The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-08-24
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER Kill.
A few hours afterward the coach
came numbering up to Sullivan's door,
where William Luke was sanding, !
anxiously watching for its coming.
Directly the driver descended from
he box. he seized him by the arm.
Good evening, SAM" he exclaimed.
There is something I very much wish
to ask of you"
We'll, 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, cried
Luke, IF you tell me truly what
want to know"
What is it? Blaze away!"
Did you or did you not, on the
night l travelled up with you here
bring a letter to Tom Baynes, the COOK
at Redmount?"
I'll bring letter to Tom Baynes?"
| echoed the man, pausing for moment |
to consider. mo; 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"
''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?"
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. 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
n 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. l 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 a day."
: Then nurse the feeling" said Mr..
= Hall. IF it 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"
II feel that, sir; and with Heaven!
help I'll never touch another drop"
Amen to that" cried Mr.. Hall
d. Whatever searches you may wish t.
es' make, Luke" he continued, you arr
f" at perfect liberty to make them at you
leisure on and about the station; but
fear you will find nothing by which
you will trace your brother w
n. searched every nook and corner"
2 Would you think it liberty, sir, /
l were to ask of you rather strang
tavor?"
Not at all. What is it?"
\ 1T is permission for me to occup
Baynes' hut"
"Certainly-why not? But whs
Il seems much more to the point to N
is the advisability of telegraphing I
Sydney and throughout the country
detain Tom Baynes and his wife. AS
Justice of the peace l can have hi
~ arrested upon suspicion of having bee
. concerned in the disappearance of yol
brother. You can then see the ma
II your suspicious prove incorrect vel
we'll. We shall all feel more satisfie
at any rate"
- Accordingly Mr. Hall despatcht
0 kilograms to Sydney, Adelaide, Me
~ bourne, and number of other plac
lW would have probably passed. Mea
IA while Luke took possession of t
~ Baynes' hut.
its The place was very much in t
- 70 same state as when 1t had been la
g Of occupied The charred logs remain
ada. upon the hearth, and the furniture
" II the bedstead, table, and two bench
could be called furniture-was the
- just as it had been left.
~ William Luke retired early from {
~ gossip of the mems hut. He was til
Va of hearing the same old stories of h
~ Mrs. Baynes had lived in rigid sec
- sion, and what capital mate T,
" Pavnes had been roll of blank
- had been given out to him from
AZ store; and, as he entered the hut,
lighted a candle and surveyed
scene.
y 1t was quite a warm night, but
shivered as he looked around. A sn
heap Of brushwood lay in one cor
- by the chimney, so he thought he wo
~ light a fire.
~ Kneeling down, he removed the
~ which were there, charred in
center, Just as the fame had died
A. and smothed the white ashes aN
- with his hand to make room for
lty, dry scrub.
SO Again he shivered, feeling a stra
hat chilling sensation as though some
the full thing were about to happen to
| he tits the drink" he said aloud.
80 thought / had got over it. Maybe
ical haven't yet. l am nervous-th
csc; what's the matter with me-"
'OP Outside the hut was pile of cl
ped wood; SO, carrying some wit
he soon made cheerful blaze. T.
- having drawn one of the wooden st