Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03

shoe missing. Then I began to put two
and two together. What time would 1t
have been when he left Nollaba station,
sir?
"A little after g. Cavesson replied.
We'll, sir the other continued, heres
something for you to work out 1t is just
forty miles across country from Nollaba
Head station to my place, and another
twenty say, out to the hills at the back
close upon sixty miles in all. Well, If he
started at or Whereabouts and rode pretty
smart, say eight miles an hour. he would
be at my camp about -. He'd be in
great hurry, Of course, but 1 don't reckon
that, taking one thing with another, he'd
do more than I'm calculating. Now, sir, do
you think there is anything in what I've
told you?"
TT certainly sounds feasible, and 1 only
hope it may lead to something. Do you
think they're hiding by there now?'
That's more than l can say, sir. having
no possible means of judging; but 1 should
think it more than likely. l don't see where
else they could very well CO..
MY good man." Cavesson replied scorn-
fully, its very evident you don't know the
Centipede. He has hiding places in every
| direction, and he's in and out of them like
| rabbts in a burrow."
At that instant there was knock at the
| door. It was the sergeant who had re-
| turned with the replies he had extracted
| from the various people he had visited.
| Each one, it was proved, was ready to bear
| testimony to the excellence of Mr.. Barker's
| character.
Very WELL" said Cavesson, when he had
| dismissed the officer; Il am satisfied. The
| next thing for us to do will be to get out
there as quickly as possible, and endeavor
to effect capture. You'll come with US.
suppose?'
| But If you'll excuse me, I'll not take part
| in any fighting. I'm not a coward, but I'm
the father Of family, sir. and don't see
that l could be of much assistance to you.'
| I'll not ask you to fight" said Cavesson,
| with smile | only want to nut
the right track to the cave, and then you
can go about your business
Very good, sir. In that case I'll go with
you as soon as you like. What time will
you be ready to start? I've had good ride
| today as it is.
viii half an hour be too soon for you?'
| IF you'll lend me horse. it won't. My
own beasts done It's close upon thirty
miles to my place, and 1 came In pretty
smart"
IN lend you a horse with pleasure. One
good turn desS ives another. In that case
shall expect you to return here in half an
hours time
''Ill be here. sir
I'm the meantime. remember, not word
fall a hint he'll hear of it, and we shall
lose him. as we have done before"
| When the man had left the room. Caves
son rubbed his hands with delight. At las
the chance had come. At last he was going
| to be successful in securing his enemy
The Centipede had not made any move fol
| more imam d week, anu tiie "ei'
100 to l that he was lying up in his cav,
in the ranges, to which Barker had referred
If only he had laid his plans well, he nigh
catch him at last and meet the new magiS
: trate with the news that he had arrived to'
late to do the tail twisting of Which he ha'
| spoken at the club. Then when the OUTLAY
; was sentenced and safely in jail, he woul'
go down to Brisbane and demand M1nnl
Walkett's land from her father. Fat
could not have served him better, he felt
and in this spirit he devoted himself to CIV
ing the necessary orders for the expedition
| In order that no Information concerning
q the intended raid might reach the residents
| Cayesson dispatched a sergeant and thre
q | troopers from the township by the mort
| road. another three by the east Barker an
| himself steering course midway betwee
the parties. On reaching the Nollaba boun
| dairy fence, twenty miles out, they halte
. | for an hour in order to allow the others
come up. After which they quickened thei
| pace, reaching Barker's homestead a littl
; before o'clock. Then they called halt.
1 AS soon II was dark they starte
| again, picking up the hills at point mil
{ or so below the water hole where the oil
| man and his sons had been camped whe
u the former had sighted the mysteriou
e horseman. 1t was the Inspectors intentio
a to leave his horses at this rendezvous
:. charge of man, and then to push o
d with the remainder of his force on foo
s feeling sure that there would be less chanc
n of their being observed If they crept alon
n the hillside than if they tried to approac
1t on horseback by way Of the plain. 1t was
% fine. starlight night, and every man wa
g eager for the fray. They had been laughe
n at long that they fully shared their leat
N ers eagerness to vindicate their homo
a Taking advantage Of every cover, and eve
er on the lookout for the cave of which the
3 had been told, they made their way ov'