Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-08-10
CHAPTER XIII.

where William Luke was SANDING,
anxiously watching for it's coming
Directly the driver descended from
he box, he seized him by the arm.
Good evening SAM" he exclaimed.
There is something 1 very much wish
to ask of you"
We'll go ahead, mate; we have only
ten minutes to liquor up in"
II will liquor you up more than you
can drink in the next fortnight" cried
Luke, IF you tell me truly what l
want to know"
What is it? Blaze away"
Did you or did you not, on the
night l travelled up with you here,
bring letter to Tom Baynes, the cook
at Redmount?"
II bring letter to Tom Baynes?"
echoed the man, pausing for moment
to consider. NO; that | certainly did
not. Who says as | did,"
Then it's false" screamed Luke.
HE had no such letter calling him
away; and there was some reason for
his fearing to meet me face to facet"
1T certainly is very odd" admitted
Mr. Hall to Luke, when he presented
himself again the next morning at the
station. And you say that the driver,
Sam Jones, positively denies having
brought up letter for Baynes on that
night?"
Yes, sir" replied Luke, ION that or
any other occasion"
Well Baynes must have told me a
lie, for | remember distinctly his say
ing the driver; and there was no one
among the passengers whom he was
likely to have known"
NO; they all went on to Mount
Gipps."
You are certain?"
quite certain. | was the only one
who stayed behind at Sullivan's."
Then | must own it begins to look
very mysterious" said Mr. Hall. 81
think you have some grounds for your
suspicious after all"
Thank you for saying that, sir" re-
turned Luke. 81 have felt that you must
think me quite mad upon the subject;
but | cannot help it, There is some
thing in me which seems to urge me
on. | don't know what it is. but, what
ever it may be, it has been strong
enough to enable me to keep from the
drink; and that is what have not had
the pluck to do this many day."
Then nurse the feeling" said Mr.
Hail. If 1t keeps its hold upon you
1t will bring you more good than all
the discoveries you may make, or even
the one thousand pounds reward"
Il feel that, sir; and with Heavens
help I'll never touch another drop"
Amen to that" cried Mr.. Hall.
Whatever searches you may wish to
make, Luke" he continued. you are
at perfect liberty to make them at your
leisure on and about the station; but [
fear you will find nothing by which
you will trace your brother. We
searched every nook and corner"
Would you think it a liberty, sir, if
| were to ask of you rather a strange
favor?"
Not at all. What is it,"
ut is permission for me to occupy
Baynes' hut"
"Certainly-why not? But what
seems much more to the point to me
is the adyisability of telegraphing to
Sydney and throughout the country to
detain Tom Baynes and his wife. AS a
Justice of the peace / can have him
arrested upon suspicion of having been
concerned in the disappearance of your
brother. You can then see the man.
If your suspicious prove incorrect, very
we'll We shall all feel more satisfied
at any rate"
Accordingly Mr.. Hall despatched
kilograms to Sydney, Adelaide, Mel
bourne, and a number of other places
through which he thought Baynes
would have probably passed Mean
while Luke took possession of the
Baynes' hut
The place was very much in the
same state as when II had been last
occupied The charred logs remained
upon the hearth. and the furniture
! II the bedstead, table, and two benches
+ could be called furniture-was there
! just as 1t had been left.
William Luke retired early from the
+ gossip of the mems hut. He was tired
i OF hearing the same old stories of how
J Mrs. Baynes had lived in rigid seclu.
sion, and what capital mate Ton
j Baynes had been A roll of blankets
had been given out to him from the
store; and. as he entered the hut. ht
lighted a candle and surveyed the
scene.
1t was quite a warm night, but ht
ghiyered as he looked around A small
heap Of brushWood lay in one cornel
by the chimney, SO he thought he woulC
light a fire.
Kneelng down, he removed the log
which were there, charred in tn
center, just as the fame had died on
and smothed the white ashes ava.
with his hand to make room for tn
dry scrub.
Again he shiYered, feeling a strang
chilling sensation as though some aw
full thing were about to happen to him
It's the drink" he said aloud
thought l had got over it. Maybe
haven't yet. | am neryous-that
what's the matter with me"
Outside the hut was pile of choT
ped wool. so, carrying some within
he soon made a cheerful blaze. Thel