The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-16

gets afraid OF me and skuIks away. 1
was in such an ugly mood this morning
that all of them left camp. Even up
to the time you gave mo pipe in
tended to do for you. Can You guess
what my plan was?'
II have no idea."
II was going to tie you up in par
eel and roast you before the fire."
"Well, I'm much obliged to you for
changing your mind, as prefer to live
ON and earn f8 per month. It's only
fair to state THAT have had as many as
10 good opportunities for shooting you
since you entered the hut, bnt don I
want your blood on my hands,"
He looked at mo for a minute in a
queer way and then rose up, hung the
belt containing his pistols and knife on
hook and started to lie down in the
spare bunk. The floor was pretty well
carpeted with sheepslxins, but at one
spot there was an opening caused by
warpage and shrinkage, and he had the
luck to set his foot down and go through
with crash. His right leg not only
went down to his hip, but the splintered
poles caught it in such way that he
could not pull himself up again. Not
weapon of any sort was within his
reach. He was more helpless than any
of the victims Of his thirst for blood.
He made three or four tremendous ef-
forts to free himself and then quietly
said:
perhaps you'll change your mind
about that $1,000 reward now. All
you've got to do is to slip out and fas-
ten rope around my ankle, or it will
be an easy job to knock me on the head
with the AK"
got a stick of wood from the heap,
and by using it as lever he was soon.
enabled to draw his leg clear. He sat
and rubbed it for three or four minutes
and then limped over to the bunk and
stretched himself out. Not word was
said by either of us. sat for half an
hour to post up my report book and then
turned into the other bunk, and don't
remember to have ever slept more
soundly in my whole life. / was up
and had breakfast ready when the BUSH
ranger turned out. Outside of "good
morning" and word or two about the
weather, we had no conversation until
we finished breakfast and went outdoors
with our pipes. Then l said to him:
Look here, Bill, want that herder
to return here and continue in charge"
"I'll see that no one bothers him."
he replied.
"And you might hint to the boys that
don't care to be shot at as ride over
the run"
"They won't waste any lead on you."
"It's against the law for me to help
you along in your career, but in case Of
accident or sickness you'll find the herd
er willing to do what he can. He's
pretty handy at broken bone. and l
guess he knows how to break up bush
fever"
Would ye shake hands with me?"
gruffly queried the man as he turned ON
me.
"Yes, / would, but with the hope
that no more blood may stain it. Good
by to you" e.ttgs1t
He started off along the base of the
hill and had gone perhaps 90 rods when
he halted, turned about and retraced
his steps. He came right up TO me.
placed his hand on my shoulder, and in
a voice which quavered bit and was
low and soft he said:
II shall never be quite as bad again
as have been. If you hear of my be-
ing captured, try and get to see me-"
He walked away, and l never saw
him again. am sure that he did not
cease to rob, but there were fewer MUIR
ders in his district after that. He re-
tanned his liberty for nearly year and
was then captured and his band dis
persed. He was promptly tried, con-
victed and sentenced to be hanged. l
made an effort to sec him, but the au-
thorities would not permit it, Through
his lawyer, however, | got letter
which worked sudden and wonderful
change in my career. 1t told me the
spot where Gcelong Bill had buried the
bulk of the treasure he had secured as
freebooter, and month after his death
! was in possession of it. Some of the
colonial papers estimated that he must
have left el5, 900. The police put it at
eco, 900. The sheep herders insisted
that it was nearer ESQ, 600. AS a mat
ter of fact, after had restored every
thing l could find an owner for, the
"swag" amounted to only GO, 800, and
much Of that was in gold nuggets,
which he had picked mp in the noun
tain streams aud earned in an honest
way.
DEIIGInIrO 10