The morning call., 1890-11-28
CHAPTER III.
She loved me for the dangers had passed.
And loved her that she did pity them.

loved me Tor the dangers ndu paoseuf
And loved her that she did pity them.
Shakespeare.
The excitement of the whole affair, the
momentary expectation of sharing a similar
fate to that of his friend, and the fact that
he could not find the path again, kept Fred
we'll to his senses for long time, but, when
the evening clothed the wood in darkness,
in spite of lis most strenuous endeav0 rs, he
fell into heavy Slumber. 1t was in this
condition, weak, weary and feverish-that
he was discovered next morning by some
ranchmen who had come into the scrub III
search of lost cattle. Bush hospitality Is
prqverbial. Everything that could be done
for Fred Wilton was done. but notwitiistand-
ing all the care and attention shown him, he
dropped into n delirious fever.
For several weeks he lay lowering between
life and death. Gradually, however, he re-
covered, 1t was not until lie was declared
quite convalescent that he was Informed he
was prisoner charged with the murder Of
his late companion.
In due course lie was removed to Brisbane
for trial. Popular feeling had been greatly
reused through the medium OF the news
papers. The courtroom was crowded. The
most damaging evidence was forthcoming
for the prosecution. There had been an
alteration between prisoner and the de"
ceased at the store in tie diggngs. They
had both purchased revolyeTS there. They
had travelled together They had been found
lying near each other with revolver-sbot
wounds upon them. Without doubt they
had quarreled in the wood. and deceased
had got the worst Of the encounter. The
story about The robbers was discrediied by
the jury. The persons in the court seemed
perfectly satisfied with the verdict Of
guilty"
The dread sentence of death was being
pronounced, when disturbance took place
in tie bodyof the court. Poor Fred me-
chemically turned his eyes in that direction.
,.t,fn r
room in fainting fit, and her I'D uncle,
with bent head, was sally following her!
Until tn t moment Fred had been per-
fecty unconscious of his sweetheartS pres
ence. Then, and not till then, did he be-
come thoroughly alive 10 his awful position.
A week Of dreadful agony passed over in
the fearful solitude of the condemned cell
Now visitor is announced. Miss HU1tley
comes to see the wretched man. Almost
Immediately alter her arrival the Governor
of the jail receives from an official messen-
ger communication. He repairs at once 10
Wilton's cell, politely requests Miss Hunt
ley to retire, then read from his official note
the announcement of the capture of the
gang of 6uSnTaugerS. One of them, TO save
his own neck, had turned Queens evidence.
Among OTHER crimes he had confessed 10 a
share in the murder Of Jack Bateman for
the purpose OF plumber. Perhaps " ilton
could identify some Of these men as some of
his ASSISTANTS.
On the following day Fred swore to the
identity of three of them. Tue whole gang
was eventually, through the assistance OF
the informer, convicted of murder. outrage
and robbery. Fred was granted free par
don and offered monetary compensation.
The latter he refused, being already the
possessor of large means on deposit in the
bank.
He did not stay long in Australia after his
release. He is now one of the richest stock
n Navy Zealand Mr.
Fred Wilton is on visit to England with
his family. his interest in the colonies being
looked after by his wife's bachelor uncle,
Mr. Huntley.-Spare Moments.