Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-17

They gave the saloon at New Maidstone.
New South Wales, a wide berth that after
noon. Bill Dixon was there and his mood
was ugly. Nobody could tell when he
might begin TO shoot.
He had ridden into the little sheep-shear-
ing settlement an hour before. after six
months spent In Sydney, and his first ques-
ton was. naturally:
Where's Kate?'
The men whom he asked muttered that
they didn't know and drifted away about
their business, looking at him with curious
pity.
Hello. Lizzie, where's Kate?' Bill re-
peated walking over TO a slatternly woman
who was washing clothes IN the stream
that ran past the settlement.
Didn't the men have the pluck TO tell
you? I'm sorry, Bill"
''Sorry7 Why. what do you mean?' he
asked. roughly. seizing her by the wrist
until she WINGED She amt dead?'
NO she amt dead--or sick. neither
Shes gone and married Jack Dibble. that's
all"
Bill stood for a moment, dazed. Then he
smiled uncertainty.
you were always fond of kidding man,
Lizzie he said. eagerly. You know that
cant be true. She was engaged TO mo
why. I've come back to marry her, and
Jack was my best chum. He wouldn act
like that He's a decent chap, is Jack.
They've been married nearly three
months" the woman repeated, stoiidly.
ASK anybody"
Bill asked several persons, and found
that the news was only too true. lie
ragged around the settlement, but failed 70
find Kate or her husband. Then he Went
10 the saloon and even his old friends kept
out of his way.
keeper. went in presently and took him by
the arm
''see here. Bill" he demonstrated.
You're playing the kid. It's hard luck,
but you won't mend II here. Get your
horse and go home to your station.
Bill looked at his friend savagely for
moment. and then mis- face cleared.
you're a good fellow, Dick he said.
en- go now. but I'll come back and put
bullet IN that cur. Dibble.'
He mounted his horse at the door of the
FALCON and cantered down the single street
of New Maidstone. But he had not gone
fifty yards before he suddenly came race
TO face with Young woman who was car
Tying pitcher Of water IN her hand
When she saw him. her petty. fatuous
face turned as pale as ashes. and she let
the pitch drop to the ground with crash.
Bill refined up his horse sharply. gripping
the rens so tightly that the blood nearly
spurted fr ON his finger nails.
Kate" he cried, leaning over his horses
neck and graspng her by the wrist. $50
I've found YOU at last, my girl
I'm not your girl'" replied the woman,
defantly
NO, you're Jack Dibhle's wite-Jack Dbl
BILE, the man / thought my frieud-the cur
who stole you after you had promised TO
marry met
Il took who 1 LIKED, the woman said,
with spirit
You liked me well enough tin that
cur came between us Bill growled.
Where is he2'
IF he was here he'd soon settle you"
Kate cried. sCornfully. But he's not here,
and you won't find out where he is.
Dick Silver, who had watched the scene
from the door Of the saloon. now came up
and persuaded his old friend to ride on.
As he did SO Bill shook his fist at the
woman
Keep your husband out OF the way"
he shouted III come back for him"
A week after he had seen his faithless
sweetheart Dixon was riding through the
woods near New Maidstone sitting list
lessly on his horse and feeling as If he
cared little what happened TO him now.
lie had been over to Wallamooloo. a
neigh boring settlement, and was return