The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-19

standing back from the future street
that was as yet little better than a
country road. The veranda commanded
a long perspective of pines, but no
further bricks and mortar, and but very
few weather board walls. The yard
behind the house was shut in by as
many outbuildings as clustered about
the small homesteads which Fergus had
already beheld on the banks Of the
Murrumbidgee. The man in charge of
the yard was palpably in liquor, a
chronic condition from his general ap-
pearance, and Mr.. Macbean discharged
him on the spot with decision which
left no loophole for anpeal. The
woman in charge of the house adorned
another plane Of civilization; she was
very deaf, and very outspoken on her
introduction to the young gentleman,
whose face she was pleased to approve,
with the implied reservation that all
faces were liars; but she served up the
mutton Of the country hot and tender;
and Fergus Carrick, leaning back after
an excellent repast, marveled for the
twentieth time that he was not to pay
for it.
"a teetotaler, are ye'' said Mac
bean, mixing third glass of whisky,
with the skull-cap on the back Of his
head. "And so was I at your age; but
you're my very man. There are some
it sets talking. Wait till the old lady
turns in, and then you shall see what
you shall see.'
Fergus waited in increasing excite
ment. The days events were worthler
Of dream. To have set foot in Glen
ranald without knowing soul in the
place, and to find oneself comfortably
housed at good salary before night!
There were moments when he ques-
toned the complete sanity Of his eccen-
trio benefactor, who drank whisky like
water, both as to quantity and effect,
and who chuckled continuously in his
huge gray beard. But such doubts
only added to the excitement. OF the
evening, which reached climax when
a. lighted candle was thrust in at the
door and the pair advised not to make
a night Of it by the candid crone on
her way to bed. :.
"We will give her twenty minutes,'
said the manager, winking across his
glass. "I've never let her hear me,
and she mustn't hear you either. She
must know nothing at all about it;
nobody must, except you and me.'
The mystifcation Of Fergus was now
complete. Unima aginative as he was by
practice and profession, he had an ex-
planation a minute until the time was
up, when the truth beat them all for
wild improbability. Macbean had risen,
lifting the lamp; holding it on high
he led the way thru baize doors into
the banking premises. Here was an
other door, which Macbean not only
unlocked, but locked again behind them
both. A small inner office led them
into q shuttered chamber of fair size,
with a broad polished counter, glass
swing-door, and formidable portal be-
yond. And one Of young Carrlck 8
theories received apparent confirmation
on the spot; for the manager shipped
behind his counter by another door,
and at once whipped out great re-
volver. .,
''This they provide us with,,' said
he. $50 far it is our only authorized
defence, and it hangs on hook down
here behind the counter. But you
march in here prepared, your .pisto!
cooked behind your back, and which OF
us is likely to shoot frsts'
"The bushranger,' said Fergus, still
) rather more startled than reassured.
"The bushranger, Of course. Stin
garee, let us say. AS for me, either my
, arms 90 up, or down I 60 in a heap
, But supposing my arms do 60 up
, supposing I still touch something with
, one foot-and supposing the floor just
3 opens and swallows Mr.. SangulnarJ
, Stingaree! Eh9 eh9 What then?'
: cit would be great,' cried Fergus
nRnt conld it be done2'
| cit can be, it will be, and is being
done,' replied the manager, replacing
!, the bank revolver and sliding over thu
: counter like a. boy. A square of plai1
Z linoleum covered the floor, overlappet
;, bv a. border Of the same material bear
g ing a design. Down went Macbeal
e ,1pon his knees, and his beard swep
;. this border as he began pulling it up
tacks and all.
q The lamp burnt brightly on tn
counter, its rays reflected in the bur
nished mahogany. All at once Fergu
Q seized it on his own initiative, an
}. set it on the floor before his kneelin
e elder, going upon his own knees on tn
s other side. And where the plai
linoleum ended, but where the over
tapping border covered the floor. tn
It blanks were sawn thru and thru dow
one side Of the central and self-colore
y "a trap door" exclaimed Fergus i
q whisper.
IL Macbean leant back on his slippere
g heels, his skull-cap wickedly awry.
e stThis border takes a lot o. lif
l. ing,o said he. "Yet we've just got t
e lift it every time, and tack it. dow
e, again before morning. You might tt
II you hand over yonder on the far side.
n Fergus complied with so much energ
E. that the whole border was ripped up
le a minute; and he was not mistake1
ID A trap door it was, Of huge dimension
t; almost exactly covered by the sci
Is colored square; but at each side
tongue of linoleum had been left loo'
IN for lifting it; and the lamp ha
If scarcely been replaced upon tt
N counter when the bulk of the flo,
h leaned upright in one piece against tt
lg opposite wall. It had uncovered P
is of corresponding size, but as yet hard
ip deep enough to afford hiding-p f
f. the bucket, spade, and pickaxe whit
ID lay there on a length of sackihg.
st TT see!" exclaimed Carrick, as tt
a full light flooded his brain. -
lg ."Is that factf'' inquired the ma
1e ager, twinkling.
ht "Y5ou're going to make a deep no
a Of it,"