Year: 1875

Werner and Percy had made all neces-
sary arrangements to leave with their
friend Raymond, OF Cecil Ramona, for the
western Australian coast the evening Of
the day upon which that person had been
kidnapped, and sent to the Shooting Star
They had waited long and anxiously for
him, but could obtain no further informa-
ton beyond the fact, that he had left the
hotel early in the afternoon, and had not
returned since. Undecided as to what
course to pursue, they coursed the town
from one end to the other, but were com
PEELED to abandon any idea of finding their
companion.


"It is most singular, said Percy. He
certainly has no object i'll deciving us, and
there is no means of leaving the town"


Yes, said Werner. The Shooting
Star sailed this evening for England"


Percy mused deeply and finally said


:" 1t may be possible that he has changed
his mind and set sail for England, al
though | cannot discern any reason for his
doing So At any rate he is a compare
tive stranger to rs, and if he does not
turn up by eleven o'clock we must go and
leave him behind.


"Why not wait fer him until to-mor-
row He may turn up by that time, 7
suggested Edgar Werner.


T" The coach which will convey us
as far as the country is civilized in
the interior, leaves tonight, and it
will not go for over a week again. We
must 90 tonight. This man Ray
mond does not evidently intend to join
us. We will leave word with the landlord
Of the hotel as too our intentions, and if
Raymond turns up and wishes to follow
us he will Join us. That is the best course
for us to pursue.


So it was decided that they would 60 on
and leave Raymond behind. Their ar
rangements were all completed, and that
evening they started out in the coach for
the Western Autralian coast.


Their kit was as small one as their ne
cessities would permit of having, and they
dispensed with all unnecessary articles.
They found but few passengers in the
coach, and these few only went a little dis
tance into the country.


The evening Of the third day brought
them to the last station ON the outposts,
and then they secured two horses and
started out on their journey for the coast.


Meanwhile in Sydney there was a great
commotion among the police detectives.
The man whom they had used as tool
and hireing, who had been made to do
all of the labor and receive but little of
the pay, had perpetrated his revenge.
Knowing his security from any further
pursuit he had resolved to show his former
employees how he had duped and delud-
ed them He wrote TO them the following
note


Superintendent Of Police and Fsilolo 0f-


.fcerS:


have succeeded IN bagging the criminal
and defaulter, Cecil Esmond, the ex-presi-
dent Of the Australin Gold Mining Com
pany. The reward will enable me to dis
pense with any further aid at your hands.
As the warrant for his arrest is waived,
have proceeded in regular manner. IN
hopes of retaining your good will and
friendship in the future, | remain as
ever, Yours,


Birney


The note was made public, and in q
very few hours the entire town of Sydney
knew that the Shooting Star had conveyed
away from the shores of Australia, the
man for whom a reward Of one thousands
pounds, the defaulter Cecil Esmond had
been offered.


ITO be continued nert ,oeek