The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-04-12
Stingaree
BY +. W. HORNUNC.
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons

thrOughV
Good old Johnr' said Randolph
While all this took place at Govern
ment House the city Of Sydney was in
an uproar. There were goings to and
fro and searching Of houses and pa
trolling Of highways and byways.
Stlngaree. the redoubted, the terrible
Stingaree. bushranger and convict, was
loose.
Everywhere the search led, save to
the place where Stingaree waited for
John Kent and where Ethel Porter
and John Kent gathered in haste their
luggage and prepared to embark. When
they did embark they were followed
not only by the good wishes Of the
governor general and his consort and
of the beaming and secretive Profess
sOr Lucius Brady, master of criminol-
ogy, and Of all the gay company in
Government House, but by quiet tall
man bearing some Of the bags and
boxes Of John Kent
Never once did the hue and cry lead
to Government House. Had It done
so who can say that the combined
wits of loving Ethel Porter, loyal John
Kent, learned Lucius Brady and willy
Stlngaree would not have found a way
to outwlt the officers Of the law?
Exit Stingaree from Australia, scene
OF as daring exploits as were ever re.
corded in the criminal annals Of q
British colony.
And enter again Irving Randolph. on
his way to England to reclaim his
rightful place as lord Of Randolph
Towers, In succession to his usurping
brother Robert, now sleeping the last
sleep, II not the sleep of the Just, in
the ancestral burying ground next to
the village church. For Robert had
died not long before. and the manner
Of his taking Off was told to Irving as
the steamer slowly drew out Of sgd
ney harbor.
when you were safely out OF Eng
land on your way to Australia" John
began, as he, Ethel and Irving sat
quietly in the steamer chairs ON the
deck-Ethel, be it noted, just a trihe
closer to Irving than to joint made
up my mind that would do all could
to clear your name.
"Of course there was Robert In the
way. His need of money led him, as
you know, to denounce you. so that he
might have the handling Of your es
| tate-of your father. Your mother,
who will be overjoyed to see you again
even though Robert was her favorite,
trusted him In all things. For a time
the tragic death of Kelton seemed to
sober him, and he walked the straight
and narrow path. But the old habits
were too strong for him, and he went
wild gait, l assure you.
81 decided to cultivate his friend.
ship. in the hope that by so doing
could help you in some way to clear
your name. So it happened that was
with him when the events occurred
that led to his end"
He paused for a moment. Evidently
the recollection was painful. But
Ethel smiled ON him, and John clasped
his hand. He went on:
well, one day Bob felt lonely and
telephOned me to meet him at n restau-
| rant-the same one. you will remem.
Der, where you had the row with Kel.
ton over him. | did not want to go
because could tell from his voice that
he had been drinking and | was afraid
he might make scene. But he urged
me TO go, and consented
II found him waiting for me at a ia.
BILE, and, as | feared. he had drunk
just enough TO make him obstinate and
! ugly. But he was friendly enough TO
me, and | Joined him at the table.
Near by there was young Smithson
and his wife-you remember Smith.
son, l think, although he was quite
young when you left England. and he
wasn't married then. His wifes a
pretty young woman-too pretty. In
fact-and Bob's eye caught hers.
"Well, there's no use, now, | im-
agine, in going over the whole ugly
| story. Two or three times | warned
Bob that Smithson saw him Ogle his
wife and that the young fellows tenn
per was rising. But Bob had drunk
enough to be reckless and he didn't
care, even though every one I'm the
place noticed the Irritation. Finally
Smithson resented 1t and left his table
TO come over to ours to demonstrate.
Bob laughed at him at first, but then
became ugly and struck the young
fellow.
with that Smlthson seized the bot.
tie from whsSh Bob and l had been
drinking and felled Bob. II was a ter
rife blow Bob got on the forehead and
I was not astonished when | was told
little later, after they had carried
Bob to a room, that bis skull was
fractured was with him when he
died.
He lived only few hours, but long
enough to sign statement exonerat-
Ing you from blame for the death Of
KeltOn. That's why Ethel told you
all England knows you now to be
innocent"
"And what became OF smithsOnT"
asked Irving.
ooh, there was an inquest and all
that, you know, and they let him or
on the ground OF self defense. Bob
struck him first, and he had no oIm'
Guilty in proving that he was about to
hit him again. He's left England for
the states"
nh. aa,ys that foIlouyad On tina good