Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-10-05

exception Of feeling just a little off
was nearly my old self again. When
| told Norah Mackenzie. with n sense
of awakened gratitude which / could
but i'll express. that believed her fever
draft had made me new man. she
looked pleased and laughingly ex-
pressed the hope that the new man
would prove an Improvement ON the old
Gibson and his men had built in a
group of acacias a neat two roomed
hut, which was Immediately handed
over 10 the women. Gordon unhitched
his team in the reighborhood Of a great,
shady fig tree, and Savile straightway
got out his pans and paraphernalia 70
make an extra effort in honor Of our
arrival Savile was really a culinary
genius and under different circum-
stances might have made a name for
himself
Jack and | were told by the squatter
to keep to our own camp, as Gibson's
was a separate affair, for, simply having
contracted as drover to take the cattle
on to his run at so much per head his
mess had no connection with ours.
IloNtNtAs NNAb~bu AiA-4-AFtl OlA Nttl HtAAAA
his guests for that night. so we men
folk went over to his camp. His people
as they relieved each other from slowly
riding round the cattle. would drop in
and il was pleasant TO exchange civih-
ties and neyys-such as it was-with
them, for only those who have been for
months and perhaps years in the lone
ly bush can know how even to see a
strange face and exchange few friend
ly sociable words with some one il
welcome break in the monotony Of such
a life.
Strange to say, now that we had ar
rived at the end of our journey / did
not feel any particular sense of gratifi-
cation in the fact. for the squatter had
gradually developed very friendly at
titude toward Jack and me and had
rather encouraged us to ride alongside
of himself and his daughter, with the
result that we had spent pleasant
time together 1t seemed to give Mac
kenzie pleasure TO talk with those who
knew something of the rather uncom-
mon subjects that interested him. /
think he found Jack the more congenial
companion, and I observed with salts
faction that Norah Mackenzie was
pleased to see her father in such a cheer
full and communicative spirit. Indeed
she told me that she had not seen him
hooking so well and cheerful since he
had started out from Tarragong and
was good enough to ascribe il to his
having found those with whom he could
converse freely on subjects that inter
ested him. She seemed grateful TO Jack.
though why / could not exactly under
stand, knowing the obligation was as
much on his side.
Having finished supper. | was Just
wondering whether / was well enough
to smoke-an attack of fever often.
strangely enough, takes away the de-
sire from even au habitual smoker
when my attention was aroused by a
stock rider evidently just relieved from
watch, tired and dusty. His small.
grayish blue eyes had a cold blooded.
shifty expression; the mouth, which is
supposed to be the most expressive fea-
turc in the face, was large and loose.
yet not weak; there was a hint of vim
dictiveness and latent cruelty lurking
in the down drawn corners and lines on
either side of it by no means reassuring.
What was intended TO be a frank and
straightforward way Of looking at one
impressed the observer as belonging 10
a man who had no small conceit Of
himself one who was studying his vic
tim and watching his chance To crafty
= Lar I.t,t
drawling, affecting "A heartiness that
his general presence belied. Still his
features were regular, and he was what
some people would certainly call good
looking despite these drawbacks. When
he saw me, | tried to greet him in a
friendly spirit, but felt ON the instant
that / was not one of those who would
have the honor of sharing his good
graces. 1t occurred TO me. however,
that the healing hand of time might
temper this depriva tion.
He stared hard at some one with what
seemed 20 be fear IN his eyes. Turning.
/ saw Jack. | had never before seen
such look on my comrade' face. First
an angry flush mounted into it; then,
as if some polite motive had arrested
him, he remained seated. while an ap-
prehensive, sickening, weary look took
its place IL was evident that this
man, whom his comrades called DAILY.
was very unwelcome sight TO Jack
and that he suggested some recollec-
tions which belonged 10 the skeleton
in the cupboard" series Could he be
cognizant Of the secret which had led
Jack TO sink his identity? When / saw
the peculiarly concentrated stare that
passed between them. il was evident 10
me that from some motives Of prudence
they had tacitly decided to avoid recog
milton. Nor was | mistaken. for, when
about an hour later. having gone down
TO the creek to have swim-whlch
always INDUCED in when the oppor-
tunity offered-and afterward while
drying myself behind a clump Of thick
undergrowth. | heard a couple Of men
talking excitedly together and knew
that il was Jack and DAILY, who had
sought this quiet corner 20 as not to be
disturbed
you're a scoundrell'' heard Jack
say Indignantly. "YOu were not con
tent with fooling me into travelling
along with you and your thieving mob,
but you worked il so that | should in
nocently show myself to the police.
that they should get my description
and think | was one Of the gang who
ran off the horses IL was n mighty
clever trick wasn't itY Dldn they get
ON % you or your mates at all
lid not want 10 play the part Of an
eavesdropper, SO coughed fo attract
their attention. But they did not hear
me and continued talking
"Well, no. / don't think they did.
was the drawling. half sneering reply.
"You see we weren't such fools a 10
show ourselves as long as we could
shove you into it. my jo-dandy. But |
don { know what reason yOu have g.
cut up rough The cops hain't got you.
Many better man than yOu Mas got
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