New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-12-18
You can't stop and, do it without

! H..
: oh, Ill stay, curse you, I'll stay!'
And I'll have my volunteer, wheth
er you stay or not"
The pair had scarcely parted whel
the trapdoor opened slowly and stayet
open for the first time. The voice O
Stingaree came rich and crisp from
behind the counter
Your old woman has got away t.
the police barracks and the place Il
surrounded. One of you has got t.
come up and help. and help fair, or &c,
a bullet in his heart / give you one
minute to choose your man."
But in one second the man had
chosen himself. Without a word. or q
glance at any Of his companions, but
with a face burning with extraordi.
nary fires. Fergus Carrick sprang for
the clean edge Of the trapdoor. caught
1t first with one hand and then with
both. drew himself up like the gym
mast he had been at his Scottish school
and found himself prone upon floor
and trapdoor as the latter closed un-
DER him on the release Of the lever
winch St1ngaree understood so well. A
yen OF execration followed him into
the upper air. And Stingaree was
across the counter before his new ally
had picked himself up.
] That's because this was expected
OF me-" said Fergus grimly, to explain
the cashiers reiterated anathemas. II
was the writer Of the registered letter
that's led to all this. So now I'm 60
ing the whole hog"
You mean that? No nonsense?"
You shall see"
Il should shoot you like a native
cat"
You couldn't do me better turn"
A.iei.. swear on your knees that
you won't use it against me or my
mate and I'll trust you with this re-
volver You may fire as high rs you
please. but they must think we're three
instead Of two"
Fergus took the oath in fierce ear
nest upon his knees. was handed the
weapon belonging to the bank and
posted in his own bedroom window
at the rear of the building
Carrick saw heads and shoulders |
hunched to aim over stable doors as
he obeyed his orders and kept his oath. |
His high fire drew a deadlier upon
himself; stream Of lead whistled into |
the room past his ear.
Fergus sighed relief as he sought
Stingaree and found him with a com
1cal face before the open safe.
House full Of paltry paper!' said he
Il suppose it's the old sportsman's GUS
tom to get rid of most Of his heavy
metal before closing on SaturdaysY'
Fergus said it was. He had him
self slowed many a strong box aboard
unsupported barges for Echuca.
well, nOw's our time to leave you,"
continued Stingaree IF I'm not mis-
taken their fight Is simply for the1
and in two or three more
,hey'll be back to batter in the bank
shutters. I wonder what they think
we've done with our horses? I'll bet
hey've looked everywhere but in the
arder next the kitchen door-not that
4
mates in there now, mounted and .
waiting. and l shall have to leave
'ou."
But l was coming with your cried
Fergus. aghast.
Stingaree's eyeglass dangled on its
ord i
I'm afraid must trouble you to :
tep into the safe instead" said he i
milling f
Man, l mean it. You think don't | q
We fought on your side Of my own y
rec will How can l live that down:
is the only side for me for the rest t
f time" 6
II believe you do mean it."
you shall shoot me if l don't"
Il most certainly should. But my p
nate HOWE has his obvious limita-
ons. I've long wanted drop Of new o
lood. Barmaid's thoroughbred and 4
.rong as an elephant. We're neither
us heavyweights. By the powers,
II trust you, and you shall ride be- e
Ind" q
NO", .DA1ALdlO was ZIG u1llk WHLc | h
ARE that Was only less notorious -
ian her lawless rider. 1t was noised -
travellers huts and around campfires
lat she would do more at her masters
ord than had been known of horse
ltside q circus. It was the one touch
at Stingaree had borrowed from a ot
ore NapoleOnic but incomparab4y nj
'arser and crueller knight Of the bush n,
all other respects the up to date -,
ssperado was unique. 1t was a stroke o.
luck, however, that there happened ~
be an old white mare in the bank ~
ables. which the police had impound- =,
with solemn care while turning ~
cry other animal adrift And so it
II out that not shot followed the ~
Ounted bushrangers into the night.
Stingaree and Fergus sat saddle and
reback without a break until near IL
wn their pioneer spurred forward e'
t again and was swallowed in IN
aely haze. 1t was cold as a sharp
ring night in England. But for a ire
lie or more Fergus had chung on
tn but one arm round the bushran- wi
RS waist. Now the right arm came