The record-union., 1893-04-29
GENTLEMAN GEORGE.
Gentleman George is over the
border, Sergeant.

Gentleman George is over the
border, Sergeant.
You don't say so, sirs'
ITS fact. The chance we have been
waiting for is come at last. He stuck up
the bank at Rosewood and put bullet
through the managers head. You knew
that?"
''Yes, sir. Twas his first murder, 1
believe"
Eyes, his hands were clean of blood up
till then, but they all come to it some
time if they are out long enough. How
long has Cardale been out?" Cardale
was the almost forgotten surname by
which Gentleman George had been
known in days gone by.
Three years. SIR" 1 replied. ''Three
years, good measure"
"Ah! WELL it is time he was stopped. l
suppose he finds Victoria trifie too hot
for him after this rumpus, so he has
crossed over to US for awhile.
is your information reliable, sir?'
quite. Foster saw him at Biliabong
yesterday, and wired"
Foster! Why didn't he take him,
then?"
The Chief smiled. "As well ask the
bird why it did not catch the cat. No, no;
there IS only one man on our side l eX-
pect can do that" And he looked at me
and laughed.
! Meaning me, sir ?'
Meaning you, Sergeant Sparks"
Pm sure Pm much obliged, SIR"
ell, then, see that you Justify my
good opinion. But you have a willy GUS
toner to deal with, Sergeant. Three
years out, by Jove! And those Mel
bourne side troopers are no fools"
n..t
SIR" ''' O''
II imagine you have. Now, then, off
with you at once; get the latest descrip-
ton OF the fellow from Foster and follow
him up. 1t will be $500 in your pocket
II you take him. And mind" added the
Chlef lmpressively after a pause, ''mind,
it is dead or alive. Report TO me on your
return"
saluted and withdrew, and ten min
utes later l was galloping in the direction
of Billabong.
Five hundred pounds! 1t was a big
reward, but tell the honest truth when
| say that just then 1 thought more of the
honor and glory of getting the man than
the money. For three years The Victorian
troopers mad been alter him, and the bost
OF them had never come next to near him.
Sometimes they might get a glimpse OF
hlm, but that was all; and, once out of
sight, George, who was every inch a BUSH
SOulo dI ILO lou Ol Lnell. his
mare was nler, tOo-a sort of Australian
edition of Black Bess-and the distances
the two of them covered now and again
were almost incredible. There wasn't a
township in Victoria where the bank
manager didn't live in dread of a visit
from George, and there wasn't newspa-
per IN the country that didn't abuse the
police for their failure to take him, and
get OF leather-headed opinions as to the
way IN which 1t ought to be done, How
ever, it never had been done, and for all
their smartness the troopers never had n
show. expect they We're heartily sick
of the very name of Gentleman George. +"
and heard of his crossing the border with
no little satisfaction. l know | did, for
had heard so much about him that l DOS
itively ached to have slap at him. And
now was actually out after him. No
wonder | felt a little more excited than
usual. If L could manage te nab him at
the first try. what feather 1t would be
in the cap of the New South Wales po-
lice!
clothes. "Why, what's up? Where's s
your uniform ?'' | asked him.
Foster. grinned uneasily. "Ask
George" he said.
81 will that" L answered, ''if ever I
come up with him. DO you mean to say
he got ?"
He has So" replied Foster ruefully.
"and my horse and saddle into the bar
gain"
1 roared, laughing. "Well, Pm blest,
if that doesn't beat cock fighting" I cried.
Got your horse, too. But where is his
mare?"
How should 1 know? Got bullet
in her somewhere, very likely. Any
how, he was riding a sorry beast enough"
Tell US all about IT," said.
| Well," began Foster gioomily-for he
was very sensitive to chaff and this was
not the first mistake he had made by a
long way-"1 was over at Rogers about
those sheep he lost last week''-this [
knew to be Fosters euphemism for tax
ing drink, but 1 did not interrupt him.
My horse was hung up outside" he
went on, land we were talking away,
when all of a sudden in walks George as
cool as you please. Keep your seats,
gentlemen says he, laying six-shooter
there'l be troubIe.' We Kept 'em."
what! Were you not armed ?"
"No. Why? All was quiet our way. l
had no notion George was over the bor-
der till he dropped in on u.s."
1T is always well to be prepared for
"Well, L recognized him at once. for I
lived down his way before he took to the
bush. Presently he stared at me. WHY.
it's Foster says he. 'Hullo, Foster ,'
'Hullo, Georgen says |. What's up p?'
You're the right man in the wrong
Clothes says he; they don't suit you a
little bit. Take them off and hand them
over to me- What do you mean p saws
l. Well says he. mighty polite, Pm
sorry to inconvenience you, but Pll
trouble you for your uniform That's
what l mean.'"
"And you gave it to him ?''
"What could do? There was no use
| n awalIOyiny lead for r1Ctbino,
What happened then?"
He tucked the uniform under his arm
made Rogers give him no5bler, which
he drank oil, filled his flask out of the
bottle, and turned to the door,"
And you let him go without word ?''
"Oh, gave him words enough, YOU
bet; but he only laughed; and when Le
got out outside he Jumped on nv horse
and says he, 'Pll borrow your nag as
well, Foster, as you are SO pressing. ,
And with that he rode off,
l laughed again. 'Well, he's a cool
hand" said. Which way did he 90 ?u
Northeast, in the direction of Forty
Mile Creek" replied Foster, and pro
ceeded to give me minute description of
the bush-ranger.
"Wel, goodby, old man." said. when
he had finished; "pIl bring back vour
uniform with George inside it, / hope.
Meantime. I'd advise you not to talk too
much sheep to Rogers, or you may come
to grief. So long"
"A mighty smart trick that" ] thought
as L rode along. "A trooper riding
through a bush township is no uncom-
mon sight. l expect I'll have some
trouble TO strike Master Georges trail. y
And so it proved during the next week.
for, though l dare say | was often close
behind him, and though L made the most
minute and searching inquiries in the
various townships l passed as To the an