The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-02
Fernie's Revenge.


outlawed and a warrant issued for
his arrest. There was circumstantial
evidence only to prove that he had
shot the suriy old hutkeeper on Rip
pleford outstation, who was known
to be a man of no friends and many
enemies, and who lived, according to
local gossip, In constant terror OF his
life from q mate, on whom he had
turned Queens evidence years ago
But on that night Gilbert Lloyd's i'm
ported mare had disappeared from
the paddock at the outstation, and
was known to be in the hands Of the
wild range dweller, who had lived on
the possession of his fellow men for
so many years. There was much to
prove that the hutkeeper had dis
turbed Fernie at his work, and had
been shot In the back while running
away to give the alarm.
"Fernie might be a bushranger
and a daredevil at the best, but he
would never shoot an unarmed man
In the back" said his supporters In
the district; but they we're shady
lot themselves. and Gilbert Lloyd,
who had lately bought Rippleford.
3wore that he would rid the district
" the outlaw, who seemed to consid
,r that stray sheep or bullock was
mis- due so long as It came from the
rich folks fiocks or herds.
Gilbert was more than ever keen
about this matter because he fan
cied that to accomplish 1t would give
iim better footing among his
neighbors. Before he had come to
the district he had been society
darling, and he was aii1oyed TO see
that all his town accomplishments
were as naught in the eyes of the ST.
lent, sunburued young bushmen,
simply because he couldn't ride
through timber, and was unlearned
n bushcraft. He had wooed and won
The beauty of the district, and he was
unpleasantly surprised to see that
she was commiserated with instead
)f congratulated upon her conquest.
Now his chance had come to do
something which they had failed to
10. The stealing of his favorite
mare had enraged him beyond ex.
preston, for Fernie had staggered
into the wayside inn bar the day be-
'ore and asserted laughingly that the
next time he took something from
2ippleford It would be valuable.
This was after Lloyd had failed to
convict him of killing a sheep in the
liver paddocks; its skin had been
AIMED and forwarded to him by
1alf-witted black boy soon after
ward. Now that chance had given
his enemy into his hands, Gilbert
ised all his energy and influence to
convict him. Black trackers had come
Up from Polnsettia, and first-cla5s
detective. Fernie and his attending
'prite-a young Dawson black fell
ow-had been traced to cave in
he Barrier range, and the police
we're drawing Gordon round the
,lace. 1t was annoying that upon the
'ery night that the capture would he
made Rose Western, his fancee. and
his sister, Maude Lloyd, should
'hoose to arrive by coach at the bush
own. The capture of Fernie would
ouse 1t to fever heat, and the girls
we're safest and best at Rippleford.
rnere was no one to escort them
here but Lloyd himself, and II was
With a feeling of annoyance that he
made the necessary arrangements to
lrive out with them in the chill of q
'pring dawning from the bush hotel,
where the attendants scowled un-
f.~,. l. I,, Il
iervant girl refused to wait upon
lin, and openly gave her opinion of
his character to the grinning black
woman in the kithchen.
To add to his worries Ben John
ION, the driver, was usually drunk.
he climbed to his high seat on the
station trap, with cheerful remarks
that he hoped the ladies would
'skuse him. but gentleman had to
rink when other gentlemen shouted
or him. Rose and Maude Ca school
girl just grown up, and in her first
long frock) were rather nervous.
Had you not better take the
reins. Gilbert?" said Rose, in a low
voice.
Gilbert could no more drive four
horses that he could fly, and he as
sured the girls that Ben, though
drunk, could drive far better than
the average man sober; and he was
right to certain extent. While in
the cheerful stage Ben could drive,
and Rose was so delighted at seeing
the road which led to her old home
for II was from the Westerns that
Gilbert had bought Rippleford--tha
she soon forgot her fears. Maude
was far too young and enthusiastic
to worry, and rather enjoyed the
sharp turns and swerves of the big
station wagonette. Although she may
not have realized II, II was great
deal for the sake OF Rippleford that
Rose accepted Gilbert Lloyd. and she
had enjoyed the congratulations of
her Sydney friends and the kudos
that society gives TO the girl who is
making a good match. Gilbert was
good looking. too. in a small, fair,
dapper style. and Miss Western felt
at peace with the world as they flew
along the red scrub road, with the
glorious scents OF the forest around
them and the freshness of the spring
dawn to I'LL their young hearts with
the wine and tov Of living And Oil