Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-05-30

lying ON the around. he pulled up with
q queer LOOK on his face and gave low,
prolonged whistle. ! pointed to the
body Of the murdered man, whose shape
showed under the blanket with that
rigid angularity which there is no mis-
taking.
Preserve usi" he exclaimed. jump
ing of his horse and shaking me by the
hand. He had taken in the situation at
q glance. "Im mighty sorry for you.
mate, but see you've made them pay
for 1t. l rode on before the wagon
They n be here in half an hour to have
breakfast. When did they attack you !
As there's women in the party. sup
pose. mate, you won't mind me just
hiding that ugly sightf'
Catching mp q tomahawk. he cut one
r two leafy branches and covered ur
The dead black fellows "They would
not care TO see them, you know, he
explained "It's Mackenzie Of Tara
gong. his daughter, and her maid--my
sister-going through 10 the Robinson
river. I'll just pick camp q little way
MP the creek and then hurry back. :" He
galloped his horse about a couple OF
hundred yards or 30 mp the creek; then.
evidently satisfied with tho situation,
cut of through the bush and was lost
to sight.
As soon as lie had gone Jack jumped
up. Good morning. Dicke he said
eve mad a good sleepv
After the usual wash--when there
was water enough to have one-we had
the never varying breakfast. which was
barely finished when crack. crack and
with jingle and rattle mp came q
covered in wagon with six horses drag.
ging it. A couple Of men rode along
side. while two black boys. in blue
serges and white slouch hats, came be-
hind. driving some spare horses. They
drove off the track and cut away among
the trees. drawing up about couple OF
hundred yards or so from our camp
A few hundred yards behind came
the squatter and his daughter. / could
see that the horses which they rode
were vastly superior to those generally
used in the gulf. albeit some Of the gnlf
horses showed breeding that made the
inquiring mind speculate as to how
they ever came into the hands Of the
men who ostensibly owned them.
The pair halted for minnie or two.
| The squatter rode over to Us by himself.
the girl going on TO the camp.
Roderick Mackenzie Of Tarragong
was man who might be few ycars
over so, Of middle height, with clearly
cut features. honest gray eyes grizzled
hair and beard-altogether smart,
kindly looking gentleman. He had been
a long time in the colonies and had
done well. He had lately taken up land
In the northern territory. sent on stock
ahead and was now on his way out to
fix on a site for head station.
He rode up and addressed himself TO
Jack. Somehow they always had trick
If addI essing Jack first
Good morning" he said gravely.
;nmping off his horse. Gordon. my
man. told me Of the sad affair that oc'
Cured last night II you'll allow me to
assist you. we may be able to give You
very material assistance. III send over
n couple Of my men. All. here comes
Gordon with the necessary article. and
as the soil is sandy | don't think Wen
have much difficulty in digging a grave.
Have you found anything on the body
that will lead TO its identification Per-
haps few notes with his description
might b. Of use when reporting the
matter to the police. believe the po-
lice have come TO the Macarthur river.
which can't be more than i20 miles
from here at the farthest. He spoke in
q quiet. unobtrusive. businesslike way.
perhaps, sir, said. you're j.
p. in Queensland if not in the northern
TERRITORY so, il you wouldn't mind as
sisting us and witnessing the inventory
Of the dead mans property, We would
be greatly obliged TO you. My name u
Parker, and my mates is Tyndall. Per
haps you'd better take down our
| names.
He had taken from light gTsy khar-
kee coat notebook and pencil to facili-
tate matters LAS you wish, " he re-
piled. MY names Mackenzie. Tara
gong is the name Of my station on the
Burdekin.
Then we lifted the blanket from oil
the corpse. Perhaps never saw a more
peaceful look upon the face Of any one
who had died by violence than saw on
the face of this man. Whatever may
have been his restless passions once
upon time they had now forsaken the
clay. and there was no expression there
save that of the pristine innocence OF
the child had seen the same look on
Jask's face when he was asleep. He had
been. as the squatter said. looking sad
" on his face. handsome fellow. Then
we examined his possessions
In the small pouch attached TO his
belt We found plain silver watch. in
his trousers pocket some silver, and two
e5 notes in an old purse. The squatter
united small parcel wrapped in oil
cloth and looked ut q packet OF letters
he read the addresses on one or two oi
the envelopes and seemed surprised
then he examined the correspondence.
His face was Study now the deepest
concern and astonishment were depicted
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