The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-21
"Now may not come little nearer7
asked the Hon. Guy.

"Now may ! not come little nearer 2"
asked the Hon. Guy.
"How dare you find me?" demanded
the bushranger, black with passion.
81 thought you wouldn't mind. ! am
perfectly innocuous-lookw
And, dlvesting himself of his shoot
ing coat, lie tossed it across for the
others inspection. lie wore neither
waistcOat nor hip pocket, and his inno-
cence of arms was manifest when he
had turned round slowly where he
stood.
Nov may | not come little
nearerf" asked the Hon. Guy.
"NO; keep your distance, and tell me
why you have come so far. The truth,
mind, or you'll be shotv'
Every WELL" said Kentish. They
were dreadful people on the coach
Are they waiting for you?" thun-
dered Stingaree.
mo, they've gone on; and they think
me mad"
80 you are"
I'VE shall see; meanwhile | prefer
your company to theirs and mean to
enjoy It up to the moment of my muir
der"
For an instant Stingaree seemed on
the brink Of a smile; then his dark face
hardened, and he tapped the long bar
rel in rest between his knees.
you may call 1t murder If you like"
said he. That will not prevent me
from shooting you dead unless you
speak the truth. You have come for
something; what is it?'
I've told you already. | was bored
and Disguised. That is the truth"
But not the whole truth" cried
Stingaree. "You had some other ren-
SON."
kentish looked down without speak
ing. He heard the revolver cooked.
Come, let us have it, or I'll shoot
you like the spy believe you are"
You may shoot me for telling you"
said Kentish, with a quiet laugh and
shrug.
mo; l shall not unless it turns out
that you're ground bait for the police"
"That am not" said Kentish, grow
ing serious in his turn. But since you
Insist | have come to persuade you to
give up every one of these letters
which you have no earthly right to
touch"
Their eyes met. Stingaree's were the
wider open and in an instant the less
stern. He dropped his revolver, with a
laugh, into its old place at his side.
Mad or sane" said he, IL shall be
under the unpleasant necessity Of leav.
ing you rather securely tied to one Of
these trees"
Il don't believe you will" returned
Kentish without losing n shade of his
rich cOlOrlng. But in any case | sup
pose We may have a chat first? | give
you my word that you are safe from
further intrusion TO the level best of
my knowledge and belief. May | sit
down instead of standlng?"
you may"
I'VE are a good many yards apart"
"You may reduce them by half
There"
IL thank you" said Kentish, seating
himself tailorwise within arms length
of Stingaree's spurs. "NOw, If you will
feel In the breast pocket of my coat
you will find case of very fair cigars,
not too strong. | shall be hOnored If
you will help yourself and throw me
enc"
Stingaree took the one and handed
the case with no ungrateful acknOwl-
rdgment to its owner but before Mr..
Kentish could return the courtesy by
profrering his cigar cutter the bush
ranger had produced his razor from a
pocket Of the white jacket and sliced
on the end with that.
80 you shave every day in the
wilds," remarked the other, handing
his matchbox instead. "And gave II
up on my voyage"
Il alter myself from time to time"
said Stingaree, as lie struck a light.
1T must be a wonderful life!"
But Stingaree lit up without a word,
and Kentish had the wit to do the
same They smoked in silence for
some minutes. A gray ash had grown
on each cigar before Kentish demand
ed an opinion OF the brand.
ITO tell you the TRUTH" said Stinga-
rec, II have smoked strong trash so
many years that l can scarcely taste
t."
TO be continued