The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-16

the lightNof candle which ne held
himself. Yet he smelled Il furtively be.
fore trying Il with his lips and denied
himself a gulp TIL he was treasured,
But soon the empty pannikin was held
out for more. And II was the starless
hour before dawn when Vanheimert
tripped over Howie's legs and took n
contented header into the corner from
which he had made his stealthy escape.
The tent was tropical when he awoke,
but stingaree was still at his breakfast
outside In the shade. He pointed to
bucket and n piece OF soap behind the
tent, and Vanheimert engaged In obe-
dent ablutions before sitting down to
his pannikin, his slice Of damper and
his portion OF tin OF sardines
"Sorry there's no meat for you" said
stlngaree. my mates gone to ivan
hoe for fresh supplies"
The rabbiter looked at a pair Of
dilapldated worsted socks and at one
protruding toe. He was not sure
whether he had gone TO bed for the
second time in these or In his boots.
Certainly he had missed the latter on
his second awakening, but had not
deemed It expedient to make inquiries.
And now he merely observed that he
wondered where he could have left
them.
"on your feet" said stingaree.
my mate has made so bold as to Dor
row them for the day."
Hes welcome to them, I'm sure"
said vanheimert, with a sickly smile.
81 was sure you would say So" re-
Joined Stingaree. His own are re-
duced to uppers and half a heel apiece,
but he hopes to get them soled In
Ivanhoe- while he waits"
$50 he's gone to Ivanhoe, has hep
Hes been gone three hours"
Surely it's long trip"
Eyes. We shall have to make the
most of each other till SHUTDOWN" said
Stingaree, gazing through his glass
upon Vanheimert's perplexity.
And with cavalier nod to cllnch the
last word on the subject the bush
ranger gave himself over to his camp
chair, his pipe and his inexhaustible
Australasian. As for Vanheimert, he
eventually returned to the tent in which
he had spent the night, and there he
remained good many minutes, though
It was now the forenoon and the heat
under canvas past endurance. But
when at length he emerged, as from n
bath, Stlngaree, seated behind his
Australasian in the lee of the other
tent, took so little notice Of him that
vanheimert crept back to have one
more look at the thing which he had
found In the old valise which served
Howie for a pillow. And the thing
was a very wOrkmanlike revolver, with
a heavy cartridge in each OF its six
chambers.
Vanheimert handled it with trem-
bling fingers and packed 1t afresh In
the pocket where 1t least affected his
personal contour, its angles softened
by n big bandanna handkerchief, only
to take 1t out yet again with resolu.
ton that opened fresh slulce IN every
pore. The blanket that had been lent
to him and Howie's blanket both lay at
his feet. He threw one over either arm
and with the revolver thus etfectually
concealed, but grasped for action with
finger on trigger, sailed forth at last.
Stingaree was still seated In the mar
rowing shade Of his own tent Van
heimert was within Eve PAGES of him
before he looked up so very quickly,
with such a rapid adjustment Of the
terrible eyeglass that Vanhelmert stood
stock still, and the butt of his hidden
weapon turned colder than ever in his
melting hand.
"Why, what have you got thereT"
cried Stingaree. "And what's the mat.