The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-10-06

be mine before long.
"Pretty WE'LL" replied, brusqueIy
and he walked away.
/ found no more nuggets on that oc-
casion, and at s o'clock ] knocked of
and made my way to my tent, where
after a good wash, / pulled an old gin
case outside, sat down on it, lighted
my pipe, and coolly awaited the arrival
OF my visitors.
/ had not to wait long. presently
saw two strongly framed men strolling
leisurely in my direction, as though
merely sauntering at random through
the diggings. As they came opposite
to me, one of them started, and, ad.
dressing me, exclaimed "Hello, Ted,
how long have you been at Ophir, and
where did you hail from last ?" and
stepping up he grasped me warmly by
the hand.
Seeing what was expected of me, /
heartily returned the pressure, saying,
10 a loud tone, "Why, about three
weeks. But when did you leave sgd
ney Old friends like you and me
should liquor up before questions are
asked and answered. and inside we all
three of us went.
One of the two men that we wanted
to catch was m eye and ear witness of
all this scene, but it was so naturally
enacted that no suspicious that my two
acquaintances were detectives could
have entered lis head
found that each of my visitors was
armed with revolver and q pair of
handouts. They were both strong,
powerful men, and more than match
for the others in every way. The plan
however, to make all things certain,
and to prevent any unnecessary spill
ing of blood, was to wait until the ruff
fans were in their beds and asleep,
when we were to steal in and try to
handcuff them before they could wake
up.
We had to wait many hours for this
time to arrive, but at last the snoring
commenced in earnest, and this was our
signal Handouts in hand, the de-
tectives crept into the adjoining tent, l
followed them, with my revolver level
ed, in case that one, or both the rascals
should wake up and be too quick for
them. They did not wake up, and the
irons were clasped around and locked
on their wrists without them even
twinkling an eyelid.
But now they were roughly awaken
| ed, and the senior officer said, 'Tom
Jackson and Ben Wilton, l arrest you
for wilful murder You must both of
you get up and come along with us. I
am Detective Sinclair, of the New
South Wales police"
Inever saw two men so struck with
CONSERVATION and surprise as were
these two worthless. At last one of
them gasped out, ''Murder Wiltul
murder Detective Sinclair Why,you
must all be mad y
| "The evidence of their crime are in
this tent, remember" I said to Sinclair,
nudging him with my elbow. 'Let us
search for the limbs of their last slaugh-
tered victim"
The hint was promptly acted upon.
We seized spades and picks, and in ten
minutes every inch of ground covered
by the tent was turned over to yard
in depth.
No old mans legs were fouud but
we were not to be daunted, and pro.
ceeded TO ransack the tents all over,
still without any old mems legs turning
up, though we spied two fine hind legs
of kangaroo hanging up in an obscure
corner.
"Well, are you satisfied ?" asked one
of the prisoners. "Are you convinced
that you.are on some wild-goose chase
If so, take these cursed irons off and
begone."
mo, we are not so convinced an
swered Sinclair, with some asperity.
"This worthy gentleman pointing to
me, 'heard you confess last night to
having murdered no less than eight old
men, and such crimes will have to be
accounted for. He heard you confess,
too, to having hid the legs of your last
victim in this tent but doubtless you
have this day removed them to some
more secure hiding place"
"He told you that, did he7 the young
donkey !" screamed one of the accused,
with an hyena-like laugh. "And so
we have, too-old men kangaroos-
and there are the legs we spoke of
hanging up in that corner ready for to-
morrow's pie. All ha ha he has
brought you on FOOLS errand, sure
enough, and the roars of laughter the
two men INDUCED in fairly shook the
tent.
Both detectives looked fearfully an
noyed and yet they could not help
laughing. Without a word to me they
took the handcuffs off the men and re.
turned them to their pockets Then
Sinclair said: "What will you take
to keep this matter secret You see
through this unfortunate new chum's
blunder we shall get laughed off the
diggings unless you choose to be mer-
ciful. III give you five pound note
out of my own pocket if you will keep
this unfortunate affair dark,
81 will supplement Sinclair's offer
with the largest of the nuggets that
dug up to-day" | said, feeling that be.
ing laughed at was the general dread
| stood in the worst position of the
trio.
"llang your brides !" was the retort
81 would not give up the chance OF
circulating so glorious yarn for tel
times the value of what you offer
However, | will tell it leniently a,
possible. And as for this new chum,
turning to me, "when ! first came tC
the colony, | and my mate here, ar,
both Of us green enough to have made
just as stupid blunder; so / can
blame him, Come, let us sit down
and have a drink all around of real oil,
Jamaica rum, of which we have an un
broached keg in stock"
The invitation was readily accept
ed, and we kept it up until daybreal
with grog, songs and toasts.
So ended the tragedy of "killing al
old man, which l now learned was
name universally bestowed on larg
male kangaroo These animals, whel
. | attacked are very ferocious on1 &c a.,