Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-01-03
SIS he ruined?' asked Stingaree.

"But-but what ails him. MADAME
"Villain worshipv' cried the lady,
with tragic face stripped of all it's
humor and bare without it as win
ter's tree
Il remember. Yes-I understand
He was mad about-Stingaree"
1T is madness now." said the bitter
mother. 1T was only stupid, hare
Drained fancy then, but now it is
something worse. You're the first to
whom I have admitted it, she con-
tinued with illogical Indignation. be
cause it's all through your
"All through me-"
"You told him a tale. You made
that villain a greater hero in his eyes
than ever. You made him real"
He is real enough. God knows
"But you made him so to my SON"
The keen eyes sOftened for one di-
vine instant before they filed. And |
i am talking my own boy over with
WITH
Stingaree stood in twofold embar-
rassment. Did she know after all who
he was? And what had he said he
was the time before?
THE lowest of the low" he answer
ed, with a twitch of his unshaven lips.
No. That you were not, or are not,
whatever you may say. You"-she
hesitated sweetly-''you had been I'M
steady when you were here before"
He twitched again imperceptibly. Il
am thankful to see that you are now
more like what you must once have
been. [ can bear to tell you of my
boy. Oh, sir, can you bear with me?'
Stngaree tWitched no more Rich
as the situation was, keenly as he had
savored it's unsupported irony, the hui
NOR was all over for him. Here was
woman, still young, sweet and kind,
and gentle as childish memory, with
her fine eys full of tears.
Il should be ashamed to tell you the
childish lengths to which he has gone"
she went on, IF he were quite him
self on the point But indeed he is not.
He is Stingaree in his heart, Stingaree
in his dreams; it is as debasing a form
as mental and temperamental weakness
could we'll take, yet | know, who watch
over him half the night. He has an
eyeglass; he keeps revolvers; he has
even bought a white mare! He can
look extremely like the portraits one
has seen of the wretched man. But
come with me one moment"
She took the lamp and led the way
vim slept. He had slept in it from that
boyhood in which the brave woman had
opened this sort of shop entirely for
his sake. Music was his only talent;
he was obviously not to be a genius in
the musical world, but it was the only
one in which she could foresee the self
ish, self willed child figuring with cred
it, and her foresight was only equalled
by her resource. The business was ripe
and ready for him when he grew up.
And this was what he was making
Of it,
But Stingaree saw only the little bed
that had once been far too large, the
Bible still by its side, read or unread,
the parents portraits overhead. The
mother was looking in an opposite di
rection; he followed her eyes, and there
at the foot, where the infatuated fool
could see it last thing at night and
first in the morning, was an enlarged
photograph of the bushranger himself.
1t had been taken in audacious cir
cumstances year or two before. A
travelling photographer had been one Of
yet another coach load turned out and
stood in a line by the masterful mas
terless man.
NOW you may take my photograph.
The police refuse to know me when we
do meet. Give them a chance"
And he had posed on the spot, with
eyeglass up and pistols pointed, as he
saw himself now, not less than quar-
ter life size in great gaudy frame.
But while he stared Mrs. Melvin had
been rummaging in drawer, and when
he turned she was staring in her turn
with CLASSY eyes. In her hands was an
empty mahogany case with velvet
molds which ought to have been filed
by a brace of missing revolvers.
He kept it locked-he kept them in
it.' she gasped. He may have done
it this very night.''
Done WHAT"
|'Stuck up the Deniliquin mail. That
is his maddest dream. l have heard
him boast of it to his friends-the
brainless boys who alone look up to
him--l have even heard him rave of it
in his dreams"
Stingaree was heavy for a moment
with Il mental calculation. His head
was Il time table of Cobb's coaches on
the Riverina road system; he nodded
it as he located the imperiled vehicle.
Il dream it shall remain said he.
But there's not moment to lose!"
DO you propose to follow and stop
him:'
IF he really means it."
He may not He will ride at night.
He is often out as late
..(,oinr and coming about the same