La Junta tribune., 1899-01-28
CHAPTER XIII.

ic' 80
Directly the driver descended from
the box. he seized him by the arm.
Good evening. Sam" he exclaimed.
There is something l very much wish
TO ask OF you
Well. go ahead. mate: We have only
ten minutes to liquor up In
Il will liquor you up more than you
can drink In the next fortnight. cried
Luke. III you tell me truly what
want TO know"
What is It? Blaze away
Did you or did you not. on the
night / travelled up with you here
bring n letter to Tom Baynes. the COOK
at Redmount?"
IL bring u letter to Tom BaynesE
echoed the man. pausing for moment
to consider. NO: that I certainly did
not Who says as did?''
Then it's faisei" screamed Luxe.
He had no such letter calling him
away: and there was some reason Tor
his fearing to meet me face to face
1T certainly Is very odd" admitted
Mr.. Hall to Luke, when he presented
himself again the next morning at the
station. And you say that the driver
Sam Jones. positively denies having
brought up letter for Baynes on that
night?"
Eyes, SIR" replied Luke. ''on that or
any other occasion
We'll, Baynes must have told me
lie. for remember distinctly his say
ing the driver; and there was no one
among the passengers whom he was
likely to have known
NO: they all went on to Mount
Gipps."
You are certain?"
quite certain. | was the only one
who stayed behind at sullivans."
Then must own 1t begins to look
very mysterious" said Mr. Hall. Il
think you have some grounds for your
susp!cions after all"
Thank you for saying that, sir" re-
turned Luke. II have felt that you must
think me quite mad upon the subject;
but cannot help It. There is some
thing In me which seems to urge me
on. / don't know what it is. but. what
ever il may be. 1t has been strong
enough to enable NE to keep from the
drink: and that Is what have not had
the pluck to do this many a day"
Then nurse the feeling" said Mr..
Hail. III 1t keeps its hold upon you
It will bring you more good than all
the discoveries you may make. or even
the one thousand pounds reward"
II feel that, sir: and with Heavens
hall
Amen to that cried Mr.. Hall.
Whatever searches you may wish to
make. Luke" he continued. you are
at perfect liberty to make them at your
leisure on and about the station: but
fear you will find nothing by which
you will trace your brother. We
searched every nook and corner"
would you think 1t liberty. sir. II
! were to ask OF you rather n strange
favor"
Not at all. What is it7"
'It is permission for me to occupv
Baynes' hut
"Certaiuly-why not2 But wha.
seems much more to the point to me
is the advisabilIty OF telegraphing to
Sydney and throughout the country IN
detain Tom Baynes and his wife. AS a
justice of the peace | can have him
arrested upon suspicion OF having been
concerned in the disappearance Of your
brother. You can then see the man
II your suspicious prove incorrect. very
well. We shall all feel more satisfied
at any rate"
Accordingly Mr.. Hall despatched
kilograms to Sydney. Adelaide. Mel
bourne, and a number of other places
through which he thought Baynes
would have probably passed. Mean
while Luke took possession of the
Baynes' hut.
The place was very much In the
same state as when It had been last
occupied The charred logs remained
upon the hearth, and the furniture
II the bedstead, table, and two benches
could be called furniture-was there
just as It had been left.
William Luke retired early from the
gossip of the mems hut. He was tired
of hearing the same old stories of how
Mrs. Baynes had lived in rigid seclu-
sion, and what capital mate Tom
Baynes had been. A roll OF blankets
had been given out to him from the
store; and. as he entered the hut he
lighted candle and surveyed the
scene.
1t was quite warm night. but he
shivered as he looked around. A small
heap OF brushwood lay In one corner
by the chimney. SO he thought he would
light fire.
kneeling down. he removed the logs
which were there. charred in the
center, Just as the fame had died out
and smothed the white ashes away
with his hand to make room for the
dry scrub.
Again he shivered. feeling a strange