Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-11-15
Good Lord" he cried; Il though

ilN "
You don't mean to say they're COM
ing back?"
Il do: worse luck Cameron, Tyler
and some new joker in plain clothes"
Hardcastle finished his drink with
resigned smile and stood on the veran-
ola to receive the intruders.
after all. it will staye off the reac-
ton l began to feel the moment they
had turned their backs said he.
well well. we'll; | thought I'd just
got rid Of YOU fellows, and back you
come like base COIN.
You mustn't blame us, said the ser
geant. first to dismount. I'VE couldn't
know that Superintendent Cairns had
been sent up from Sydney, much less
that we should ride right into him in
your horse paddock
The squatter had stepped down from
the veranda with polite alacrity.
Glad to see you. Mr.. Cairns said
he. Il only wish you had come be-
FORE
The creature in the plain clothes
looked about him with dry smile and
sharp eye upon the younger men and
the empty glasses as he and the ser
geant accompanied Hardcastle to the
veranda. while Tyler took charge or
the three horses The fame of Cairns
had travelled before him to ROsanna.
but none had been prepared for a flg-
ure so weird or for a continuance so
liCr1N II G
were equally uncouth. He shook his
bent head to decline refreshments ne
pointedly ignored Il generalization OF
Hardcastles about the crime. ana When
he sroke it was in gratuitousiy sat
irical style of his own.
May ask. Mr.. Hardcastle.. II you
are the owner or the manager or tnls
lodge in a nowling Wilderness:
I'm sorry to say | am botn.
Il appreciate the sorrow. faliea 70
discern a single green blade as | came
along.
We depend on salt bush and the
like"
have had several lean years:
There's no denying it.
Il am sorry to be one of so many
jntruders in such season. Mr.. Hard
castle, but L shall not trouble you
long. | hope to take the murderer TO-
night
''Stingaree:'
Not quite 50 loud. please, Whom else
should YOU suppose: You may be III
terested TO hear that he has been in
hiding on your run for several DAYS
and so have L. within fairly easy reach
of him But lie is rot man 10 DC
taken single handed without further
loss of life. so | intercepted YOU. ser
geant, and now You are both enilGht-
ened Tonight. with your assistance
and that Of your young colleague
count upon Il b!oodieSs victory. But
| should prefer you. Mr.. HardcaStle'
not to mention the matter. to the very
Young men whom | noticed i'll YOUR
company on my arrival. Have | your
promise to comply with my wishes on
this point. and on any other which
may arise in connection with the cap
ture:"
And Il stcely glitter shot through the
betting eyebrows. hut Hardcastle had
given his word before the request was
rounded to that pcdantic ncatnesS
which characterized the grabbed ut
teyances of the round shOuldered die
tator
''That is WE'LL he Went on, for now
| can admit YOU both into my Plan OF
campaign. Suppose we sit down here
on the veranda ut the end farthest
from any door BE good enough to
draw your chairs nearer minc. gentle
men. It might he dangerous If q
fourth person heard me say that had
discovered the murClerer's i'll gotten
hoard"'
Not YOU SIR cried Cameron.
Indeed no human being but my
self" the bent man ayerred. turning
with mischevous humOr from one 40
the other of his nStOnished hearers.
Yes. there was more gold than |
would have credited Il sane S"Ot@hman
with carrying through the wilds, but
the bulk WAS in small notes. and the
whole h3S been buried in the scrub
close to the scene Of the murder,
doubtless to avoid at once the detec-
ton and the division of such unusual
spoil
You are thinking Of his mater
II was Cameron who had asked the
question. but Mr.. Hardcastle followed
Immediately with another.
did YOU remove the spoil:
My dear Mr. Hardcastle. how you
must lack the detective instinct. OF
course I left everything as nearly as
possible as | found it. The man
camps Oh the spot Or very near it. lie
lights no fires and is careful to leave
no marks. but | am more or less CON
WINGED of it. And that is where shall
take him tonight or. rather, early to-
morrow morning.
81 wish YOU could make it tonight
said Hardcastle. with a yawn that put
a period to a pause of some duration.
"Why?" demanded the detective.