The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-05

before she catches you."
 With that I raised up on my elbow, expecting to see nothing more than one of the gins coming in from the bush; when I'm worried if didn't see sure enough white woman ride up to the bars and call, Up I jumped, and grabbed for my boots.
 Hurry up," says old Jim, "be spry, Tom. For the love of God, don't keep the lady waiting. Here-here's your hat. Now, be brisk, by"
 1 saw as l went in trot to the bars that she rode bit of fine sorrel and that her hat had two plumes In 1t. be sides q lot of other ribbons and flxings,
 Good afternoon, sir" she says, as I got up pretty close. 'Is this McDougals station?"
 "Yes num-" said, throwing down the bars. Wont you come up to the house?"
 Thank you" she says, riding inside. Gan you tell me whether there is a young fellow named Harry Ditmore working here?'
 Harry Ditmore!" I said, trying to think, Well, mum, there Is a new chum here named Harry; he's the horse by, But, on me word, don't know his other name except sometimes we call him Kyurl-paper. But If you're mind to come on to the house. I'll ask the cook, I'm sure he must know" With that we started for the house she a-riding and I a-walking along side. She didn't say a word on the way; no more did I. hadn't been around a white woman in so long that I felt a bit muxed up. Well, sir, happened to cast me eye up at her on the sly, and what do you think-she wore a belt of horse pistols. Well, I'm worried, was that flabbergasted didn't know what | to think; couldn't make it out. Old Jim stood fire until we had come nearly | to the house; then he cleared out for the kitchen. I called to him to stop. But | no, sir; old buck hobbled inside and shut to the door.
 l had made up me mind to help get l that woman down from her saddle by | some hook or turn, if died trying. But what licked me was that while I was a-blundering round like a booby, she 1 wheeled her horse about and slid down upon the veranda as ninble as a cat. I did manage to hitch the horse. Tell ing her I would be back in bit. I | made off for the kitchen, where old Jim was half crazy with curiosity. l Who be 1t, Tom?" he asked in a whisper. Where did she come from and how the devil did she get strayed off out here?"
 Me word," said, q don't know any more than you. But what do you | think
 What do think?" broke in Jim. Why, man alive, she be the neatest bit of a gyurl a-horseback ever see. How about her face can't say; she were too far away"
 That she is." said. But what l wanted to tell you Is that the first thing she asked was about chap named l Harry Ditmore!" says Jim, opening his eyes bloody wide Why, man alive, | that be the jackaroo McDougal took in | tother day.
 "Ditmore! Are you sure that is his name" asked
 l "Of course I'm sure, man." says Jim "been't it on the time book that way? But what be a-wanting with him? | can't make 1t out.
 NO more can I, Jim," I said. "How long before supper?"
 Ready right now, Why? Going tc 1 invite her in?" he said, dropping the butcher knife on the floor. What else would I do, you bloody fool" I said.
 | "Oh. good Cora mighty, by" he blurted, T never had the likes of g woman to eat of me cooking. Do YOU have any idea it will make her ill?" "No." I said. What's the matter with you? Sling 1t on the table, and IT I go ask her in
 l With that old Jim ran for a clear white cloth that was brought out only l on big days. Then he fell to laying the | table, and setting out the chuck, while l l went out and told the woman about | Harry's other name being Ditmore, anc | that he would not be back until nex, morning. When I told her that sht looked bit easier So she laid her pis. tols down on the edge of the verande and piled her riding skyurt and hat or | top of them. About that time old Jin opened a crack of the front door anG l motioned to me that supper was ready 1 Just as luck would have it happened to think that may be she hadn't washed her face since morning; so l said Miss if you would like to clean yourself up 2 l little, just come inside"
 l Why, yes, thank you" she said; ". should be glad of little water tt bathe me face and hands in. It's st very dusty up here"
 With that I showed her into a room where there was water and truck Ther I went back on the piazza to wait After bit me two helpers came peep ing around the house corner; they't been in the kitchen hearing the news 1 Come on," I said; don't be scared she's inside" Well, if you could hay, seen those two chaps go up and lool at her hat. Neither one of them hac seen stitch of woman's clothes fl
 twenty years; the gins never wear !; rag.
 I One of the by took up her hat in hi l buildings to look at the ribbons anC l feathers on it. ."Ay by" he says
 "thems just like what sister Jenni
 used to wear--yes," he says, taking sniff, they smell summat the same" T But when the other chap picked III the skyurt and saw a belt with tw'
 pistols lying there he dropped it like ;
 I