Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-06-27
CHAPTER *

1 CUulu IedilLt VIC kIaVity VI tuc bieuo
ton. far less act Savile came TO him
self first. springing 10 his feet with such
an excess Of energy that Samson barked
In admiration.
81 say, sergeant, you're making some
mistake. he insisted excitedly. ''fos
the man John Fsrquharson you speak
Of is dead as red herring and buried
on Scrubby creek near the Calvert
river Why. helped TO bury him my
self. ("
"Do you think you could prove that
IL was John Farquharson who was
buriedf" asked the police officer, with
the quiet dry smile Of one who il 20
sure Of his case that he can afford 10
TOY with it
Don't worry. Savile, old man. " In
terrupted Jack. ''the sergeant can't
help himself Luckily Parker's q quail
6ed devil dodger and will zee me safe
through. Keep what you've said for
him and don't forget the red herring.
Despite his words Il was not difficult
70 see that my mate fully realized his
position.
Just then. glancing around the little
crowd. I caught sight Of Daly's face. II
might only have been fancy. but IL
seemed 10 me NJ il there was IN uneasy
| grin there
"Are you sure you haven't made .
mistake, sergeantr he asked.
The sergeant. I thought. looked at
him rather contemptuously. but made
no reply
"yes. that's my swag." said Jack to
q trooper. Then IL was searched. rolled
mp. and placed on the back Of . pack
horse
.For mercy's sake. take me out Of
this. sergeant" he had seen the figures
Of two women approaching the group
The sergeant made no demur when !
spoke 10 the prisoner ont Of hearing Of
the others Ny mind was made up. My
belief In Jacks honor was a. positive
as my belief In the immortality Of the
soul Therefore we would fight Why
should the innocent suffer for the
guilty. After all. ] could not swear
ositively to having seen my mate teke
.py papers from his own pockets and
| transfer them to those Of the man mur-
dered By the blacks on Scrubby creek.
Besides. ! had always known him ~
Jack Tyndall. And there was the squat
ter recognition Of the murdered man
The whole affair was preposterous
plot. and. no doubt DAILY was Mt the
bottom Of II But Jack only shook his
head sadly as talked
''Tm afraid. old man. it's no use. >
he whispered to me hurriedly. How
ever. I'll tell you nothing just now that
might interfere with your evidence
you understand dare say it might be
as well to fight them. for don't like
the idea Of being 'bested' by q villain
like DAILY I'm sure he's at the bottom
Of this.
Perhaps. said tho sergeant, ''R
any Of you think you can do the pris-
oner'--how he WINGED at that word
"any good. you can come into the Mac
arthur tomorrow at 10 o'clock. He'll
be brought up then before the magis-
trates Some Of you may be served with
summonses TO appear.
They were leading Jack array to
spare horsa they had saddled hard by
when Norah Mackenzie went up TO him
There was slight Hush On his face.
most likely arising from bis painful po-
sition. Still with bead erect, and look
Of quiet dignity. he waited for her to
speak. At first he had tried to pass her.
but she stood right in his way.
She took both his manacled hands in
hers and held them while she said:
81 have heard most Of what has pass
ed. Mr.. Tyndail You must not mind
this silly mistake. or rather this black
piece of viliainy on some one'spart. Ev-
erything win be put right tomorrow.
depend upon it"
There is no denying 1t. Jack looked
queer for a second or two when he
heard her speak like that 1t was some
thing that he evidently had not expect
cd She had always. though perfectly
frank, kept him at arms length. but
now that the handouts were upon his
wrists she treated him Is II he was .
very old friend.
Jack thanked her. but IL struck me
that her action comforted him more
than her words There was something
| In his face that filled me with sudden
fear. It was not the face Of man who
considered his arrest the result Of
mistake, but as something not unex-
pected and the outcome Of which he
dreaded. Doubtless Miss Mackenzie saw
II, for she added pleasantly as II to re-
assure him
"Goodby Just now. Mr.. Tyndall
Wen ride into the Macarthur township
tomorrow morning. Perhaps you could
spare Mr.. Parker. Gordoni I'm sure
he'd like to 60 some little way with his
friend.
But Jack would not have this "Oh,
no, you are too good. Miss Mackenzie,
he said THAT would be too much
But perhaps Dick. you could come in
tonight after you have finished tallying
I'll be all right then-not convicted
felon Jet, you know" Then aside to
the sergeant he whispered "Get on,
please. for heavens sake" And poor
Jack rode Of between two troopers. one
Of whom had leading rein attached
| 70 the horse he rode.
When he had gone. IL was - II there
had been death In camp
An hour before sunset Gordon told
me ! had better 60 to the police bar
racks and see Jack He said he himself
could count the bundles Of wire that
came from the vessel ] went up the
little rise to the tent that had been
pitched for the two women. When
had seen the way in which Norah Mac
kenxie had spoken to Jack on his arrest
| By the police. il not only surprised but
made me speculate on the sentiments
that had prompted her 10 interest her
self ON his behalf What Il. after ALL
and thought Il not unlikely Jack
had made an impression On her which
was to be the deathknell Of my hopesi
When reached the tent door. the bark
ing OF the dogs before they had recog-
sised mo brought out Noeah Nsckensia
She sppke hrst, probably 70 relieve mo
a any embarrassment Eide Gordon
left a. csme mp.
.sOh, come In, Mr.. Parkeri eomehow
/ Thoughts you'd coma" Hm manner
Wa mnch - usual and = II shs wore
I nnavnra that anvfhina dieaareeah1o