The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-10

You can't stop and do 1t without
me-"
"Oh, yes, l can. I'll call for volun-
teer from below. You show them your
spurs and save your skin"
ooh, I'll stay, curse you, I'll stay!
And I'll have my volunteer, wheth-
err you stay or not"
The pair had scarcely parted when
the trapdoor opened slowly and stayed
open for the first time. The voice Of
Stingaree came rich and crisp from
behind the counter.
''Your old woman has got away to
the police barracks and the place is
surrounded. One of you has got to
come up and help, and help fair, or get
a bullet in his heart. l give you one
minute to choose your man."
But in one second the man had
chosen himself Without a word, or a
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
il 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
which Stingaree understood 50 well. A
yell of eXecratiOn followed him into
the upper air And Stingarce was
across the counter before his new ally
had picked himself up.
That's because this was expected
Of me-" said Fergus erimly, to explain
the cashiers reiterated GuathcmaS. II
was the writer of the registered letter
that's led to all this. So now I'm GO
Ing the whole hog"
You mean that? No nOnsenseY"
"You shall see."
81 should shoot you like native
cat"
"You couldn't do me "a better turn"
Fright! Swear OH your knees that
you won't use 1t against me or my
mate and IN trust you with this re-
volver. You may fire as high as 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 ana
posted in his own bedroom window
at the rear Of the building.
Cdrrick 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
zeal face before the open safe.
House full of paltry paper" said he.
II suppose it's the old spOrtsman's Gus
tom to get rid of most Of his heavy
metal before closing on SaturdaysY
Fergus said II 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 flight is simply for the
moment, and in two or three more
they'll be back TO batter In the bank
shutters. l wonder what they think
we've done with our horses2 I'll bet
they've looked everywhere but I'm the
harder next the kitchen dOOr-nOt that
we ever let them get so close. But my
mates in there now, mounted and
waiting, and shall have to leave
you"
But | was coming with your cried
Fergus, aghast.
Stingaree's eyeglass dangled on its
cord.
I'm afraid L must trouble you to
step into the safe instead" said he,
smiling.
Man, / mean It! You think don't
rye fought on your side OF my own
free will. How can live that down2
It's the only side for me for the rest
~ time"
81 believe you do mean It."
"You shall shoot me II don't"
81 most certainly should. But my
mate HOwie has his obvious limita-
lions. I've long wanted a drop Of new
Hood. Barmaids thoroughbred aud
strong as an elephant. We're neither
OF us heavyweights. by the powers,
ri trust you, and you shall ride be
hindp
Now, Barmaid was the milk white
mare that was only less notorious
than her lawless rider. II was noised
In travellers huts and around camptires
that she would do more at her masters
word than had been known Of horse
outside a circus IL was the one touch
that Stingaree had borrowed from a
more NapoleOnic but incomparably
coarser and crueller knight Of the bush.
In all other respects the up TO date
desperate was unique. II was a stroke
OF luck, however, that there happened
20 DO an old white mare IN the bank
stables. which tbe police bad impound-