The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-05-21
country, and he'd be Welcome, that

country, and he'd be welcome, that,
ILL.,: -
She shut the door upon them, draw
ing q stout bar across it, care those
the men he works with?" she cried,
ai1ging 'g up her hands /. "Heavsn help
Twas casting round for another job.
Shen she stayed me by asking If l
would go to meet her father.
sBut you"
:ssNay; do not mind. The littl.
house is secure. Why" with a visit
full smile, CT am always alone from
daybreak until dark"
knew it was the fact; so, bidding
her open to none until she heard me
or s'the Squire whistle, I started on
my errsnd.
Not very fer had I to 60, for I mel
iim in that same little ravine (which
his daughter had dreamed; it skirted
the pinewood, His pick was over his
shoulder, his right hand in his pocket
feeling the nuggets, perhaps. He
was singing song in some foreign
lingo, Italian or Spanish. He looked
more content than T had seen him
more at rest, nodding to me in his
patronizing fashion. After few stray
words, T related what had happened,
advising him to be on his guard.
s'Thanks, 1 will, "he replied, haugat
", amused at the scamps asking him
10 pay visit in their company. ':But
I've a secret to tell you, Ned, he
added. 81 have done with Green VAL
ley Creek, and shaken off its crew.
Luck has favored me beyondmy hopes.
can afford to turn my back upon it.
|! I shall take my daughter to Mel
bourne. I have thought of settling
here"
As he spoke, the little tie of com
:adeship between US shattered; in a
moment we were sunderedas the poles,
20 quietly he brushed it away.
"You were always IN honest fellow,
Ned-a trusty creature! Be sure that
you come tomorrow; my daughter
will like to shake hands with you be-
lore she leaves" and he went on gay
" through the rich, thick grass.
No rest was mine that night; eri!
vas IN the air. So, as I could moi
sleep, I got up and went out. Not
being o fool-I knew I must keep my
misery to mvself! but my life was
empty! empty! You see, [ was hard
hit, mate, like the donkeys. What
was Miss Helen to me? What could
she ever have been to me?-a lumber
ing, vagabond chap, not worthy to
kiss the dust she trod on.
But must go back and watch tht
house that covered her for this last
night, so I returned to the ravine. In
it were many little dells swarmlng
with the wild flowers of the grand
Australian spring. Now, in one Of
these same dells what do you think I
saw?-a dead mans face. Yes, I knew
1t once that he was dead; but 30 cas-
lily s'the Squire rested on the wet moss
that the song 1 had heard him singing
might still have been on his lips. His
pockets, turned lining outward, were
empty. Snatching up his fallen pick,
tore on to the log house, knowing
we'll whom I should find there. Ny
long, sharp knife was in my belt. I
raced round to the back; the little
kitchen door was undone; the fends
in possession had small fear Of inter-
ruption. They were in 'sthe squire's"
bedroom, making free with some whis-
Ky which he had kept in cupboard.
Where was Miss Helen? :.
I found her in the sitting room, tied
n her chair, her lips bleeding over
der white teeth; the cursed hounds
had struck her. "There are three Of
| EHem," she whispered; t'those two
who came and another man. They
watched for my father, and murdered
him-they told me- so. Hark ! they
are coming. Ned, they have pistols,
and will shoot you where you stand.
60 away this instant-only-kill me
irst;" and she lifted her white pillar
If throat. ="
'tNow, my beauty" roareda drunkel
roice through the thin partition,
"we're bringin' you cup O whisky
to drink our 'ealths in. Amt you
iongin' for US to make love to ye?
We'll stow away the rhino first, and
shen-you shall have your turn"
s.Be quiet" I whispered back tx
Ter, hacking at the cords with my
knife; and in few seconds I had her
put of the chair, and we dashed out
of the house together.
On and on and on until the last tret
Ras at our backs. Then we made for
lane which led to Johnson's tavern,
leaving the yells faint in the distance /;
there We stopped, and there she tola
her tale.
News spread quickly at the diggin's
md Judge Lynch is for immediate
action. Before noon the stolen gold
Including the two big nuggets-had
been recovered, and couple of fig