The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-07
Stingaree

Copyright bytCharles scribner's Sons.
81 wish you could make II tonight"
said Hardcastle, with n yawn that put
a period to n pause Of some duration.
"Why?" demanded the detective, rails
ing open eyes for once.
Because I've had a desperate week
OF It." replied Hardcastle, land am
dead with sleep"
The other carried his growing genial
fly to the length Of an almost hearty
! laugh
"My dear sir, do you suppose that
thought OF taking you with us? No,
Mr.. Hardcastle, the risks Of this sort
| of enterprise are for those who are
paid to run them. And there is a
risk. If we timed our attack too early
or too late there would be bloodshed to
a certainty. But at o'clock the aver
age man is fast asleep. At a quarter
/ after therefore start with Sergeant
| Cameron and Constable Tyler"
Hardcastle yawned again.
! 81 should like TO have been with you,
| but there are compeDsations," said he
81 doubt II shall even stay up to
| see you Off"
"If you did you would sit up alone"
returned the superintendent. 81 In
tend to turn in myself for three or
| four hours, and IL will be I'm the face
Of all my wishes, sergeant, IL you
| and Tyler do not do the same. No
| reason to tell him what short night
it's to be; 1t might prevent d young
fellow like that from getting any sleep
/ at all"
They had their simple dinner at half
| past Z, when the detective took IL on
himself TO entertain the party and sue.
ceeded so well that the entertainment
| was continued on the veranda for the
better part of another hour. Doubled
up In his chair abnormal, weird, he
recounted in particular the exploits Of
Stingaree Included n garbled version
Of the recent fiasco across the Murray
with a zest only equaled by his conf
| dent undertaking to avenge the death
of Robert Duncan before another day
was out. All listened I'm q rapt silence
and the younger men were duly disap
pointed when the party broke up pre-
maturely between and 10. But they
also had played their part in n fatlgu
ing week. BY the later hour all were
In their rooms. and before very long
Rosanna Station lay lighted only 10y
the full white moon.
Cameron wondered if it could posi-.
bly, be 2'o'clock, while Tyler sat up In.
sensate with the full weight Of his
first sleep, when their chief crept into
the double bedded room i'm which the
two policemen had been put. He
owned himself before his time by an
hour and more, but explained that he
had an idea which had only struck him
as he was about to fall asleep.
"If we hunt for the fellow in the
dark" said he, I'VE may give him the
alarm before we come on him. But II
we go now there is at least a chance
that we may find his fire to guide us.
| am aware | said he wouldn't light
one there, but everybody knows that
Stlngaree uses a spirit lamp. In any
case. it's a chance"
The sergeant dressed without more
ado, as did his subordinates on learn
ing the nature Of their midnight err
rand. Meanwhile the disturber Of
slumbers was gone to the horse yard
to start saddling The others followed
in few minutes. And there was the
horse yard overlooking with moon
shine, but empty alike Of man and
beast.
Il wonder what's got him." MUIR
INJURED the bewildered sergeant I'M
easily.
"Old Harry, for all care" mutter.
ed the other. I'm no such nuts on
him, If you ask me. There's a bit too
much Of him for my taste"
In his secret breast the sergeant en-
tertained a similar sentiment, but he