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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1896-9-17, Page 6•V4 • ?IT FRIEND THE 11111RDER.Ell BY A. CONN DOYLE. "Number 43 is no better, doctor." said the headwarder, in a slighty reproachful accent, tanking in round the corner of my door. "Confound 43!" I responded from be- hind the pages of the Australian' Sket- cher. "And el says his tubes are praising sudden °hang*. I don't know tbat liked Maloney better under bis new aspect. The murderer had, it is trios, disappeared for the none*, but there was something in the smooth. tones and ob- sequious manner whit:1h powerfully sug- gested the witness of the Queen, who had stood up and sworn away the lives of his companions te crime. "Howe* your chest?" I asked, puttbag some playing garde on the pavement. on my professional air. 'When they saw me they gave a yell and a boat, and I was hoisted in, the whole tf "Come, drop it, dootor—drop itl" he crowded round the door, shaking their gang of hem hooting at nte rom over answered, showing a row of white teeth fists and booting. the bulwarks. I saw the man I spoke of as he resumed his seat upon the side a "They wait for you, watch and watch tying up his hand, though, and I felt " hint. Couldn't you do anything for him?" the bed. ''It wasn't anxiety after mY about," said the Governor. (Xeey're the that things might be worse. "He's a welkin.' drug -shoe," said I. precious 'melte that brought you along executive of the vigilance committee. I changed my opinioe before we got "He has tee whole4‘British pharmacopceia I here; that story won't wash at all. You, However, since you are determined to to the land. I had reckoned on the shore inside him. I believe his tubes are as ! came to have a look at Wolf Tone Mal- go, r can't stop you," being deserted, and that I might make ur,d as Men are." I ones, forger, murderer, Sydney -slider, "D'ye call this a civilized land," I nay way Miami; but the ship had stop. ranger, and Government peach. That'e about my figure, ain't it? There it is, plain and straight; there's nothing mean about me." He paused as if he expeoted me to say something; but as I remained silent, he repeated once or twice, "There's nothing mean about me." "And why shouldn't I?" he suddenly yelled, his eyes gleaming and his whole satanic nature reasserting itself. "We were bound to swing, one and all, and they were none the worm if I saved my- self by turning against them. Every man for himself, say I, and the devil take the luckiest. You haven't a plug of tobacco, doctor, have you?" He tore at the piece of "Barrett's" which I handed him, as ravenously as a wild beast. It seemed to have the effecb of soothing his nerves, for he settled leruself down in the bed and reassumed his former deprecating manner. "You wouldn't line it yourself, you know, doctor," he said: "it's enough to make any man a little queer in his tem- per. I'm in for six months this time for assault, and very sorry I shall be to go out again, I can tell you, My mind's at ease in here; but when I'm outside, what with the Government and what with Tattooed Tom, of Hawkesbury, there's no chance of a quiet life." "Who is he?" I asked. "He's the brother of John Grintthorpe, the same that was condemned on my evidence; and an infernal scamp he was, too! Spawn of the devil, both of them! This tatooed one is a murderous ruffian, and he swore to have my blood after that trial. It's seven years ago,and ha's following me yet; I know he is, though be lies low and keeps dark. He came up to me in Balrarat in '75; you can see on the back of my hand here where the bullet clipped me. He tried again in '78, at Port Philip, but got the drop on him and wounded him badly. He knifed me in '79, though, in a bar at Adelaide, and that made out account about level. lie's loafing round again now, and he'll let daylight into me—unless—unless by some extraordinary chance some one dues as much for him." eked Maloney gave a very ugly smile. "I"clon't complain of hint so muoh," he continued. "Looking at it in his way, no doubt it is a sort of family matter that can hardly be neglected, It's the Government that fetches me. Vi hen I think of vshab I've done for this coun- try, and then of what this country has done for me, it makes nie fairly wild— clean drives me off my head. There's no gratitude nor common decency left, doc- tor!" He brooded over his wrongs for a few minutes, and then proceeded to lay them before me in detail. "Here's nine men," he said; "they've been murdering and killing for a matter of three years, and maybe a life a week wouldn't more than average the work that they've done. The Government catches them and the Government tries them, but they can't convict; and why? —because the witnesses have all had their throats out, and the whole job's been very neatly done. What happens then? Itp comes a citizen called Wolf Tone Maloney; he says, 'The oountry needs me, and here I am.' And with that he gives his evidence convicts the lot, and enables the beaks to hang them. That's what I did. There's nothing mean about me! And now what does the country do in return? Dogs me, sir, spies on me, watches me night and day, turns against the very man that worked so very hard for it. There's something mean about that, anyway. I didn't expect them to knight me, nor to make me colonial secretary; but, damn it! I did expect that they would let xne alone!" 'Well," I remonstrated, "if you choose to break laws and assault people, you can't expect it to be overlooked on ao- count of former services." "I don't refer to my present impris- nnment, sir," said Maloney, with dig- nity.. "It's the life I've been leading since that wetted trial that takes the soul out of me. Just you sit there on that trestle, and I'll tell you all about it; and then look me in the face and tell me that I've been treated fair by the police." I shall endeavor to transcribe the ex- perience of the convict in his own words, as far as I can remember thein, preserv- Mg his curious perversions of right and wrong. I can answer for the truth of his facts, whatever may be said for his de- ductions from them. Months afterward, Inspector H. W. Hann, formerly gov- ernor of. the jail at Dunedin, showed me entries in his ledger which corroborated every statement. Maloney reeled the story off in a dull. monotonous voice,and his bead sank upon his breast and his hands between his knees. The glitter of his serpent -like eyes wasehe only sign of the emotions which were stirred up by the recollection of the events which, he narrated. You've read of Bluemansdyke the began, with some pride in his tone). We made it hot while it lasted; but they ran us to earth at last, and a trap called Braxton, with a damned Yankee, took the lot of us. That was in New Zea- land, of course and they took us down to Dunedin, and there they were convic- ted and ha,nged. One and all they put up their hands in the dock, and cursed me till your blood woeki have run cold to hear them—which was scurvy treat- ment, seeing that we had been pals to- gether; but they were a blackgpard lot, and thought only of themselves. I think it is as well that they were Mine, s They took me back to Dunedin Jan, and clapped me into the old cell. The only difference they made was, that I had no work to do and was well fed. I stood this for a week, or two, until one day the Governor was making his rounds, and I put the matter to him, "How's this?" I said. "My conditions Were a free pardon, and you're keeping me here against the law." He gave a sort of a smile. "Should you like very much to get out?" he asked. "So much," said I, "that unless you open that door I'll have an action against you for illegal detention." He seemed a bit astonished by me re- tolution. "You're very anxious to meet your teeth," he Said. "What d'ye mean?" I asked. "Come here, arid you'll know what 1 mean,0 he answered. And he led me down the passage to a window that overlooked the door of the prison. "Look at that!' said he. I looked. out, and there were a dozen or so rou gh-iooking fellows standing out- side the street, some of them smoking, rentetriber WO till the day of Me death— longer, I hope. They dragged me out on to the poop and held a damned court-martial—on rue, mind you; me, that had thrown over my pals in order to serve them. What were they to do with me? Some said this, some said that; but it ended by. tbe captain deciding to send me ashore. The ship stopped, they lowered el they were. and left hint talking earn- eetly to the pilot, while I went beloyv for my breakfast. When I came up again we were fairly into the mouth of the river, and, the boat in vrhioh I was to have gone nehore had left us. The skipper said the pilot had forgotten me; but that was too thin, and I began to fear that all my old troubles were going to 0011113301300 01300 more. It was not long before my suspicions were confirmed. .A boat darted out from the side of the river, and a tall cove with a long black beard came aboard. I heard him ask the mate whether they didn't need a mud -pilot to take them up in the reaches, but it seeined to me that he was a man who would know a deal more about handcuffs than he did about cried, "and let a man be murdered in ped too near the Heads, and a dozen steering, so I kept away from him. He cold Mood in open daylight?" beach-oonibers and such like had onme came across the deolt, however, and made When I said this the Governor and the dowu to the water's edge and were star- some remark to me, taking a good look warder and every fool in the place pm. ing at us, wondering what the boat was at me the while. I rInn't like inquisitive ned, as if a man's life was a rare good after. When we got to the edge of the people at any time, but an inquisitive joke. surf the cookswaie hailed teem, and stranger with glue about the roots of his "You've got the law on your side," after singing out who I was, he and his beard is the worst of all te !teed, says the Governor; "so we won't detain men threw me into the water. You may especially under the, circumstances. I you any longer. Show hina out, warder." well look surprised—neck and orop into began to feel that it was time fnr me to "Then there's 7 and 108, they are olaronic," continued the warder, glancing down a blue slip of paper. "And 28 knocked off work yesterday—said lifting things gave him a stitch in the side, I Want you to have a look at him, if you don't mind, doctor. There's 31, too— birri that killed John Adamson in the Corinthian brig—he's beeu carrying on awful in the night, shrieking and yell. Ing, he has, and no stopping him either," "All right, I'll have a look at him afterward," I said, tossing my paper carelessly aside, and pouriug myself nut oup of ooffee. "Nothing else to report, I suppose, warder?" The °Moira protruded his head a little further into the room. "Beg pardon, doctor," he said, in a confidential tone, "hut I notice re 82 has a bit of a cold, and it would be a good excuse for you to *isle him and have a chat, maybe." The cup of ooffee was arrested half- way to my lips as I started in amaze- ment at the man's serious face. "An excuse?" I said. "An excuse? What the dello are you talking about, MoPherson? You see rue trudging about all day at my practice, when I'm not looking after the prisoners, and corning back every night as tired as a dog, and you talk about finding an excuse for doing mare work." "You'd like it, doctor," said Warder McPherson, insinuating one of his shoulders into the room. "That man's story's worth listening to if you could get Men to tell it, though he's not what you'd call free in his speech. Maybe you don't know who 82 is." "No, I don't, and I don't care either," I answered, in the conviction that some local ruffian was about to be foisted upon me as a celebrity. "He's Maloney," said the warder, "him that turned Queen's evidence after the murders at Bluemansdyke" "You don't say so?" I ejaculated, lay. log down my cup in astonishment. I had heard ot this ghastly series of mur- ders, and read an account of them in a London magazine long before setting foot in the colony. I remembered that the atrocities committed had thrown the Burke and Hare crimes conipletely into the shade, and that one of the most vil- lainous of the gang had saved his own skin by betraying his companions. "Are you sure?" I atked. "Oh, yes it's him right enough. Just you draw him out a bit, and he'll as- tonish you. He's a man to know, is Maloney; that's to say, in moderation;" and the bead grinned, bobbed, and dis- appeared, leaviez ma to finish my break- fast and ruminate over what I had heard. The surgeonship of an Australian pri- son is not an enviable position. It may be endurable in Melbourne or Sydney, bus the little town of Perth has few attractions to recommend it, and those few had been long exhausted. The cli- mate was detestable, and the society far from congenial. Sheep and cattle were the staple support of the community; and their prices, breeding, and diseases the principal topic of conversation Now as I, being an outsider, possessed neither the one nnr the other, and was utterly venous to the new "dip" and the "rot," and other kindred topics, I found myself In a state of mental isolation, and was ready to hall anything which niight re- lieve the monotony of my existence. Mal- oney. the murderer, had at least some distinctiveness and individuality in his oharaoter, and roight act as a tonic to a mind sick of the commonplaces of exietence. I determined that I should follow the warder's advice, and take the pxouse for making his acquaintance. When, therefore, I went upon my wane matutinal round, I turned the look of the door whioh bore the convict's num- ber upon it, and walked into the cell. The man was lying in a heap upon his rough bed as I entered, but, uneoiling kis long limbs, he started up and stared at me with an insolent look of defiance on his face which augured badly for our interview. He had a pale, set face, with sandy hair and a steely -blue eye, with sbmething felliae in its expression. His frame was tall and muscular, though there was a curious bend in his should- ers, which almost amounted to a de- formity. An ordinary observer meeting 'bim in the street might have put him down as a weff-developed man, fairly • handsome and of stuaious habits—even in the hideous 'uniform of the rottenest conyiet establishment be imparted is certain refhtement to his carriage which marked him out among the inferior ruffians around him. "I'm not on the sick -list," he said, gruffly. Thera was something in the hard, rasping voice whieh dispelled all .softer allusions, and. made me realize that I was face to face with the man of the Lena Valley and Bluemansdyke, the bloodiest bushranger that ever stuck up ferra or cut the throats of its occu- pants. • "I know you're not," I answered. • "Warder McPherson told me you had a 'cold, though, and I thought I'd look in and see you." "Blast Warder McPherson, and blast you, too!" yelled the °envie% in a par.. oxysnt of rage. "Oh, that's right," he added, in a quieter voice; "hurry away; report me to the governor, dol Get me !another six months or so—that's your • game." "I'm not going to report you," I said, "Eight square feet of ground," he I went on, disregarding ray protest, and , evidently working himself into a f ury again. "Eight square feet, and I can't ha's that without being talked to and stared at, and—oh, blast the whole crow of you!" and he raised his two clenobed hands above Ms head and shook them in paesionate. invective. "You've got a curious idea of hospi- tality," I remarked, determined nob to lose roy temper, and saying almost the first thing that came to my tongue. To my surprise the Words had. an ex- traordinary effect upon eina. He seemed completely staggered at my assuming the proposition for which he had been so fiercely contending--namely,that the room In which we stood was his own. "I beg your pardon," he said; "I didn't name to be rude. Won't you take a seat?" and he motioned towards meth transit, which formed the head -piece of this cogeh. I I eat down, rather astordebed at the He'd have done it,too, the black -heart- ten feet of water, with 'sharks as thick I go. ed villian if I hadn't begged and prayed as green parrots in the bush, and I heard I soon got a chance. and :nada good and offered to pay for my board and them laughing as I floundered to the I use of it. A big collier came athwart the lodging, which is more than any pris- sxiors, oner over did before me. Ile let me stay I soon saw it was a worse job than on those conditions; and for three ever. As I came scrambling out through months I was caged up Caere with every the weeds, I was collared by a big chap larrikin in the township clamoring ab with a velveteen coat, and half a dozen the other side of the wall. That was others got round me and held me fast. pretty treatment for a naan that had Most of them looked simple fellows served his countryl enough, and I was not afraid of them; At last, one morning up came the but there was one in a oabbage-tree hat Governor again. that had a very nasty expression on his "Well, Maloney," be said, "how long face, and the big man seemed to be are you going to honor us with your chummy with him. society?" They dragged. me up the beach, and I could have put a knife into his then they let go their hold of me and cursed body, and would, too, if we had stood round in a circle. been alone in the bush; but I had to "Well, mate," says the man with the smile, and smooth hina and flatter, for I hat, "we've been looking out for you feared that he might have tee sent out. some time in these parts." "You're an infernal rascal," he said; "And very good of you, too," I an - those were his very words, to a man that swers• had helped him all he knew how. "I "None of your jaw," says he. "Come, don't want any rough justice here, boys, what shall it be—hanging, drown - though; and I think I see my way to ing, or shooting? Look sharp!" getting you out of Dunedin." This looked a bit too like business. "I'll never forget you, Governor," "No, you don't!" I said. "I've gotGov- said I; and, by God! I never will." eminent protection, and it'll be murder." "I don't want your thanks nor your "That's what they call it," answered gratitude," he answered; "it's not for the one ln the velveteen coat, as cheery your sake that I do it, but Simplv to as a Piping °row. keep order in the town. There's a steanaer "And you're ,going to murder me for starts from the West Quay to Melbourne being a ranger?" to -morrow, and. we'll get you aboard it. "Ranger be damned!" said the man. She is advertised at five in the morning, "We're going to hang you for poaching so have yourself in readiness." I packed up the few things I had, and was smuggled out by a back door, just before day -break. I hurried down, took my ticket under the name of Isaac Smith, and got safely aboard the Mel- bourne boat. I remenaber hearing her screw grinding into the water as the warps were cast loose, and looking beak at the lights of Dunedin as I leaned upon the bulwarks, with the pleasant thoughs that I was leaving them behind me forever It seemed to me that a new worldwas before me, and that all my troubles had been oast off. I went down below and had. some ooffee, and came up again feeling better than I had done since the morning that I woke to find that cursed Irishman that took me stand- ing over me with a six-shooter. Day had dawned by that time, and we were steamiug along by the coast, well out of sight of Dunedin. 1 loafed about for a couple of hours, and when the sun got well up some of the other passengers came on deck and joined me. One of them, a little perky sort of fellow, took a good look at me, and then came over and began talking. "Mining, I suppose?" says he. "Yes," I says.. "Itiatio your pile?" he asks. "Pretty fair," says I. "I was at it myself," he says; "I worked at the Nelson fields for three • months, and spent all I made in buy- ing a salted claim whioh busted up the second day. I went at it again, though, and struck it rich; but when the gold wagon was going down to the settlements, it was stuck up, by those cursed rangers, and nob a red cent left." "That was a bad job," I says. "Broke me—ruined me oiean. Never mind, I've seen them all banged for it; that makes it easier to bear. There's only one left—the villain that gave the evidence. I'd die happy if I could come across him. There are two things I have to do if I meat him." "What's that?" says I, carelessly. "I've got to ask him where the money lies—they nevelt had time to make away with it, and it's cached somewhere in the mountains—and then I've got to stretch his neck for him, and send his soul down to join the men that he be- trayed." It seemed to me that I knew something about that cache, and I felt like laugh- ing; but be was watching me, and it struck me that be had a nasty, vindictive kind of mind. "I'm going up on the bridge," I said, for he was not a man whose acquaint- ance I cared much about making. He wouldn't hear of my leaving him, though. "We're both minern" he says, "and we're pals for the voyage. Cnme down to the bar. I'm not too poor to shout." I couldn't refuse him well, and we went down together.'and that was the beginning of the trouble. What harm was I doing any one on the ship? All I asked for was a quiet life, leaving others alone and getting left alone myself. No man ocruld ask fairer than that. And now just you listen to what came of it We were passing the front of the ladies' cable, on our way to the saloon, when out comes a servant lass—a freck- led currency she-devil—with a baby in her arms, We were brushing past her, when she gave a scream like a railway whistle, and nearly dropped the kid. My nerves gave a sort of -a jump when I beard that screen], but I turned and begged her pardon, letting on that I thought I Might have trod on her foot. I knew the game was up, though, when I saw her white face, and her leaning against the door and pointing. "It's him!" she cried; 'it's him! I saw him in the court -house. Oh, don't let hire hurt the baby!" "Who is it?" asked the steward and half a dozen others in a breath. "It's him—Maloney—Maloney, the murderer-- oh, take hina away —take hina away!" I don't rightly remember wlaat hap- pened jest, at that moment. The furni- ture and nae seemed to get kind of mixed, and there was cursing, and smashing, and some one shouting for his gold, and a general stamping round. When I got steadied a bit, I found some- body's band in my mouth. Frona what I gathered afterward, I conbluded that it belonged to that satne little man with the vicious way of talking. He got some of it out again. but that was because the others were choking me. A poor ohms can get no fair play in this world when once he is down—still, I think he will against your pals; and that's an end of the palaver." They slung a rope round my neck and dragged me up to the edge of the bush. There were some big she -oaks and. blue - gums and they pitohed on one of these for the wicked. deed. They ran a rope over a, branch, tied my hands, and told me to say my prayers. It seemed as if it was all up; but Providence interfered to save me. It sounds nice enough sitting here and telling about it, sir; but it was sick work to stand with nothing but the beach in front of you, and the long white line of surf, with the steamer In the distance, and a set of bloody- minded villains round you thirsting for your life. I never thought I'd owe any- thing good to the police; but they saved me that time. A tronp of them were riding from Hawkes Point Station to Dunedin, and. hearing that something was up, they came down through the bush and. interrupted the proceedings. I've heard some bands in my time, doc- tor, but I never heard musio like the jingle of those traps' spurs and harness as they galloped out on to the open. They tried to hang me even then, but the police were too quick for them; and the man with the hat got one over the head wish the fiat of a sword. I was clapped on to a horse, and before even- ing I found myself in my old. quarters in the city jail. The Governor wasn't to be done, though. He was determined to get rld of me, and I was equally anxious to see the last of him. He waited a week or so until the excitement had begun to die away, and then he smuggled me aboard a three -masted schooner bound to Sydney with tallow and hides. We got far away to sea without a hitoh, and things began to look a bit more rosy. I made sure that I had seen the last of the prison, anyway. The crew had a sort of an idea who I was, and if there'd been any rough weather, they'd have hove nie overboard, like enough; for they were a rough, ignorant lot, and had a notion that I brought bad luok to the ship. We had a good passage, however, and I was landed safe and sound upon Sydney Quay. Now, just you listen to what happened next. You'd have thought they would have been sick of ill-using me and fol- lowing me by this time—wouldn't you, now? Well, just you listen. It seems that a cursed steamer started from Dun- edin to Sydney on the very day we left, and got in before us, bringing news that I was coming. Blessed if they hadn't called a naeeting—a regular masa meeting —at the docks to discuss about it, and I marched right into it when I landed. They didn't take long about arresting me, and I listened to all the speeches and resolutions. If I'd been a prince there couldn't have been more exeitement. The end of all was that they agreed that it wasn't right that New Zealand should be allowed to foist her criminals upon her neighbors, and that I was to be sent back again by the next boat. So they posted me off again as if I were a damned parcel; and after another eight -hundred - mile journey I found myself back for the third time moving in the place that I started from. By this time I had begun to think that I was going to spend the rest of my existence traveling about from one port to another. Every man's hand seemed turned against me, and there was no peace or quiet in any direction. I was about sick of it by the time I had come back; and if I could have taken to the bush I'd. have done it, and chanced it with my old pals. They were too quick for me, theugh, and kept me tinder look and key; but I managed, in spite of them, to negotiate that cache I Mid you of, and sewed the gold up in my belt. I spent another 'meth in jail, and then they slipped me aboard a bark that was bound for England. This Mine the (TOW never knew who I was, but the captain had a pretty good idea though he didn't let on to /330 that he nad any suspicions. I guessed from the first that the man was a villain. We had a fair passage, except a gale or two off the Cape; and I began to feel like a free man when I saw the bine loom of the old , country, and the saucy little pilot -boat from Falmouth dancing to- ward us over the waves. We ran down the Channel, and before we reached Graresend I had agreed with the pilot that he should take me ashore with him when he left. It was at this time that the captain showed MO that I was right in thinking him a meddling, disagree- able n:nto. I got ray Malaga puked, amok bows of onr steamer, and. we had to slacken down to dead slow. Titer° was a barge astern. and I slipped down by a rope and was into the barge before any one missed me. Of course T had to leave my luggage behind me, but I had the belt with the nuggets round my waist, and the chance of shaking the pollee off my track was worth more than a couple of boxes. It was clear to me now that the pilot had been a traitoreis well as the captain, and bad set the detectives after me. I often wish I could drop across those two men again. I hung about the barge all day as she drifted down the stream, There was one ruan in her, but she was a big, ugly craft, end his hands were too fine for much looking about, Toward evening, when it gob a bit dusky, I struck out for the shore, and found myself in a sort of marsh place, a good many miles to the east of London, I was staking wet and half dead with hunger, but I trudged into the town, got a new rig -out at a slop -shop, and after having some supper, engaged a bed at the quietest lodgings I could find. I woke pretty early—a habit you pick up in the bush—and lucky for me teat I did so. The very first thing I saw when I took a lonk through a (Mink in the shutter was one of these infernal police- men, standing right opposite and starin,g up at the windows. He hadn't epaulets nor a sword, like our traps, but for all that there was a sort of family likeness, and the same busybody expression, Whether they followed rue all the time, or whether the woman that let me the bed didn't like the looks of me, is more than I here ever been able to find out. He came across as I was watching him, and noted down the address of the house In a book. I was afraid that he was go• ing to ring at the bell, but I suppose his orders were simply to keep ara eye on me, for after enother good look at the win- dows he moved on down the street. I saw thet my only chance was to act at once. I threw on my clothes, opened the window Aufuly, and, after making sure that there was nobody aboutedropped out onto the ground and made off as hard as I could run. I traveled a matter of two or three miles, when my wind gave out; and as I saw a big building with people going in and out, I went in too, and found that it was a railway station. A train was just going off for Dover to meet the French boat, so I took a ticket and jumped into a third class carriage. There were a couple of other chaps in the carriage, innocent -looking young beggars both of them. They began speaking about this and that, while I sat quiet in the corner and listened. Then they started on England and foreign countries and such like. Look ye now, doctor, this is a face One of them begins jawing about the justice of England's laws. "It's all fair and ahove-board," says he; "there ain't any secret police, nor spying, like they have abroad," and a lot more of the seine sort of wash. Rather rough on me, wasn't it, listening to the damned young fool, with the police following me about like my shadow'? I got to Paris right enough, and there I changed some of my gold, and for a few days I imagined I'd shaken them off, and began to think of settling dnwu for a bit of rest, I needed it by that time, for I was looking more like a ghost than a man. You're never had the police after you, I snppose? Well, you sieedn't look offended, I didn't mean any herrn. If ever you had you'd know that it wastes a man away like a sheep with the rot. I went to the opera one night and took a box, for I was very flush. I was com- ing out between the sots when I met a fellow lounging in tbe passage. The light fell on his face, and I saw that it was the mud -pilot that had boarded us in the Thames. His beard was gone, but reoognized the man at a glance, for I've a good memory for faces. I tell you, doctor, I felt desperate for a moment. I could have knifed him if we had been alone, but he knew me well enough never to give me the chance. It was more than I could stand any longer, so I went right up to him and drew him aside, where we'd be free from all the loungers and theater -goers. "How long are you going to keep it up?" I asked him. He seemed a bit flustered for a. mo- ment, but then he,saw there wee no use beating about the bush, so he answered straight:— "Until you go back to Australia," he said. "Don't you know," I said, "that I have served the Government and got a free pardon?" He grinned all over his ugly face when I said this. "We know all about you, Maloney," he answered. "If you want a quiet life. just you go back where you came from. If you stay here, you're a marked man; and when you are found tripping it'll be a lifer for you, at the least. Free trade's a fine thing, but the market's too full of men like you for us to need to import any." It seemed to me that there was sonae- Oleg in What he said, though he had a nasty way of putting it. For some days back I'd been feeling a sort of homesick. The ways of the people weren't my tways. They stared at rne in the street; and if I dropped into a bar, they'd stop talking and edge away a bit, as if I was a wild Melee I'd sooner have had a pint of old Striugybark, too, than a bucket- ful of their rot -gut liquors. There was too much danined propriety. What was the use of having money if you could- n't dress as you liked, nor bust it ',ne- wly? There was no sympathy for a man if he shot about a little when he was half -over. I've men a man dropped Noloon many a Make with less row than they'd make over a broken window - pan.. Tbe thing was slow, an& I was I Wok of it. "'You want me to go back?" I 'aid. • "I've my order to stiok fast to you until you do," he answered. "Well," I said, "I dou't care if I do. I All I bargain is that you keep your mouth shut and don't let on who I am, so that I may have a fair start when I get there," He agreed to this, and we went over to Southampton the very next day, where he SLAV me safely off once more. ' I took a passage •round to Adelable, where no one was likely to know me; and there1 settled, right under tee nose of the police. I'd been there ever singe, leading a quiet life, but for little MM. • mettles like the one Inn in for now, and for that devil, Tattooed Tom, of Hawkem bury, I don't know what made roe tell you all this, doctor, unless it is that be- ing lonely rnakes a man inclined to jaw when he gets the chance. :use you take warning from me, though. Never put yourself out to serve your country; for your country will do precious little for you. .Test you let them look after their own affairs; and if they find a diffioulty in hanging a set of scoundrels, never mind chipping in, but let teem alone to db as best they can, Maybe they'll re- member how they treated me after I'm dead, and be sorry for neglecting me. I was rude to you when you oame in, and swore a trifle promiscuous; but don't mind me, it's only my way. You'll Al- low, though, that I have cause to be a bit teethe, now and again when I think of all that's passed. You're not going are you? Well, if you must, you must; but I hope you wilt look me up at odd. tinies when you are going your rounds. Oh, I say, you've left the balance of that cake ot tobacco behind you, haveu't you? No: it's in your pooket—that's all right. Thank ye, doctor, you're is good sort, and as quick at a hiut as any man t I've met. A couple of months after narrating his experiences, Wolf Tone Maloney finished his term, and was released. For a long time I neither saw him nor heard of him, and he had almost slipped from nay memory, until I was reminded, in a somewhat tragic manner, of his exist- ence, I had been attending a patient some distance off in the country, and was riding back, guidbag my tired horse among the bowiders which strewed the pathway, and endeavoring to see my way through the gathering darkness, when I came suddenly upon a little way- side inn. As I walked my horse up toward the door, intending to make sure of my bearings before proceeding further, I heard the sound of a violent altercation within the little bar. There seemed to he a chorus of expostulation or remonst- rance, above which two powerful voices rang out loud and angry. As I listened, there was a momentary hush, two pistol shots sounded almost simultaneously, and with a crash the door burst open and a pair of dark figures staggered out into the moonlight. They struggled for a moment iu a deadly wrestle, and then went down together among the loose stones. I had sprung of my horse, and, with the help of half a dozen rough fel- lows frora the bar, dragged them away from one another. A glance was sufficient to cc:twine° me is that one of them was dying fast. He was a tblok-set, burly fellow, with a de- termined cast of countenance. The blood was welling from a deep stab in his throat, and it was evident that an important artery had been divided. I turned away from him in despair, and walked over to where his antagonist was lying. He was shot through the lungs, hut managed to raise himself up on his hand as I approached, and peered. anxiously up into nay faoe. To my sur- prise I saw before me the haggard fea- tures and flaxen hair of my prison ac- quaintance, Maloney. "Ab, doctor!" he said, recognizing me. "How is he? Will he die?" He asked the question so earnestly that I imagined he had softened. at the last moment, and feared to leave the world with another homicide upon his tonscience. Truth, however, compelled. me to shake my head mournfully, and to intimate that the wound would prove a mortal one. Maloney gave a wild ory of triumph, which brought the blood welling out front between his lips. "Here, boys," he gasped to the little group around. him. "There's money in my inside pooket. Damn the expense! Drinks round. There's nothing mean about me. I'd drink with you, bus I'm going. Give the doe my share, for he's as good---." here his head fell back with a thud, his eye glazed, and the soul of Wolf Tone Mal- oney, forger, convict, ranger, rnurderer, and Government peaoh, drifted away into the Great Unknown. I can not conclude without borrowing the account of the fatal quarrel which appeared in the columns of the West Australian Sentinel. The curious will find it in the issue of October 4, 1881:— "Fatal Affray.—W. T. Maloney, a well-known citizen of New Montrose, and proprietor of the Yellow Boy gam- bling saloon, has met with his death under rather painful circumstances. Mr. Maloney was a man who had led a checkered existence, and whose past history is replete with interest. Some of our readers inay recall the Lena Valley murders, in wheel he figured as the principal criminal. It is conjectured Shat during the seven months • that he owned a bar in that region, from twenty to thirty travelers were hooussed and made away with. He succeded, however, in evading the vigilanoe of the officen of the law, and allied himself with the bushrangers of Bluemansdyke, whose se, heroic capture and subsequent execution ,v are matters of history. Maloney extri- cated himself from the fate which 14404 awaited him by turning Queen's; evi- dence. Re afterward visited Europe, but returned to West Australia, where he bars long played a prominent part in local matters, On Friday, eveuing be encount- ered an old enemy, Thomas Grimthrope, commonly known as Tattooed Tom, of Hawkesbury. Shots were exchanged, and both were badly wounded,enly surviving a few minutes. Mr. Maloney had the reputation of being not only the most wholesale murderer that ever lived, but also of having a finish and attention to detail in matters of evidence which has been unapproanhed by any European criminal. Sic transit glorla menden' lie iryiderstood Iter. Jugg—I have come to ask you, sir, te. refuse to permit your daughter to na a rr rue. Alt—To refuse? Why, you— " Yes, sir. If yen will omit,' be so kind I know I can get her consent at once." Giving Them Time. Mrs. Gazzam—Why is the ringing of a • bell made obligatory upon bioyole-riders? Mr. flazzarn—It gives their victims Ulna to make an Ojactiuktory. Aram.