there was
no reason why should not have my
meal in comfort. / would lunch be-
fore l started, and he could wait for
his sandwiches.
1t was selfish thing to do, but he
had irritated me that morning more
than l now can understand. was
finishing Off with cheese when the
landlord thrust his head through the
door Of my sitting room.
"I gave FOOLS wisdom this morn.
ing. SIR" he said. "The fog be blow
ing up proper from the eastward. I'm
feared that Mr.. Hearne-"
He got no further. for l was past
him like fash and out into the
open.
The moors had gone; utterly vanish
ed away. In their place there lay q
blanket Of billowy white that sent
wild streamers upwards to the flying