The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-05
CHAPTER XIII.

anxiously watching for it's coming.
Directly the driver descended from
the box, he seized him by the arm.
Good evening, Sam" he exclaimed
There is something I very much WISH
to ask of you"
well, go ahead mate; we have only
ten minutes to liquor up in"
Il will liquor you up more than you
can drink in the next fortnight crleu
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?"
Il bring letter to Tom BaynesT
echoed the man, pausing for moment
to consider NO; that I certainly ola
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"
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
lie, for l 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. l was the only one
who stayed behind at Sullivan'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. II 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 have not had
the pluck to do this many a day."
Then nurse the feeling" said Mr..
Hall. IF it keeps its hold upon Won
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 Heaven's
help I'll never touch another drop."
Amen to that" cried Mr. Han
Whatever searches you may wish TO
make, Luke" he continued "vou are
at perfect liberty to make them at vonr
leisure on and about the station: but
rear you will find nothing by which
you will trace your brother We
searched every nook and corner"
Would you think it liberty sir IL
were to ask of you rather a stranea
favor?" :" se
Not at all. What is it?"
1T is permission for me to occunv
Baynes' hut
"Certainly-why not? But ub,4
seems much more to the noin+
is the advisability of telegrapbing r.
~
sydney and throughout the country -
detain Tom Baynes and his wife a.
Justice of the peace 1 can have hin,
arrested upon suspicion of HAVING haan
concerned in the disappearance of Won.
brother You can then see the 80
II your suspicious prove incorrect w..
well. We shall all feel more satiosaj
at any rate"
Accordingly Mr.. Hall despatcbod
kilograms to Sydney, Adelaide Moi
bourne, and number of other n,ooos
through which he thought Ravnos
would have probably passed Mo-
while Luke took possession % ~
Baynes' hut.
The place was very much in tba
same state as when it had been last
occupied. The charred logs remoinos
upon the hearth, and the furnitpra
II the bedstead, table, and two bene,,o.
could be called furniture--was thara
Just as it had been left.
William Luke retired early from, ~
gossip of the mems hut. He was tinas
Of hearing the same old stories ~ hoH.
Mrs. Baynes had lived in rigid saol,'
sion, and what a capital mate TO-
Baynes had been. A roll of blanLots
had been given out to him from ~
store; and, as he entered the bpt ~
lighted candle and surveyed tho
scene.
1t was quite a warm night, but ha
as he looked around. smau
heap of brushwood lay in one corner
by the chimney, so he thought he would
light a fire.
kneeling down, he removed the logs
which were there, charred in the
center, Just as the flame had died out
and smothed the white ashes away
with his hand to make room for the
dry scrub.
Again he shivered, feeling strange
chlIllng sensation as though some aw-
In