The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-23
A BUsHRANoER At BAY.
Continued from MondayD

mo; have always read the papers
when could" said Stingaree. and
suddenly he was smiling. That's one
reason why | make speciality of
sticking up the MALL he explained.
Mr.. Kentish was not to be drawn
into n second deliverance on the bush
ranging career ''Is it a good num-
ber?" he asked, noddlng toward the
magazine.
The bushranger picked 1t up.
Good enough for me-"
What date?"
Ninth of December"
Nearly three months ago. was in
London them" remarked Kentish In q
reflective tone.
Really" cried Stingaree, under his
breath. His voice was as soft as the
others, but there was suppressed In
terest I'm his manner. His dark eyes
were only less alight than the red
cigar that he took from his teeth as he
spoke. Aud he held 1t like a con-
nOlsseur, between finger and thumb,
for all his ruined palate.
IL was" repeated Kentish. 81 didn't
sail till the middle of the month"
"To think you were In town till near
ly Christmas!'' and Stingaree gazed en-
viously. 1T must be hard to realize
he added in some haste.
"Other things" replied Kentish. are
harder"
81 gather from n cartoon that the
new law courts are in use Mt last"
81 was at the opening"
''Then you may have seen this opera
that have been reading about?"
Kentish asked what 1t was. although
he knew.
"Iolanthe."
Rather was there the first night"
"rhe deuce you werew cried Stinga-
rec, and for the next quarter OF an
hour this armed scoundrel, the terror
of a district as large as England and
Wales, talked OF nothing else to the
man whom he was about to bind to n
tree. Was the new opera equal to its
predecessors? Which were the best
numbers? Did Punch do 1t justice, or
was there some jealousy in that rival
hOtbed of wit and wisdom?
Unfortunately, Guy Kentish had no
ear for music, hut he made a clear re-
port OF the plot, could repeat some Of
the lord chancellor's quips, and was in
decided disagreement with the cap
tlous banter from which he was given
more than one extract. And In default
Of one OF the new airs Stingaree round
ed of the subject by dropping once
more into
For lie might have been Rooshian.
A French or Turk or ProOshian
Or perhaps Italian.
Or perhaps I-tal-i-an!
But In spite OF all temptations
To belong TO other nations
He remains an Englishmani
81 understand that might be- said OF
both OF u.s." remarked Kentish, looking
the outlaw boldly I'm the eyes. But
from all accounts | should have
thought you were out here before the
days OF Gilbert and Sullivan"
$50 was" replied Stingaree with
out frOwn or hesitation. "But you
may also have heard that am fond OF
msic-any ! can get. My only OppOr-
tunitles, as rule" the bushranger
continued, smiling mischlevOusly at his
cigar occur on the stations l have oc-
casion to visit from time to time. On
one a good Indy played and sang Pima
fore and The Pirates OF Penzance' to
me from dewy eve TO dawn. I'm bound
to say sang some OF II ut sight my
self, and | flatter myself Il helped TO
pass an embarrassing night rather
pleasantly for all concerned We had
all hands on the place for our audience,
and when left was formally pre-
scented with both scores, for | had sim
ply called for horses, and horses were
all ! took. Only the other day had
the luck 10 cOntiscate musical box
which plays selections from "The Pr
rates. ought To have had It with me
In my swag."
So affable and even charming was
the quiet voice, so evident the appre-
citation OF the last inch OF the cigar
which had thawed frozen palate aud
so conceivable further sOftening that
Guy Kentish made holder than before.
He knew what he meant TO do. He
knew how he meant 20 do II. And yet
It seemed just possible there might be
a gentler way.
"You don't always take things, be-
lieve?" he hazarded.
"You mean after sticking upf"
yes"
"GenerRlly. ! fear; it's the whole
meaning OF the act" confessed Stinga.
rec, still the dandy in tone and phrase.
"But there have been exceptions" he
added
"Exaetlyp quOth Kentish. And
there's going to be another this after
nOOni'
sungaree hurled the stump OF bis
cigar into the scrub. and without a
word the villain was born again. with
his hard eyes. bis harder mouth. his
sinister scOwl. his crag OF chin.
$50 you come back TO that" he cried
harshly. II thought you had more
sense You will make me tie you up
before your time"
You may do sractly what you like"