Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
PART IL.
CoxessoD's BIunder.

+fr,da No had been the laughing stock OF
the colonies for too long and to a man so
nroud ridicule was worse than death. Inc
story of the bogus millionaire ana the li'lAe
outing with the bank manager 10 Noldoa
station had been copied into all the papers
+ and Cavessons enemies had taken eAcetie
care that he should see the various ac-
counts given of it. The government
through the commission of police had also
stirred him I'D again, and as a result ne
was nearly distracted. One more blunder,
he knew. would spell ruin. and ruin would
mean a loss of Minnie WaIkett, which was
worse than either. But he had no llteil'ip t
of making another mistake, ana When nc
received a letter from the AUTHORITIES ~
forming him that the smartest police magls-
trate in Queensland was coming INTO lie
district to take charge he felt more Gel o. ~
than ever on the point Moleo N,eI,e,i no
sweetheart wrote regularly, encoii asiiIs
him in his endeavorS. and, II anything elee
were wanting, this alone would nave pG1n
sufficient to induce him to DO MS pest, ite
was only waiting. he told her IN repls ~
her letter. for the Centipede to sho" MS
head above ground then he was SoIiiS ~
pounce down upon him ana aflilihlit.e - 80
He gave a full morning to refiectloh. Oiie
,bine waa very certain if he wished to
keen any sort of standing in the lorce NC
must secure his enemy before the new W
lice magistrate should put IN an apPIal
auce He had heard of Mr.. Montague l1ip
l.ft before and he had no desire TO receive
either his advice or his censure Inc lal'ei
had a reputation for keeping otncers up AZ
the collar, and he had openy e. -
a certain metropolitan CLUB that IL Ihe 81
eminent would only appoint MIN 10 Muisd
Flat he would tail twist the ponce lllspee ~
TO death, and have the Centlpeue III ms
hands inside a month. As you Will reaoliy
understand this sort of boast was not cal
culated to prejudice a man IKE taNessoi
in his favor; in consequence theFe Wds
bad understanding between the palr before
toll, bod oh color
trate's letter of appointment. Next oas IL
was duly gazetted. and on the nun II! 5 Suas
following Mr.. Montague Hablett lett DIS
bane for the west. .
lett was expected to arrive at Muiga flat'
a man put in an appearance IN the lo"A-
ship mounted WORKOUT morse. AS SUI
as he had stabbed him he inquired the way
10 the police station, and, reaching II, asktu
for an interview with the inspector: nc
was forthwith conducted INTO thd' o4iio9t
presence. -, ,,o5
Cavesson, who had just received MS %eeh.S
mail in which was contained an oraer ~
confer with the newly appointed magistlate
irnrnadiafeIy upou his arrival in the district
The man before him mopped his race Win
his handkerchief and then. without WaltII!S
to be asked, sat down beside me lnspe ,itb a
table He was a tall, burly fellow, Win d
skin as brown as a berry an honest race
and voice so deep that 1t seemed 10 coiie
from his boots. ,
TO tell YOU as how l fancy l can give you
the straight tip as to one Of the Centipeue
hidin places oo or5
Swinging up he crossed TO the door ana
shut il carefully. IF you can do that II
never forget you. But don't you try any
larks with me for, l swear, II you 40 II II
be the worst days work you ever tried
your hand at. -, ~,
I'm not irving to mislead you, sir; III
give you my word to that SAID tne man tlan
hay and
and YOU can make inquiries about me. I've
not been into Mulga Flat before, out m
well known to a good many people VINO i've
here ~
whats your name?'
.Jabez Barker. sir. I've got a bit OF
selection out on the range yonder.
Cayesson wrote the mans name ana au-
dress on slip of paper, and then turned
to his visitor again.
Who knows you here?
Well sir to begin with, there's Mr. MIL
lar the storekeeper down the street yonder;
there's the secretary of the Pastoralists'
Union and there's John Williams, as keeps
the Sauatters Arms across the way.
think they'll all be ready to speak for me-
Once more Cavesson wrote upon the
psper, and, ringing his bell, told the ser
geant who answered 1t to go 10 the olii er-
ent addresses and find out what the 1olh
mentioned knew of the man in question.
AS soon as the man had left the room
Cavesson turned to his informant .
Now then, let's hear your story. ne
said What information can you give me
that will be likely to help US to catch this
notorious rascal? II 1t is reliable, and an
successful in effecting his arrest, l car
promise you that you will be rewarded"
81 want no reward, sir" replied the man
eff I give you the news you want, 1t Is
because 1 wish to rid the colony of mar
who has given so much trouble. Besides,
don't feel kind of safe with him close along
side me-.
Il see. Now tell me all you know
We'll sir 1t was like this, you see. About
a month or so ago, just before that bit OF {
bobberee out at Mr.. Walkett's station, whel
YOU was so nicely sold by the Centlpede {
don't mean no offense, sir), was out at tn
back of my selection doing a bit o fencin,
with two of my boys. We were campet
alongside a biggish sized waterhole. and W
had three horses with US, not one of which
was shod You must menember that, sir
- or You'll miss the point of what L m drlVlnl
at Well, one Sunday morning after break
fast, there being, of course, no work doln
sir ] left the boys at the camp ana wen
out for a bit of walk. On my way l Wen
round by the bottom of the hills that ar
very sparsely timbered with she-oaks there
abouts with here and there bit or muig
at the base Well, [ went along, sir,
looked about and. to my surprise,
came across what was regular bard
beaten track I was startled that
went down on my hands and knees an
had close look at the prints on 1t. AS "a
1 could pick out, there were the track
of four horses, and all of EN- was shot
Now. sir, l argued II out this way: WA
was hOrscmen doin' on my selection
There's nothing to be gained by going tina
way. unless you want to get into tn
ranges and no one would have any reaso
L. be there. unless he was in trouble an
wanted to lay by for bit. When I'd So
as much out Of the track as l wanted
turned about and made my way back
the camp. taking in the side Of the big Wa
ter hole nearest the hills on my road. Gt
ing close down to the waters edge l had
look at the mud, and sure enough. it ws
trodden down all round by horses that ha
there drink
How do you know the marks were NJ
those of your own beasts? You say you ha
three with you"
For the same good reason as befor
sir" the man answered. THE beasts we
all Shod: mine were not"
Had you any other animals on that SIX
of the hOmestead?"
Not beast. sir
''No brumbles?' wild horses.)
'.Rrumbles wouldn't be shod. sir.
cot course not. Well what did you
them"
only one thing. sir; but think II
worth considering. 1t was the middle
the night. after the day of that trouble
Mr. Walkett's. l had not been feeling qul
the thing all day, and at night was We