The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-31
IALL RIGHTs RESERVED,

Lulng duOut the KID! DID be say who she
was or how he came by heTH
i heard that after, said the hest. Got
the news from Yellela. he never said q
word
That's queer" said the swagsman; "but
I'll tell you all about it. It's like this. Bob
Martin vas the kids father. Ne and Bob
was mates for years We come out in the
same vessel. There was little CELL aboard.
Irish CELL. Bot took q fancy to her; so did
j. We tossed up who should have the first
word with Der: Bob won: lie asked the CELL
she took him. We was mates all the
same.n
he host nodded Co signify entire atten-
ton, then slipped at the cold tea and whisky,
and went on smoking.
Poor Bob was done for the visitor con-
tinued, "by some laundering black fellow.
You've heard of that. This chap" with a
sideway nod, to indicate the object of his
search, drops in by chance, as a man might
say, pretty nigh at the moment. He's got
the human nature to take care OF the kid.
but mind this!n He beat enc hand heavily
into the palm of the other:
He hasn't got the gumption, nor yet the
common sense to ask if the kid has got a
natural protector. and here you see
him. The mothers dead. Poor Bob's gone
TO glory. Very we'll, I'm to the fore, amt
IL VIII, SO the kid belong 20 if it don't be-
long TO NE. That stands to reason, don't itl
Me and Bob were mates at home before
Australia was much thought about We
was mates out here. The kid belongs to me
If it belongs TO anybody. There's nobody
Ia the world-mind that matey-as has q
better rights to her than have"
He was quite resolute and angry by this
time. and when he had finished he tossed off
the remaining contents of his pannikin as
il to say that he had spoken his last words
upon the theme and defied argument.
w ell, yes" the settled answered, that
sounds reasonable"
He turned bis head sideways to the door
and beloved 'Saraan in a deep reverberat-
ing bass.
In answer to this call portly woman APP
peared with arms Toured to the elbow. She
nodded in friendly fashion to the stranger
ami stood TO listen.
This day four weeksp said the settler.
What was the party's nameW
"hetheridge was the name he gave" the
woman answered, John Hetheridgen
That was the name" said the settler.
"Hetheridge. Melbourne he said he was
going to, didn't he, Sarah"
Eyes" the pOrtiy woman answered. MEL
bourne was the place be- named"
"Thank you kindly, mssis,n said the
swagsman. lie repeated underneath his
breath John Hetheridge, Melbourne"
twice or thrice, as If to fix 1t on his memory,
and then rising TO his feet, threw his swag
over his should and prepared TO be gone.
'Potter's my name,n he said, by way of
farewell, sam Potter. If l should be long
away you might drop across a mate or two
Of mine who'd like to know what's come Of
me. You might take the trouble to remem-
Der me and say I've gone down Melbourne
way on bit of fossick after Bob Mar
tins kid. They'll understand that, any of
en-. Good day, mate. Good afternoon,
nlissis, and once more, thank you kindly"
He had gone a hundred yards perhaps,
when he turned. The settler and his wife
were shading their eyes to watch him. and
he roared back TO ask how far it might be to
the next station.
"A good twelve miles" was the answer,
and with final wave Of the hand he
turned again TO resume his way, and in a
while was lost to sight behind an interview
ing ridge. 1850
When, fortnight later, trifie more sun
burned and mahogany-colored than ever.
Sam Potter carried his swag into Melbourne
nobody thought it worth while to turn to
look at him.
He and bis kind in aspect were common
enough in the Victorian capital at that time
of day, though it is not improbable that his
intrusion on 1.-THE Block" at say o'clock on
fine afternoon Of the present year might
cause something OF flutter of surprise
Sam hailed up a portly cit zen with a
coo-ee and look here, matey," and de-
manded at hazard to know the address of
John Hetherldge.
"St. kilda, somewhere" said the man
addressed: cant remember precisely. Ask
about s.. kildan
An outstretched arm Indicated generally
the route to be taken, and the swagsman
tramped on through the town and on again
into the country, pausing for an occasional
inquiry, then among scattered, handsomely
built houses. many of them approached by
raw and half-msde roads, and surrounded
by the mere beginnings of gardens.
The man paused and looked about him in
perplexity, for the streets were lonely. BY
and by nurse girl came round a corner
with richly attlrel child in her arms.
"Cooee," cried Sam.
The girl turning aud hating at his call
he strobe up to her.
81 want to find man named John Heth,
eridge as lives berea bouts he said
AS he spoke his eye fell upon the child's
face. and he started with astOnisament.
my word, ;" he said under his breath
''this beats all. Why, little Bessie, this is q
providence.
YOU'RE mstook, young man." said the
nurse girl withdrawing haughtily. "Thi.
amt no Bessie"
"Mistook be bowed" returned Sam Pot
ter, 81 know better. That's my kid, ole
Bob Martins daughter. Where's tina
| Hetheridge lives You haven't got the kiC
with0u knowing that. l reckon
"H our kid, indeedw returned the nurs,
contemptuously, surveying the dusty, way
worn figure up and down, chats likely
| story"
"Show me John Hetheridge's house, - sale
the wayfarer and bring little Bessie alona
indoors I'll show you how likely the story
| is in two-two's, or" nodding his head with
threatening sagacity, maybe in a little les
than that"
That's the house at the corner" said tn
nurse maid, and she followed 10 his foot.
steps.
The nurse maid was fresh from Cockuey.
dom, aud unused to the republican freedom
of Victoria, so that when the patched ant
dusty man walked to the front door an,
sounded peal on the knocker, she felt a
though the foundation OF her world wer
crumbling.
A man servant answered the summon
and demanded TO know what was wanted
John Hetberidge lives herel want q
speak to him"
whats your name" the servant asked.
"Potter-Sam Potter. He won't know il
but he's welcome to It,"
whats your business9n
"I'll keep that for your boss, young man
Tell him l want to see him."
The servant retiring into the hall, San
followed and instinctively wiped his dust,
boots upon the door mat. He made sin
gularly elaborate business Of the matter
and was still engaged upon it when the ser
want returned.
moment later he was ushered into al