The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-21
e three cigars were in blast.

/ 'hNAht bNh W"he ntA'e w ny beHof eatN
/ the driver.
"Pm not so sure" said Kentlsh.
when does the next coach pass this
wayT
Midnight, and drive II. turn
back when get to Clear Corner, you
see"
"Then look out for me about this
spot TN going to ask you to put me
down"
Put you down."
"If you don't mind pulling up. I'm
not going on at present, but Ill go
back with you to Glenranald instead
II you'll keep a lookout for me to.
night"
Instinctlvely the driver put his foot
upon the brake, for the request had
been made with that quiet authority
which this silent passenger had sud
denly assumed. and yet It seemed to
them such a mad demand that his
companions looked at Kentish as they
had not looked before His face bore
close inspection; 1t was one OF those
which burn red, and in the redness
twinkled hazel eyes that toned agree
ably with fair beard and fairer mus
tache. The former be had grown upon
his travels, but the trail Of the west
| end tailor. whose shooting jacket Is as
distinctive as his frock coat, was upon
Guy Kentish from head to heels. As
they watched him he took an open en-.
velope from his pocket, scrubbed few
words on a card, put that in and stuck
down the flap.
Here" said he. "is my letter Of in.
PRODUCTION to the good people at the
Mazeppa station higher up. II | don't
turn up tonight see that they get It,
even IL 1t costs you bit of thisT'
And putting the sovereign in star
tied palm, he jumped to the ground.
But what are you going to do, sirT'
cried the driver In alarm.
Recover your mail bags If can"
"What7 After you've Just been stuck
up
Exactly. hope to stick up Stinga.
reel"
'Then you were armed all the timer"
Mr. Kentish smiled as he shook his
head.
That's my affair, imagine, but
even so am not fool enough to tackle
such fellow with his own weapons.
No, know what I'm doing, and shall
do better alone. TIL tonight, them
And he was In the scrub ere they de
cided to take him at his madcap word,
and let his blood be on the chuckle-
head Of the new chummiest new chum
that ever came out after the rain, Was
It pluck or all pretense? 1t was rather
plucky even to pretend in such prox-
unity to the terrible Stingaree. On the
whole the coaching trio were disposed
TO concede a certain amount Of un-
equivocal courage, and the driver. with
Kentishs sovereign in his pocket, went
so far as TO declare that duty alone
nailed him TO the box.
Meantime the Hon. Guy had skirted
the road until he came to double horse
tracks striking back into the bush.
These he followed with the wary
stealth of one who had spent his au-
tumns at least in the right place. They
led him through belts of scrub In which
he trod like cat without disturbing an
ayoidable branch and over treeless
spaces that he crossed at q run bent
double, but always as he followed the
trail his shadow fell at one consistent
angle, showing how the bushranger
rode through his natural element as the
crow might have flown overhead.
At last Kentish found himself in a
sandy gully bristling with pines,
through which the sunlight dripped
like melted gold, and in the fine warp
and wOof Of high light and sharp shad.
ow the bushranger's horses stood lash
Ing at the flies with their long tails.
The bushranger himself was nowhere
to he seen. But ut last Kentlsh de-
serted a white and brown litter on ell
Their side Of the thickest trunk I'm sight,
from whose farther side fiOated inter-
mittent puns OF thin blue smoke.
Kentish looked and looked again be-
fore advancing. But the tall pine threw
such a shadow as should easily swal-
low his own. And In another minute
he was peeping round the bOle.
The litter on either side was of
course the shower of miscellaneous
postal matter from the mail bags, and
In It's midst sat Stingaree against the
tree, enjoying his pipe and an English
magazine. Kentlsh peered for torn
envelopes and gaping packets; there
were no more. The bushranger had
evidently started with the magazine
and was still curiOusly absorbed in its
contents. The notorious eyeglass dan.
gled against that kindred vanity, the
spotless white jacket which he affect
ed ia summer time; the brown, atten.
tive face, even as Kentish saw 1t I'm
less than profile, was thus purged OF
the sinister aspect which such an ap-
pendage can impart TO the most in
nocent, and somewhat passive
amusement was its unmlstakable note.
Nevertheless. the long revolver which
had once more done its nefariOus work
still lay ready TO his hand: indeed. the
Hon, Guy could have stopped and
whipped II up. had he been 50 minded.
He was absorbed, however, in the
absorption Of Stingaree, and as he
peered audaclOusly over the others
shoulder he put himself In the out.
laws place. An old friend would
have lurked in every cut, friend
whom II might well I've a painful pleas
IRE to meet again. There were the
oval face and the short upDer lin OF