The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-28

who would finance me ON my mere
name-eould anything be better!
made up my mind that this Raffles
was the man | wanted, and was aW=
fully sold to lind next moment Inal
he wasn't a high official at all. nor
had the doctor 50 much as met Nun
but had merely read OF hlm III Son=
nection with IA small sensation at 1ae
suburban branch which my namesake
managed an armed robber had peeh
rather pncllily beaten on, with pu4-
let in him by this Raffles, ana the
sort of thing was so common out
there that this was the first | had
heard of it, \ suburban branch-ny
fnaneier had faded into some excel
lent fellow with a billet TO lose II he
called his soul his own. Still man
ager was manager, and l salu
would soon see whether this was the
relative | was looking for. If he would
be good enough to give me the name
of that branch. ~,
".ru do more.' says the doctor III
got vou the name of the branch he's
been promoted to. for | think | heard
they'd moved him up one already.
And the next day he brought me the
name of the township of Yea some
fifty miles north of Melbournei put,
with the vagueness which character
lied all his information, he was unaple
to say whether | should find my rela-
tive there or not.
He's a single man, and his Initials
are w f., said the doctor, who was
certain enough of the lmmaterlai
points. He left his old post several
days ago but it appears he's not aue
at the new one till the New ear
No doubt he'll go before then to take
OF
find him up there and you might not.
If were you | should write.
'Thattl lose two days SAID l.
and more if he isn't there. for ia
grown quite keen on this up-country
manager. and | felt that If could
get at him while the holidays were
still ON a little conviviality might help
matters considerably.
Then said the doctor | should
get quiet horse and ride GU
needn't use that hand.
Can't | go by traing
You can and you can't. You VIII
sim haye to ride. | suppose you're
horsemang
Yes
Then [ should certainly ride all
the way. It's delightful road
through Whittlesea and over the
Plenty Ranges. It'll give you some
idea of the bush. Mr. Raffles, and
you'll see the sources of the water
supply of this city, sir. You'll see
where every drop of it comes from,
the pure yam Yean. ! wish had
time to ride with you
But where can l get horse
oThe doctor thought for a moment.
I've a mare of my own that as
fat as butter for want of work, said
hsa "a o.
sit on her back for "A hundred miles
or so and then | should know you
have no temptation to use that hand.
You're far too good, | protested.
b" You're A. j. Raffles,' he said
and If ever there was IA prettier
compliment or finer instance Of even
Colonial hospitality | can only say,
Bunny that ! never heard of either.
lie slipped his whiskey, threw away
the stump of his cigarette and Ill an
other before continuing.
well, / managed to write line TO
w. II. with my own hand, which, as
YOU will gather. was not very badly
woindedlit was simply this third
finger that was split aud in spllnts-
and the next morning the doctor
backed me off on a bovine beast that
would have done for an ambulance.
Half the team came up to see me
start: the rest were rather sick with
me for not stopping to see the match
out as If ! could help them to win by
watching them They little knew the
game I'd got on myself, but still less
did | know the game | vas going to
play.
at was an interesting ride enough,
especially after passing the place
called Whittlesea. a real wild town
ship on the lower slope of the ranges,
where | recollect having deadly
meal of fat mutton and tea, with the
thermometer at three figures in the
shade. The first thirty miles or so
was good metal road. too good to
go half round the world to ride on,
but after Whittlesea it was mere
track over the ranges. track | often
couldn't see and left entirely to the
mare Now it dipped into gully
and ran through a creek, and all the
time the local color was inches thick
gum trees galore and parrots all
colors of the rainbow. In one place
whole forest of gums had been ring
barlxed and were Just as though they
had been painted white. without a
leaf or "A living thing for miles And