The herald., 1893-10-26


an admirable facsimile of Mr.. Jones
beard and adjusted it. The meta
morphosis was as convincing as it wal
complete.
One of the younger rogues was ther
endued with Toms (the inan's) clothes.
After which, with due salutations, tn,
car'drove on, the parson and the rea
Tom being the next moment carried off
good humoredly enough, into the forest
whence they soon reached the celebrated
Captain Murphy's lair.
On the second day after the new Wears
arrival tongues began to sound his
praises. The next day it was known fol
miles out that the parson was down.
right capital fellow.
Something was to happen on the even
ing of this third day. In his various pa.
rochial visitations the new vicar had elo-
que2tly urged the more influential of his
Practitioners to attend very special
meeting at che parsonage between and
8 o'clock, One and all the 10 men came
to the meeting.
Tie time had purposely been left lit
tie vague. Fast came a wealthy sheep
owner.
"Good evening, Mr.. Anderson" said
| the new vicar to this gentleman. "Step
in, if you please"
The door Immediately closed upon Mr..
Anderson, and he was covered with re-
volver on either side of him. In fact,
there were four men and four revolvers
opposed to him.
''Now, sharps the word, Mr.. Ander-
son" said the new vicar briskly with
his hands deep in Mr.. Jones pockets,
''checkbook, self or bearer, 81 ,000"
"Who are ye, theng' Mr.. Anderson
was beginning to exclaim. with some
impatience. when the little guns drew
nearer to him, and one of them clicked.
"Gill Murphy, at your service, Mr..
Anderson, " was the reply. There's two
minutes for you. Thirty seconds of it's
gone"
Then, with a resounding sigh, the big
sheepowner sat down and wrote the
check.
One of Captain Murphy's aids at this
moment whistled. With scant ceremony
Mr.. Anderson was hustled out of the
room into o certain yardhouse that was
both strong and remote. Here he was
locked in.
In all 10 checks were reapcl in at this
compulsory offertory in the vicarage, and
in all there were 10 leading par lioners
In the vicarage yardhouse, we'll i'm
INJURED and kept in comparative quietude
by couple of gentlemen with revolvers,
-bn
dows without glass, but with an iron
grill to each.
The 10 leading parishioners were rather
wild, especially Mr.. Smithson, but it was
evident they were in masterful hands.
and for their lives sake they did not go
beyond verbal abuse and anger.
That" said Captain Murphy, as he
looked through the sheaf of checks, will
be 81, 900 apiece, my boys, and $1,000 for
me. And now, Mike, get out the cart
and drive like lightning. l must have a
clear six hours start OF Leyburn. That'll
just bring me to Brisbane in time to cash
this paper and be off again"
The cart was being prepared with the
utmost celebrity, when Captain Murphy
otOPpOU VIII VI lOuoC LUZ d Z.
To come face to face with-Edith Gas
ton.
At the same moment the sham wears
beard got detached from his face and
fell to the ground
The surprise on the girls face was
scarcely so keen as one would have ex-
pected it to be.
Truth to tell, she had heard the new
wears voice when he had paid her father
visit the previous day. and though she
had not then put in an appearance she
half suspected that something odd was
il the wind.
Still the denouement brought about
by the slipping of Captain Murphy's dis
guise did startie her bit. Her presence
was even more of a shock to Captain
Murphy, who had until now failed to re-
member that she was CASTOR as well as
Edith.
When he bowed, with look of shame
in his eyes, she did not so much as move
her head to him.
Where is my father" she asked.
''He will be with you by and by, Miss
CASTOR"
"How do | know that? Mr.. Murphy,
how could you descend to such wicked
ness as this?
Il think l understand your game. You
insult the Deity as easily as you pick the
pockets of your fellow creatures. Mr..
Murphy, would rather be the meanest
wretch in Melbourne than be you, with
your crimes on my shoulders. Let me
tell you straight what l think of you.'
mo, don't co that, pleaded the bush
ranger
Il shall do it. Do you know that when
first saw you the other night thought
you man whom any one might be proud
to own as son, brother or husband. I'm
not used to slzinning my notions, you
see. But that's all gone. Now, Mr..
Murphy, despise you more than words
can tell. Where is my fatherf"
Zone moment!' he said.
He stepped apart, to the horse and car,
whispered something to the man, took
the checks from his pocket, tore up Mr..
Gaston's, gave the other nine to the man,
and then returned to the girl, holding
his revolver in his hand.
Twill You do it, and bless me in doing
it?" he asked, offering the weapon.
SIS it likely? But stop
She was too late. simultaneously
might have been heard the jingling trot
of the car outside and the mortal crack