my friend the murderer

7/24/2019 My Friend the Murderer

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collection

My Friend the Murderer

My Book Nook Café

Lanval Publishin

Produced by 'ari(%%e &amstad

Produced in te )nited &tates of *merica

Coyri#t + by Lanval! Cor"#

*%% ri#ts resered wor%dwide$

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Te *dentures of &er%ock 5o%mes

Te 6eturn of &er%ock 5o%mes

Memoirs of &er%ock 5o%mes

My Friend te Murderer

Ta%es of Terror and Mystery

Te Mystery of C%oomber

Te New 6ee%ation

Te Poison Be%t

Te &i#n of te Four

Te 7a%%ey of Fear

Trou# te Ma#ic 2oor

)nc%e Bernac 8 * Memory of te 9mire



4Number ;< is no better, doctor,4 said te ead=warder, in a s%i#t%y

reroacfu% accent, %ookin# in round te corner of my door$

4Confound ;<4 . resonded from beind te a#es of te Australian

Sketcher $

4*nd >< says is tubes are ainin# im$ Cou%dn?t you do anytin# for im4

45e is a wa%kin# dru#=so,4 said .$ 45e as te wo%e Britis armacoaA

inside im$ . be%iee is tubes are as sound as yours are$4

4Ten tere?s and <;, tey are cronic,4 continued te warder, #%ancin#down a b%ue s%i of aer$ 4*nd D; knocked off work yesterdayEsaid %iftin#

tin#s #ae im a stitc in te side$ . want you to ae a %ook at im, if you

don?t mind, doctor$ Tere?s ;<, tooEim tat ki%%ed Jon *damson in te

Corintian bri#Ee?s been carryin# on awfu% in te ni#t, sriekin# and

ye%%in#, e as, and no stoin# im eiter$4

4*%% ri#t, .?%% ae a %ook at im afterward,4 . said, tossin# my aer

care%ess%y aside, and ourin# myse%f out a cu of coffee$ 4Notin# e%se to

reort, . suose, warder4

Te officia% rotruded is ead a %itt%e furter into te room$ 4Be# ardon,

doctor,4 e said, in a confidentia% tone, 4but . notice as ;D as a bit of a

co%d, and it wou%d be a #ood e/cuse for you to isit im and ae a cat,

maybe$4

Te cu of coffee was arrested a%f=way to my %is as . stared in amaement

at te man?s serious face$

4*n e/cuse4 . said$ 4*n e/cuse 3at te deuce are you ta%kin# about,

McPerson Gou see me trud#in# about a%% day at my ractise, wen .?m not

%ookin# after te risoners, and comin# back eery ni#t as tired as a do#,

and you ta%k about findin# an e/cuse for doin# more work$4



4Gou?d %ike it, doctor,4 said 3arder McPerson, insinuatin# one of is

sou%ders into te room$ 4Tat man?s story?s wort %istenin# to if you cou%d

#et im to te%% it, tou# e?s not wat you?d ca%% free in is seec$ Maybe

you don?t know wo ;D is4

4No, . don?t, and . don?t care eiter,4 . answered, in te coniction tat

some %oca% ruffian was about to be foisted uon me as a ce%ebrity$

45e?s Ma%oney,4 said te warder, 4im tat turned Hueen?s eidence after

te murders at B%uemansdyke$4

4Gou don?t say so4 . e-acu%ated, %ayin# down my cu in astonisment$ . ad

eard of tis #ast%y series of murders, and read an account of tem in a

1ondon ma#aine %on# before settin# foot in te co%ony$ . remembered tat

te atrocities committed ad trown te Burke and 5are crimes com%ete%yinto te sade, and tat one of te most i%%ainous of te #an# ad saed is

own skin by betrayin# is comanions$ 4*re you sure4 . asked$

4I, yes, it?s im ri#t enou#$ Just you draw im out a bit, and e?%%

astonis you$ 5e?s a man to know, is Ma%oney tat?s to say, in moderation4

and te ead #rinned, bobbed, and disaeared, %eain# me to finis my

breakfast and ruminate oer wat . ad eard$

Te sur#eonsi of an *ustra%ian rison is not an eniab%e osition$ .t may

be endurab%e in Me%bourne or &ydney, but te %itt%e town of Pert as few

attractions to recommend it, and tose few ad been %on# e/austed$ Te

c%imate was detestab%e, and te society far from con#enia%$ &ee and catt%e

were te sta%e suort of te community and teir rices, breedin#, and

diseases te rincia% toic of conersation$ Now as ., bein# an outsider,

ossessed neiter te one nor te oter, and was utter%y ca%%ous to te new

4di4 and te 4rot4 and oter kindred toics, . found myse%f in a state of

menta% iso%ation, and was ready to ai% anytin# wic mi#t re%iee te

monotony of my e/istence$ Ma%oney, te murderer, ad at %east some

distinctieness and indiidua%ity in is caracter, and mi#t act as a tonic to

a mind sick of te common%aces of e/istence$ . determined tat . sou%d

fo%%ow te warder?s adice, and take te e/cuse for makin# is ac0uaintance$

3en, terefore, . went uon my usua% matutina% round, . turned te %ock of

te door wic bore te conict?s number uon it, and wa%ked into te ce%%$



Te man was %yin# in a ea uon is rou# bed as . entered, but, uncoi%in#

is %on# %imbs, e started u and stared at me wit an inso%ent %ook of

defiance on is face wic au#ured bad%y for our interiew$ 5e ad a a%e,

set face, wit sandy air and a stee%y=b%ue eye, wit sometin# fe%ine in its

e/ression$ 5is frame was ta%% and muscu%ar, tou# tere was a curiousbend in is sou%ders, wic a%most amounted to a deformity$ *n ordinary

obserer meetin# im in te street mi#t ae ut im down as a we%%=

dee%oed man, fair%y andsome, and of studious abitsEeen in te

ideous uniform of te rottenest conict estab%isment e imarted a certain

refinement to is carria#e wic marked im out amon# te inferior ruffians

around im$

4.?m not on te sick=%ist,4 e said, #ruff%y$ Tere was sometin# in te ard,

rasin# oice wic dise%%ed a%% softer i%%usions, and made me rea%ie tat .

was face to face wit te man of te 1ena 7a%%ey and B%uemansdyke, te

b%oodiest busran#er tat eer stuck u a farm or cut te troats of its

occuants$

4. know you?re not,4 . answered$ 43arder McPerson to%d me you ad a co%d,

tou#, and . tou#t .?d %ook in and see you$4

4B%ast 3arder McPerson, and b%ast you, too!4 ye%%ed te conict, in a

aro/ysm of ra#e$ 4I, tat?s ri#t,4 e added in a 0uieter oice 4urry

away reort me to te #oernor, do! Ket me anoter si/ monts or soEtat?s your #ame$4

4.?m not #oin# to reort you,4 . said$

49i#t s0uare feet of #round,4 e went on, disre#ardin# my rotest, and

eident%y workin# imse%f into a fury a#ain$ 49i#t s0uare feet, and . can?t

ae tat witout bein# ta%ked to and stared at, andEo, b%ast te wo%e

crew of you!4 and e raised is two c%inced ands aboe, is ead and

sook tem in assionate inectie$

4Gou?e #ot a curious idea of osita%ity,4 . remarked, determined not to %ose

my temer, and sayin# a%most te first tin# tat came to my ton#ue$

To my surrise te words ad an e/traordinary effect uon im$ 5e seemed

com%ete%y sta##ered at my assumin# te roosition for wic e ad been



so fierce%y contendin#Ename%y, tat te room in wic e stood was is

own$

4. be# your ardon,4 e said 4. didn?t mean to be rude$ 3on?t you take a

seat4 and e motioned toward a rou# trest%e, wic formed te ead=iece

of is couc$

. sat down, rater astonised at te sudden can#e$ . don?t know tat . %iked

Ma%oney better under tis new asect$ Te murderer ad, it is true,

disaeared for te nonce, but tere was sometin# in te smoot tones

and obse0uious manner wic owerfu%%y su##ested te witness of te

0ueen, wo ad stood u and sworn away te %ies of is comanions in

crime$

45ow?s your cest4 . asked, uttin# on my rofessiona% air$

4Come, dro it, doctorEdro it!4 e answered, sowin# a row of wite teet

as e resumed is seat uon te side of te bed$ 4.t wasn?t an/iety after my

recious ea%t tat brou#t you a%on# ere tat story won?t was at a%%$

Gou came to ae a %ook at 3o%f Tone Ma%oney, for#er, murderer, &ydney=

s%ider, ran#er, and #oernment eac$ Tat?s about my fi#ure, ain?t it Tere

it is, %ain and strai#t tere?s notin# mean about me$4

5e aused as if e e/ected me to say sometin# but as . remained si%ent,

e reeated once or twice, 4Tere?s notin# mean about me$4

4*nd wy sou%dn?t .4 e sudden%y ye%%ed, is eyes #%eamin# and is wo%e

satanic nature reassertin# itse%f$ 43e were bound to swin#, one and a%%, and

tey were none te worse if . saed myse%f by turnin# a#ainst tem$ 9ery

man for imse%f, say ., and te dei% take te %uckiest$ Gou aen?t a %u# of

tobacco, doctor, ae you4

5e tore at te iece of 4Barrett?s4 wic . anded im, as raenous%y as a

wi%d beast$ .t seemed to ae te effect of sootin# is neres, for esett%ed imse%f down in te bed and re=assumed is former derecatin#

manner$

4Gou wou%dn?t %ike it yourse%f, you know, doctor,4 e said: 4it?s enou# to

make any man a %itt%e 0ueer in is temer$ .?m in for si/ monts tis time for

assau%t, and ery sorry . sa%% be to #o out a#ain, . can te%% you$ My mind?s



at ease in ere but wen .?m outside, wat wit te #oernment and wat

wit Tattooed Tom, of 5awkesbury, tere?s no cance of a 0uiet %ife$4

43o is e4 . asked$

45e?s te broter of Jon Krimtore, te same tat was condemned on my

eidence and an inferna% scam e was, too! &awn of te dei%, bot of

tem! Tis tattooed one is a murderous ruffian, and e swore to ae my

b%ood after tat tria%$ .t?s seen year a#o, and e?s fo%%owin# me yet . know

e is, tou# e %ies %ow and kees dark$ 5e came u to me in Ba%%arat in

?L you can see on te back of my and ere were te bu%%et c%ied me$

5e tried a#ain in ?>, at Port Pi%i, but . #ot te dro on im and wounded

im bad%y$ 5e knifed me in ?, tou#, in a bar at *de%aide, and tat made

our account about %ee%$ 5e?s %oafin# round a#ain now, and e?%% %et day%i#t

into meEun%essEun%ess by some e/traordinary cance some one does asmuc for im$4 *nd Ma%oney #ae a ery u#%y smi%e$

4. don?t com%ain of him so muc,4 e continued$ 41ookin# at it in is way,

no doubt it is a sort of fami%y matter tat can ard%y be ne#%ected$ .t?s te

#oernment tat fetces me$ 3en . tink of wat .?e done for tis

country, and ten of wat tis country as done for me, it makes me fair%y

wi%dEc%ean dries me off my ead$ Tere?s no #ratitude nor common

decency %eft, doctor!4

5e brooded oer is wron#s for a few minutes, and ten roceeded to %ay

tem before me in detai%$

45ere?s nine men,4 e said 4tey?e been murderin# and ki%%in# for a matter

of tree years, and maybe a %ife a week wou%dn?t more tan aera#e te

work tat tey?e done$ Te #oernment catces tem and te #oernment

tries tem, but tey can?t conict and wyEbecause te witnesses ae a%%

ad teir troats cut, and te wo%e -ob?s been ery neat%y done$ 3at

aens ten ) comes a citien ca%%ed 3o%f Tone Ma%oney e says, ?Te

country needs me, and ere . am$? *nd wit tat e #ies is eidence,

conicts te %ot, and enab%es te beaks to an# tem$ Tat?s wat . did$

Tere?s notin# mean about me! *nd now wat does te country do in

return 2o#s me, sir, sies on me, watces me ni#t and day, turns a#ainst

te ery man tat worked so ery ard for it$ Tere?s sometin# mean about



tat, anyway$ . didn?t e/ect tem to kni#t me, nor to make me co%onia%

secretary but, damn it! . did e/ect tat tey wou%d %et me a%one!4

43e%%,4 . remonstrated, 4if you coose to break %aws and assau%t eo%e, you

can?t e/ect it to be %ooked oer on account of former serices$4

4. don?t refer to my resent imrisonment, sir,4 said Ma%oney, wit di#nity$

4.t?s te %ife .?e been %eadin# since tat cursed tria% tat takes te sou% out

of me$ Just you sit tere on tat trest%e, and .?%% te%% you a%% about it, and ten

%ook me in te face and te%% me tat .?e been treated fair by te o%ice$4

. sa%% endeaor to transcribe te e/erience of te conict in is own words,

as far as . can remember tem, reserin# is curious erersions of ri#t

and wron#$ . can answer for te trut of is facts, wateer may be said for

is deductions from tem$ Monts afterward, .nsector 5$ 3$ 5ann, former%y#oernor of te -ai% at 2unedin, sowed me entries in is %ed#er wic

corroborated eery statement Ma%oney ree%ed te story off in a du%%,

monotonous oice, wit is ead sunk uon is breast and is ands

between is knees$ Te #%itter of is serent%ike eyes was te on%y si#n of

te emotions wic were stirred u by te reco%%ection of te eents wic

e narrated$

Gou?e read of B%uemansdyke e be#an, wit some ride in is toneO$ 3e

made it ot wi%e it %asted but tey ran us to eart at %ast, and a tra ca%%ed

Bra/ton, wit a damned Gankee, took te %ot of us$ Tat was in New

ea%and, of course, and tey took us down to 2unedin, and tere tey were

conicted and an#ed$ Ine and a%% tey ut u teir ands in te dock, and

cursed me ti%% your b%ood wou%d ae run co%d to ear temEwic was

scury treatment, seein# tat we ad a%% been a%s to#eter but tey were

a b%ack#uard %ot, and tou#t on%y of temse%es$ . tink it is as we%% tat

tey were un#$

Tey took me back to 2unedin Jai%, and c%aed me into te o%d ce%%$ Te

on%y difference tey made was, tat . ad no work to do and was we%% fed$ .

stood tis for a week or two, unti% one day te #oernor was makin# is

rounds, and . ut te matter to im$



45ow?s tis4 . said$ 4My conditions were a free ardon, and you?re keein#

me ere a#ainst te %aw$4

5e #ae a sort of a smi%e$ 4&ou%d you %ike ery muc to #et out4 e asked$

4&o muc,4 said ., 4tat un%ess you oen tat door .?%% ae an action a#ainst

you for i%%e#a% detention$4

5e seemed a bit astonised by my reso%ution$

4Gou?re ery an/ious to meet your deat,4 e said$

43at d?ye mean4 . asked$

4Come ere, and you?%% know wat . mean,4 e answered$ *nd e %ed me

down te assa#e to a window tat oer%ooked te door of te rison$ 41ook

at tat!4 said e$

. %ooked out, and tere were a doen or so rou#=%ookin# fe%%ows standin#

outside te street, some of tem smokin#, some %ayin# cards on te

aement$ 3en tey saw me tey #ae a ye%% and crowded round te door,

sakin# teir fists and ootin#$

4Tey wait for you, watc and watc about,4 said te #oernor$ 4Tey?re te

e/ecutie of te i#i%ance committee$ 5oweer, since you are determined to#o, . can?t sto you$4

42?ye ca%% tis a cii%ied %and,4 . cried, 4and %et a man be murdered in co%d

b%ood in oen day%i#t4

3en . said tis te #oernor and te warder and eery foo% in te %ace

#rinned, as if a man?s %ife was a rare #ood -oke$

4Gou?e #ot te %aw on your side,4 says te #oernor 4so we won?t detain

you any %on#er$ &ow im out, warder$4

5e?d ae done it, too, te b%ack=earted i%%ain, if . adn?t be##ed and

rayed and offered to ay for my board and %od#in#, wic is more tan any

risoner eer did before me$ 5e %et me stay on tose conditions and for

tree monts . was ca#ed u tere wit eery %arrikin in te townsi



c%amorin# at te oter side of te wa%%$ Tat was retty treatment for a man

tat ad sered is country!

*t %ast, one mornin# u came te #oernor a#ain$

43e%%, Ma%oney,4 e said, 4ow %on# are you #oin# to onor us wit your

society4

. cou%d ae ut a knife into is cursed body, and wou%d, too, if we ad been

a%one in te bus but . ad to smi%e, and smoot im and f%atter, for .

feared tat e mi#t ae me sent out$

4Gou?re an inferna% rasca%,4 e said tose were is ery words, to a man

tat ad e%ed im a%% e knew ow$ 4. don?t want any rou# -ustice ere,

tou# and . tink . see my way to #ettin# you out of 2unedin$4

4.?%% neer for#et you, #oernor,4 said . 4and, by Kod! . neer wi%%$4

4. don?t want your tanks nor your #ratitude,4 e answered 4it?s not for

your sake tat . do it, but sim%y to kee order in te town$ Tere?s a

steamer starts from te 3est Huay to Me%bourne to=morrow, and we?%% #et

you aboard it$ &e is adertised at fie in te mornin#, so ae yourse%f in

readiness$4

. acked u te few tin#s . ad, and was smu##%ed out by a back door, -ust

before daybreak$ . urried down, took my ticket under te name of .saac

&mit, and #ot safe%y aboard te Me%bourne boat$ . remember earin# er

screw #rindin# into te water as te wars were cast %oose, and %ookin# back

at te %i#ts of 2unedin as . %eaned uon te bu%warks, wit te %easant

tou#t tat . was %eain# tem beind me foreer$ .t seemed to me tat a

new wor%d was before me, and tat a%% my troub%es ad been cast off$ . went

down be%ow and ad some coffee, and came u a#ain fee%in# better tan .

ad done since te mornin# tat . woke to find tat cursed .risman tat

took me standin# oer me wit a si/=sooter$

2ay ad dawned by tat time, and we were steamin# a%on# by te coast,

we%% out of si#t of 2unedin$ . %oafed about for a cou%e of ours, and wen

te sun #ot we%% u some of te oter assen#ers came on deck and -oined

me$ Ine of tem, a %itt%e erky sort of fe%%ow, took a #ood %on# %ook at me,

and ten came oer and be#an ta%kin#$



4Minin#, . suose4 says e$

4Ges,4 . says$

4Made your i%e4 e asks$

4Pretty fair,4 says .$

4. was at it myse%f,4 e says 4. worked at te Ne%son fie%ds for tree

monts, and sent a%% . made in buyin# a sa%ted c%aim wic busted u te

second day$ . went at it a#ain, tou#, and struck it ric but wen te #o%d

wa#on was #oin# down to te sett%ements, it was stuck u by tose cursed

ran#ers, and not a red cent %eft$4

4Tat was a bad -ob,4 . says$

4Broke meEruined me c%ean$ Neer mind, .?e seen tem a%% an#ed for it

tat makes it easier to bear$ Tere?s on%y one %eftEte i%%ain tat #ae te

eidence$ .?d die ay if . cou%d come across im$ Tere are two tin#s .

ae to do if . meet im$4

43at?s tat4 says ., care%ess%y$

4.?e #ot to ask im were te money %iesEtey neer ad time to make

away wit it, and it?s cachéd somewere in te mountainsEand ten .?e #otto stretc is neck for im, and send is sou% down to -oin te men tat e

betrayed$4

.t seemed to me tat . knew sometin# about tat caché, and . fe%t %ike

%au#in# but e was watcin# me, and it struck me tat e ad a nasty,

indictie kind of mind$

4.?m #oin# u on te brid#e,4 . said, for e was not a man wose

ac0uaintance . cared muc about makin#$

5e wou%dn?t ear of my %eain# im, tou#$ 43e?re bot miners,4 e says,

4and we?re a%s for te oya#e$ Come down to te bar$ .?m not too oor to

sout$4



. cou%dn?t refuse im we%%, and we went down to#eter and tat was te

be#innin# of te troub%e$ 3at arm was . doin# any one on te si *%% .

asked for was a 0uiet %ife, %eain# oters a%one and #ettin# %eft a%one myse%f$

No man cou%d ask fairer tan tat$ *nd now -ust you %isten to wat came of

it$

3e were assin# te front of te %adies? cabin, on our way to te sa%oon,

wen out comes a serant %assEa freck%ed currency se=dei%Ewit a baby

in er arms$ 3e were brusin# ast er, wen se #ae a scream %ike a

rai%way wist%e, and near%y droed te kid$ My neres #ae a sort of a -um

wen . eard tat scream, but . turned and be##ed er ardon, %ettin# on

tat . tou#t . mi#t ae trod on er foot$ . knew te #ame was u,

tou#, wen . saw er wite face, and er %eanin# a#ainst te door and

ointin#$

4.t?s im!4 se cried 4it?s im! . saw im in te court=ouse$ I, don?t %et

im urt te baby!4

43o is it4 asked te steward and a%f a doen oters in a breat$

4.t?s imEMa%oneyEMa%oney, te murdererEo, take im awayEtake im

away!4

. don?t ri#t%y remember wat aened -ust at tat moment$ Te furniture

and me seemed to #et kind of mi/ed, and tere was cursin#, and smasin#,

and some one soutin# for is #o%d, and a #enera% stamin# round$ 3en .

#ot steadied a bit, . found somebody?s and in my mout$ From wat .

#atered afterward, . conc%uded tat it be%on#ed to tat same %itt%e man wit

te icious way of ta%kin#$ 5e #ot some of it out a#ain, but tat was because

te oters were cokin# me$ * oor ca can #et no fair %ay in tis wor%d

wen once e is downEsti%%, . tink e wi%% remember me ti%% te day of is

deatE%on#er, . oe$

Tey dra##ed me out on to te oo and e%d a damned court=martia%Eon

me, mind you me, tat ad trown oer my a%s in order to sere tem$

3at were tey to do wit me &ome said tis, some said tat but it ended

by te catain decidin# to send me asore$ Te si stoed, tey %owered a

boat, and . was oisted in, te wo%e #an# of tem ootin# at me from oer



te bu%warks, . saw te man . soke of tyin# u is and, tou#, and . fe%t

tat tin#s mi#t be worse$

. can#ed my oinion before we #ot to te %and$ . ad reckoned on te

sore bein# deserted, and tat . mi#t make my way in%and but te si

ad stoed too near te 5eads, and a doen beac=combers and suc %ike

ad come down to te water?s ed#e and were starin# at us, wonderin# wat

te boat was after$ 3en we #ot to te ed#e of te surf te cockswain ai%ed

tem, and after sin#in# out wo . was, e and is men trew me into te

water$ Gou may we%% %ook surrisedEneck and cro into ten feet of water,

wit sarks as tick as #reen arrots in te bus, and . eard tem %au#in#

as . f%oundered to te sore$

. soon saw it was a worse -ob tan eer$ *s . came scramb%in# out trou#

te weeds, . was co%%ared by a bi# ca wit a e%eteen coat, and a%f adoen oters #ot round me and e%d me fast$ Most of tem %ooked sim%e

fe%%ows enou#, and . was not afraid of tem but tere was one in a

cabba#e=tree at tat ad a ery nasty e/ression on is face, and te bi#

man seemed to be cummy wit im$

Tey dra##ed me u te beac, and ten tey %et #o teir o%d of me and

stood round in a circ%e$

43e%%, mate,4 says te man wit te at, 4we?e been %ookin# out for yousome time in tese arts$4

4*nd ery #ood of you, too,4 . answers$

4None of your -aw,4 says e$ 4Come, boys, wat sa%% it beEan#in#,

drownin#, or sootin# 1ook sar!4

Tis %ooked a bit too %ike business$ 4No, you don?t!4 . said$ 4.?e #ot

#oernment rotection, and it?%% be murder$4

4Tat?s wat tey ca%% it,4 answered te one in te e%eteen coat, as ceery

as a iin# crow$

4*nd you?re #oin# to murder me for bein# a ran#er4



46an#er be damned!4 said te man$ 43e?re #oin# to an# you for reacin#

a#ainst your a%s and tat?s an end of te a%aer$4

Tey s%un# a roe round my neck and dra##ed me u to te ed#e of te

bus$ Tere were some bi# se=oaks and b%ue=#ums, and tey itced on

one of tese for te wicked deed$ Tey ran te roe oer a branc, tied my

ands, and to%d me to say my rayers$ .t seemed as if it was a%% u but

Proidence interfered to sae me$ .t sounds nice enou# sittin# ere and

te%%in# about it, sir but it was sick work to stand wit notin# but te beac

in front of you, and te %on# wite %ine of surf, wit te steamer in te

distance, and a set of b%oody=minded i%%ains round you tirstin# for your

%ife$

. neer tou#t .?d owe anytin# #ood to te o%ice but tey saed me tat

time$ * troo of tem were ridin# from 5awkes Point &tation to 2unedin,and earin# tat sometin# was u, tey came down trou# te bus and

interruted te roceedin#s$ .?e eard some bands in my time, doctor, but

. neer eard music %ike te -in#%e of tose tras? surs and arness as tey

#a%%oed out on to te oen$ Tey tried to an# me een ten, but te o%ice

were too 0uick for tem and te man wit te at #ot one oer te ead

wit te f%at of a sword$ . was c%aed on to a orse, and before eenin# .

found myse%f in my o%d 0uarters in te city -ai%$

Te #oernor wasn?t to be done, tou#$ 5e was determined to #et rid ofme, and . was e0ua%%y an/ious to see te %ast of im$ 5e waited a week or so

unti% te e/citement ad be#un to die away, and ten e smu##%ed me

aboard a tree=masted scooner bound to &ydney wit ta%%ow and ides$

3e #ot far away to sea witout a itc, and tin#s be#an to %ook a bit more

rosy$ . made sure tat . ad seen te %ast of te rison, anyway$ Te crew

ad a sort of an idea wo . was, and if tere?d been any rou# weater,

tey?d ae oe me oerboard, %ike enou# for tey were a rou#,

i#norant %ot, and ad a notion tat . brou#t bad %uck to te si$ 3e ad a#ood assa#e, oweer, and . was %anded safe and sound uon &ydney

Huay$

Now -ust you %isten to wat aened ne/t$ Gou?d ae tou#t tey wou%d

ae been sick of i%%=usin# me and fo%%owin# me by tis timeEwou%dn?t you,

now 3e%%, -ust you %isten$ .t seems tat a cursed steamer started from



2unedin to &ydney on te ery day we %eft, and #ot in before us, brin#in#

news tat . was comin#$ B%essed if tey adn?t ca%%ed a meetin#Ea re#u%ar

mass=meetin#Eat te docks to discuss about it, and . marced ri#t into it

wen . %anded$ Tey didn?t take %on# about arrestin# me, and . %istened to a%%

te seeces and reso%utions$ .f .?d been a rince tere cou%dn?t ae beenmore e/citement$ Te end of a%% was tat tey a#reed tat it wasn?t ri#t

tat New ea%and sou%d be a%%owed to foist er crimina%s uon er

nei#bors, and tat . was to be sent back a#ain by te ne/t boat$ &o tey

osted me off a#ain as if . was a damned arce% and after anoter ei#t=

undred=mi%e -ourney . found myse%f back for te tird time moin# in te

%ace tat . started from$

By tis time . ad be#un to tink tat . was #oin# to send te rest of my

e/istence trae%in# about from one ort to anoter$ 9ery man?s and

seemed turned a#ainst me, and tere was no eace or 0uiet in any direction$

. was about sick of it by te time . ad come back and if . cou%d ae taken

to te bus .?d ae done it, and canced it wit my o%d a%s$ Tey were too

0uick for me, tou#, and ket me under %ock and key but . mana#ed, in

site of tem, to ne#otiate tat caché . to%d you of, and sewed te #o%d u in

my be%t$ . sent anoter mont in -ai%, and ten tey s%ied me aboard a

bark tat was bound for 9n#%and$

Tis time te crew neer knew wo . was, but te catain ad a retty #ood

idea, tou# e didn?t %et on to me tat e ad any susicions$ . #uessedfrom te first tat te man was a i%%ain$ 3e ad a fair assa#e, e/cet a

#a%e or two off te Cae and . be#an to fee% %ike a free man wen . saw te

b%ue %oom of te o%d country, and te saucy %itt%e i%ot=boat from Fa%mout

dancin# toward us oer te waes$ 3e ran down te Canne%, and before we

reaced Kraesend . ad a#reed wit te i%ot tat e sou%d take me

asore wit im wen e %eft$ .t was at tis time tat te catain sowed

me tat . was ri#t in tinkin# im a medd%in#, disa#reeab%e man$ . #ot my

tin#s acked, suc as tey were, and %eft im ta%kin# earnest%y to te i%ot,

wi%e . went be%ow for my breakfast$ 3en . came u a#ain we were fair%yinto te mout of te rier, and te boat in wic . was to ae #one asore

ad %eft us$ Te skier said te i%ot ad for#otten me but tat was too

tin, and . be#an to fear tat a%% my o%d troub%es were #oin# to commence

once more$



.t was not %on# before my susicions were confirmed$ * boat darted out from

te side of te rier, and a ta%% coe wit a %on# b%ack beard came aboard$ .

eard im ask te mate weter tey didn?t need a mud=i%ot to take tem

u in te reaces, but it seemed to me tat e was a man wo wou%d know

a dea% more about andcuffs tan e did about steerin#, so . ket away fromim$ 5e came across te deck, oweer, and made some remark to me,

takin# a #ood %ook at me te wi%e$ . don?t %ike in0uisitie eo%e at any

time, but an in0uisitie stran#er wit #%ue about te roots of is beard is te

worst of a%% to stand, esecia%%y under te circumstances$ . be#an to fee% tat

it was time for me to #o$

. soon #ot a cance, and made #ood use of it$ * bi# co%%ier came atwart te

bows of our steamer, and we ad to s%acken down to dead s%ow$ Tere was a

bar#e astern, and . s%ied down by a roe and was into te bar#e before

any one missed me$ If course . ad to %eae my %u##a#e beind me, but .

ad te be%t wit te nu##ets round my waist, and te cance of sakin# te

o%ice off my track was wort more tan a cou%e of bo/es$ .t was c%ear to

me now tat te i%ot ad been a traitor, as we%% as te catain, and ad set

te detecties after me$ . often wis . cou%d dro across tose two men

a#ain$

. un# about te bar#e a%% day as se drifted down te stream$ Tere was

one man in er, but se was a bi#, u#%y craft, and is ands were too fu%% for

muc %ookin# about$ Toward eenin#, wen it #ot a bit dusky, . struck outfor te sore, and found myse%f in a sort of mars %ace, a #ood many mi%es

to te east of 1ondon$ . was soakin# wet and a%f dead wit un#er, but .

trud#ed into te town, #ot a new ri#=out at a s%o=so, and after ain#

some suer, en#a#ed a bed at te 0uietest %od#in#s . cou%d find$

. woke retty ear%yEa abit you ick u in te busEand %ucky for me tat .

did so$ Te ery first tin# . saw wen . took a %ook trou# a cink in te

sutter was one of tese inferna% o%icemen standin# ri#t oosite and

starin# u at te windows$ 5e adn?t eau%ets nor a sword, %ike our tras,but for a%% tat tere was a sort of fami%y %ikeness, and te same busybody

e/ression$ 3eter tey fo%%owed me a%% te time, or weter te woman

tat %et me te bed didn?t %ike te %ooks of me, is more tan . ae eer

been ab%e to find out$ 5e came across as . was watcin# im, and noted

down te address of te ouse in a book$ . was afraid tat e was #oin# to



rin# at te be%%, but . suose is orders were sim%y to kee an eye on me,

for after anoter #ood %ook at te windows e moed on down te street$

. saw tat my on%y cance was to act at once$ . trew on my c%otes,

oened te window soft%y, and, after makin# sure tat tere was nobody

about, droed out onto te #round and made off as ard as . cou%d run$ .

trae%ed a matter of two or tree mi%es, wen my wind #ae out and as .

saw a bi# bui%din# wit eo%e #oin# in and out, . went in too, and found

tat it was a rai%way station$ * train was -ust #oin# off for 2oer to meet te

Frenc boat, so . took a ticket and -umed into a tird=c%ass carria#e$

Tere were a cou%e of oter cas in te carria#e, innocent=%ookin# youn#

be##ars, bot of tem$ Tey be#an seakin# about tis and tat, wi%e . sat

0uiet in te corner and %istened$ Ten tey started on 9n#%and and forei#n

countries, and suc %ike$ 1ook ye now, doctor, tis is a fact$ Ine of tembe#ins -awin# about te -ustice of 9n#%and?s %aws$ 4.t?s a%% fair and aboe=

board,4 says e 4tere ain?t any secret o%ice, nor syin#, %ike tey ae

abroad,4 and a %ot more of te same sort of was$ 6ater rou# on me,

wasn?t it, %istenin# to te damned youn# foo%, wit te o%ice fo%%owin# me

about %ike my sadow

. #ot to Paris ri#t enou#, and tere . can#ed some of my #o%d, and for a

few days . ima#ined .?d saken tem off, and be#an to tink of sett%in#

down for a bit of rest$ . needed it by tat time, for . was %ookin# more %ike a#ost tan a man$ Gou?e neer ad te o%ice after you, . suose 3e%%,

you needn?t %ook offended, . didn?t mean any arm$ .f eer you ad you?d

know tat it wastes a man away %ike a see wit te rot$

. went to te oera one ni#t and took a bo/, for . was ery f%us$ . was

comin# out between te acts wen . met a fe%%ow %oun#in# a%on# in te

assa#e$ Te %i#t fe%% on is face, and . saw tat it was te mud=i%ot tat

ad boarded us in te Tames$ 5is beard was #one, but . reco#nied te

man at a #%ance, for .?e a #ood memory for faces$

. te%% you, doctor, . fe%t deserate for a moment$ . cou%d ae knifed im if

we ad been a%one, but e knew me we%% enou# neer to #ie me te

cance$ .t was more tan . cou%d stand any %on#er, so . went ri#t u to im

and drew im aside, were we?d be free from a%% te %oun#ers and teater=

#oers$



45ow %on# are you #oin# to kee it u4 . asked im$

5e seemed a bit f%ustered for a moment, but ten e saw tere was no use

beatin# about te bus, so e answered strai#t:

4)nti% you #o back to *ustra%ia,4 e said$

42on?t you know,4 . said, 4tat . ae sered te #oernment and #ot a free

ardon4

5e #rinned a%% oer is u#%y face wen . said tis$

43e know a%% about you, Ma%oney,4 e answered$ 4.f you want a 0uiet %ife,

-ust you #o back were you came from$ .f you stay ere, you?re a marked

man and wen you are found triin# it?%% be a %ifer for you, at te %east$Free trade?s a fine tin# but te market?s too fu%% of men %ike you for us to

need to imort any$4

.t seemed to me tat tere was sometin# in wat e said, tou# e ad a

nasty way of uttin# it$ For some days back .?d been fee%in# a sort of

omesick$ Te ways of te eo%e weren?t my ways$ Tey stared at me in

te street and if . droed into a bar, tey?d sto ta%kin# and ed#e away a

bit, as if . was a wi%d beast$ .?d sooner ae ad a int of o%d &trin#ybark,

too, tan a bucketfu% of teir rot=#ut %i0uors$ Tere was too muc damned

roriety$ 3at was te use of ain# money if you cou%dn?t dress as you

%iked, nor bust in roer%y Tere was no symaty for a man if e sot

about a %itt%e wen e was a%f=oer, .?e seen a man droed at Ne%son

many a time wit %ess row tan tey?d make oer a broken window=ane$

Te tin# was s%ow, and . was sick of it$

4Gou want me to #o back4 . said$

4.?e my order to stick fast to you unti% you do,4 e answered$

43e%%,4 . said, 4. don?t care if . do$ *%% . bar#ain is tat you kee your mout

sut and don?t %et on wo . am, so tat . may ae a fair start wen . #et

tere$4

5e a#reed to tis, and we went oer to &outamton te ery ne/t day,

were e saw me safe%y off once more$ . took a assa#e round to *de%aide,



were no one was %ike%y to know me and tere . sett%ed, ri#t under te

nose of te o%ice$ .?d been tere eer since, %eadin# a 0uiet %ife, but for %itt%e

difficu%ties %ike te one .?m in for now, and for tat dei%, Tattooed Tom, of

5awkesbury$ . don?t know wat made me te%% you a%% tis, doctor, un%ess it is

tat bein# %one%y makes a man inc%ined to -aw wen e #ets a cance$ Justyou take warnin# from me, tou#$ Neer ut yourse%f out to sere your

country for your country wi%% do recious %itt%e for you$ Just you %et tem

%ook after teir own affairs and if tey find difficu%ty in an#in# a set of

scoundre%s, neer mind ciin# in, but %et tem a%one to do as best tey

can$ Maybe tey?%% remember ow tey treated me after .?m dead, and be

sorry for ne#%ectin# me, . was rude to you wen you came in, and swore a

trif%e romiscuous: but don?t you mind me, it?s on%y my way$ Gou?%% a%%ow,

tou#, tat . ae cause to be a bit toucy now and a#ain wen . tink of

a%% tat?s assed$ Gou?re not #oin#, are you 3e%%, if you must, you must but

. oe you wi%% %ook me u at odd times wen you are #oin# your rounds$

I, . say, you?e %eft te ba%ance of tat cake of tobacco beind you, aen?t

you No it?s in your ocketEtat?s a%% ri#t$ Tank ye, doctor, you?re a #ood

sort, and as 0uick at a int as any man .?e met$

* cou%e of monts after narratin# is e/eriences, 3o%f Tone Ma%oney

finised is term, and was re%eased$ For a %on# time . neiter saw im nor

eard of im, and e ad a%most s%ied from my memory, unti% . was

reminded, in a somewat tra#ic manner, of is e/istence$ . ad been

attendin# a atient some distance off in te country, and was ridin# back,

#uidin# my tired orse amon# te bou%ders wic strewed te atway, and

endeaorin# to see my way trou# te #aterin# darkness, wen . came

sudden%y uon a %itt%e wayside inn$ *s . wa%ked my orse u toward te

door, intendin# to make sure of my bearin#s before roceedin# furter, .

eard te sound of a io%ent a%tercation witin te %itt%e bar$

Tere seemed to be a corus of e/ostu%ation or remonstrance, aboe wic

two owerfu% oices ran# out %oud and an#ry$ *s . %istened, tere was a

momentary us, two isto% sots sounded a%most simu%taneous%y, and wita cras te door burst oen and a air of dark fi#ures sta##ered out into te

moon%i#t$ Tey stru##%ed for a moment in a dead%y wrest%e, and ten went

down to#eter amon# te %oose stones$ . ad srun# off my orse, and, wit

te e% of a%f a doen rou# fe%%ows from te bar, dra##ed tem away

from one anoter$



* #%ance was sufficient to conince me tat one of tem was dyin# fast$ 5e

was a tick=set bur%y fe%%ow, wit a determined cast of countenance$ Te

b%ood was we%%in# from a dee stab in is troat, and it was eident tat an

imortant artery ad been diided$ . turned away from im in desair, and

wa%ked oer to were is anta#onist was %yin#$ 5e was sot trou# te%un#s, but mana#ed to raise imse%f u on is and as . aroaced, and

eered an/ious%y u into my face$ To my surrise, . saw before me te

a##ard features and f%a/en air of my rison ac0uaintance, Ma%oney$

4*, doctor!4 e said, reco#niin# me$ 45ow is e 3i%% e die4

5e asked te 0uestion so earnest%y tat . ima#ined e ad softened at te

%ast moment, and feared to %eae te wor%d wit anoter omicide uon is

conscience$ Trut, oweer, come%%ed me to sake my ead mournfu%%y,

and to intimate tat te wound wou%d roe a morta% one$

Ma%oney #ae a wi%d cry of trium, wic brou#t te b%ood we%%in# out

from between is %is$ 45ere, boys,4 e #ased to te %itt%e #rou around

im$ 4Tere?s money in my inside ocket$ 2amn te e/ense! 2rinks round$

Tere?s notin# mean about me$ .?d drink wit you, but .?m #oin#$ Kie te

doc my sare, for e?s as #oodE4 5ere is ead fe%% back wit a tud, is

eye #%aed, and te sou% of 3o%f Tone Ma%oney, for#er, conict, ran#er,

murderer, and #oernment eac, drifted away into te Kreat )nknown$

. cannot conc%ude witout borrowin# te account of te fata% 0uarre% wic

aeared in te co%umn of te West Australian Sentinel $ Te curious wi%% find

it in te issue of Ictober , <;;<:

4Fata% *ffray$E3$ T$ Ma%oney, a we%%=know citien of New

Montrose, and rorietor of te Ge%%ow Boy #amb%in# sa%oon,

as met wit is deat under rater ainfu% circumstances$

Mr$ Ma%oney was a man wo ad %ed a ceckered e/istence, and

wose ast istory is re%ete wit interest$ &ome of our

readers may reca%% te 1ena 7a%%ey murders, in wic e

fi#ured as te rincia% crimina%$ .t is con-ectured tat

durin# te seen monts tat e owned a bar in tat re#ion,

from twenty to tirty trae%ers were ocussed and made away

wit$ 5e succeeded, oweer, in eadin# te i#i%ance of

te officers of te %aw, and a%%ied imse%f wit te



busran#ers of B%uemansdyke, wose eroic cature and

subse0uent e/ecution are matters of istory$ Ma%oney

e/tricated imse%f from te fate wic awaited im by

turnin# Hueen?s eidence$ 5e afterward isited 9uroe, but

returned to 3est *ustra%ia, were e as %on# %ayed arominent art in %oca% matters$ In Friday eenin# e

encountered an o%d enemy, Tomas Krimtore, common%y known

as Tattooed Tom, of 5awkesbury$

4&ots were e/can#ed, and bot were bad%y wounded, on%y

suriin# a few minutes$ Mr$ Ma%oney ad te reutation of

bein# not on%y te most wo%esa%e murderer tat eer %ied,

but a%so of ain# a finis and attention to detai% in

matters of eidence wic as been unaroaced by any

9uroean crimina%$ Sic transit gloria mundi!4




Te *dentures of &er%ock 5o%mes

Te 6eturn of &er%ock 5o%mes

Memoirs of &er%ock 5o%mes

My Friend te Murderer

Ta%es of Terror and Mystery

Te Mystery of C%oomber

Te New 6ee%ation

Te Poison Be%t

Te &i#n of te Four

Te 7a%%ey of Fear

Trou# te Ma#ic 2oor

)nc%e Bernac 8 * Memory of te 9mire



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