The record-union., 1893-04-29

this one at any rate" and [ drew the
| cartridges and slipped the weapon back
into its case. Then I went swiftly round
to the front of the house, and, sheltering
| mySen behind the creepers which grew
| thlckly over the veranda post, peered
cautiously into the dining room through
the open window. They were all there
the Squire, his wife and daughter, and
young son home for the holidays. But
there was some one else-a strapping fell
! low in police uniform, whose features, as
he sat with his back to the window,
could not make out. 81 don't know him
this side," l said to myself; 'but he seems
to be on capital terms with the Squire.
| What If L have made a mistaken" And
then remembered the pistol in the hol-
ster, and was comtorted.
Making my way round to the back
again, entered without ceremony, and,
going noiselessly along the passage,
paused for moment at the dining-room
door. There halted and looked in, and
IN the rapid glance 1 shot at the hand
some trooper, who was evidently the life
ana soul OF the party, recognized, by
| certain peculiarities of feature which
Foster had described to me, the man l
was after, the redoubtable George him
self. took in the situation in at instant.
by Jingop' l grinned to myself; isn't
he daisy? What magnificent cheek p'
Just then-of course, it happened in
much less time than it takes to tell
the Squire saw me and jumped up with
loud outcry. Sergeant Sparks ~ he
roared, upsetting his chair in the fervor
OF his hospltable greeting. "Bravo! Are
there any more of you? Well have the
whole force here presently. Come and
have some dinner. That's right" And
| he pushed me into a chair opposite the
stranger, whose behavior ever since my
entrance had carefully watched out of
| the corner of my eye. l must say it was
remarkable. His face never changed at
all-only l noticed that, as the Squire
called out my name, his hand dropped
from the level of the table to his belt.
| That was all; otherwise he sat perfectly
| still, and then, seeing that | took no man
ner OF notice him, he resumed his dinner
and nodded pleasantly as the Squire,
good, easy man, with no notion of ''trea-
son. plots and strategems," introduced us
to one another.
"You won't know Merton, expect,
| Sergeant" he said. He's from the Mel
| bourne side on special duty
Now, bluff is game that two can play
at, and, besides, l didn't want bullets fly
ing around the room while the ladies
were in it, so L answered, quietly: I'm
deed. Secret service?"
''Oh, dear no ~ said my Soi-diSd1lt COM
rade in an extremely pleasant voice, and
with an amount of manner which, if he
really were "Geptleman George" plainly
showed how he came by his sobriquet.
''Oh, dear no! not at all. Pm out after
Gentleman George who skipped from
our side after that shooting affair at Rose
wood lately"
wasn't ready for that, 1 confess; but 1
managed to keep a straight face as 1 re-
piled: Are you, really? Then we can
look him up together, for l am out after
| him, too"
Cad! said the Squire, "he shouldn't
get very far with two such chaps as you
after him.
"Ah," said my opposite neighbor. "Tve
heard OF the prowess of Sergeant Sparks.
Who hasn't? L think we ought to be sure
of our man. Two hundred and fifty
apiece, Sergeant, ?' And he looked at
me and laughed.
! YES" / admitted carelessly, 'if we get
him. But don't seem to hear the money
jingling in my pockets yet, anyway. Do
you know George by sight?" l continued,
not looking at him, as L poured out
glass of claret.
RATHER" he returned, laughing again.
"Do your"
UNFORTUNATELY, no." answered. "Pve
only somewhat imperfect description To
go upon. However, with your help
| And your own well-known clever
ness" he complimented.
Thanks" l said, smiling in pleased
fashion. well, we shall see. Have you
D66u mere duu6u.
NO; rode up just about dinner time,
and Mr.. Ingram insisted on my stopping.
| l bunked at Waratah last night"
Fatal error! l lowered my eyes that he
might not see the triumph that shone in
them. Waratah was station some five
and-twenty miles away, and l had spent
the previous night there myself | was
certain of him now; but it was no part of
my plan to let him see it.
| The conversation grew general again.
and | will say better table companion
than Merton | never met. He laughed
and jested, told a score of excellent yarns.
and certainly no one could have sus-
pected that he sat there with price upon
his head and within a foot or two of
man who was sworn to take him dead or
alive. l must admit l admired the fell
| low he was so cool.
Presently there came lull in the flow
of talk and Merton rose from the table.
| What a remarkably handsome man he
was. and what splendid chest and
shoulders l was not by any means a
chicken myself, but l felt if we came to
grips he would have the best OF me-
Therefore l determined not to give him
| the chance.
Excuse me, Mr.. Ingram" he said;
''Pll just take look at my horse and be
back again directly"
"Do you think of going on at once?''
l queried.
"Wel," he returned, "as l didn't
know what might happen, l hung up my
horse outside; but now that you have
turned up, I'll stable him for an hour or
so while we discuss the best thing to do.'
Right you are," l said, while to
myself l added: "Catch me letting you
reach your horse, my fine fellow" Then
| l went on, aloud: ''rll take the saddle
Off my beast as well.'
By this time he had reached the door,
from which long and narrow passage
| led to the back entrance. | let him get a
| little way before L rose, for l wanted him
well in front of me, and then, after q
hurried whisper to Mr.. Ingram, "Sit
still, Squire, whatever happens" L
bounded into the passage after my
quarry be had not suspected I saw
through him, it was evident, SO 1 was on
| him with my revolver pressed against
the back of his neck before he had time
to turn, even if it had occurred to him to
do so. Throw up your hands! !" |
cried in a low voice. ':Quick or I'll
drop you In your tracks"
| He threw up his hands slowly. "You
are mad" he said. What do you mean?"
"pn apologize afterward, if Pm
wrong" l answered. Meantime, keep
up your hands" AS l spoke, l rapidly
unclasped his belt, and threw it with the
revolver in it as far behind me as 1 could
Now" 1 said, "march straight on,
and" Butthe fight was not out OF him by
any means, though L had him at such a
disadvantage. With extraordinary quick
ness, he ducked, and then, turning
swiftly round, he struck upward so
tiercely at my right hand that the pistol
exploded, the ball burying itself some
where in the ceiling as the weapon sailed
| through the air and dropped some yards
behind me; while at the same moment |
received blow on the chest, delivered
/ trannn6nlS hot I