The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26

might be that the present bearer still
believed it. The eyeglass looked him
thru and thru. Vanhelmert bore the
inspection like a man, and was soon sat
isfed that his recognition of the outlaw
was as yet quite unsuspected. He con-
graduated himself on his presence of
mind, and had sufficient courage to
relish the excitement of situation OF
which he also perceived the peril.
"I suppose you have no recollection
of how you got here9' at length said
Stingaree.
"Not me. I only remember the dust
storm - And Vanheimert shuddered
where he lay in the sun. But I IN
very grateful to you, sir, for saving
my life.''
"Haven It I cause to be, sirs'
"Well, I dare say we did bring you
round between us, but it was pure luck
that we ever came across you. And now
I should lie quiet if were you. In
few minutes there IL be pannikin Of
tea for you, and after that you III feel
a different man, "
Vanheimert lay quiet enough; there
was much to occupy his mind. lin
stinctively he had assumed part, and
he was only less quick to embrace the
necessity Of strictly consistent per-
formance. He watched Stingaree in
close conversation with Howie, who was
boiling the billy on a spirit-lamp be-
tween the two tents, but he watched
them with an admirable stimulation Of
idle unconcern. They were talking
about him, Of course; more than once
they glanced in his direction; and each
time Vanheimert congratulated himself
the more heartily on the ready pretence
to which he was committed. Let them
but dream that he knew them, Van
heimert gave himself as short a shrift
as he would have granted in their place.
But they did not dream it, they were
off their guard, and rather at his mercy
than he at theirs. He might prove the
immediate instrument Of their capture
why not9 The thought put Van
heimert in a glow; on the blanket where
they had laid him, he dwelt on it with
out qualm; and the same wide mouth
watered for the tea which these villains
were making, and for their blood.
It was Howie who came over with
the steaming pannikin, and watched
Vanheimert as he slipped and smacked
his lips, while Stingaree at his distance
watched them both. The pannikin was
accompanied by tinplate full of cold
mutton and wedge Of baking powder
bread, which between them prevented
the ravening man from observing how
closely he was himself observed as he
ssuaged his pangs There was, how
ever, something in the nature Of a NUT
tered alteration between the bush
rangers when Howie was sent back
for more Of everything. Vanheimert
put it down to his own demands, and
Felt that stingaree was his friend when
it was he who brought the fresh sup
plies.
"Eat away" said stingaree, seating
himself and producing pipe and tobacco.
cts rough fare, but there's plenty
Of it,
''I won't ask you for no more" re.
piled Vanheimert, paving the way fol
his escape.
"Oh, yes, you will" said stingaree
"You're going to camp with us for the
"Why am I9'' cried vanheimert
} aghast at the quiet statement, which
it never occurred to him to gainsay
Stingaree pared pipeful Of tobacco
and rubbed it fine before troubling tt
reply; % .,,. .o,- :,
"Because the way out Of this takes
: some finding, and what s the use Of
escaping an unpleasant death one day
, if you 90 and die it the next9 That =
) one reason,' said Stingaree, "bu
r there's another. The other reason il
7 that, now you're here, you don't 60 til
3 I choose.'
| Blue wreaths Of smoke went up will
| the words, which might have phraset
: either a humorous hospitality or
L covert threat. The dispassionate ton
, told nothing. But Vanheimert felt tn
: eyeglass on him, and his hearty appetit
l was at an end.
8 "That's real kind of you," said he
/ "I don't feel like running no NOR
o risks till I'm obliged. My nerves ar
: shook. And if born backblocker ma
make so bold, it's a fair old treat t
4 see a new chum camping out for tn
Q fun Of itl'
: "Who told you I was new chum7
k asked Stingaree, sharply. All! | re
a member,' he added, nodding; "yo
heard Of me lower down the road
: Vanheimert grinned from ear to ea
Q "I'd have known it without that,
said he "What real bushman woul
II boil their billy on a spirit lamp whe
8 there's wood and to spare for a camI
d fre-on all sides Of 'em9'
Now, Vanheimert clearly perceive
r, the superiority Of smokeless spirit-lam
J. to tell-tale fire for those in hiding; s
he chuckled consumedly over tn
t, thrust, which was taken in such exec
r lent mart by Stingaree as to prove hi
It victim to tho desired illusion. 1t We
d the cleverest touch that Vanheimert ha
IS yet achieved. And he had the W
d neither to blunt his point by rubbing
3 in nor to recall attention to it by subt
protestation of his pretended persu'
d sion. But once or twice before SUI
s. down he permitted himself to ask ma
d ural questions concerning the old cou,
t. try, and to indulge in those genial glib
Is which the Englishman in the bus
r. learns to expect from the indigeno1
le buffoon.
h In the night Vanheimert was le
ss easy. He had to sleep in Howie s ten
but it was some hours before he sle]
re- at all, for Howie would remain outsid
and Vanheimert longed to hear hi
a. snore. At last the rabbiter fell into
N doze, and when he awoke the auspicio
IS music filed the tent. He listened {
n one elbow, peering till the darkne
ID turned less dense; and there lay How
across the opening Of the tent. Va
heimert reached for his thin elasti
m sided bushman's boots, and his han
+remh1ed as he drew them on. He cOu