Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-02

tue circumstances, ana II
did not worry Devereil. If, on the other
hand. The I'D man preferred to feed of
Deverell-with his eyes-why, there is no
accounting for preferences, and that did not
worry DeYerell either. Indeed, by the
time his pipe was once more in blast, he felt
most kindly disposed toward this :aciturn
tramp. He would give him a billet. he
would take him on as a rabbiter, and rig
him out with tent, camp fxings, traps.
aud even-perhaps-a dog or two. He
would thus repay in princely fashion to-
thingl He had been sitting the whole
evening on the old fools blankets, and the
old fool had been sitting on the groundi
sayl Why op earth don't you come
and sit on your own blankets?" asked
Deverell. little roughly; for to catch one
self in a grossly thoughtless act is always
irritating. '5si'
''I am all righthere. thank you, returned
the swagman, mildly. "The sand is as soft
as the blankets"
"Well. don't want to monosolise your
blankets, you know" said Deverell, with
out moving. s'Take fill from my pouch,
will you?"
He tossed over his pouch of tobacco. The
swagman handed it back-he did not smoke;
had got out Of the way of ii, he said. Dew
erell was disappointed. He had a genuine
desire at all times to repay in kind any
thing resembling a good turn. He could
not help being little selfish; it was consti-
tutional.
=, ''I'll tell you what" said Deverell, lean
ing backward on one elbow and again cloud
ing the stars with wreaths of blue smoke,
i've got little berth that ought to suit
you down to the ground. It's rabbiting.
Done any rahbiting before? No. Well, it's
easy enough; what's more, you're your own
boss. Catch as many as you can or care to,
bring in the skins, and get sixpence each
for 'em. Now the berth 1 mean is a box.
clump, close to a tank, where there's been a
camp before, and the last man did very
we'll there; still, you'll find he has left
plenty of rabbits behind him. It's the very
spot for YOU; and, look here, I'll start you
with rations, tent, camp-oven, traps and all
the rest of iti'' wound up Deverell, gener-
ously. He had spoken out of the fullness
of his soul and body. He had seldom
spoken so decently to pound-a-week hand
never 10 a swagman.
Yet the swagman did not jump at the
offer.
''Mr. Deverell, 4" said he, rolling the name
on his tongue in a curious way, 81 was not
coming exactly for work. was coming to
see you. 1 knew your father!''
''The deuce you did!" said Deverell.
The old man was watching him keenly.
In an instant Deverell had flushed up from
his collar to his wideawake. He was mani
festly uncomfortable. "Where did you
know him?" he asked doggedlv.
The tramp barred his head; the short gray
hair stood crisply on end all over it. He
tapped his head significantly, and ran the
palm of his hand over the strong bristles of
his beard.
$780," said Deverell. drawing his breath
hard. Now l see; you are brother con-
victP'
The tramp nodded.
"And you know all about him-the whole
storv?''
The tramp nodded again.
by God!' cried Deverell. eff you've
come here to trade on what you know,
you've chosen the wrong place and the
wrong man"
The tramp smiled. SCI have not come to
trade upon what know" said he quietly,
repeating the others expression with simple
sarcasm. "Now that I've seen you, 1 can
go back the way came; no need to go on to
Dandong now. came because my old mate
asked me TO find yon out and wish you we'll
from him; that was all.''
"He went in for life,' said Deverell,
rejecting bitterly, 81 have the vaguest
memories of him; it happened when 1 was so
very young. Is be well?"
"He was"
"And you have been in Jail togetherl
And you know what brought him there, the
whole storv!'' Curiosity crept into the young
mans tone, and made 1t less bitter. He
hlled pipe. ''FOr my part, L never had
The rights OF that story" he said.
''There were no rights" said the convict
sit was all wrong together. Your father.
robbed the bank of which he himself was
manager. He had lost money in mining
speculations. He took to the bush, and
fought desperately for his life"
"I'm glad he did thatl" exclaimed Dev-
erell.
The others eyes kindled, but he only
said: TT was what anyone would have done
in his place"
is it?" answered Deverell scornfully.
"Did you, Tor instancc?"
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
Deverell laughed aloud. His father might
have been a villain, but be had not been a
coward. That was one consolation.
A silence fell between the two men. There
were no more flames from the fire, but only
the glow of red-hot embers. This Redeemed
the face of Deverell, but it did not reach
that of :he old man. He was thus free to
stare at Deverel as hard and as long as
he liked, and his eyes never left the
young mans face. 1t was a sufficiently
handsome face, with eyes as dark as those
of the old man, only lightened and bright
ened by an expression altogether different
Deverell's pipe had soothed him. He
seemed as serene now as he had been be-
fore he knew that his companion had been
also the companion of his father-in prison.
After all, he had grown up with the knowl-
edge that his father was convicted feiou;
to be reminded of it casually, but also pri-
vately, could not wound him very deeply. |
The tramp, staring at him with fierce
yearninG in his eyes, which the young man
could not see seemed to divine this, but |
said:
SIT cannot be pleasant for you to see me.
] wouldn't have come, only l promised to |
see you; promised to let him hear about
you. 1t would have been worse, you know.
had he got out on ticket-ofleave, and come |
himselfP'
"It would SOP exclaimed Deverell, sin |
cerely.
In the dark, the old man grinned like one |
in torment
at would so," Deverell repeated, unable |
to repress Il grim chuckle. Il. would be the |
most awkward thing that could possibly |
happen to unexpectedly if it happened |
now. At present call myself the luckiest |
man in the colony; but it my poor father
were TO turn up"
Deverell was not interrupted; he stopped |
himself.
''You are pretty SAFE" said his COM |
panion, in an odd tone-which be quickly |
changed. "As your iather's mate, am |
glad you are so lucky; it is good hearing"
Deverell explained how he was so lucky. |
He lelt that the sentiments he had expressed |
his fathers paesihle apnea noe /