The Chanute times., 1899-01-06

~AAou0iJ Watching iOi llo SOhiih6'
Directly the driver descended from
the box, he seized him by the arm.
Good evening, SAM" he exclaimed.
There is something very much wish
to ask of you"
"Well, 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 1t? 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?"
IL bring a letter to Tom Baynes?
echoed the man, pausing for moment
to consider. mo; that certainly ala
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 face!
"It 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?"
Eyes, SIR" replied Luke, ION that or
any other occasion"
"Well, Baynes must have told me
lie, for I remember distinctly his say
ing the driver; and there was no one
among the passengers whom he was
likely to have known"
mo; they all went ON to Mount
Gipps."
"You are certain?"
"Quite certain. / was the only one
who stayed behind at Sulliyan's.
"Then l 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. 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 1t may be, it has been strong
enough to enable me to keep from the
drink; and that is what l have not had
the pluck to do this many day"
"Then nurse the feeling" said Mr..
Halls9 "If it keeps it's 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 thatw 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 liberty, sir, if
/ were to ask of you rather a strange
favor?"
.'Not at all. What is it?"
at is permission for me to OCCUPY
Baynes' hut"
"CertainIy-why not? But what
seems much more to the point to me
is the advisability Of telegraphing to
Sydney and throughout the country to
detain Tom Baynes and his wife. AS
justice of the peace 1 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
s5aynes' hut.
! The place was very much in the
,rame state as when it had been last
occupied. The charred logs remained
hpon the hearth, and the furniture
the bedstead, table, and two benches
fluid be called furniture-was there
INST as It had been left.
u William Luke retired early from the
s.qbssip of the mems hut. He was tired
u hearing the same old stories of how
irs. Baynes had lived in rigid seclu-
son, and what capital mate Tom
haynes had been. A roll of blankets
lad been given out to him from the
S55re; and, as he entered the hut, he
yakhted a candle and surveyed the
rilene.
ut was quite a warm night, but he
"a ;ivered as he looked around. A small
hrap Of brushwood lay in one corner
,llr the chimney, so he thought he would
hsht fire.
"a Kneeling down, he removed the logs
''shich were there, charred in the
! lAnter, just as the flame had died out
+ nd smothed the white ashes away
l6ith his hand to make room for the
dry scrub.
Again he shivered, feeling a strange
chilling sensation as though some aw-