The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26

Stingaree, seated behind his Australia
sian in the lee of the other tent, took
so little notice Of him that Vanheimert
crept back to have one more look at the
thing which he had found in the old
valise which served Howie for pillow.
And the thing was very workman
like revolver, with heavy cartridge
in each Of it's six chambers. z..,s.-
Vanheimert handled 1t with trembling
fingers, and packed it afresh in the
pocket where it least affected his per-
sonal contour, its angles softened by a
big bandanna handkerchief, only to
take it out yet again with a resolution
that on ened a fresh sluice in every pore.
The blanket that had been lent to him,
and Howie's blanket, both lay at his
feet; he threw one over either arm, and
with the revolver thus eHectually con-
cealed, but grasped for action with
finger on trigger, sailed forth at last.
Stingaree was still seated in the mar
rowing shade Of his own tent. Van
heimert was within five PAGES Of him
before he looked up SO very quickly
with such rapid adjustment OF the
terrible eyeglass, that Vanheimert stood
stock-still, and the butt of his hidden
weapon turned colder than ever in his
melting hand.
"Why, what have you got theree':
cried Stingaree. "And what's the mat
ter with you, mang" he added, as Van
heimert stood shaking in his socks.
'tOnly his blankets, to camp on,
the fellow answered, hoarsely. "Yot
advised me to help myself, you know
"Quite right; SO I did; but you re al
white as the tent-you tremble like
leaf. What's wrongg''
"My head,'' replied Vanheimert, II
whine. "It's going round and round
either from what had in the night, O.
lying too long in the hot tent, or on,
on top Of the other. I thought II
camp for bit in the shade" !"
1T should,'' said stingaree, ant
buried himself in his paper with undis
guised contempt.
Vanheimert came a step nearer. Stin
garee did not look up again. The re
volver< was leveled under ono trailing
blanket. But the trigger was neve
pulled. Vanheimert feared to miss eve1
at arms length, so palsied was hi
hand, SO dim his eye; and when b
would have played the man and calle'
desperately on the other to surrender
the very tongue Glove In his head.
He skunk over to the shady margll
Of surrounding scrub and lay aloof al
the morning, now lingering the weapol
in his pocket, now watching the ma:
who never once looked his way. II
was bushranger snd an outlaw; b
deserved to die or to be taken; an
Vanheimert's g only regret was that b
had neither taken nor shot him at thei
last interview. The bloodless alterns
J. tive was to be borne in mind, yet |
his heart he well knew that the bulle
was his one chance with Stingaree. An
even with the bullet he was horribl
uncertain and afraid. But Of hesitatio
on any higher ground, Of remorse or 9
reluctance, or the desire to give fa1
play, he had none at all. The ma
whom he had stupidity spared so Is
, was notorious criminal with q hig
price upon his head. It weighed not
: grain with Vanheimert that the Grin
inal happened to have saved his life.
!, ssCome and eat,'' shouted Stingare
: at last; and Vanheimert trailed tt
blankets over his left arm, his rigl
, thrust idly into his pocket, whic
bulged with red bandanna handke
chief. ssSorry it's sardines again, /" Il
e bnshranrer went on, sbut we sha
i make up 8 With q square feed tonigl
n If my mate gets back by dark; il
. doesn It, we may have to tighten O
! belts tiil morning. Fortunately, there