The Philipsburg mail., 1899-08-11
CHAPTER VIII.

"Baynes? What did he come back
for?"
He said they were all drunk and
fighting down at Sullivan's, and he
could find no place to sleep in, so he
rode home"
He must go back at once then; |
can't have those pack-horses hanging
about down there for days together. "
He has gone, sir. He started off at
daylight"
That's all right, then" said Mr..
Hall.
When the men who slept in Bob
Luke's hut got up that morning, they
noticed that he had already gone out.
i wonder what made Luke turn out
SO early?" one Of them remarked; but
no further notice was taken of his alb
sence until breakfast time.
whats become of Luke?" asked a
stockman, as there was no sign of him
when that meal was nearly finished.
you had better put that stew on the
fire to keep hot for him. Maybe he is
out after some Of the horses"
D1nner-time came, but no Luke: and
shortly afterwards Mr.. Hall happened
to want him.
No one has seen him this morning,
sir, was the answer he received. I'VE
can't think what's become of him.
mo one has seen him?" repeated
Mr.. Hall. What do you mean? He
slept on the station last night, I sup
pose?'
He slept in my hut" replied the
man, "and turned in as usual last
night. l noticed that in particular, be-
cause he was the last in bed, and had
to put out the light. When we awoke
this morning, he was already up and
out, but We didn't take much notice of
that"
Had his bed been slept in?''
Il suppose so, sir. l never looked.
He went to bed, l am sure, as | lay
awake for a good ten minutes after l
turned in, and l never heard him 20
out"
Come with me to the hut and show
me his bunk" continued Mr.. Hall.
The bunk that Luke was in the habit
Of sleeping in had evidently been used.
but the blankets had not been turned
down.
There is his hat" cried man, "and
there are his boots on the ground!
That's odd anyhow"
perhaps he put on another pair"
suggested the squatter.
"No, sir. Bob Luke had only this
one pair, which, as you see, are pretty
well worn through. He was saying
only the other day that he wished the
drays would hurry up, as he wanted
new pair"
1T certainly is very singular" mused
Mr.. Hall. HE hadn't been drinking,
had he?"
"No. sir. He's never had a drop of
anything since he's been on the station
that l know Of"
Ibid he ever seem queer in his head
or strange in any way?"
"Never bit, sir. Rather the other
way on. There's nothing wrong with
Bob. He's no more chanky than 1
am"
well, some of the men had better
90 out at once and have a look for
him. If we do not find him by sun
down, I will send over to Mount Gipps
and inform the police-sergeant. There
are black trackers there who will soon
trace him."
Men were accordingly sent out in
secured for several miles around; but
no sign Of Bob Luke could be discov-
cred.
Mr.. Hall began to feel uneasy, Won
dering what could have become of the
man, and, when evening approached,
Jack Hall started off to inform the
police at Mount Gipps, some fcrty miles
away.
Towards nightfall the pack-horses
arrived with Tom Baynes from Sulli-
vans public-house. Mr.. Hall met them
as they pulled up at the store.
"This is very strange affair about
Bob Luke, isn't it, Tom?" he re-
marked
"Yes, SIR" replied Baynes, busying
himself in taking off some of the
packs. 81 heard of 1t down at Sulli-
van's-from one Of the chaps. l Won
der where he can have got to-"
"You came back to the station in the
night. suppose you saw nothing of
him?"
"No, sir; but didn't look about me
much, as it was all could do to see
the track"
"You galloped fast enough up past
the huts. l heard you from the house,
and thought it was horse broken
loose from the paddock"
eyes, sir; the old mare started off
with me when she got near home, and
couldn't hold her in"
"And you saw nothing Of Luke?" his
master again asked.
"No, sir-nothing!"
what made you come back from
Sullivan's?"