Evening star., 1914-10-13

Horsley. who was holding on to the
rail- for support, was trembling vio-
lently.
Guess you'd better turn in for a
while" the engineer advised. a,s Ihsn me NE
turned toward the wheel.
The skipper stood for some time
looking absently out to where the boat
Then. without a word to his mate. he
walked into the tiny cabin.
Jackson leaned against the wheel;
with the river stretching far aheao
yer Try as he would to avoid them.
thoughts of the gold kept coming into
his mind. Soon he found 1t impossible
to think of anything else.
Fifteen thousand dollars" he NUT
tered to himself. "Fifteen thousand
dollars"'
Then he began to conjure up strange
visions of what that sum would BUY.
soon well on the way toward breaking
the tenth commandment. Eventually
he lashed the wheel and went across
to look at the boxes. He handled them
almost lovingly. and carefully tested
you beauties he said. half aloud.
the light of Unsuitable greed leapfng
suddenly into his eyes.
The lust of gold had him in Its grip.
Fifteen thousand dollars" he was
muttering, insanely. when pair OF
strong arms pulled him away from the
boxes.
Jackson faced Horsley. but the skip
per's eyes fell before the others gaze.
Within the cabin Horsley had been
the gold. and now the same thought
flashed simultaneously into both minds.
The skipper voiced it first.
who pays us for being honest?" he
asked.
"Give 1t up" the other answered.
That's what 1 think we ought to do
with the honesty proposition. Honesty
may be the best policy when you've
parts it seems to be just unadulterated
lunacy. What's your opinion?"
What about throwing the boxes
overheard and picking them up again
getting right to the point at the first
What about the honesty policy?"
isn't our present state of chronic
against it"'
without further discussion they both
turned toward the gold. and Pine Creek
had claimed them for its own. With
boxes securely together and attached
an empty oil drum to serve as a buoy.
Then they pushed the whole thing
overheard and stood there watching
bing up and down in the Werribee's
wake. When 1t was no longer visible
Horsley turned to his mate.
The devil's claimed US. Jacky," was
Arlow was waiting for them when
they swung into the Mullewa landing
stage.
BET dollar you've seen Ike YEN
tiny wharf. Il can tell by your prayer
full looks that you've been lingering
Guess you've JUS about struck it,"
Thought it was you he'd been wor-
rying." Mat rejoined. 1.-THE mounted
police got him early this morning on
the road from Pine Creek. He was
"Jacky shot him as he swung away
in his boat with the gold." Horsley
hastened to explain.
Arlow laughed long and loud.
business" he said come ashore and
have drink"
Say" Arlow observed, when they
had named their poisons up at the
saloon. TIM going to throw my chest
proud. simply crawled all over Yen
sen with my brilliant strategy. Down
at Pine Creek. after you left last night.
let out to the crowd at Hogan's
up. knowing we'll that some one was
certain to let Yensen know. Les NAL
colin did the trick. Then. while Yensen
was out of the way dealing with you.
I brought the gold up by road. When
Yensen landed. after cleaning you out,
his mates must have cleared with the
three boxes. leaving him to die on the
road Reckon those road agents
thought they'd tapped something worth
while. Anyhow. they won't get amaz-
ing1y rich out Of that wash-up."
Mat gulped the liquor in his glass.
There isn't such a frantic sale for
lead in this derned country" he said
(THE END.)