The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-14
CHAPTER VIL-CoNrINUED.

OdAE Ell V ll.-CDNTINUED.
The reader turned his face in the direc-
ton Of the half-unconscious listener, and
tapped the paper with significant finger at
the same time.
Listen to this:
at is now three weeks sincs Mr.. John
Hetheridge of St. Kilda, disappeared in tho
bush between Gallalong and Wilson's creek
Several search parties have been organized,
and the horse of the unfortunate gentleman
was discovered on Tuesday, not more than
fifty yards from the track. The body of the
animal was In an advanced stage of dscom-
position, b1t q number of papers wers
found in the swag attached to the saddle
Among them were documents relating to
the purchase of the Gallalong vineyard,
effected by the missing mal only week be,
fore the tragic disappearance. Mr.. Hether-
idge. though somewhat reserved in manner,
was highly respected for his business probity
and acumen. In the course Of very briss
period of colonial life he had amassed a
considerable fortune, and he was engaged
in many enterprises which would have
proved Of distinct advantage TO the colony
His unexpected removal from our midst
will be regarded with general regret, but
IL is now impossible to hope for further It'd
inga'"
From the frat mention Of his own name.
Hetheridge had grown SUD lie My wide awake,
and keenly apprehensive in every fiber of
his mind. In that state of physical exhaus-
ton in which he lay, the mind, as hun
dreds of recorded instances will prove, has
strange knack of playing tricks upon it
self. He saw distinctly-he was absolutely
oertain-that in the state of things the para
graph disclosed, there lay for him an easy
and safe advantage. What that advant-
age was and where it lay he did not guess or
even attempt to guess, yet a secret satisfac-
tion ran through all his blood, and dawn
of vaguest yet most comforting hope arose
within his mind 1t was as if within him
self be had harbored dual personality
and as If the one had whispered to the other /:
Here is a safe haven in front OF US. | Will
show you the chart Tomorrow
His rescuers turned together when the
reading of the paragraph was finished aud
looked upon their charge. dis head was
averted from the light, aud from them
and they were satisfied that he was SOUND
asleep.
81 say, Bill, said the reader, in a whis-
per, that ought TO be worth something to
pair Of poor devils like US. He might
spring hundred apiece you'd fancy"
Well said the other, pulling contem-
plGtely at his pipe. and speaking in the
same guarded tone, II think I'd do some
thing better than that for the man who had
the good luck to save my life. if l happened
TO be Melbourne millionaire"
Hetheridge listened. watching through
he!f-closed eyes the steady CLEAN of tha
To-, f4rrbF r,-, Nho oil l., l..
ye5 of any purpose To be served by the de-
NAL of his own identity, and yet he felt an
assurance that he should make 1t, and tina;
he would have an excellent reason for it,
He fell asleep soon after this, and slum-
bered soundly throughout the night. He was
awake at early dawn, and the first thought
that occurred to him was that in little
while some purpose would be made clear
He awaited for it with patience made all
the easier for him by the fact of his own
physical weakness and his general want OF
interest A day or two went by, and hC
was SO much stronger that he had begun t
take little solid food, before either of his
comrades ventured to question him. His
voice was back, and he could .alk ~little
though the faintest exertion still fatiguec
him easily.
where did you find meg" ne asked of thC
man who answered TO the name of Bill
'Was it far away from herer
"a matter or tel miles, the man re
sponded. Away up west, right on The
limits of the run. 1t was my mate sighted
you, lying stark naked. 1t was touch anC
gol old man.
Hetheridge gave feeble sigh Of assent.
''Touch and go" he murmured, with pu
little appreciation of the meaning of tn,
words he used. Touch ami go"
''You might have lain there" the maj
pursued, fifty years. and never a Twins
soul have set an eye on you. You ar
away on the back blocks here, mate. Thi
is the last place God made, and he forgot Il
finish it."
Hetheridge lay silent, and seemed to doze
The dawn of purpose was broadening ant
clearing in his mind He had premonitioI
that by and by it would appear.
Everybody knows the state in which
question yet unspoken is anticipated, il
which a tone yet unborn rings in the ca
like memory of by-gone ages. Hetheridg
experienced it now, aud waited in tremul
GUS expectancy. 1t came in the very words
in the very tone. for which his Utmost sou
had waited.
''Your name is Hetheridge, isn't itP'
1t was as IL the purpose uurtured by th
one half of himself had had torn from
the seal of secrecy. He saw in a flash whe
the hidden purpose had been. and feeble q
he was, his heart leaped out TO it with ma
delight"