Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-03-05

Full of tricks he always wasi" NUT
tered Tom, and that was all he said
during the half hour he sat star
ing wildly at the heap, occasionally
turning, with a start, to hear in the
chirrup of a cricket the jeering cackle
Of old John Rooney.
Presently he rose, cleared the rub
bish into the yard and went to bed.
Next morning the first poignancy of
his disappointment was passed. In
deed, the matter that stood most prom
inently In his mind was the loss of the
f200 he had paid for tie field. But IN
further thought he was able to relieve
his depression by the conclusion that
he would have small difficulty in coax
ing the amount from easy going Frank
and sc restore affairs to their original
condition.
With this purpose in view he set out
to call on Frank, quite forgetting the
warning In the will and the bamboo
stick.
Frank, too, appeared to have permit
ted his testamentary duties to slip his
memory, for he babe the old man well
come and hailed him to the parlor with
every demonstration of respect. The
object of Toms visit filled him with
delighted speculation. Was it some
thing about Kitty? Had Tom repented
of his harsh opposition?
His heart leaped wildly, but grew
calm enough again when Tom referred
with m%ournful air to the matter of the
, purchase of the field as the reason of
his call.
The mention of Kitty was enough
for Frank. Up he jumped and, going
to the press in the corner, extracted
from a little box the check just as
Tom handed 1t to him.
Toms eyes glittered as he crushed it
into his pocket.
you're a thoroughbred, Frank"
said he, land If l can do anything for
We, my boy, command ne"
"Give me Kitty, them" said Frank,
promptly Selling the opportunity.
Good humor instantly fled the old
mans face. 1t became hard, finty.
But, conscious that he owed Frank
something for the ready return of the
check, he resorted to diplomatic eva
sion to smooth over the incident.
Before l answer that let me ask
you a question:" he said.
"Well?"
"Have you ever made a search for
Rooney's money that he got by the
American uncleY"
Indeed l did. l searched every
where in the house. but not a thrace
of 1t could l find"
"But it must be somewhere, Frank.
Ould John couldn't have taken it away
with him.
'"That's thrue."
swell, now, just listen to this. If
you find that money I'll give you Kit
ty."
Franks yes rolled wildly in the ex-
citement of the prospect this remark
Qpeu@i1putt to- him one nf-1hAse
revolutions they encountered the BAN
boo stick. A chill struck him. for he
was at once reminded of the duty i'm
posed by the will, which left him no
alternative but to "belt' out of the
house the man whom it was his best
interest to propitiate. But, though his
soul girded at the task, the bamboo
drew him as if the very spirit of old
John Rooney possessed it.
"Sorry l am, Tom Gaynor, but We
must get out of this" he said, leaping
to his feet and running to the corner,
Remember what the will said, man.
You're to be belted out of this place
every time We come into it. Be of
now, if you PLACE. Quick. man! Sure
it's not my fault, but it can't be help.
ed anyway"
Frank purposely fumbled with the
stick to allow Tom to collect faculties
grievously scattered by the abrupt out.
burst.
"Are We gomez cried Frank, way.
ing the bamboo menacingly as he
swung around, just in time to see old
Toms coattails disappear through the
door.
Down along the path sped Tom
with Frank not a yard behind, i'm.
proving his position gradually by way
of demonstrating that there was nc
deception in his effort. To give fur
Their evidence Of his determination tC
carry out his testamentary obligations
he made a fierce blow at Tom just as
he flew through the gate. The blow
missed Tom, as indeed It was intended
to do, but struck the gate with ter
rife force.
Now In safe territory, Tom drew up
gasping for breati, nile Frank gazed
ruefully at the bamboo broken across
the middle.
"Begor, I've done for ould Rooney's
bamboo" said he. "But what's this
here?" gazing closely at the slit. "It's
hollow within, and there's something
In 1t. What can it beT' he added, pull
ing out a long tube of papers.
"There's more of them here up the
hollow" he said, throwing the papers
on the ground and proceeding to fur