The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-08-31
CHAPTER XII.

COulu get out anu Walk dUOul d llNliO
with the aid of stick. Nothing would
now induce him to touch spirits; and
Sullivan grumbled nightly at having
a lodger who, he declared, not only
occupied his ''best bedroom" but hard
ly spent enough to pay for his tucker"
Still Sullivan had one consolation, and
that was that, as the story of the new
arrival was circulated, people were
curious to see this William Luke who
had been condemned for murder and
pardoned.
Luke's one desire was to get strong
enough to go on to Redmount and
search for some traces of his brother.
He amt there" replied Sullivan, as
he listened to his customers repetition
of the old story for about the fiftieth
time. Didn't Mr.. Hall tell you for
certain that the Bayneses couldn't be
the ones you are after? Didn't he see |
Baynes' wife? And didn't the trooper |
and other people see her and him? And |
aren't they all certain you are on the |
wrong track?"
Ddb Whdl lAilhC hAASlh 6O Oh ~ SUN
denly" said Luke, still unconvinced,
1.-THE very day came up?"
"Bless the man." cried Sullivan, get
ting weary of arguing with him
hasn't Mr.. Hall told you over and
over again that the chap got letter,
saying his sister was ill in Sydney? If
you will make mystery of everything
connected with them, why, you will
that's all I've got to say"
But the more Luke thought, and the
more he read and re-read his brothers
letter. the more certain he felt that
there was something about the
Bayneses which NO one as yet sus-
pected.
Did not his brother say that on that
very night of the 25th of May he in
tended to visit their hut?
st mean to see her tonight, whether
or no. Baynes is away fetching some
stores, and won't be home until morn
ing. So nows my chance!
These were the words which William
Luke read as he sat beneath the shade
of a gum tree on the creek side, and
racked his brains to work the puzzle
: out
One day-about month after his
5 arrival at Sullivan's, and when he had
J become tolerably convalescent-Luke
made up his mind that he would go to
. Redmount; so, borrowing horse, he
started off.
Upon reaching the station, he was
5 received with every kindness by the
2 hands, who felt rough sympathy fol
q the man who had come so far to Sc,
his brother and had not found him.
I" Mr.. Hall, too, had got over the frs
feeling of disgust he had entertained
u for "the gentleman who had beef
a drinking and had had fits" and aske
N him in his kindliest manner to com
up with him to the house and talk mat
/, tiers over.
81 wish to ask you several question
r SIR" said Luke, "about things that hav
10 been on my mind"
10 ASK away" replied the squatter.
ar "First of all, must tell you som,
thing of my own history" began Lul
j" nervously.
"That is unnecessary, am sure
10 said Mr.. Hall gently. 1T cannot POI
IN sibly bear upon this present question
We ''No, sir; perhaps not, but still
think I'd rather"
n go on, them am listening"
III "Well, sir, l entered service earl
is and was in many a good situation; b-
latterly l could not keep my place
he The curse of my life, as it has bee
le. the curse Of many another one, was Il
r. drink. The place where l lived befo
1 went to Mr. Hughes-who, you kno
was murdered left on that accoun
ice | checked the master, and he said
had stolen his wine. That was trr
We However l made up my mind on &
ing to my new situation to turn ov
ed a new leaf!"
"And you did not succeed?"
No. mo, sir. l went on very we'll for
short time; but, If it is not wicked
on speak so of the dead, he was a me-
lly provoking old gentleman. Frequen
he would find fault without any 81
ed. of occasion; and on that particular
di- of the dinner-party he had been me
than unusually cantankerous. That a
nut my old habits made me take to
LIQUOR again. / felt annoyed and
out, and was 'nipping' pretty fire
throughout the day. After the DIM
ing was over, took a bottle of sherry fir
ue the cellaret, ana drank II up III
ur- room"
Eyes" said Mr.. Hall; "and you W
not quite sober in the morning"
81 was three-parts drunk when
IN" awoke, and could not clearly bring
Hall mind anything which had occurred
uch the previous night"
our "Just sol"
we're well, you know the rest. l
we're convicted, condemned, and ultimat
rib pardoned Edward Bartlett, the fl
tied man, swore in his evidence against
at the trial that l had been often t;
Win ing of how should like to raise mo
/, so enough to take me out to Austral
And had you done so?"
in Believe me, sir, as there's Hea
ak above and as l sit here, 1t was he
was always speaking of coming
1e?" here. Such a notion never entered
then head"
so well, but how does this bear I
the question:"