El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24

and beard, while his face, pockmarked
and freckled. was repulsively ugly. !
did not recognize in him, however, one
| of Flowers gang.
"a new member, 1 thought. 'He's
no beauty, at all events.
$50 you are putting up new hut,
suuire2'' l said as we came within ear
shot of the man.
yes replied Mr.. Ingram in an
easy tone, "and Murphy here seems to
be making good job of it.
ga new man, too, I see," said l.
"You don't belong round here, do You,
Murphy
"What's that to your answered the
man morosely- II amt done nothin
you can lay hold on that you should be
so partic lar anxious about me.
"Come. Murphy put in the squire,
''don't take offense- The sergeant
meant none. am sure
Murphy scowled, but gradually al
lowed his features to relax in smile.
which gave his face even more SIMS
ter expression. t'Oh, 1 dessay!' he
returned. ''But peelers is curious folk,
always pokin their noses in where
they're not wanted. However, I'm
from the Melbourne side, if you must
know
''Not' at all. did not wish to know
particularly, said, and, turning to
the squire, went on in a careless voice.
$50 you won't let me take that stuff
down to Sydney for you tonight ?'
''What stuff? '' it was on the tip of
the squire's tongue to say, when l
stopped him by adding, cit will be
safer there than here.
every likely" assented the squire,
taking my lead. ''But it will be all
right here, 1 have no doubt. Many
thanks to you all the same. Are you
really going tonight?''
yes l said, noticing that Murphy
was watching me fxedly over the top
of his pannikin as he pretended to
drink his tea. II have to see about a
change of residence for one of my men
Oh. by the way, l nearly forgot Have
you heard about Flowerf'' At this
Murphy started perceptibly.
"No," said the squire innocently
"What about him?"
81 hear that he has crossed the Dor
Ger and gone into Queensland to give
the sugar sifters a taste of his quail
ty.''
'.Really?'' said the squire well.
I'm sure 1 hope they will manage &c
get held of him before long. for he is a
very dangerous pest.
Murphy wished me good day quite
civilly as 1 again urged my horse into
a walk, and when we were fairly out
of hearing 1 laughed outright. Bravo,
squirrel 1 said. ''You are getting on
famously. You followed my lead quite
naturally
81 am surprised to find myself so
clever" he said, with an answering
smile. "What am TO do pow?"
$50 home again and make a wide
leg to avoid Murphy"
did not go very far. In front of me
was a thick belt of trees, and as soon
as I was fairly in this 1 dismounted.
and after hanging up my horse ran
back to the border of the grove whence
I could command a distant view of the
bay. The squire was not in sight but
Murphy was still sitting on the log,
from which he presently rose gathered
up his billy and pannikin and went in
to the hut In about ten minutes he
came out again, and after a searching
look all around set off in the direction
of the township.
fAhi l was certain you were in it
my man." L muttered as 1 ran back to
my horse. 81 think we shall have You
now.
"Well." said Foster as l refined up
to our quarters, what am to dor
mount and away to Dead Leaf
gully Lead another horse for me along
with you and wait well out OF sight
till I join you. l start on the Sydney
coach at 6 80. BY we shall be at the
gully, where 1 shall leave the coach. It
is only an hours ride to Toomb urra
from there. .
Foster was soon off, and just before
the coach started 1 swung up beside
the driver.
'sGoin on the down track?" he
asked cheerily.
eyes, for SPELL Times are slack
here just now. SO 1 can get away
''Let 'em go. Bill, said the driver,
gathering up his reins. ''Hellol Who's
that? Out of the road. dern yer, unless
yer want ter be killed. As he spoke
he ficked his whip at man who was
standing with his hand on the flank of
the near wheeler The long lash curled
sharply round the man, and as he
shrank back with a muttered curse the
light of the coach lamp fell upon his
face, and 1 recognized Murphy.
''Come to see me off, 1 thought
gleefully. 1.-The plot thickens. -
To the drivers intense surprise, 1 got
off the coach at Dead Leaf gully, leav
ing him to surmise what he chose, as l
knew his gossip with the passengers
could do no harm. When the coach was
fairly on its way again. a low whistle
sounded in the scrub to my right.
answered it, and Immediately after
ward | heard the tramp of horses feet.
and presently Foster came in sight.