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

rob, I'm mot goinG 10 hatm a good
man like y0u," continued stihgaree,
unless you make me. Your friend
Bowen made me, but don't promise
to ere low every time. mark you'll
There's another good man on the other
side, Cairns by name. You know him,
do your He'll kick up his heels when
he hears Of this, but they do no better
in New South Wales, so don't You let
that worry you. To think you held
both shooters at ono stage Of the camel
I trusted you, and so you trusted me.
II only you had known, Ell? Hear that
tune and know what II is? It's In
your honor, Mr.. Kilbride."
Placing both revolvers in his hip
pocket, Stingaree then read carefully
the latest bulletin Of reward for
his capture, but before the tune end
ed, with a swift remorse induced by
the dignity OF Kilbride's bearing in
humillating disaster, he swooped upon
the insolent instrument and stopped
its tinkle by touching the lever with
one revolver barrel while sedulously
covering the sub-inspector with the
other. The sudden cessation OF the toy
music, bringing back into undue prom
inence all the little bush noises which
had filed the air before, brought home
to Kilbride q position which he had
subconsciOusly associated with those
malevolent strains as something the
atrical and unreal. He had known in
his heart that 1t was real without
grasping the reality until now. He
flung up his fists In sudden entreaty.
"Put a bullet through me-" he cried
''if you're n manw
Stingaree shook a decisive head.
mot II / can help It," said he. But
fear shall have to tie you up"
THAT'S slow death"
at never has been yet, but you must
take your chance. Get me that rope
that's slung over the gunyah. It's got
to be done"
Kilbride obeyed with apparent apa.
thy, but his heart was infamed with
a sudden and internal glow. Yes, It
had never ended in death in any case
that he could recall Of this time hon
ored trick Of all the bush rangers; on
the contrary, sooner or later most vic
tins had contrived to release them
selves. Well, one victim was going
to complete his release by hanging
himself by the same rope TO the same
tree. Meanwhile he confronted his cap
tor grimly, the coil in both hands.
There's a loop at one end" said
Stingaree. "stick your foot through
it-elther foot you like"
Kilbride obeyed. wondering whether
his head would go through when its
turn came.
Now chuck me the other end"
1t fell in coils at the bushranger's
feet.
NOW stand up against that blue
gum" he continued, pointing at the
tree with Kilbride's revolver, his own
being back at his hip. "and stand still
like sensible chap
Stingaree then walked around and
around the tree, paying out the long
rope, yet keeping 1t taut until II
wound around tree and man from the
latter's ankles to his armplts. In
stinctively Kilbride had kept his arms
free to the last, but they were no use
to him in his suit of hemp, and one
after the other his wrists were pinned
and handcuffed behind the tree. the
cold steel came as shock. The cap
tive had counted on loosening the
knots by degrees, beginning with
those about his hands. But there was
no lOosening steel gives like these;
he knew the feel Of them too well;
they were Kilbride's own. that he
had brought with him for Stingaree.
Found 'em In your saddlebags while
you we're in my gunyah," explained
the bushranger, stepping around to
survey his handiwork. "Sorry to scar
the kid, so to speak. But you see you
were my most dangerous enemy on
this side of the Murray"
The enemy did not look very danger
Gus as he stood In the dusk in the very
heart Of that forest, lashed to that
tree, with his finger tips not quite
meeting behind IL and the blood al.
ready on his wrists.
Ito be continued)