The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-28
Stingaree
nv r.. W. HORNUNG.
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons

you'll do no such thing. But you
shall see how It's done, and then ask
yourself candldly II It's nice work and
II you're the man 20 do t. Ride
hundred yards further In, tether your
horse quickly IN the thickest scrub you
can find, then run back and climb into
the fork Of this gum tree. You'll have
time; II you're sharp I'll give you
leg UP. But | sha'nt be surprised n
I don't see you again.
And II you come down before I'm
done and gone--if it's not TO glory
I'll run some lead through you! You1l
be the frstr
Oswald perched rejecting on this
final threat and the scene soon en-.
acted before his eyes was viewed as
usual through the aura Of his own ego.
ism. He longed all the time to be tax.
ing part I'm It. He could see himself
so distinctly at the work, save for
about a minute I'm the middle, when
for once I'm his life he held his breath
and trembled for other skins
There had been no unusual feature
The life size coach lamps had shown
their mountain range of outside pas.
sengers against mOonlit sky or trees
A cigar paled and Redeemed between
the teeth Of one, plain wreaths OF
smoke 1Oated from his lips, with but
an instant's break, when Sungaree rode
out and stopped the coach. The three
leaders reared; the two wheelers were
pulled almost to their launches. The
driver was docile I'm deed, though pro
fame In word, and Stingaree himself
discovered q hOrrifying vocabulary out
Of keeping with his reputation. In an
incredibly few minutes driver and pas.
sengers were formed in n line aud rob.
bed in rotation, all but two ladies', who
were kept inside unmolested. A fla.
grant Irishman declared II was the
prOudest day Of his life.
One of the ladies had got down from
the coach on the or side, and, behold,
1t was man wrapped In rug, which
dropped from him as he crept round
behind the horses. At their head stood
the lily mare as II doing her own ne.
farious part by her own kind. In a
twinkling the mad adventurer was on
her back, and all this time Oswald
lOnged TO jump down, or at least to
shout a warning to his hero; but, as
usual, his desires were unproductive
Of wOrd or deed And then Stingaree
saw his man.
He did not fire; he did not shift sight
or barrel for moment from tie docile
file before him. "BaTIEaid! BARNARD.
my pet!' he cried ard hardly looked to
see what happened.
But Oswald watched the mare stop,
prick her ears under the hammering of
unspured heels. spin round, bucking
aaaha4pm, and toss her rider like a
bun There in the moonlight he lay
lfne had, with leaden face upturned
to the shuddering yOungster in the
tree.
Zone OF you a doctOr?" asked Stin-
garee, checking a forward movement
otVthe file.
= am
The cigar was paling between a I'm.
ger and thumb.
'-Then come you here and have
look at him. The rest Of you move at
your peril"
Stngaree led the way, stepping back
ward. but not as far as the injured
man, who sat up ruefully as the bush
ranger sprang into the saddle.
Another yard and I'd have grabbed
your ankles!" said the man ON the
ground.
You're a stout fellow, but l know
more about this game than you" the
outlaw answered, riding to his distance
and refining up. "If didn't you might
have had me, but you must think OF
something better for Stingaree"
He galloped his mare into the bush,
and Oswald chung I'm lonely terror to
his tree. A snatch of conversation
called him to attention. The plumber
ed party were clambering philosophical
ly to their seats, while the driver bias
phemed delightedly over the integrity
OF his mails.
"That wasn't Stingaree. said one.
"You bet 1t wasw
But II it wasn't Stingaree who was
it?"
1T was him, all right. Look at the
mare"
"She isn't the only white 'orse ever
foaled," remarked the driver, sorting
bis fistful Of reins.
But who else could 1t have beenT
The driver uttered an inspired i'm
precation.
81 can tell you. l chanst to live In
this here township we're comm to.
On second thoughts I'll keep 1t TO my
self till we get there"
And he cracked his whip.
Oswald himself rode back 10 the
township before the moon went down.
He was very heavy with his own re-
Elections. How magnificent! 1t had
all surpassed his most extravagant I'm.
aglnings.
But the ny OF self must always poi
son this young mons ointment, and
tonight there was some excuse from
his degenerate point OF view.
Thus aspiring, valnly 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
him. and two in uniform, followed by
that one, dashed out on Oswald and
the old white screw,