The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-04

you're the next dead man."
shouldn't be surprised II he's the first
TO find you"
mo more should II said n harsh
voice behind the bushranger. Hands
up and empty. Sdngaree, or you're the
next dead man in this little colonyV
Quick as thought Stlngaree stepped
In front of the tied Victorian. But
his hands were up and his eyeglass
dangling on its string.
"Oh, you don't catch me kill two
BIRDS rasped the newcomers voice,
though I'm not sure which Of you
would be least loss"
Stingaree stood aside once more and
waved his hands without lowering
them, bowling from his captor to his
captive as he did so.
Superintendent Cairns OF New
South Wales-Inspector Kilbrlde of
Victoria" said he. you two men will
be glad to know each other"
The New South Welshman drawled
out a dry expression Of his own salts
faction. His was a strange and strik-
ing personality. Dark as n mulatto
and round shouldered to the extent Of
some distinct deformity, he carried his
eyes high under the lids and shot his
piercing glance from under the pent-
house Of beetling brow. A lipless
mouth was pursed in such a fashion
as TO shorten the upper lip and exag.
gerate an already powerful chin. And
this STOPPING and intent carriage was
no less suggestive OF the human sleuth
hound than were the yelled vigilance
and logged determination OF the low
cred face. Such was the man who had
succeeded where Kilbride had failed
succeeded at the most humiliating mo-
hent OF that most ignomlnlous failure
and who came unwarrantably from
he wrong side Of the Murray. The
Victorian stood in his bonds and favor
ed his rival with such a glare as he
had not leveled at sdngaree himself.
But not a syllable did Kilbride vouch-
safe And the superintendent was
fully occupied with his prisoner.
Little crooked Cairns, am n There
are those that look jolly sight small
er, and'll have a worse hump than
mine for the rest Of their born days!
Come nearer and turn your back"
And the revolver was withdrawn
from its carrier on the stolen constabu-
larry belt. The bushranger was then
searched for other weapons, then
marched into the bush at the pistols
point and brought back handcuffed to
the superintendent bride.
"rhat's the way you'll come march
ing home, my boy. and one Of us ON
horseback each side. Don't trust you
in saddle on a dark nightP'
Indeed, II was nearly dark already.
and in the nebulous middle distance a
laughing jackass was INDUCING IA his
evening peal Cairns jerked his head
in the direction OF the unearthly cackle.
Lots OF 'em down here In Vic. be-
lleve," said he and at length turned
bis attention 10 the bound man. You
see, ! wanted to land him alive aud
kicking without splitting HOOD" he con-
tlnued, opening his knife That was
why had TO let him tie you up"
"You let himT Numbered the Vie
tOrian, breaking his silence with bel
low. IL was as though the man with
the knife had cut through the rope into
the bound mans body
"Stand stiIl." said he, "or may hurt
you. had to let him, my good fellow,
or we'd have been dropping each other
like bullOcks. AS ii is. not "A scratch
between us, though ! found young
Bowen In a pretty bad way. Our
friend had stuck up Jumping Greek
barracks In the small hours. Put bull !
let through Bowers eg aud come
away IN his uniform. l'rcily TALL. that, !
ehl shouldn't wonder u you'd swing
him for II alone down here 10 We. No I
doubt you've got 10 be more severe In
a young colony. Well / tracked my |
gentleman 10 the barracks, ana found !
Bowen IN bis blood, sent my trooper