The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-16
PART THREE


1.-The partitions between the cells
of the convicts, instead of being OF
thick oak, as is usual in convictships,
were quite thin and frail. The man
next to me, upon the aft side, was one
whom | had particularly noticed when
we were led down the quay. He was
young man with clear, hairless face,
a long, thin nose, and rather nutcrack-
er Jaws. He carried his head very
jauntily in the air, had staggering
style of walking, and was, above all
alse, remarkable for his extraordinary
height. I don't think any of our heads
would have come up to his shoulder,
and / am sure that he could not have
measured less than six and half feet.
1t was strange among so many sad and
weary faces to see one which was full
of energy and resolution. The sight
of it was to me like fire in a snow
storm. | was glad, then, to find that
he was my neighbor, and gladder still
when. in the dead of the night,
heard a whisper close to my ear, and
found that he had managed to cut ar
opening in the board which separated
US.
:" "Hollo chummy," said he, whats
your name, and what are you here
for?"
"1 answered him, and asked in turr
who was talking with.
'"'I I'm Jack Predergast," said he
land by God, you'll learn to bless my
name before you've done with me-"
4 remembered hearing of his case
| for il was one which had made al
immense sensation throughout thu
country some time before my own ar
rest He was man of good family
and of great ability, but of incurabl!
vicious habits, who had by an ingen
ious system of fraud obtained hug
sums of money from the leading
London merchants.
"'"Ha, ha! You remember nj.
case," said he. proudly.
Very well, indeed
"'"Then maybe you remembe
something queer about it?
/ What was that, them"
I'D had nearly quarter of a mi
lion, hadn't -"
ESQ it was said"
""But none was recovered, eh?"
"'"No."
wen, where q We suppose IN
balance is?" he asked
90 have no idea" said I.
fright between my finger an
thumb" he cried. BY God! I've &C
more pounds to my name than you'v
hairs on your head. And if you'v
|, money, my son, and know how {
handle it and spread it, you can
anything. Now, you don't think
, likely that a man who could do an,
thing is going to wear his hreeche
out sitting in the sinking hold of
, rat-gutted. beetle-ridden, mouldy oil
coffin of a Chin China coaster. N
: sir, such a man will look after hin
self and will look after his chum
You may lay to that, You hold on t
: him, and you may kiss the book he
haul you through" ~
: That was his style of talk, and {
J first l thought it meant nothing; br
after a while, when he had tested m
and sworn me in with all possibl
solemnity, he, let me understand tia
there really was a plot to gain con
mand of the vessel. A dozen of til
prisoners had Matched it before the
, came aboard, Prendergast was tt
leader, and his money was the motiy
power.
I'D a partner said he, "a raj
good man, as true as stock to
! barrel. He's got the dibbs, he has, ar
where do you think he is at tn
moment? Why, he's the chaplain
. this ship-the chaplain, no less.
y came aboard with a black coat, ar
Ibis papers right, and money enous
in his box to buy the thing right l
. from keel to maintruck. The crew a.
. his, body and soul. He could buy e
D at so much gross with a cash di
!. count, and he did it before ever the
f signed on. He's got two Of the war
: ers and Mercer, the second mate. ar
= he'd get the captain himself, If
S thought him worth it."
What are we to do, them"
|. asked.
: what do you Think" said h
r Wen make the coats of some of the
f soldiers redder than ever the tail
S did"
y "'"But they are armed" said I.
land so shall we be, my DO
There's a brace of pistols for eve
mothers son of US. and if we car
carry this ship, with the crew at o
4 back, it's time we were all sent to
Iyoung misses boarding-school. Y,
speak to your mate upon the left
: night, and see if he is to be trusted
"1 did so, and found my other neig
:. = Dor to be young fellow in much t