, 1902-10-31

for mei''
But Master "Kiddy" found himself
suddenly seized from behind. and an
immediate stop put to his flight from
he nursery.
Never mind, Kiddy," called out
lack, you can't come out with me to-
lay. you know; it's your bedtime,
sn't 1t? Besides, people don't go for
.ides in night-dressi There. don't cry;
you shall fire uncle's revolver all by
Yourself. see"
And, having assured himself that the
revolver was unloaded, Jack proceed
ID to instruct the child in the art of
aiming, pulling the trigger, etc, and a
wild romp succeeded, in which imagin-
Try wild beasts were KILLED dead" the
said wild beasts being represented by
himself, running on all tours, and
| Tom, the retriever, who, entering fully
INTO the spirit of the game, would
,tand quite still while Kiddy. labori-
ously aiming the harmless weapon at
| nim, called out in his clear treble voice,
Shoot! Bangl Firei" This was the
signal for the wild BEAST to fall
DOWN.
Kiddy's delight at this new game was
boundless; and when at last Jack,
GREATNESS with the exertion of his re-
peated death struggles" declared that
it was time for him to be off and re-
took possession of his revolver, the
child sobbed.
"Kiddy wants the gun! Kiddy wants
to shoot evlybody! Nasty, unkind I'M
Gle! Give me the gun! Give me-the-
gu-u-u-un" he cried.
By this time his uncle had mounted
his horse, and, with a wave of the
hand, rode away, while Master Kiddy
was recaptured by his mother, a gen.
tie, delicate-looking girl. and after a
prolonged struggle, was finally dis
posed Of in his little bed.
Two hours later Ned Hartley and his
wife were sitting out on the verandah,
be smoking a short pipe, Lucy slowly
rocking herself to and fro and now and
then applying herself to some needle
work.
They had been discussing their plans
for the long-talked-of and often-defer-
red trip to Melbourne, and there was
pm unwonted look of animation in the
young woman's face.
"And you really think we shall be
able to go this timeT' she said. "Oh,
Ned, how l do long to get among peo-
pie, to see houses, streets, carriages,
anything and everything-to get away
from this eternal, m%onotonous bush!"
And with a sigh she hid her face on
her husbands shoulder.
Nothing will prevent us this time,
dear; unless'-with a short laugh
Jacks croakings should take definite
shape-unless, in short, we should be
rushed 7fRd the money taken. Then
there would be no trip for us this
year, at any rate"
"Don'tg' she exclaimed. looking fear
fully around her. 1T could not hap
pen! 1 cannot think that"
The sentence was unfinished. Before
them stood a man who had seemingly
dropped from nowhere. Ned threw
himself In front of his wife.
The stranger was attired in shabby
corduroy breeches and a tattered wool
len shirt, the color of which might have
been once blue; tall cowhide boots en-
cased his feet and legs; In one hand
he held with mock politeness an apollo
gy for a hat, in the other, pointed
straight at Ned's head. was a murder
o~us-looking slx-shooter.
Sorry to interrupt the billing and
cooling, but might l trouble you to
hand over to me that six hundred
pounds you received last night from
Barton's? Stop! No humbug-hands
up!"-the drawing voice changed into
a sharp growl. Never mind your
wife; I'll look after her." Poor Lucy
had tainted and was lying In a heap
on the floor of the verandah. You
walk In front of me and show me
where you put the swag; make an at
tempt to get at your iron or to call for
help and I'll shoot you like a dogp'
There vas no help for 1t. Ned, his
face contracted with rage and hopeless
misery, led the ruffian into his room,
where. in a little cot, Kiddy, fast
asleep, was smiling In his dreams.
In a small cupboard which Ned had
built into the wall by the side of the
bed lay the result of two years hard
work and p~rivations-the money that
was to have brought back health and
happiness to Lucy.
In silence he handed the bag and
notes to the %rufflan, who, still keeping
Ned covered with his weapon. forced
him back to the verandah.
"Now, mate, having called upon you
just about supper-time, it would not be
manners for me to depart before I've
had the pleasure of sharing the family
meal!' Lord Jim remarked in pitiless,
hooking tones. Ladies' company is
always pleasant, even when they are
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