The Dolores star., 1909-04-30

Jake. with sturdy loyalty. Like all
the rough fellows up-country, he
idolized Fred Stevens. And what's
past IL done with. amt IT."
Yes. But l should have been play
ing II low, old chap. to have married
her when ! felt didn't care for her
and Id got such black record back
OF me. ! couldn't do IL. It's not fair
ON . girl when she's fair In love with
you. and you. don't care. I wish I'd
never gone there now!" he added.
with sudden vehemence. Il can't get
her face out Of my mind"
The musterer gazed at the distant
blue hills. He didn't exactly follow
his companions feelings. but he under.
stood vaguely.
Poor devil!" he murmured. which
was his superlative of sympathy.
They rode on towards the hills In ST.
lence for some time. Then the mus.
terer looked up suddenly.
There's chap riding up" he said.
Comm on at no end of a pace, too {"
Stevens shaded his eyes with his
hand and stared across the plain. In
the mist rising from the rain-soaked
ground he could just make out the
dark form Of horseman coming rap
Idly nearer and nearer.
Wonder what he's after. now"
queried Jake. embellishing his re.
mark. as was his wont, with refer
ences to the Deity, his Satanic majes.
ty. and the Internal regions.
The figure came nearer still. It was
unrecOgnizable SO far. Stevens didn't
know the horse; and blue shirt.
pair Of moleskin trousers, and flop
hat are too frequent in Queensland to
be- a mark Of naturalization.
And then the newcomer raised his
arm and gave ringing "Co-e-ce!"
Stevens started.
IT'S Muilins!" he said.
who's he?"
"One Of the men down at watawa.
Particular chum Of mine"
He smacked his nag across the
tanks and started of to meet the
newcomer. Mullins flung himself ont
Of the saddle as he came up.
Say. Mr.. Stevens. you've got to get
right back to Watawa!" he beloved.
Get away right now"
why. what's up?"
Miss Dorry. She's fair lit out for
dying. You're the only chap that can
save her. She keeps asking for you
How's your nag7 Pretty fresh!"
''But what's the matter with herr
"Nothin'. Just fading away, like.
Oh. get move on, do!"
How did you find me?"
Knew where you were, weeks back,
Are you going"
Mullins. how can ! go? I'm a
blackguard. and "a"
"Oh, law and glory. what does n
matter what sort man is II girl
wants him? VIII you git?" 44
And he gave Stevens nag a smack
across the finaks that sent the beast
plunging forward like waIlaby. Fred
turned in his saddle, waved his hand,
and then buckled down to the ride He
had made up his mind. Dorry wanted
him. That was enough. And. besides,
he began to realize that he wanted
her very much, too.
1t was easy going across the plain.
for the rain had settled the choking
dust. but had not yet flooded every
thing. His pony covered mile after
mile with the swinging, steady stride
of bushbred nag. She was game
little beast, and in the pink Of condi-
tion. He reached the foot of the ran.
ges in no time.
He had to rein her in little here.
The slope was steep. and the pony's
hoofs slipped and slithered on the
shaly ground. At the top OF the first
rise she was painting, and he had to
ease her for few minutes to give her
a breather. Then they went down the
slope at q canter. and up the next
rise.
Then he urged her into handgal-
lop. The trail was invisible to any
one but bushman. But Fred Stevens
knew every inch of 1t, and the pony
threaded her way through the gum
trees as only horse bred In the bush
can.
She did the 20 miles to the Sturra
river in couple of hours Once she
seemed to falter. and Stevens heart
went into his mouth. But is was only
stumble. She recovered in q mo-
ment, and the stroke Of her hoofs was
as regular as ever, her breathing came
clear and steady.
And then they came to the river.
The ford was gone. The rain OF the
past few days had swollen the Sturra
from a narrow sluggish stream to .
wide swift flood.
Stevens reined In aghast For q
moment he stared blankly at the river.
But Mullins must have crossed It: and
though he had certainly saved his nag.
he couldn't show Fred Stevens any
thing In riding. And, anyway, there
was no help for 1t. Not for miles up
and down stream was there any sort OF
a ford Cross here he must