The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-01-17

had passed between himself and Sting.
aree. IT only he might yet grow more
like his master. If only he might still
hope to follow so sublime a lead.
Thus aspiring, -.inly as now he
knew, Oswald Melvin rode slowly back
into the excited town and past the
lighted police barracks in the inno-
cence Of that portion of his heart. But
one had flown like the wind ahead of
lin, and two in uniform, followed by
that one, dashed out on Oswald and
the old white screw.
"~Surrender!" sang out one.
I'm the queens name.' added the
other.
Call yourself Stingaree.w painted
the runner.
Our egoist was quick enough to
grasp their meaning. but quicker still
to see and to seize the chance of a
crazy lifetime. Always acute where
his Owl vanity was touched. his
promptitude was for once on a par
with his perceptions.
Had your eye on me long," he in
CURED, delightfully."-, as he dismounted.
Long enough" said one policeman.
Inc other was busy plucking loaded
revolvers from the desperado's pock-
cts. A crowd had formed.
IF you're looking for the loot" he
went on, raising his voice for the bene-
mt OF all, you may look. l shan't tell
and it'll tai you all your time..'
Rnf q Cl1rnriSn roo, -, r+o,o g., ,,,;.
e and police alike. Every stolen
watch and all the missing money were
discovered no later than next morning
IN the bush quite close to the scene of
the outrage. There had been no at
tempt to hide them, They lay in a
heap, dumped from the saddle. with
no more depreciation than a broken
watch glass. True to his new charac-
ter, Oswald learned this DEVELOPMENT
without f'inching. His ready comment
in next days papers,.
There was nothing worth having"
he had maintained. and did not see the
wisdom OF the boast until a lawyer
called and pointed out that 1t contain
ed the nucleus Of a strong defense.
I'll defend myself, thank you,' said
the inflated fool.
Then you'll make a mess of it and
deserve all you get. And it would be
a pity to spoil such a good Defense"
What is the defense?"
"1o did 1t for a joke, of course"
Oswald smiled inscrutably and dis
missed his visitor with a lordly prom
Use to consider the proposition and
That lawyers claims Upon the case.
Never was such triumph tasted in
guilty immunity as was this innocent
mans under cloud Of guilt so apparent
as TO impose on every mind. He had
but carried out a notorious intention,
for his few friends We're the first to be-
tray their captain, albeit his bold bear
ing and magnanimous smiles won an
admiration which they had never be-
fore vouchSafed him in their hearts.
He was, indeed, a different man. He
had lived to see S%tingaree In action.
and now he modelled himself from the
life. The only doubt was as to wheth-
er at the last of that business he had
actually avowed himself Stingaree or
not.
There might have been trouble about
the horse, but fortunately for the en-
thusiastic prisoner the man who had
been thrown was allowed to proceed
On a pressing journey to the Barcoo.
There was a plethora Of evidence with
out his, besides. the hide and bone
mare was called Rarmaid after the
and it was known that Os-
had tried to teach the old crea-
tricks. Above all, the prisoner
had never pretended to deny his guilt.
Still, this matter of the horses gave
him a certain sense of insecurity in his
cosy cell.
lie had awakened to find himself not