The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-08-03
CHAPTER vT.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)
After some further conversation the
man Luke ceased to take any further
notice Of the young man, beyond an
occasional glance. as II he we're trying
10 remember where he had seen his
lace before. Baynes very shortly after
wards got up and went on home to his
hut.
As one Of the men had informed
Luke, Mr.. Hall happened to be short of
hands just then, and upon applying 10
MIN the next morning he got taken on.
Things went on for some time very
much as usual. There were cattle
brandings, breaking in OF horses, and
Sunday kangaroo-hunts, INDUCING in
drunken bout at Sullivan's, the Bush
Inn" few miles OF. the latter diver
sion being much to Mr.. Halls incon-
venience and disgust.
Sullivan's lightning rum was not
only guaranteed to make men drunk.
but 1t had the peculiar effect. after
Few days steady drinking, of sending
them raving mad. This was not to be
wondered at, as Mr.. Hall frequently
told his men on the station, for the
chief components were spirits of wine,
crown sugar and tobacco
A noticeable alteration had taken
place in Tom Baynes' demeanor since
the arrival of Robert Luke upon the
station. He seemed to have relapsed
into his old moody manner, which he
had apparently got rid of as he had be-
come used to the place.
He was now never in the mems hut
longer than was absolutely necessary
for the performance of his duties, and
he shut himself up more than ever
away from them all.
How precious fond Of that missus Of
his he must BEL" said Luke one night
It's queer no ones ever had sight
OF her. Hasn't no one for certain ever
seen herr"
mot as knows on" returned one
Of his mates. What does it matter to
you If you see her or not? She's an
invalid, that's what she is. And he's
good mate, and provides good grub
all round"
I'll try and get look at her, and
chance the ducks" retorted Bob
Luke. What right has she to 60 and
shut herself up? 1t puzzles nay brains
where have seen that chap Baynes
before"
After this Luke was constantly pry-
ing about in the endeavor to get a
peep into Baynes' hut. One night he
succeeded in creeping close up to 1t
without disturbing the inmates There
was, however, no possible means of
peeping In, so Luke lay down in the
shadow behind the chimney and list
ened. He could not catch a single
word. If the inmates Of the hut were
talking they must have been doing so
In very low tones. By-and-by. how
ever, the door opened, and in the
stream of light that came from with
In, Luke beheld a woman walk out
into the open air. A shawl partly con-
cealed her features as she went down
the little garden path to the gate.
Then she stopped for some ten min
utes with her back towards the watch
er, looking out into the night.
Il shall see her better when she Is
coming back" thought Luke.
But at that moment the lamp inside
the hut was extinguished, and he
could see nothing more than the shad-
owy form Of the woman as she turned
round and re-entered the dwelling.
Robert Luke felt baffied, and his Gu
rtosity became keener than ever.
When he reached the hut in which he
slept, he found 1t empty. The men
were still haggling over their greasy
cards at euchre In the kitchen.
Sitting down by the plank table.
upon which stood the slush lamp-a
tin pannikin full of sleeps fat with
rag for wick-Luke pulled out an
old pocketbook, and drew from 1t a
worn and dirty paper. Unfolding 1t. he
read the heading, "One Thousand
Pounds Reward" The rest of the
printed matter, which he read through
carefully, contained the description of
Edward Bartlett and Anne Dodson
well, it amt them at any rate" he
grumbled, as he replaced the paper in
its cover. "'Man with fair complex
ion, gray eyes, shortish-' That won't
do. Baynes has dark eyes-is quite
middling height. Hair might dye; but
eyes-no, it amt him. Besides. l saw
them both in court when Bill was
tried. l have IT." he cried, springing
to his feet and bringing his fist down
with a crash upon the table. THAT'S
where l saw the face like his. 1t was
Anne Dodson's! Supposing he is a
brother of Anne Dodson's, and has her
here in hiding?"
CHAPTER VII.