The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-05

thoughts. 90 felt sure ahould 6nd
them at Magnify 9 later on. eat down
and Lit my pipe and began to think the
matter over Neither Of the men wal
known to me BY sight. nor was there
any particular reason why should con.
meet them with ths surviving members
Of Flowers gang. Still. the fragment
Of their conversation which had over
heard left room for this suspicion.
II will make one more effort tonight
to solve the riddle" l said to myself
Then. rising. I shook the ashes from
my pipe and rapidly took my way, not
toward Magintys. but in the direction
Of the township.
/ It was quite dark by the time I ar
rived there, and stole to my quarters
and gave preconcertsd signal, which
brought Foster out to join me. lost
no time in giving him instructions.
and. after touching up my disguise
afresh, especially that telltale scar on
my face. hurried of to Magnify .
inn. which lay some three miles down
the road. The door was shut when I
got there. which struck me as some
thing unusual. and, moreover, In re-
sponse to my knock Maginty's shock
head was thrust forth, and be roughly
demanded who was there
"It's only me, Mac" I said as
passed In through the door. "Wot
are yer so fly abouti Is anything upf"
He made no verbal answer, but
winked toward corner Of the room.
where, to my great satisfaction. I saw
the two men who had passed me on the
bush track.
Now. 1t is certain that Magnify was
a rascal, but he was also very cautious
one. suspected, however, that he
knew something Of the two men was
after. So I determined to pump him,
and to this end advanced to the bar
"Give us a nobbler, Mac" I demand
ed. and then, with a glance toward the
two men. "Are they on the layf"
~ 'spect 3d." answered Magnify.
Don't know what II is. but 1t must
be somethin big to make Jem Stiles
and Frank Burton try this line.
"Whyp said l. "Is it hot round
here9"
"Was awhile ago anyway" replied
the innkeeper. with another knowing
| wink.
This was quite enough for me. The
only rumpus Of any Importance for
some time back had been that with
Flowers gang, Of which now felt
pretty certain that the two men in the
corner had been members-possibly OBJ.
scure ones. My next move therefore
was to get into conversation with
them. So, glass in hand, walked over
to where they sat "Evenin. Mates"
said. "I'll shout when ye're empty"
The ferret faced man made an al
most imperceptible sign to Magnify,
which. however. l both perceived and
understood. The latter responded in his
usual manner. with wink.
Having thus been assured that my
right to consort with rogues was un-
deniable, the slim man grinned gen.
tally at me. "That s soon DONE" be ex-
claimed as he tossed off his glass.
Brandy for me"
As Magnify set the glasses before us
| threw down a sovereign. keep the
change, Mac. for drinks and tell us
when it's done." said.
The two strangers exchanged glances,
eyer seem pretty flush, mate" said he
Of the black beard.
"Been carpentering for cove round
here" answered, land he give me
an advance"
"Where may that BET" asked the
small man.
"On Migrants place, where the cap
tain was shot," answered
And again the two men started and
looked at one another.
"What captain was that?" asked
black beard, trying to seem uncon-
cerned.
"Don't yer known" I said, with a
leer. "Have another drink. I don't
care how soon the yellow boy is done,
I'll get plenty more by and by, though
my job here is up on Saturday"
SCOT another billet?" asked Frank
I'm going back to good enc as
soon as can get over to the Melbourne
side. My cove expects me. Therell be
FIVE Of us. !"
"And who may yer cove bes" said
Jem in more cordial tone.
I looked round the room before I an
swered, and then, leaning over the
table, as if fearful Of being overheard,
l whispered the single word "Lau-
renee"
Laurence was to the Melbourne force
what Flower had been to us in New
South Wales. His gang had been
broken up about six months previously.
But as he himself had not been cap.
tured / ventured to experiment with
his name
1t was a good card to play, and IL
Immediately took trick, for Jem ask
ed at once, "Is he gathering again2"
"He is" answered. "Bendigo
way. I'm working over to join him
Got the office two days ago. Do ye
feel inclined to comet"
YES" said Jem eagerly "I'm with
yer whenever our job here is done"
"How long will yer JOB take2'
At this point Frank, in attempting
to warn his companion. dealt me
severe kick on the shin.
keep yer beetle crushers to yerself,
can't yerT' l grCwled. ooh, don't
think to bully mel as he glared fierce
ly at me- II know yer lay, and, what's
more, mean ter stand in with yer"
"Wot are yer after?" said Frank.
1--WE amt on no lay"
"Ain't yer2" / sneered. "What
about Flowers blunts Yah I knowed
yer at once, Jem Stiles and Frank
Burton"
"Have yer struck the pilef" asked
lem, with sort Of terror in his voice.
SIS that why ye're so fush7"
"No, but I'm going ter get my share,
II I'll blow the whole gait. Here
Franks hand stole to his hip. keep
yer hand up, Frank" l went on
1.-TWO can play at that game. We're
90 near the township for that. Be.
tides, there no reason for quarreling
we told YER nv law and I've snotted |