Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-06-14

VI money at tne new dlgglnGS. Long n G
was very good sort Of fellow, but unfort,
nately he could not pass grog shop or drinl
ing tent without going in and he invariabl
stayed by his bottle until he had finished il
Gardner said that his companion would orte
get so drunk in the middle of the day, that
would be impossible to get him away fror
the place until the next morning and on th
account they travelled very slowly.
| One afternoon. while they were going [
stop by the roadside for dinner, Long Ne
caught sight of u tent standing back from tn
road, on which dirty cotton handkerchie
was Tying the breeze, rs a sign Of more o
less good cheer TO be had within. On
nearer inspection this place of entertainment
proved TO be frame of rude sticks covere,
with pieces of tarpaulin and strips of ole
blanket and beside it stood shed for hors
and cart. The proprietor was doing besid,
the fire, with short stump of pipe in hi
mouth. Long Ned. in his usual way, declined
the offer of coffee. and desired the man tC
bring out bottle of "stuff," at which al
three were presently occupied.
The owner Of the tent, the only person they
saw there, was short, squat man, unusually
dirty even for the dggings. and with q face
so covered with dark matted hair that the
features were scarcely dstingushable. How.
ever, be seemed Of social temper, and did
his best, in a rough way TO please his visitors.
Long Ned began to brag about the gold he
had found how he had got forty ounces in
his "swag," and tickets for above fifty ounces
more, which lie had sent down to Melbourne.
The landlord said that il wasn't everybody
had as much luck.
There being no room for all three to sleep
in the tent, Gardner, with good deal of
trouble, persuaded his companion to resume
the journey. The landlord offered no oppo-
stlon to their departure, but, on the contra
ry, directed them to lodging tent, which lie
said stood about three miles further on, and
which they might reach before dark by q
short cut over q neighboiing hill. lie
brought out another bottle Of spirits, and
offered them parting glass at his own ex-
pense, a civility which neither refused.
They took their way in the dusk over the
hill he had pointed out but, before they had
walked mile, Gardner began to feel stu
peiaction OF brain, accompanied with giddi-
ness. Ills companion soon began TO suffer
from the same symptoms in n greater degree,
they were both to!erably sober a
few minutes before. Staggering along,
scarcely conscious Of where they were going,
they came to an old travellers camp. with
two "miam!s," or bush tents still Standing
Gardner managed to get under one of the
miamis. and immediately fell into deep
sleep.
lie said he never had such sleep as that.
All sorts Of shapes seemed dancing before
his eyes, and there was a cold weight as it
were, upon his heart, such rs he had never
felt before. Then he thought he heard his
22imye 2Ginyv caIIfid Loudly louder still, and then
and at last succeeded though he was still in
q half stupefed state. There was noise oil
some person moving near HIM, and moan
ing. lie got on his knees to creep out OF the
miami, and by the light Of the moon he saw
l;a .-ota lyinn nn tho frou"d With blood is
suing from cut on the head, and man
kneeling beside him searching his pockets
IIorror-struck at the sight, Gardner was at
first unable to move, but at length, with
sudden impulse, he threw himself upon the
assassin, and tried to bring him TO the ground.
The latter, though surprised by the attack,
soon freed himself and snapped two caps of
n revolver at his assailaut but the pistol
missing fire, he caught up the bundles OF Long
Ned and made off into the bush.
Gardner had no strength to follow him.
but sunk down by the body of his mate, and
lay down there he could not tell how long
When he again came to himself it was broad
daylight. Having satisfied himself that Ned
had ceased TO breathe. he ran away from the
spot, and walked two days without sleeping.
TIL lie found his way back to my hut.
"lt's all true" Gardner said when he had
ended his story.
What made you keep it secret ?" / asked.
Did you give no information to the police y
Il dared not. They would have said it
was me-
could hardly restrain my indignation at
this reply.
81 know what the police are" he repeated; ;
''and if you was like me, you wouldn't have
told them either"
lie would not explain what he meant; but
| afterwards found out the reason Of his fears,
which we're not altogether groundless. Gard
ner was, in the language Of the colonies, an
"old lag"-that is TO say discharged con-
yict-and be knew that if the murder became
known he would be suspected Of having killed
his mate for the sake of the gold he had
about him.
| told Gardner that should give informa-
ton TO the police at once. Seeing that
was resolved, he at length gave his consent
and set of to the government camp and i'll
quired Of the guard for one of the commits
soners who bore good name on the Dig
gings. Fortunately, that gentleman was en-
gagged in o rubber Of whist, and therefore,
although it was near midnight, | had no diff
Guilty in getting to see him. lie listened to
me politely and showed degree OF energy
not at all common among those officials.
"This is a strange story" he said. "Ihe
fact Of the murder is true enough, for the bo-
dy has been found under the circumstances
you describe, but why should this man want
to conceal it? must see him p
told him Gardner's condition. and he
sent for the doctor from the whist table, Or
dered three horses 10 be saddled, and desir-
ed me to lead the way to the hut. In halfan
hour more he had heard the story from Gard
ners own lips, and ascertained that the muir
der had taken place on the third night be-
fore.
Gould you swear TO the murderer it you
saw him p the commissioner asked.
Gardner said he could not; he was so
stupefed that he remembered nothing about
him, except that he was stout man.
"You say there was grog-teHt where you
stopped about mile from the place p
Gardner assented.
"rhat tent is not there now; l was all
around the place last night
II knew he wouldn't believe me-" Gardner
said. --.
"You are mistaken do believe you. ]
Lnar there XOu saw