La Junta tribune., 1899-01-21
CHAPTER XII.

| ChAP Elk hll.
| BY slow degrees william Luke re-
| covered from hts illness so far that he
| could get out and walk about little
with the aid OF stick Nothing would
now induce him To touch spirits; and
Sullivan grumbied nightly at having
| a lodger who. he declared. not only
occupied his best bedroom" bu; hard
ly spent enough 10 pay for his tucker
| Sill Sullivan had one consolation. and
that was that. as the story OF the new
arrival was circulated. people were
curious to see this William Luke who
1 had been condemned for murder and
| pardoned.
Luke's one desire was to get strong
| enough TO go on to Rcdmount and
| search for some traces OF his brother.
He ain't there" replied Sullivan. as
| he listened to his customers repetition
OF the old story for about the fiftieth
time. Didn't Mr.. Hall tell you for
certain that the Bayneses couldn't be
the ones you are after? Didn't he see
Bayncs' wife? And didn't the trooper
| and other people see her and him? And
| aren't they all certain you are on the
| wrong track?"
But what made them go of so sud-
denly" said Luke, st!il unconyinced.
the very day came up?"
Bless the man" cried Sullivan. get
ting weary OF arguing with him
hasn't Sir. Hall told you over and
| saying his sister was i'll In sydney? II
you will make mystery OF everything
connected with them. why. you will
that's all I've go; to say
But the more Luke thought, and the
| more he read and re-read his brothers
| letter. the more certain he felt tina,
there was something about the
| Bayneses which no one as yet sus-
| pected.
Did not his brother say that on that
very night of the 25th OF May he in
tended to visit their hut2
Il mean to see her tonight, whether
or no Bayncs is away fetching some
stores, and won't be home until morn
| ing. So now's my chance!'
These were the words which William
Luke read as he sat beneath the shade
| of a gum tree on the creek side, and
racked his brains to work the puzzle
| out.
One day-about month after his
arrival at Sullivan's. and when he had
become tolerably convalescent-Lrke
made UP his mind that he would go to
| Redmount; so. borrowing horse. he
! started of.
Upon reaching the station. he was
received with every kindness by the
hands. who felt rough sympathy for
the man who had come so far to see
his brother and had not found him.
Mr.. Hall. too. had got over the nrst
feeling of disgust he had entertained
for 1.-The gentleman who had been
drinking and had had fits." and asked
/ him In his kindliest manner to come
up with him to the house and talk mat
ters over.
sir" said Luke. about things that have
been on my mind"
| Ask away replied the squatter.
First of all. must tell you some
thing of my own history" began Luke
nervously.
THAT is unnecessary, am sure
said Mr.. Hal, gently. ut cannot pos
sibly bear upon this present question" !"
mo, sir: perhaps not, but still 1
think I'd rather"
| Go on. then-I am listening"
We'll. sir, l entered service early.
and was in many a good situation; but
latterly could not keep my places.
The curse OF my life. us 1t has been
the curse of many another one. was the
drink. The place where lived before
went to Mr.. Hughes-who, you know.
was murdered--I left ON that account:
checked the master. and he said I
had stolen his wine. That was true.
However made up my mind on go
ing to my new situation to turn over
new leaf!'
And you did not succeed?
mo. sir. / went on very well for q
short time; hut, II II Is not wicked 80
speak 80 Of the dead. he was most
provoking old gentleman. Frequently
- ~,o,,1d Nnd fault vithout any enrt