Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-29
BONES.


L ~,
even, after the fashion of Harvey's siuice have
gone the length of prcfxing their adjective with
forcible explective which emphasized their
criticism. Abe however. was stolid and easy
going man. on whose mind the remarks of an
uhappreciatiye public made but little impress
sion. He had built the house himself and it
suited his partner with him, and what more did
they want?
| There was only one man inside the hut and
that was the proprietor, Abe burton himself. or
| bones" as he had BEEN christened with the
rude heradry Of the camp. He was sitting in
front of the great wood fire, gazing modify into
Its glowing depths. and occasionally giving a
| fagot kick Of remonstrance when 1t showed
| any indication of dying into shoulder. His
fair Saxon face, with its bold simple eyes and
| crisp yellow beard. stood out sharp and clear
against the darkness as the Pickering light
played over 1t. 1t was manly, resolute coun-
tenance. and yet the physiOgnomlst might have
| detected something in the lines of the mouth
which showed weakness somewhere, an indie
| clsion which cOntrasted strangely with hts her.
| culean shoulders and massive limbs.
| ''The Boss is late tonight" he muttered as
he rose from his chair and stretched himself in a
| colossal yawn. my stars how it does rain and
blow! Don't it Blinky1" Blinky was a demure
and meditative OWL whose comfort and welfare
were chronic subject of solictude to it's mas
| Ter, ana who at present contemplated him
| graye'y from one of the rarters.
| Abe was still talking when the rough door
was lung open and binding cloud of sleet and
rain came drying into the cabin, almost Obscur-
/ Ing for the moment young man who sprang in
and proceeded to bar the entrance behind him,
an operation which the force of the wind rend-
cred no easy matter.
| well he said in a siohtlv neeviah voico
haven't you got any supper"
| Waiting and ready" said his companion
cheerily, pointing to a large pot which dubbed
by the side of the fire. "YOu seem sort of
| damp"
damp be hanged! I'm soaked, man-thor-
oughly saturated. It's night that 1 wouldn't
| have dog out, at least not dog that had
any respect for. Hand over that dry coat from
| the peg
| Jack Morgan, or Boss. as he was usually
called. belonged to type which was commoner
| lii the mines during the flush times of the first
great rush than would be supposed. He was a
man OF good blood, literally educated, and a
graduate of an English university. Boss should.
| In the natural course of things have been an en-
| ergetic curate, or struggling professional man.
mad not some latent traits cropped out in his
| character, inherited possibly from old Sir Henry
| Morgan. who had founded the family with Span-
ish pieces of eight gallantly won upon the high
seas. 1t was this wild strain of blood no doubt,
which had caused him to drop from the bedroom
window of the iyy-clad English parsonage, and
| leave home and friends behind him. to try his
luck with pick and shovel in the Australian
fields. In spite of his effeminate face and dainty
| manners, the rough dwcilers in Harvey's Sluice
had gradually leaned that the little man was
possessed OF a cool courage and unf1inching res
| olutiOu. which won respect in a community
where pluck was looked upon as the highest of
| human attributes. No one ever knew how It
was that Bones and he had become partners ::
yet partners they were, and the large simple
nature OF the stronger man looked with an al
| most superstitOus reverence upon the clear de-
cisiye mind of lis companion
| Ihats better" said the Boss, as he dropped
into the vacant chair before the fire and watched
ABE laying out the two metal plates. . Come
| here and sit down"
| His gigantic partner came meekly over and
perched himself upon the top of barrel.
| What's up, he asked?'
| 'ohares are up" said his companion s'That's
what up. Look here" and he extracted q
| crumpied paper from the pocket of the steaminy
| coat Here's the Buekhurst Sentinel Read
| this article-this one here about paving lead
IN the Conemara mine. We hold pretty heavily
in that concern my boy. We might sell out
ana clear something-but think We'll hold on"
Aoe burton in the meantime was labOriOusy
spelling out the article in question, following
| the lines with his great fOrefnger, and mutter-
| ing under his tawny lnOustache.
| ANY news from Buckhurst?" asked Abe, ris-
ing and proceeding to extract their supper from
the pot:
| Nothing much" said his companion. Cock
eyed Joe has been shot by Billy Reid In McFar-
| lanes store"
| 'Ah,' said Abe. with listless interest.
! "Bushrangers have been around and stuck I'D
the Rochdale station. They say they are coming
| over here"
The miner whistled as he poured some whiskey
| into a jug.
| Anything more?" he asked.
Nothing of Importance, except that the
blacks have been showing bit down New Ster-
ling way, and that the assayer has bought q
piano. and Is going to have his daughter out
| from Melbourne to live in the new house OppO-
site ON the other side of the road. So You see
we are going to have something to look at. NV
! boy. he added, as he sat down, and began at
lacking the food set before him. ''They say she
| Is beauty, Bones"
His partner suddenly dropped his knife and
seemed to listen. Amid the wild uprOar of the
| wind and the rain there was a low rumbinp
sound which was evidently not dependent upon
| the elements.
whats that"
| "Darned if know"
The two men made for the door and peered
| out earnestly into the darkness Far away
along the Buckhurst road they could see a NOV
Ing light, and the dull sound was louder than
| before
Its buggy coming down." said Abe.
where Is it going tO?"
| Don't know. Across the ford, s'pose."
why, man. the ford will be six feet deep to-
| night, and running like mill-stream"
The light was nearer now. coming rapidlv
round the curve OF the road There was wild
sound of galloping with the rattle of the wheels
Horses have b0lted, by thunder"
bad job for the man inside"
| 'lf he don't pull 'em up before they reach the
ford. he's agoner," remarked Abe burton re-
| signedly.
Suddenly there came a lull in the sullen splash
OF the rain 1t was but for q moment, but in
that moment there came down on the breeze a
long cry which caused the two men to start and
stare at each other. and then to rush frantcalIy
down the steep incline toward the road below.
"A woman, by heaven!" gasped Abe, as he
/ sprang across the gaping shaft Of mine In the
| recklessness Of his haste.
Morgan was the lighter and more active man.
| He drew away rapidly from his stalwart com
! pani0n. Within minute he was standing pant
/ Ing and bare-headed In the middle of the soft
muddy road, while his partner was still toilinp
| down the side Of the declivity
me carriage was close on him now He could
see IN the light Of the lamps the raw-boned
Australian horse as. terrified By the storm and
oy i.s own CHATTER. 1t came tearing down the de-
ciyity which led to the ford. The man who was
| driving seemed to see the pale face in TN. rotL