Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-09

y
/ was in much the same hole as you've
since been in yourself and that L had
counted ON this W. L. Rallies even as
you counted on \. J. l thought of the
man with the W. G.. beard, the rider
less horse with the bloody saddle, the
deliberate misdirection that had put
me off the track and out of the way
and now the missing manager and the
report of bushrangers at this end. But
i simply don't pretend TO have felt any
personal pity for a man whom l had
never seen. That kind of PHYS usual
" cant, and, besides, all mine was
needed for myself.
II was in as big hole as ever. What
the devil was l to do? doubt if L
have sufficiently impressed upon you
the absolute necessity of my returning
to Melbourne in funds. As a matter
of fact, il was less the necessity than
my own determination, which | can
truthfully describe as absolute.
Money l would have, but how-but
how? Would this stranger be open to
persuasion-if / told him the truth !:
No; that would set us all securing the
country for the rest of the night. Why
should / tell him? Suppose l left Kim
to find out his mistake, would anything
be gained? Bunny, l give you my
word that / went in to dinner without
n definite intention in my head or one
premeditated lie upon my lips. i might
do the decent natural thing and eX-
plain matters without loss of time. On
the other hand, there was no hurry. /
had not opened the letter and could
always pretend l had not noticed the
initials. Meanwhile something might
turn up. / could wait little and see.
Tempted l already was, but as yet the
temptation was vague, and its very
vaGueness made me tremble.
bad news, I'm afraid said the
manager when at last i sat down ut
his table.
"a mere annoyance 1 answered.
do assure you-on the spur of the mo
ment and nothing else. But my lie
was tOld my position was taken.
From that moment onward there was
no retreat. By implication, without
realizing what / was doing, L had al
ready declared myself w. L. Rallies;
therefore W. +. Raffies l would be in
that bank for that night. And the
devil teach me how to use my lie"'
Again he raised his glass to his lips
had forgotten mine. His cigarette
case caught the gaslight as he handed
it TO me. l shook my head without
taking my eyes from his.
THE devil played up" continued
Rallies, with a laugh. Before l tasted
I Il Il Cd -IN..f 70 Il
had determined to rob that bank in
stead of going to bed and to be back
in Melbourne for breakfast if the
doctors mare could do it. / would tell
the old fellow that l had missed my
way and been pushed for hours, as l
easily might have been, and had never
got to Yea at all. At Yea, on the other
hand, the personation and robbery
would ever after be attributed to Il
member of the gang that had waylaid
and murdered the new manager with
that very object. You are acquiring
some experience in such matters, Bun
ny. | ask you, was there ever bet
ter get-Out? Last nights was some
thing like it, only never such ii GER
tainty. And / saw it from the begin
ished my soup.
ITO increase my chances. the cashier,
who also lived in the bank, was away
over the holidays, had actually gone
down to Melbourne to see Us play. and
the man who had taken my horse also
waited at table, for he and his wife
were the only servants, and they slept
in a separate building. You may de-
pend / ascertained this before we had
finished dinner. Indeed, was by way
Of asking too many questions-the most
Oblique and delicate was that which
elected my hosts name, Ewbank-nor
was 1 careful enough TO conceal their
drift.
"'Do you know said this fellow
Ewbank, who was one of the down
right sort, if it wasn't you, I should
say you were in a funk of robbers
Have you lost your nerve?'
81 hope not said I, turning jolly
hot, l can tell you, 'but-well, it's not
a pleasant thing to have to put bull
let through fellow
Nor said he coolIy. 4 should en-
joy nothing better myself. Besides,
yours didn't go through
81 wish it had" was smart enough
to cry.
amen said he.
"And 1 emptied my glass. Actually
| did not know whether my wounded
bank robber was in prison. dead or at
large.
But now that I had had more than
enough of il, Ewbank would come
hacL, to tho Subiect He admitted that
the staff was small, but as for himself
he had a loaded revolver under his pill
low all night, under the counter all
lay, and he was only waiting for his
chance.
Under the counter, eh?' / was ass
enough to say.
Yes; so had your
He was looking at me in surprise,
and something told me that TO say OF
course; l had forgotten" would have