Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-08-03
CHAPTER XII.

NO'SiNu lioLn us Illness SO Idr tnaL ne
could get out and walk about a little
with the aid of stick Nothing would
now induce him to touch spirits; and
Sullivan grumbled nightly at having
ledger who he declared, not only
occupied his hest 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?"
But what made them go off so sud
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 a letter
saying his sister was i'll in Sydney? If
you will make a 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?
Il mean to see her tonight, whether
or no. Baynes is away fetching some
stores, and won't be home until morn
ing. So now's my chance!"
These were the words which William
Luke read as he sat beneath the shade
of gum tree on the creek side, and
racked his brains to work the puzzle
out.
One day-about a month after his
arrival at Sullivan's, and when he had
become tolerably convalescent-Luk
made up his mind that he would go to
Redmount; so, borrowing a horse, he
started off.
Upon reaching the station, he was
received with every kindness by the
hands. who felt a rough sympathy for
the man who had come so far to see
his brother and had not found him.
Mr.. Hall, too had got over the first
feeling of disgust he had entertained
for 1.-THE gentleman who had been
drinking and had had fits" and asked
him in his kindliest manner to come
up with him to the house and talk mat
tiers over.
Il wish to ask you several questions
sir" said Luke, "about things that have
been on my mind"
ASK away" replied the squatter.
First of all, | must tell you some
thing of my own history" began Luke
nervously.
THAT is unnecessary, l am sure"
said Mr. Hall gently. 1T cannot pos
4 sibly bear upon this present question"
No sir; perhaps not, but still /
/ think I'd rather"
Go on, them am listening"
We'll, sir, | entered service early,
4 and was in many a good situation; but
4 latterly | could not keep my places.
4 The curse of my life, as it has been
/ the curse of many another one, was the
/ drink The place where | lived before
/ | went to Mr.. Hughes-who, you know
was murdered left on that account;
4 ! checked the master and he said |
i had stolen his wine. That was true
i However | made up my mind on go
4 ing to my new situation to turn over
4 a new leaf"
4 "And you did not succeed?"
mo. sir. | went on very well for a
short time; but, if it is not wicked tc
! speak so of the dead he was a mos
provoking old gentleman. Frequently
he would find fault without any sort
of occasion; and on that particular day
of the dinner-party he had been more
than unusually cantankerous. That anC
my old habits made me take to the
liquor again. ! felt annoyed and pu
out, and was 'nipping' pretty freel!
throughout the day. After the dinne
was over, took a bottle OF sherry from
the cellaret, and drank it up in m!
ROOM
Yes" said Mr.. Hall; "and you wer
not quite sober in the morning"
81 was three-parts drunk when
awoke and could not clearly bring t
mind anything which had occurred o.
:he previous night"
Just SOL"
well. you know the rest. l wa
convicted, condemned, and ultimatel
pardoned Edward Bartlett, the foot
man, swore in his evidence against IN
at the trial that had been often tall
ing of how | should like to raise none
, enough TO take me out to Australia
And had you done so?'
: Believe me, sir. as there's Heave
: above and as I sit here, it was he WI
was always speaking of coming Of
. here. Such a notion never entered n
4 head"
o We'll. but how does this bear upc
the question ?"