The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-11-15

well. we'll, 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
.Sennt. frst,to dismoNnt. I'VE couldn't
know that Superintendent Cairns had.
been sent up front Sydney. much less
that we should ride right into him in
your horse paddock"
,4The squatter had stepped dow from
the leranda 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 a dry smile and
a 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 of
the three horses. The fame of Cairns
had travelled before him to Rosanna.
but none had been prepared for n fig
ure so weird or for a continuance so
%forhidding and malicn. His
We're equally %uncouth. He shook his
bent head to decline refreshment.
May l ask. Mr.. Hardcastle. If you
are the owner or the manager of this
lodge in a howling wilderness:
I'm sorry to say | am both
II appreciate the sorrow. | failed TO
discern a single green blade as came
along"
1--WE depend on salt bush and the
like"
I'm spite Of which, I believe. you
have had several lean years.
There's 10 denying it."
II am sorry to be one Of so many
intruders in such a season. MIR. Hard
castle, but I shall not trouble you
long. 1 hope to take the murderer to-
night"
"~Stingaree:"
mot quite so loud. please. Whom else
should you suppose? You may be IN
terested to hear that he has been in
hiding on your run for several days.
and so have I. within fairly easy reach
Of him. But he is not a man to be
taken single handed without further
loss Of life, so l intercepted you, SER
ceant, and now you are both enlight-
ened. Tonight. with your assistance
and that of your young colleague. l
count pom a bloodless victory. But
l should prefer you, Mr.. Hardcastle,
not to mention the matter to the very
young men whom I noticed in your
company on my arrival. Have I your
promise to comply with my wishes on
this point, and on any other which
may arise in connection with the cap
ture:'
And a steely glitter shot through the
given his word before the request was
rounded to that pedantic neatneSs
which characterized the Grabbed ut
terances Of the round shOuldered die
tator.
That is well" he went on. "for now
l can admit you both into my plan Of
campaign. Suppose we sit down here
on the veranda at the end farthest
from any door. BE good enough to
draw your chairs nearer mine, gentle
men. 1t might be dangerous if a
fourth person heard me say that l had
hoard..'
Not you. sir" cried Cameron.
Indeed no human being but my
self" the bent man averred, turning
with miscellaneous humOr from n to
the other Of his astonishcd hearers.
Yes. there was more gold than |
would have credited a sane ScOtchman
with carrying through the wilds, but
the bulk was in small notes. and the
whole has becn 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 matc"'
1t was Cameron who had asked the
question. but Mr., Hardcastlc followed
immediately with another.
Did . renovc the spoil:
MY dear Mr.. Hardcastle. how you
must lack the detective instinct OF
course | left everything as nearly as
uoS>ih!r as | found it. The man
camps on th" spot or very near it. tie
lights NO fires and is careful to leave
no marks. but am more or less con-
vinced Of it. Md that is where ] shall
take him tonight ", rather. early to-
morrow morning."
II wish You could make it tonight
said lInrlca>tlo. with Il .yaWn that put
\ period to a pause Of some duration.
"Why:' demanded tho detective,
raising open eyes FOR once.
"Bccnuse I've had Il desperate week
of it." replied IIardcastlc. land am