The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-15
BLACK JIM"
THE CONVICT
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY Nj. QUAD

been sent out to the penal colony OF
Australia for forgery.
They sent him up to Woona Wally
after his first two years Of imprison-
ment, and he fell into the hands OF
George Stebbns. In those days an
Australian convict was bid off-that is,
q settler in want of help would bid a
price for so many men, and they were
turned over to him for a certain length
of time He was responsible for their
feed and care, and his word was law.
He could work them as hard and as
long as he wished. He could starve
and beat them and there was no one to
come between. In case of insubordina-
ton he could shoot them down, and
the government simply accepted his
statement of the affair. All convicts
were glad enough to get away from
prison and out upon the ranches. and
In most cases they found good masters
and were decently treated. AS men,
ber of the mounted police l knew that
Stebbins was hard man to get along
with. He had been q tavern keeper
and bully in England. and his wife
had committed suicide, and his two
sons had been taken away from him by
the law on account of his cruelty.
Black Jim came up to Woona Wally
with six other men. and the gang were
up at police headquarters for the night.
1t fell to us to take their pedigrees and
post them as to their new master and
what would be expected of them. In
our district we always gave a convict
a fair start. He was told what would
be required of him, advised to do his
best to please his master and given to
understand that If he went straight we
would see that he had fair usage.
was Interested in Black Jim at once
The law had made convict of him.
but 1t hadn't degraded him.
/ had an idea that Stebbins would
be down on him from the first because
of his superior looks, and ! went pret-
ty thoroughly into details. When
had finished the prisoner said:
Il thank you, sir, and shall do my
best to please"
Things came about as | feared. As
Stebbins inspected his gang he picked
Black Jim out for special attention
He had little to say to the others be-
yond making bloodcurdling threats of
what would happen if they didn't toe
the mark, but TO Jim he said:
80 they have sent me a gentle
man. have theyf They thought need.
ed somebody to teach me manners per-
haps. Mebbe the idea was for you to
sit on the veranda and give me daily
lessons. Wei, you've come to the
wrong shop. Look, now, I'm goin'
to keep an eye on you! You think
yourself head and shoulders above the
crowd, but I'll take the conceit out of
your
Not one convict in thousand would
have stood the insults and degradation
put upon Black Jim the next year.
/ know he tried his best. but there
was no pleasing Stebbins. He was
always boasting that he had gentle
man convict and that he was bound
to break" him, and he spent a good
share of his time worrying the man.
One day, as l was returning with the
troop after hunting down false alarm
OF bushrangers, my horse SHE'D and
threw me almost In front of Stebbins'
house, and as | struck on a stone and
had several ribs broken | was carried
In. He was not glad to see me, but
under the circumstances was obliged
to give me bed. On the fourth night
n Vrnxr 49,
women arrived for an evening visit
When dinner had been finished and
the drink had gone around Stebbins
sent for Black Jim and ordered him to
dance for the amusement of the COM
pany. The convict respectfully but
firmly refused. and his master cried
out In indignation:
"You won't dance. eh? Too much
OF a gentleman to give us hornpipel
Mebbe this company isn't swagger
enough for the likes of bloomin'
murderer
''The charge against me was forgery,
SIR" quietly replied the man.
II don't care what it was. You are
insubordinate, and up you go by the
thumbs! After hangin' till daylight
you'll probably be little more hum
BILE"
The man had been hanging ten min
utes and the agony had almost
brought unconsciousness when the
door was kicked open and bushrangers
crowded in, Ii was complete sur
prise. The women screamed out and
began TO cry, but the men. with the
exception of Stebbins. took it rather
coolly The bully and coward went
white as death and fell into chnir.