El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24
eyer seem pretty flush. mate.


of the black beard.
''Been carpentering for cove round
here answered. land he give me
an advance
t'Where may that be?'' asked the
small man.
''On Ingram's place, where the cap
tain was shot, answered.
And again the two men started and
looked at one another.
''What captain was that % asked
black beard. trying to seem uncon-
cerned.
Don't yer know" 1 said, with IA
1eer. 'fHave another drink L don t
care how soon the yellow boy is done.
In get plenty more by and by, though
my job here is up on Saturday"
"Got another billet?'' asked Frank.
I'm going back to good enc as
soon as 1 can get over to the Melbourne
side. My cove expects me. There'll be
five of us.
ttAnd who may yer cove be2" said
Jem in more cordial tone.
looked round the room before an
swered, and then, leaning over the
table, as if fearful of being overheard.
I whispered the single word ''Lau-
renee"
Laurence was to the Melbourne force
what Flower had been to US in New
South Wales. His gang had been
broken up a bout six months previously
But as he himself had net been cap
tured I ventured to experiment with
his name.
It was a good card to play, and it
Immediately took trick, for Jen ask
ed at once, els he gathering again?'
''He is 1 answered. t|Bendigo
way. I'm working over to join him
Got the Office two days ago. Do ye
feel inclined to Gomez
''Yes,' said Jem eagerly. ''I'm with
yer whenever our job here is done.
Chow long will yer job take?'
At this point Frank, in attempting
to warn his companion, dealt me a
severe kick on the shin.
keep yer beetle crushers to yerself,
can't yer?" 1 growled. ''Oh, don't
think to bully mel'' as he glared fierce
ly at me. 81 know yer lay, and, what
more, 1 mean ter stand in with yer.
ssWot are yer after?'' said Frank
''We amt on no lay"
'Ain't yer?' 1 sneered. ..What
about Flowers blunt? Yahl L knowei
yer at once, Jem Stiles and Frank
Burton
Have yer struck the pile?'' asked
Jem, with a sort OF terror in his voice.
''Is that why ye're so tiush?''
mo, but I'm going ter get my share.
or I'll blow the whole gaff." Here
Franks hand stole to his hip. Keep
yer hand up, Frank" I went OF
"Two can play at that game. We're
too near the township for that. Be
sides, there's no reason for quarreling.
I've told yer my lay, and I've spotted
yers.
Franks ferret face was twisted into
malignant scowI, but Jem gave a sort
of groan as be said hastily: .'Since yer
know so much. I don't see as we can
stop yer knowing more. Yer can come
with us and share fair and square if
yer'n keep yer mouth shut. >"
I grinned. ''When do yer start p
early morn fer Log mountain
answered Jem. "Oh, drop it, FrankH
as the latter's boot found it's right
mark 'He's one Of US. and there's
plenty fur all
Il don't half like it," snarled
Frank. ''Wot does he want putting in
his oar?''
..Yer've got to like it, my daisy
knows and how handy the troopers is
yer'd best be quiet. !"
''Ahl' said Jem suddenly. Talk
ing of troopers, how many of 'em is in
the township just nowT'
"Only one. Foster, they call him.
''Where's the sergeant, then ?''
''Sparks, is it? He went off about
the time come here. On the down
track, most likely"
''He's cute un. See he don't get
wind we're hereabout or he'll stop our
game somehow. No chance of him
spying on US here, is there?" And he
glanced nervously round at the dozen
or so loafers in the room.
"Who2 Sparks?" put in Frank
''Not him. 1 know him well enough
though he don't know me. And there's
one thing he can't hide whatever he
does.
3'What may that bei' 1 inquired
innocently.
"a lick under the eye he got from
Mike Forgan at Gonna. He downed
Mike, but not afore he got mark he'll