Evening star., 1900-10-27


''Of course, you wilr. not expect me to
| help you. Well, we'll see. But when alls
said and done, young man, you don't stand
! before me in a very good light just now. 1
| may as well tell you chat frankly. You
| have been after this Notorious bushranger
| longer than you soughtito have been, and
what's worse, you haveo allowed me to suf-
fer by his Internal rascaiity. Now, see here
| l will make an agreement with you. Catch
| me this Centipede and hand him over to
| justice. When you've done that you shall
| ask me for my girl Fail to catch him and
| you lose your wife. What have you 10
| say?"
Il think it is very generous of you to
| talk of letting me have her at all, but as
! for your supulation-wel l can only say
| that l have always done my best to bring
| the fellow to justice, but every time l get
| him cornered he invariably manages to slip
| through my fingers again."
We'll you must do better for the future,
and now that you know my feelings on the
matter let us go inside. Tomorrow We will
| hold an inquiry as to his visit here and try
| to hit out clue as to his capture"
They went in, and hour so later
| sought their various couches.
Next morning Cavesson was early astir.
| and, by the time the breakfast bell sound
| ed had been about the homestead making
| inquiries on his own account. After the
mea! the owner called up his manager and
| the hands, and held court of inquiry in the
| dining room. Every person who had been
| on the place at the time Of the bushranger'S S
| visit, gave evidence, and their answers were
| taken down in writing by the storekeeper
| Unfortunately, however they ELECTED very
little that was fresh, and absolutely moth
| ing that could be considered a clue.
When the sitting was at an end Burton
| and CaVeSson went for drive with the
| owner and his manager to inspect new
| dam, which had been built at considerable
! cost in a distant paddock. 1t was nearly
o'clock by the time they returned to the
| homestead.
AS they drove up to the front door Caves
son. much to his surprise, saw the sergeant,
| whom he had left in charge of the police
station entering the horse paddock with
| all the troopers behind him.
What has brought you out here?' In
| quired the astonished inspector, as ne
| jumped out of the buggy.
| Your message, sir replied the sergeant,
| sauting. Il came directly l received it
But I've sent no message. What do you
| mean?' Who brought it?'
"A small boy mounted on chestnut
| horse. sir. He said he had come in from
| Nollaba station; that you had news of the
| Centipede and that l was to come to you
| as possible and bring all the men
with me. We came in an hour and half.
| sir"
Good heavens. We've been tricked
again!' cried Cavesson, almost beside him
self with rage: Il hope you kept that boy.
NO. sir When he had given me his
message let him go. 1 never doubted, you
see, sir, but that it was genuine
Well you'd better be off back as soon as
possible. III borrow a horse from Mr..
Walkett and accompany you"
Turning to the astonished sQuatter he
narrated what had occurred and begged
the township. This was Immediately
granted, and, as soon as the animal was
ready, he mounted, and, bidding Burton
and his host goodbye set off on his jour
ney. 1t was nearly dusk when he reached
his destination, and all through the ride
he had been suffering agonies of appre-
hension. What if his enemy had over
| reached him again? And with Walkett in
the district to be a spectator of his
humiliation,
He made his way to the police station
Immediately on arrival. There was only
the sergeant's wife there-but from her
he learnt the news and saw that his worst
fears We're realized The bank, of which
the unsuspectipg Burton was manager,
had been entered by the Centpede's gang
in broad daylight, the cashier and clerks
had been bound and gagged, after vigor-
Gus resistance, and over $1,000 in gold and
silver had been carried off.
An hour later Burton was a the police
station with white and solemn face, in
terviewing Cavesson, and bitterly upbraid-
ing himself for having taken his little hol-
day. While they We're talking there was a
noise outside, and a moment later dis
heveled scalywag of a man made his ap-
pearance, covered from head to foot with
dust, and footsore almost to the point of
dropping.
Get out of this; don't you see I'm en-
gaged?" cried CaVesson, angriy, for the
was not in the humor to listen to any minor
grievances. IF you've anything TO say, say
it to the sergeant
TN teach you to tell me to get out, SIR"
cried the scallywag in furious voice. III
teach you to insult people as well as to al
low them to be robbed. Catch me the
Centipede before another day has passed,
Or
Cavessons manner changed imme-
diately.
The Centipede"' he cried. catching the
other by the arm. why, what has he done
t. your
What has he done to me? What more
could he have done? Look at the state
I'm in. Look at my clothes: look at my
hat. It's all his doing. He stopped me yes
terday, five miles from Wagondah. rode
| out of the scrub with a couple of his con-
founded confederates, and bailed me up as
| 1 was driving quietly along on my way to
this place. Then he made get out of
my buggy, and, when l had done so. tied
! me to a tree a short distance off the track.
where l remained until L was found and
released by some teamsters this morning.
In the meantime he had driven off in my
buggy with all my baggage. | will give
| fl 900 to secure the mans conviction"
AS you may imagine, Cavesson and Bur-
! ton, by this time. We're as interested in
| the story as ever he could wish them to be.
Excuse me-" said the former, his voice
shaking a title, but would you mind tell
| ing me your name?'
MY name is Walkett.' answered the
man. I'm the owner of Nollaba station"
ct and drew out a letter which he spread
| upon the table. Burton Immediately fol-
| lowed his example.
"Did you write that letter." asked each
| in turn.
Walkett looked first at one and then the
| other.
NO I can safely say 1 wrote neither.
| The writing in way resembles mine"
Can you prove your IDENTIFY"
"In a hundred ways, If necessary. My
| name is on my linen. and l have a number
of letters in my pocket that will set your
minds at rest"
Cavesson's face was picture you might
like a tornado. When it was answered he
sent for the sergeant on duty. AS soon as
he arrived he was dispatched with a half
dozen men post haste to Nollaba station to
arrest the man posing there as its owner.
A little after midnight the sergeant re-
turned with the information that as soon
as he had seen Mr.. Burton depart, the
owner had called for a horse, saying he
was going to inspect an outlying paddock.
He went but never returned to the station
again.
Cayesson's face a picture you might
never see again. He rose and thumped the
| table with his fist.
| rrvt1