From Prison to Power. A tale of Queensland

Front matter

FROM PEISON TO POWER FROM PRISON TO POWER B. Œale of _tueenslan. BY A H LAMBTON IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II EDEN, REMINGTON & CO LONDON <_ SYDNEY 1803 [All rights reserved]. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. " Yer Honour's a Gintleman " ... ... 1 II. Is He Drowned? — The Misses Darkheart's Welcome Hospitality ... ... ... 18 III. Friends and Foes Unexpectedly Meet ... 39 IV. Good News 57 V. Darkheart applies for his Share ... ... 70 VI. " Why is She so Beautiful ? " 77 VII. Two Hundred and Fifty a Year makes all the Difference ... ... ... ... 94 VIII. Smartboy at Work — Preparing for Revenge 111 IX. "Some Day" 123 X. The Visit to Becksbridge, and what came of it 145 XI. Ernest Malcolm's Return to Banalba — Doctor and Patient ... ... ...167 XII. Revenge and Robbery ... ... ... 181 XIII. " What Villain has done this ?

" 197 XIV. " I am Accused of Murder ! Forget me "218 XV. Jack Enlists Snowball, and they show Sergeant Holdfast how to Investigate... 229 XVI. Snowball sets to Work — A Meeting in Prison — A Strange Advertisement ... 250 XVII. Snowball's Success — Darkheart 265 XVIII. Caught in the Trap— Snowball's Exit ... 279 XIX. The Right Man in the Right Place ... 298 XX. Found Guilty 312 XXI. A Year Afterwards

Chapter I

"yee honoue's a gintleman." As soon as possible after the steamer arrived in Sydney with Mrs. Cardith and Annie Malcolm, the latter dispatched a messenger to the tele graph office. Both were terribly disappointed to find that no message had reached there from Ernest. They were at a loss to know what to do. They blamed themselves sadly for not having asked Ernest for Mr. Derwent's address, so that they might have communicated with him at once. So strange did the affair seem regarding Ernest that Mrs. Cardith began to wonder whether they had been deceived — whether Ernest was really Annie's brother. The idea grew in her mind as she continued to think over it, till at length she mentioned her suspicions to Annie. The latter laughed at the absurdity of such an idea, then, suddenly recollecting the pocket-book Ernest had VOL. II.

B POWER. given her to take care of, she took it from her travelling-bag, in which she had at the time for safety placed it, and while Mrs. Cardith was by her side, opened it. The contents quite satisfied the latter, for among sundry notes and memorandums she saw the money he had alluded to, which consisted of a cheque drawn in his favour on one of the Sydney banks, and signed by Mr. Ethrington. The old lady appeared perfectly satisfied at the evidence of his identity, and, after a few moments' consideration, decided to teleraph to the chief of police in Brisbane, and also _o have an advertisement inserted in the Sydney daily papers, urging Mr. Derwent to call upon them. These decisions she caused to be executed at once. Money with her was no object; she possessed abundance. Her late husband had been a merchant in Sydney, and having amassed an ordinary fortune, sold out.

His health then failing him, he decided to travel, hoping to benefit thereby, the sequel to which the reader already knows. Mrs. Cardith could not think of any further means to adopt, so it was decided to await the course of events patiently. Annie was terribly downhearted. Her gaiety had forsaken her, and her constantly flowing tears had drowned the lustre of her laughing blue eyes. She pictured no end of calamities which might have befallen her brother, but among all the dangers her fancy had conjured she thought of " YER HONOUR' SA GINTLEMAN." 3 nothing so terrible as the reality would have been to her had she been aware of it. They had been such a short time together since their long separation, yet had she felt all the old love of her childhood return. Every word he had said, and every look he had given her since they had met, were faithfully recalling the old voice and expres sions to her memory.

Every little act of kindness and thoughts uln ess he had of late been able to bestow upon her was so like him in the days when they were children, when he was her guide and comforter — her nurse when she was tired or unwell, her haven of rest when troubles pressed heavily upon her childish heart. On him would rest her head when weary with sleep before sleep time came ; then, how happily she would rest ! He, passing the silky locks of straying hair from her cheek, and singing little childish songs to her of " Happy lands, far, far away." She remembered all, everything, and seemed to love him more now than she did even then. She was com pletely overcome with the unexpected misfortune, and would have taken a passage by the first steamer leaving for Brisbane, so that she might herself seek him, if Mrs. Cardith had permitted her.

" Wait patiently," said the latter ; " we will do all that is possible to ascertain what has become of him ; and I have not the least doubt that you will see him again before very long." She said the last words more to console the downcast girl than to give expression to her in most thoughts, for in reality an unaccountable presentiment that something serious had happened to Ernest had overtaken her, and she looked forward almost with dread to the time when the revelation would be unfolded. With such gloomy forebodings in her mind, and an unconquerable despondency weighing upon the heart of her young companion, we may leave them awaiting the events they longed for, yet almost dreaded to receive, and follow that deeply dyed villain, Smartboy, or rather Mr. George Bobinson, as he was pleased to call himself.

Directly after reaching Sydney he hastened with all possible speed to Mr. Derwent's abode. He experienced some little difficulty in finding it, but his determination and boldness soon overcame his difficulties. He wore his best clothes, which, however, were but a trifle better than his every day suit, which consisted of ordinary moleskin trousers and Crimean shirt ; the coat he now wore was reserved for special occasions. He had, how ever, paid a little extra attention to his dress, as he had added a necktie of verdant hue and a new hat — both purchased for the occasion — to his other habiliments. Thus got up, he flattered himself that he looked quite genteel. Arriving at Ulalla he found his way to the hall door. His knock was quickly attended to. Mr. Derwent was at home, and in the height of ex pectation, knowing that he might see the man at " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN" 5 any time after the arrival of the steamer from Brisbane, which, from inquiries he had made, he knew was due to arrive that morning.

The telegram had reached him several days previously, and he felt sure that a letter would either come by the man Robinson or through the post, and might even then be at the office awaiting him. Smartboy was shown into Mr. Derwent's private room, and requested to take a seat. The next moment Mr. Derwent himself entered. He was much changed. The last five years had left the marks of Time's ravages ; his hair was snow white, and his step had little elasticity left in it, though the same kindly, benevolent smile beamed in his countenance as of old. " Good afternoon," he said, as he entered the room, surveying the new-comer closely. " Is your name Bobinson ? " " Yis, that's me name ; George Bobinson, sorr." It may be necessary to inform the reader that Smartboy, thinking himself well acquainted with the brogue common to " Ould Oir eland," had determined to affect that accent in order to con ceal'his identity as much as possible.

" I am very glad," said Mr. Derwent, " to hear that you have been successful in finding the young lady I have so long advertised for." " Yis, sorr, I found her right enough. An' sure you'd get the telegram telling you all about it from your friend Mr. Malcolm ? " " Yes, I received a telegram a few days ago,' replied Mr. Derwent ; " but I hope," he added, "that you have brought me a letter from Mr. Malcolm." " No, indade, an' I've got no letther. He tould me the telegram was good enough, an' he'd be down here hisself in a jiffy, an' all I had to do was to see yer honour, an' ax ye for the money ye was afther offerin', an' you'd pay me at onst." "Of course I will pay you, or whoever has rightly earned it ; but you must be quite aware that it is scarcely correct to ask me to act upon a telegram in a matter of this kind.

And you are also aware that you are a perfect stranger to me, and, for aught I know to the contrary, you may not be the real George Bobinson to which the telegram alludes. However, we will see what can be done." Mr. Derwent's concluding words gave Smartboy some hope, for he had already commenced to feel that his cards were not all trumps. He had pre pared himself for being questioned on many points, and had given the matter continual thought during his passage from Brisbane to Sydney. He had prepared a string of falsehoods for any emergency that might arise, and believing as he did that he would be neither suspected nor recognized by anyone, it mattered little what answers he might give so long as he could main tain the one story throughout without contradict ing himself. "Well, now, Mr. Bobinson," Mr. Derwent " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN." 7 resumed, " please tell me all about the young lady — where you discovered her — where she has been all these years — where she is now, and indeed everything connected with her, and your self.

I am most anxious to hear how it has all come about." This string of questions somewhat puzzled Smartboy. He felt himself more capable of answering each query individually than describing the alleged discovery in narrative form ; the latter process did not give him sufficient time to concoct his infamous lies. He was also discern ing enough to notice that Mr. Derwent was very far from being a simpleton, though generosity and kindliness of heart were written legibly enough upon his face. Seeing Smartboy's hesitation, Mr. Derwent decided to ask him the questions categorically, especially as the man appeared to him to be very stupid. " Tell me, then, Mr. Robinson, where you found Miss Malcolm." " I found her in England, yer honour. Maybe she'd jist come from Oireland, or some other grand counthry ; but sure enough an' it's there I found her."

"How did you find out that the young lady was Miss Malcolm ? " "Jist the simplest way in life, now. Some owld lady was with her, an' they stip't out of a railway carriage, an' somebody, I'm not able to POWER. 8 say who, says ' How d'ye do, Miss Malcolm ! ' an' I dhropt at onst. Ye see, yer honour, I'd been out here before, and jist wint home to see me owld gran'mother an' some other friends ; an' whin I was out in this counthry I was towld about the reward ye was afther off erin', so when I heard the name I axed her who she was. She seemed a grand young lady, an' didn't quoite understand me spakin' to her loike that, but afther a good bit of explainin' she tould me all about herself. She said she was comin' to Australia at onst, so I came out by the same ship, an' who should they meet on the way to Brisbane but the young lady's brother.

I tould him all about it before iver he know'd it was her ; then he sent the telegram straight off as soon as he stipt on shore ; an' sure enough I am that he'd a-given me the money himself if he'd a had it ; but as he hadn't it, sure he couldn't do it. An' I wouldn't be so particular now, yer honour, about gettin' the money at onst, only Oi've had to borrow from some of me friends to get as far as this." Smartboy paused, and mentally congratulated himself at having delivered his version of the affair without a hitch, and also with having, as he thought, satisfied Mr. Derwent as to his bond-fides. To Mr. Derwent the man's story appeared fairly straightforward and satisfactory. At the same time he could not dismiss the fact from his mind that Ernest had not written, even a few lines, by the man.

" YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN!' 9 "You say that you came out in the same ship as the two ladies ? " said Mr. Derwent. "Yis, yer honour, I did." "What was the name of the ship? " Mr. Der went inquired, carelessly. " The — the — ," hesitated Smartboy, at the same time making the pretence of refreshing his memory by applying the points of his fingers vigorously to the crown of his head. " The Blizzard, yer honor," he blurted out at last. " The Blizzard ! She will be in Sydney now ? " interrogated Mr. Derwent, " for I suppose you came on here by the same vessel ? " " Indade an' I didn't. You see the Blizzard is a Queensland mail steamer, an' they don't come past Brisbane, an' I suppose," Smartboy con tinued, as a new thought occurred to him, " that's the raison they had to stop there — gettin' all their things out, an' gettin' them aboard another steamer ; they couldn't a' done it so quick."

All this seemed feasible enough to Mr. Derwent. "But why has Ernest not written?" he kept repeating mentally. However, before questioning the man further, he glanced through some newspapers that were lying on the table in the hope of ascertaining whether a vessel of that name was running to Queensland or not. Smartboy at once divined his thoughts, and remarked hurriedly — " The papers won't give the name, yer honour, for it's the fust time she a' been out." PO WER. "Oh, it does not matter much," replied Mr. Derwent, unable to see anything regarding the Queensland mail steamers. " I suppose you often saw Miss Malcolm on board, as you came out in the same ship as she did ? " " To be sure I did now." " What is she like ? Is she dark or fair ? " " Well, she's naither one nor the other, she's jist between the two, loike."

" And what is the name of the lady who is with her?" "Sure now, yer honour, it's Mrs. — Mrs. — , me memory's goin' fast, Mrs. — Mrs. Thompson ; an' I did forget it entoirely." "Mrs. Thompson," repeated Mr. Derwent, thoughtfully ; then resuming his interrogations, of which Smartboy was tiring rapidly, he asked, " Can you tell me the captain's name ? " " That I can now, for he came from Tipperary, the same counthry as meself, an' his name was Eitzalan, an' many a talk I had wid him, afther he found out the counthry I belonged to. Me name, ye see, isn't Oirish, bekase me father was an Englishman." " Well, Mr. Robinson, you have been fortunate in earning the reward, and I have been fortunate in learning that the young lady has been found. But I hope you will see with me that it will be more satisfactory for all parties if you will make up your mind to wait until Mr. Malcolm and his sister arrive here ; you — " " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEAIAN." 11 "I couldn't wait," interrupted Smartboy7, eagerly.

" I haven't a bit o' silver big enough to cross meself with." " Wait a moment," said Mr. Derwent, " and hear what I have to say. You need be at no expense whatever; you may remain here, and have everything found you that you will require." " I couldn't wait, yer honour. I'll tell ye now, what I haven't towld ye before, an' ye'll see ; an' sure ye'll pay me thin, an' let me go. I'm goin' to Melbourne, an' the steamer laves this very day ; an' I'm goin' there at onst, bekase I jist got a letther. Bad luck to me an' I've left it behoind me." (Searches through his pockets.) " I jist got a letther tellin' me that me owld mother was dyin' — an' badly off she is too — an' if I wanted to see her, an' have her blessin' " (crosses himself piously), " I must go at onst. Yer honour's a gintleman, an' sure ye'll pay me now."

Mr. Derwent found it hard to refuse the man, and would have felt infinitely more satisfied to have had everything connected with the affair straight and satisfactory, so that he might have paid him every farthing without further words. However, without noticing the man's appeal, he resumed his interrogations. " Can you not tell me where the young lady has been all these years — how and when she left this country for England? " "Indade an' I can't, yer honour; she didn't want to talk much to the loikes of me ; an' sure I wouldn't have them think I was afther axing impertinent questions loike. When I seen her first she towld me she was goin' to Sydney, an' I was satisfied loike, so I axed her no more." " Did Mr. Malcolm give you no money ? " " Niver a bit, yer honour." " Did you ask him for any ?

" "I did, yer honour." " And he would not give you any ? " "I'm jist afther tellin' yer honour that he'd a give me ivery pinny if he'd had it." " Surely he could have given you a little," replied Mr. Derwent; then the thought crossed his mind that perhaps the poor boy had none to give, and he added, " Yes, perhaps it would have been inconvenient just then." " Now ye're jist sayin' what's thrue, yer honour; he hadn't it to give me, or he jist would." " Well," resumed Mr. Derwent, after a thoughtful pause, "I will tell you what I will do ; I will give you sufficient money to take you to Melbourne and back, and by your return I trust that everything connected with the reward will have been cleared up." " But I mightn't come back at all, yer honour ; an' sure it would put me to more expense ; an' be the time I'd done all me travelling, me money would be all gone for me throuble."

" Well," said Mr. Derwent, firmly, " I will not " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN." 13 pay the money until I either see or hear from Mr. Malcolm or his sister. I think that I am acting not only fairly, but generously, in making you the offer I have. I am thoroughly determined not to pay a farthing of it until everything con nected with it is cleared up satisfactorily. What I propose to lend you now is entirely independent of it. Let me know what you anticipate your expenses to Melbourne will be, and I will give you the amount at once, if it is all within reason. I shall be only too pleased when you return to give you the full amount of the reward, after having deducted what 1 may lend you now to keep you going. You must remember," con tinued Mr. Derwent, observing the vexation and disappointment on the man's face, "that you have come here a perfect stranger.

You cannot, I suppose, refer me to anyone in this part of the country who knows you, can you ? " " I'm a stranger here, yer honour, but shure I'm an honest man for all that, an' it goes hard wid me that a gintleman like yer honour wouldn't trust me, especially whin I wint to such a lot of throuble for you in finding the young lady, an' comin' all the way out here, besides nearly losing me life on the way. An' now, whin I think me throuble is over, ye refuse to give me the money ; an' on the top of it all the news of me dyin' owld mother comes to me. Yer honour's a rale gintle man, an' I belave, wid a second thought, ye would give me the whole sum." "My mind is quite made up," returned Mr. Derwent. " I am acting very fairly with you, as you should know ; I will do what I have said, and nothing more."

Smartboy plainly saw the determination in Mr. Derwent's manner. Besides, in the face of such a generous offer he was at a complete loss for any further argument. He clenched his teeth in desperation at being thus foiled, while no end of villainous resources rushed through his mind. Mr. Derwent meanwhile sat with a smile upon his face, totally oblivious to the slumbering volcano which was inwardly raging in the breast of the man beside him. " Well," said Mr. Derwent, after a long pause, " have you decided what sum will be sufficient for you until you return ? " Smartboy was long in replying. He knew that to be successful in obtaining any money he would have to control his chagrin, and what he did get he had long since made up his mind should be his. If Darkheart thought him fool enough to undergo all the trouble he had already experienced, and give him half, were his mental conclusions, he had made an infernal mistake.

Many ideas at this moment, as he sat before Mr. Derwent, were revolving in his mind. Several times his hand glided impulsively, as it were, to his breast, as though satisfying himself that some thing he might require was safely concealed there. He was calculating chances, somewhat after this " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN." 15 fashion — " Has he hard cash in the house, or will he give me a cheque ? If I thought he kept gold I'd have it, and put an end to the varmint at once. But then, would I have time to escape, and has he more cash than the money he has offered ? " The chances seemed too much against his wily calculations, at all events until he knew what amount would be given him. " Sure, thin, ye'll not think fifty pounds too much now ? " " Fifty pounds ! " exclaimed Mr. Derwent in amazement.

" I certainly do think it too much," and, opening a small drawer in the table at which he sat, he took his cheque-book therefrom, and was about to write a cheque for the amount he in tended to give, when, with hand slightly raised, Smartboy exclaimed — " Sure now, yer honour, ye'll give me the money in cash, as ye're a gintleman ? " " Cash ! " exclaimed Mr. Derwent, " I scarcely think there is a sixpence in the house; you will find the cheque equally as good to you ; you can get it cashed anywhere." " Well, well, yer honour, I'm only a poor man, an' I'll have to be satisfied." " I am inclined to think you are rather an un grateful one also," remarked Mr. Derwent with a little annoyance. " In reality, I am conferring an obligation upon you by giving you any at all." Smartboy made no reply to this, for he plainly saw that he would have to take what he could get, or lose the chance of having any.

That the villainous projects upon which he had meditated could avail him nothing, even if carried out to the greatest extreme, was now apparent to him. Mr. Derwent, observing his silence, wrote out a cheque and handed it to him. " Here is a cheque for twenty pounds, which I think should be even more than you will require for the next week or two. And should you find it inconvenient to return here, send me your Mel bourne address, and I will forward the money to you immediately Mr. Malcolm and his sister arrive. I can do no more than this, and if you are not satisfied, I cannot help you further." Smartboy felt that he had been out-manœuvred, and had no resource but to accept the money as gracefully as his bitter feelings would permit. " I'll come back for the rest," he said, taking the cheque.

" Very well," returned Mr. Derwent, " that will be much the better plan. And now I may wish y7ou good morning. You will find the money ready for you, I feel pretty sure, on your return." With these words Mr. Derwent opened the door, and Smartboy walked out, muttering viciously to himself — " Done, by , done ! the villain's too cute for me. Twenty pounds ! A rubbishing twenty pounds for all my trouble, and a murder besides ! Somebody will have to stump up for it though. Somebody will ! Twenty pounds, when I ought to have got a hundred ! Blood and " YER HONOUR'S A GINTLEMAN." 17 thunder ! I'll have money yet. I'll make sure of it next time," then, reaching the gate, he strode along, stamping his feet on the gravelled road, and grinding his teeth in almost uncontrollable rage. However, after having given vent to his wrath in a running 6re of curses and villainous resolves as to his future proceedings, he quickly made his way towards Sydney, so as to catch the first steamer leaving for Queensland.

Fortu nately for him one was to depart that same evening. The following morning, when Mr. Derwent's mail arrived from the post, he looked through the newspapers to see when steamers were due from the north. He was now most anxious to see or hear of Ernest, and thus clear up the unsettled state of his mind in which the man Robinson, by his story, had placed it. Suddenly his eye caught the following advertisement : — "Will Mr. Derwent, of Ulalla, kindly call at once at Detty's Hotel, Sydney. Important news concerning Ernest Malcolm and his sister Annie. Mrs. Cardith and Miss Malcolm anxiously await him." Mr. Derwent read it over twice, exclaiming — " This is very extraordinary ! Lillie," he called, " order my carriage at once, dear ; then come and tell me what you think of this." VOL. n. c

Chapter II. Is He Deowned

? THE MISSES DAEKHEAETS' WELCOME HOSPITALITY. As soon as Darkheart found himself alone in the public-house in which Smartboy had left him to post his bogus telegram to Mr. Derwent, he wended his way towards a portion of the river where he knew some fishermen dwelt. He knew one of the men well, and had often gone in the boat with them for a few days' fishing, when his stomach, as well as his pockets, were empty. He wanted company at the present time. For, bad as he was, he felt the new crime he had com mitted pressing heavily upon him. He had no money with which to allay his thoughts with drink, and he had no friends to whom he could go but the fishermen. He did not even know in what part of the city his sisters lived. Accord ingly he started for the locality where he hoped to find the man, at a brisk pace.

But in order to reach it it was necessary to make a long detour IS HE DRO WNED 1 19 to avoid the scene of the murder. He knew that his sisters were in the neighbourhood somewhere, for he, as the reader already knows, told Smart boy that he had received a letter from them a short time previously. They, for some reason, believed that their brother had an idea as to the whereabouts of Annie Malcolm, and were in hopes that, by conciliating him, he would be generous to them if the reward fell into his hands. If nothing came of it they could soon get rid of him. They had been in Brisbane for a considerable time earning a precarious living by dressmaking. In their old quarters in New South Wales they had been reduced to the point of starvation, so, with the money7 Miss Dorothy had extracted from the good-hearted Mr. Derwent, and the sale of a few odds and ends, which Ernest's mother had given them at her marriage with their brother, they succeeded in scraping together a sufficient amount to pay their passages and other expenses.

Darkheart hurried forward, and succeeded in finding his old chum at the place he had expected. One reason above all others which Darkheart wanted to see him for was to ascertain where his sisters resided. He felt certain the man would know their address if anyone did, for he was one of those who seemed always to know everybody and everybody's business. When Darkheart neared the man he saw that he with another was busily engaged in placing POWER. their long net in the boat. They wree preparing to start down the river at once. " Hulloa, Bob ! " shouted Darkheart, when alongside of them. " Hulloa ! " replied the man answering to the name of Bob. " Who the devil are you ? " " Dick Darkheart; don't you know me ? " " Yes, of course I do now ; but how d'you expect a man to know you in the dark ? What's brought you here?