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

CHAPTER VIII.
Day by day the sick man gathered
strength. So soon as he was able 70 sit up
ana to talk without difficulty, he found the
position his own lie had forced upon him to
be embarrassing. He was George Cash
more, native Of Birming ham, ng.-had
been in the colonies five years and worked as
shearer-had made little money in min
ing and had lost it in speculation; had turned
sundowner, and had wandered penniless
from station to station seeking work His
knowledge Of the country enabled him to
map out the itinerary he pretended to have
followed. He was at least exact enough to
have deceived his rescuers if IL had not
been for one awk ward circumstance
The story vas told at night when both the
men were present. I.hev heard him gravely
with an occasional exchange Of glances and
an occasional question, IN which he seemed
to detect jeerlng tone strangely at vari
ance with the unfailing kindness thew had
shown him until now. When the whole
mendacious narrative was completed, the
man called Bill arose, pipe in mouth.
IT'S bit OF a pity, mate" he sail. with
great gravity, "but you're a liar That's
what you are. You'rea iiar~
Nv nos liarP Hetheridge demanded
with feeble blus.er.
You are said the other man, land pH
P4tfC ~ " you III u Dlluult.
he arose from the kerosene case on which
he had been seated and lounged to q corner
of the hut.
Them your bags" he asked, throwing a
pair of moleskin trousers on the floor. 81
found them within twenty yards Of where
came across you. There's pocket book in
one Of the pockets, aud there's pretty near
hundred pounds in notes inside it. 1t
won't wash, your being a workingman.
N M Of ora1u
never did weeks hard labor in your life.p
what motive should | have" asked
Hetheridge. Tin deceiving you"
" don't know anything about motive"
said Bill, still standing over him with dis
dainful aspect. but you're a liar all the
same. You told us you'd got on TO the
hard pan and gone sundowning, and here's
between ninety and a hundred pounds in
notes. Now what want 70 know is: How
did YOU come by that sum Of moneyw
II had it to take care OF, - Hetheridge an
swered. "a mate of mine asked me to take
it t. his missis promised him on my BIZ
hle oath I'd do it, and 50 l will. I've had it
matter of two months and never touched
a penuy."
THAT may be so, or it may not" said
Bill, but you're liar all the same"
81 thought" said Hetheridge, 9TH It the
money was lost. | never dreamed that |
should find it again in this world. What
was the use of moaning about 1t to you fell
l0wss 1t never was mine and I'd no right
to think about it as mine, or to talk about it
as mine.n
The explanation was plausible but was
insufficient to his hearers. They openly
repeated their statement of disbelief and
turning their backs upon him. sat down to
a game of cribbage with an exceedingly
greasy aud dilapidated pack Of cards. the
backs OF which at least we're as clearly
figured as the faces
From that moment there was but little
communion between himself and his hosts
and he knew that he was disliked and mis-
trusted. Had he guessed of their discovery
of the money, he would have told another
story and would have willingly divided their
find between them. He knew that they sus-
pected him OF a meanness as stupid as il
certainly would have been base and he was
unreasonably angry with them. Rapidly
as he mended, he was yet far from strong
enough to venture away on foot, and TO
nave attempted to bargain for any other
mode of travel would have been to give
himself the lie.
He fingered on, therefore, and loafed
about the hut or lounged In the shadow OF
the trees outside, disiked and dislikinp
until, whel at length he felt himself able TO
face the world again, his parting with his
saviors was cold as and restr aimed as could
well be fancied.
His trousers and boots had been recov ered
and before any dislike of him had aroused
in the minds OF his rescuers, one OF them
had given him a flannel shirt, aud the
other dilapidated old apology for a hat.
Wit these as his sole outfit ne parted from
the hut.
There's your way" said Bill, across the
ranges yonder, keeping the big peak to
your right, and as soon as you reaca the
IIsI.D IL, n.
dozen creeks on the road, so you'll have no
want of water. You've got your days tucker
with you, and now good-5y."
Hetheridge held out bis hand, but the
| other made point of not seeing it, and
kept both Lis own in the waistband of mis-
trousers.
"You saved my life" said Hetheridge.
fou ard your mate between you, aud you
think am ungrateful for it,"
1--WE know you are" the man ans wered.
''and so do you"
If the money about me belonged to me, >
said Hetheridge you should be welcome
| to every penny"
I'VE don't want your money" the man
replied, surllly. you and your money
can go to the devil together. There's your
| road"
With a final fling of his head toward the
ranges he turned into tue hut, and Hether-
| idge with piece of damper and O hunk OF
! cold mutton by way of provision, wrapped
| in piece Of woolea rag, set his face to.
| ward the hills and addressed his footsteps e
the trackless way.
He had but dozen miles to travel in all
but that was enough, and almost more thar
enoug for man in his physical condition
He reached the township when night wal
already settled down, and finding tolerablt
| accommodation ate and slept in the on,
nostelry of the place. He was asked NJ
questions, and his presence and aspect ex,
| cited no comment or regard. He had been
too tired over night to give the matter
thought, but almost his first reflection in thu
morning was that his personal appearance
must have been considerably changed by
the beard he had grown, and bv the Driva.
ton aud sickness he had encountered. Hs
| rolled YEARLY out of bed and took up the
little square of cheap lookiag-glass which
lay upon table at tbs window. He haC
expected change, but the rnetamor phasis ht
saw was absolutely astonishing, The whole
character of his face as he had known i
had disappeared. A physioHnomist would
have told him how the change came about
but he had no skill in that direction, anC
was simply astounded by the general result
The main thing was that the bitter mouth
and obdurate c1in Of the man were hidden
The savage downward droop OF the lips wa
lost beneath the mustache, which, though
only five weeks old as yet. was fairly grown
Years Of persistent shaving having mad
the hair wiry. and as yet it stood out in
| lengthy stubble with scarce a symptom of
curl. Now that the savagery Of the mouth
was hidden, his eyes, still sunksn after hi