V Olxxxv i
im poorweAß
Our entire fall stock of BOOTS. SHOES and RUBBER
are all in. We bought early and gave large orders there
by enabling us to offer you the best of solid footwear at away
down priced. No advance in price of leather goods, and felt
goods cheaper than last season. We have an extremly large
,£tock to select from.
LEATHER r.nnns. n
Men's kip doable sole and tap lx>x toe boots 5°
Boy's " " " " " boots '-SO
Men's high cut box toe shfies '*7s
Boy's high cut double sole aud tap shoes *'7s
Youth's " " " " " " " '
Women's best kangaroo calf shoes •
Women's best oil grain shoes 5
Misses' best kangaroo calf shoes
Children's best nangar io calf shoes ' 5
Children's fine dongo'a shoes "*°
RUBBER LIST." i
Men s Storm Kins? rubber boots. ■■ • . Si.TTi Women's reput.'ir height rublier -j-A>
Men's regular height rulilier hoots 2.SS Men s buck o arctics. ' i
Boy's regular height rubber tioots 1..V1 Ladles tmeU.' art ties . ,
Youth's regular height rubber boots 1.3.) Ladies Misses and < hildre.i s ru .
FELT GOODS."
Men's best white felt l>oot* & snag overs «2.W Men's tirey felt boots and second overs *1.30
Koy's Ist grade overs 1..T1 Hoys .... .. —,
Youth's Ist " " 11" Youth s '
" 5, 5 1 „. SOROSIS SHOES '"Mr
111 all the latest styles for fall wear. Full stock ol the A. E. Nettle
tori fine shoes for men. Ladies' and Gents telt shoes and vaim
lined shoes and slippers.
Visitors to the Butler County Fair, we welcome Y ou to our s,ore Ma ke this
your headquarters during your stay in Butler.
JOHN BICKEL,
128 SOUTH MAIN STREET, - - BUTLER, PA.
i . -—: L._,J ■, — .m - ---
j: ;[
I > That the dread house cleaning is over the next <1
4 > and more important work is picking a new carpet
< j To pick a carpet in our well stocked caipet rooms 1 \
iI l is a pleasure, so say the many who have done so. < \
. I. We have the famous Hartford Axminister, Wilton
Velvets, Body and Tapestry Brussels and Ingrains
in all the up-to-date patterns, only, and prices if
| * that will astonish you. Then our China Mattings, V
* * Floor and Table Oil Cloths, Linoleums, Rugs and V
Art Squares, deserve a passing notice. Ask to V
< > SI.OO Axminister Rugs, O
| * Neatest thing for the money ever shown in Butler at V
| DUFFy'S STORE f
-?pg. AIEIN
- '•_/ 1 ' Won't buy clothing for the purpose of spend
. - | / fr/ X ing money. They ilesire to get the b'est
j / /■ v \Jr\ ' \ possible results for the money expended.
i I. \ Ifsg \l \ Notcheap goods but goods as cheap as can
j V '> lie sold an«l made up properly. Call and
V. , ; i -1 r'"""* examine mv large stock of
(j i , •;[- (rli
•j « i !A\ r£3 SPRING SUITINGS.
i ! ' ] v-i/ Vv
V A ill W J. ( I Right up to date, the latest styles, shades
• V iK~ and colors that could lie bought. Lull anil
'/! | l'i \ / /''. '<" l examine them.
H l/lil i;y m l
j.- —l l pi!/| r \ j i Fits and Workmanshio
I 1 x Guaranteed.
G. F. Keen,
142 North Main Street, Butler, Pa
PAPE'S, JEWELERST
Diamonds, Watches. Clocks, Jewelery,
Silverware, Spectacles etc.
We have a large and well selected stock.
We Repair all Kinds of Watches.
If you have broken jewelery that you think beyond repairs
bring it to us and we will make it as good as new.
We take old gold and silver the same as cash allowing the
highest market price.
122 S. Main St., Butler, 1*
ELKO PAINT!
Ready for use is the best paint on the
market SENOUR FLOOR PAINT
stands second to none, fully guaranteed.
Full Lin of WALL PAPER for this
fall; prices lower than ever.
Picture and Mirror Frameing a Specialty.
Room Mouldings, Stationery, Paints, Oils and Varnishes.
Contract Painting & Paper Hanging
Patterson Bros.,
236 North Maui Street. Butler, Pa.
Wick Building. Peoples' Phone 400
M. A. BERKIMEK,
Funeral Director.
337 S. Main St., Butler.
The Keystone Orchestra,
Is now ready for engagement." for Tar
ties, Picntcs ami Dances, and Guarantee
the best oi music at reasonable rates.
Address,
Prof. Gus Wickenhagen,
228 Zicglcr Ave., Butler, Pa
Pearson B. Nace's
Livery Feed and Sale Stable
! Rear of
Wick House, Butler, PenrTa.
The l»est of horses and first class rigs al
ways oil hand and for hire.
Best accommodations in town for perma
nent )>oardiiig and transient trade. Speci
al care guaranteed.
» Stable Room For 65 Horses.
r i"A good class of horses, both drivers and
draft horses always on hand and for sale
2 under a full guarantee; and horses bought
pon proper notification*by
PEARSON B. NACE,
a Telephone jNo.'ill).
THE BUT LEU CITIZEN.
PILING UP TESTIMONY
Bothlng bat Praise From all Sources
Stands High in the Estimation of
Those Who Have Tested its
Merits.
There is no doubt whatever as to the
merits of Morrow's Kid-ne-oids judging
from the good results obtaiaed right here
in this state. Morrow's Kid-ue-oids are
used daily by many Ptnnsylvania citizens
and they all testify without any hesitancy
about the great good they have received
by the use of this great kidney prepara
tion Kid-ne-oids will positively cure
knidney backache, dizziness, sleepless
ness, nervousness and all urinary dis
orders arising from a disordered condi
tion of the kidneys. Another citizen
adds his testimony as follows:
Mr. Wm. Reese-, 81 nth Street, South
Side. Pittsburg, Pa., says:—"l have been
troubled for some time with pain in my
back which was caused by constant
walking or being on my feet. It would
make me restless at night so I could not
sleep. When 1 saw Morrow's Kid-ne-oids
so highly recommended I concluded to
give them a trial. In a few days tliey
relieved me and I have not been troubled
with pains in my back since. I can
sleep and rest better."
Morrow's Kid-ne-oic's are not pills but
Yellow Tablets and sell at fifty cents a
box at all drug stores and at Redick &
Groliman's drug store.
Mailed on receipt of price. Manufac
tured by John Morrow & Co., Chemists.
Springfield, Ohio.
Butler Savings Bank
Hi-itler,
Capital - #60,000.00
Surplus and Profits - - $170,000.00
JOS. L PURVIS President
J HENRY TROUTMAN Vice-Pre«i<!mt
WM. CAMPBELL, Jr <"af l'ier
LOUIS B. STEIN teller
DIRECTORS -Joseph L. I'urvlß, J. Henry
Tro'Uroan, W. I>. Brandon. W. A. Stem. J S.
Cf.iaDbell.
Tlie Butler Savings Hank is the Oldest
Banking Institution! n Butler County,
(jeuerul banking business transacted.
We solicit accounts of „il producers, mer
chants. farmers and others.
All b.isincss entrusted to us will receive
prompt attention.
Interest paid on time deposits.
TH EC
Butler County National Bank,
Eslitier Penn,
Capital p;»iil in - - fu0.000.00
Surplus and Profits - f 130,703.95
Jos. Hartman, 'President;. J. V. Ritts,
Vice President; C. A. Bailey. Cashier;
John G. McMarlin, Ass't Cashier.
t general banking business transacted.
Interest paid on time deposits.
Money loaned on approved security.
We invite you to open an account with this
bank.
niKECTOIIS—Hon. Joseph Hartman. lion.
W. S. Wuldron, l>r. .\. M. Hoover. 11. Me-
SiM'i'iiey. E. 1". Ahrams, C. I'. Collin-. I. <1
Smith, Leslie I'. Ha/.lett, M. Kiinjz.in,
\J. 11. i.arkin, Harry Heasley, Itr. \V.
MoCandless. Ken Masseth. T V. Hill
Braun's Pharmacy.
Cor. 6th St. and Duquesne Way.
Pittsburg, Pa,, L, I). Telephone 2542.
Wholesale and Retail.
Importer aiuljobberol Drugs,
Chemicals, Perfumes, Soaps,
Brushes, Etc
The only house west of New
York carrying a full line 0!
Meyers' Grease, Paints and
theatrical goods
Physicians' Prescriptions
Compounded Day or Night by
"Registered Pharmacists" only.
Wholesale and retail
dealer in Lubricating and
Illuminating Oils, Capital
Cylinder, Dynamo, Water
White and Standard Gas
Engine Oils. Gasolein, Hen
zine, Paraffine Wax and
Petrolatum.
Address all mail orders to
W. F. Braun.
Rare Bargains!
We want to dispose of our present
stock of 'O9 models, and in order to do it
quicklv have cut the prices from S3O,
$35 and S4O to $22.50 and $25. These
are strictly high grade and up-to-date
bicycles, and can't be matched for price
and quality. Don't miss this opportuni
ty to procure a good wheel tor little
money. We sell sundries cheaper than
and other house in town.
WHITE, WALTER & CO.,
303 S. Main Street.
H.O.HAYS. L.H.HAYS,
PUT YOUR RIG UP AT
TRdys sros.' |
Livery and Sale Stable.
Best Accommodations iu Town.
West JeiTerson street, • Butler, Pa
People's Phone 109,
Bell's Phone 59.
V, HAIR SWITCH FREE
j/ 3 \ ON KASV CONDITIONS.
/,ljf i Out thli> :uJ. out awl mall to u*. hend a
r»\ 'M smn-l -Ninpl- >»f vnur hair.cut close to the
\r\ root*. SK.Mi NO WONKY; we will inake and
\J \ v. „.| xr.v mail. <tpa!«l.:» FINE HUMAN
HAIR SWITCH. =» made 22
1 .war it>..-h» - i i ,r 11 "ti. nelecfrd liuin.-tn hair,
t V oiiri -f-, Hlu.rt stem. We will inclose
my I in |«*« kajf- with ». witch -nftklt-nt post aire
/Tm- M tort til it t" u-»' not prrfcrllj astiafaetorj.
("■ wy ».m I' 1 It.d vactlv ax represented anil
\S W\ n; t i jiin ■ -linarv value and you wish
A\y 1 t01,., ,r . n:.4 r *n!lH«fl. Still} mail«ltidn
#<W .A 10 ilit»l wr I4KV OKI.KU- KHI U SW| M IIKM
/ Vy % AT *i.&» F \n; nt;ioii»r your trtenda und
I|LwP? A tli•* ' nwltchea t > them direct liy mail, I
* jjl to hi; 1 11 I for 1) days after received if
f-pcrltMl l v i n factory .and 70a ran then have j
11 | f.JH MrclK 1 I'libi>«i (hfan*, Srolnf SarhlaN,
2%. feSidEZ IH.hr*. t'uraltarr, Watchr*, Blr»flr», ,
f • M 1 inrri" ami oilier |*r«-ml<.Rn> for lalla*
orttrr* fur Our Nwilrhfi.. <lnr lad* *»rnr4
3 % |>| U o i n flfirrn <tay«, ud» a Hen Id* 3arhlne
In '2 day*. Order u Hn ltch ut once or
* rite to-day Tor FUKK IMtEMH'MOFF K.K. A«!dr««a.
Ladies' Hair Emporium, Chicago.
&
BUTLER. PA., THUHSDAV, SEPTEMBER Hi, IS9P
THEY THAT JIT IN DARKNESS
A3TORYOF
THE AUSTRALIAN NEVER-NEVER
V By g
«/<?NN mCKIE
-V AUTHOR OF THE DCVILS PLAYGROI/NO"AfJD"SINNER3 TWAIN."
°Y ( J copywiriav!). sy r#£i>fß/(KA. iroKti cow Any.
V.—
PREFACE.
As it is a far cry from the Great Lone
Land of North America to the lonelier
Never-Never of tropical Australia, per
haps it may be as well to say something
explanatory. In my way ware) youth,
when in <osity and an irrepressible love
of adventure made me a wanderer in
strange places, I figured in a humble
way as a pioneer of civilization in the
wild country it has been my endeavor
to describe in these pages. I was the
first white man to build a bouse and
Settle on the Van Alplien riv**r in the
far northern territory, and it was there
1 supported life for weeks together on
crows, hawks, snakes and currajong
roots. That was before I became, among
ether things, a gold digger in Queens
land and a mounted policeman on the
frontier in North America.
John Mackik.
London.
CHAPTER I.
K11.1.1.11 BY THE BLACKS.
In July, 1885, I was "down on my
luck" and a wanderer in the wild
Never-Never of tropical Australia, by
the comparatively untenanted shore s of
the Carpentarian gulf. But. though
midwinter in that land of topsyturvy
dom. the thermometer stood all day at
bo in the shade, and the relentless sun
blazed down like a ball of fire from a
cloudless, hteel blue sky.
This was tlio year of perhaps the
greatest gold rrydi that Australia had
ever s-.-eii uince gold had fii>>t been dis
covered on the island continent, and I,
Richard Parker, commonly called Dick,
yonr humble servant, by a remark
able accident was false to the traditions
of a never failing bad Inek for once in
not being one of ils victhc When tin
discovery of gold was reported in the
unexplored Kimb vley district in West
ern Australia and the cry went up that
the veritable land of Opliir had been
found at last, from every sjnit on earth
where nomadic man wrests a living
from Mother Earth men flocked to the
new El Dorado.
Gold diggers are like sheep: let one of
them start out for a "duller" rush,
and all the others will follow him blind
ly.
My mate Jack and I wore on our way
to this rush. Bnt at the time of which
I write bad I posse- ed all the gold in
Australia it would have lieen gladly
given by me in exchange for a drink of
water, a sedative, an opiate, or any
thing that would have soothed or sent
me to si.; p forever: for my i ody was
in the d itches of that den;< n of the
gulf, the fever and ague! and yet, there
—within a hundred yards of n;e—was
tho creek which I could not reach. My
body was consumed by a fierce heat
which even water could not cool, and
my head was a chaos of wild, insane
fancies —a prey to the morbid imagin
ings of my own wretched self.
My comrade, Jack Tyndall, had left
camp shortly before mo to look for Che
horses. I could see and hear, but could
not properly understand nor think, far
less act. My delusions, born of the de
lirium, were painfully vivid. But a
laughing jackass with its loud, absurd
cackle called my wandering senses to
the fact that some one was coming
along the trail. It was a swagsman;
he was tall and dark, and, at first sight,
so like Jack that had it been possible
for me to havottinoved or called, I would
most assuredly have sung out to him ;
as it was, I lay in a sort of trance.
From my shaded vantage ground he
could be seen jslainl^enough: a typical
swagsman, not different from thousands
of others one may see all over Australia.
He passed within 60 yards from where
I lay, trudging along wearily, looking
neither to the right nor left.
When he had gone some 50 yards
farther, past that part of the trail oppo
site mo, lie threw down his swag under
a great shady blood wood tree.
I must have gone to sleep or become
unconscious again, for on coming to my
senses a strange drama was being en
acted before my eyes. There was such
an air of unreality about it all that I
fancied myself the victim of some optic
al illusion, and therefore did not act
with that promptness the occasion call
ed for.
He sat under tho shade of a tree,
reading. Before him was a small fire,
upon which his billy rested. He had
taken off his boots and hat and was
enjoying a pipe. But behind the tree
against which he leaned was a naked
black fellow with a long, cruel looking
barbed spear raised in one hand. So
motionless was he that lie might have
been carved out of a solid block of
ebony. Close behind him again, wrig
gling along the ground like rf-ptiles and
sneaking upon all fours like animals,
were about half a dozen savages with
spears and nulla-nullas in their hands.
Traveling up the creek, they had no
ticed the fire and were now reconnoiter
ing the unsuspecting man. Yes, they
could manage him. They might have
thought twice about it had he stood
there facing them With a rifle or re
volver in his hands.
1 tried to cry out HO as to warn him
of his danger, bnt my throat and tongue
were so dry that only a hoarse gurgling
sound escaped from my lips. By an al
most superhuman effort I drew my re
volver and crawled forward a few feet
on my hands and knees. I had just
gathered together my scattered senses
and was in ths act of resting my re
volver against a tree and surprising the
aggressors by the unexpected fire, when
there arose a hoarse shout. The savage
had been too quick for me. Down came
the spear, entering tho poor fellow's
back. With an agonized cry, and before
tho cannibals had time to follow up
their advantage, ho snatched up liis re
volver, leaped to his feet and fired it
point blank in the face of the savage
who hail dealt the treacherous blow.
Then he reeled, with the spear still
protruding from his back, threw out
his hands and fell forward on his face.
At the same moment, like a number of
hideous puppets, tho black fellows
sprang from the long grass. Singling
out the nearest one, I tired my Colt's,
which was aa good as a rifle, and he
dropped like a bullock when it is pithed
in the yard. Accounts were squared
with him anyhow. The savage whom
the swagsman shot literally had the
roof of his skull blown off. Jumping
up. I fired wildly enough at the others,
who stood for a moment as if paralyzed
by the unexpected attack. Suddenly
there rang out a shot in another direc
tion, and the upraised arm of a black
fellow dropped helpless by his side. And
now could IK> heard the dull thud of
hoofs as a horseman came galloping
through the sandy scrub. I looked
around, but need not have been sur
prised, as Jack, mounted on old Eclipse,
dashed up. This settled the matter.
The stand tin se savages made was but
a poor one. I received a smart rap on
the shoulder that knocked me over as
cleanly as a ninepin, and Jack's horse
was speared in the neck. Jack, how
ever, charged in upon them with such
effect that before I could get on uiy legs
again they scuttled off like so many
iguanas to a belt of scrub, into which
they dived, and that was the last we
saw of them. It was useless trying to
follow.
"Thedeuce take such visitors, Dick!"
was my mate's charaet n ristic speech, as
jumping from his horse he- extracted
the stone spearhead from its neck—luck
ily not a dangerous wound. This done,
he was turning his attention to me,
when, seeing tl*> prostrate form of the
swagsman, his manner changed.
"Hello!" he exclaimed "That chap's
done for!"
On the ground, face downward, with
outstretched arms, and the cruel spear
still protruding from his back, was the
hapless white man, his Old gray shirt
stained with his lifeblood. lie had
camped for the last time.
I never knew any one who could act
so quickly and know just exactly how
to do the right thing as Jack. With a
quick, steady hand he broke off the
spear within six inches of the wound,
so that he could turn the poor fellow
over. But just before Jack canght hold
of his body and I t<xik the feet he tore
Rchind the tree tujuinut which he leaned
■wttx a naked black fellow.
np the grass once or twice with his
hands, und then lay still. We knew
what that meant only too well. We
stood in the solemn presence of death.
In the stillni ss the chant of themorpoke
sounded like a funeral knell.
"It's all up with him," said Jack in
an awed voice, as he instinctively took
off his hat.
Although the attack of fever was fast
leaving me, J was weaker than a kitten
and staggered to my feet.
"Sit down on the grass, Dick." said
my mate. "There's no fear of the nig
gers coming back, but keep a lookout
anyhow." Then we lifted the dead man
tenderly, aud turned him over on his
back so that we might see his face. I
gave a little cry and looked at Jack.
What had struck me had evidently
struck him too. The deceased was,
literally speaking, alas, the dead image
tif Jack!
CHAPTER 11.
LOST, AN IDENTITY.
Jack came with the horses and hob
bled them out, remarking: "When
you're in nigger country, they say you
shouldn't hobble horses —it spoils their
chances of getting away if the niggers
come after them; but considering what
has occurred, I'll risk it—shan't have
much time to go horse" hunting in the
morning, you see.''
The murdered man's billy was now
boiling on the fire. I was about to lift
it off and put on our own, when Jack
stopped me.
"Leave it where it is," he said. "I'll
put in the tea. What was goo'd enough
for him is good enough for us. He
won't have lighted that fire for nothing.
Dick, just think, if I hadn't been after
those confounded horses and yon had
not been sick, he might have been our
guest now instead of us being his. And,
look here, old chap, take a big dose of
fever cure now that the fever has left
ynji. After a bit yo« can have a pan
nikin of tea. It's no use asking yon to
eat anything just now, but I'll put on
some dried apples and rice, and maybe
in a few hours' time you'll be able to
peck a little. In the meantime lie down
and try to get some sleep. I'll keep a
lookout. I want a big smoke and a good
think anyhow. Lie down and get some
sleep,'' he repented.
I rolled myself in my blanket on a
clear spot some little distance from the
fire. Then, what with tho exhaustion
caused by the fever and the abatement
of the excitement, I was soon in a deep
sleep.
It may have been only a fr-w minutes
later when I awoke with a start.
"Jack," I cried, "it must be close on
morning now. You've let me lie too
long. Listen,don't you hejr anythingY"
There was no mistaking the sound.
It was the deep, full tone of a "bull
frog" bell. Judging from its wavering,
mellow pitch, it must have been about
three miles distant.
"That's lucky," said Jack. "Some
body traveling. Can't be with bullocks
or we'd have passed them. Mnst bo
horses. You see, it's 18 miles from the
last water. They've only been able to
make half tho distance and have turned
out. They'll come on first thing in tho
morning. Lucky for us if they have
tools in the wagon, for then we can dig
a decent grave. They will be here
shortly after daybreak, you'll see."
"Now, Jack, turn in," I insisted.
"You've got to rest, you know."
Jack knew me to be as obstinate as a
mule when I took it into my head and
so did what ho was told. The attack of
fever had passed, and, being intermit
tent, it would leave me fairly well for
one day at least. Jack lay down in his
blanket and in a few minutes was evi
dently in the land of dreams.
• •»••••
The tropical day had begun. I lit a
fire and was about to go down to the
creek to fill the billy when a horseman
galloped up.
"Good morning, mates!" he said
cheerily, with an unmistakably Scotch
accent. Then, observing the dead blacks
lying on the ground, he pulled up with
u queer look on his face and gave a low,
prolonged whistle. 1 pointed to the
body of tin' murdered man, whose shape
showed under the blanket with that
rigid angularity which there is no mis
taking.
"Preserve us I" be exclaimed, jump-
in-,' off hi.- lie: and >hakina me bv the
hand. 14 had taken in the situation at
a glance. "I n mighty sorry for you,
mate, bnt I see you've made them juiy
for it I rode on lief ore the wagon.
They'll Ih- here in half an hour ro have
breakfast. When did they attack yon 1
As there's women in the party, I snp
fii'-e, mate, you won't mind im just
biding that sight?"
Catching up a tomahawk, he cut one
or two leafy branches and covered up
the dead black fellows. "They would
not care to see them, yon know," he
explained. "It's Mackenzie of Tarra
gona. his daughter, and her maid my
sist.-r going through to the Robinson
river. I'll jnst pick a camp a little way
np the creek and then hurry back.'' He
galloped his horse abont a couple of
hundred yards or so up the creek; then,
evidently satisfied with the situation,
cut off through the bush and was lost
to sight.
As soon as he had gone Jack jumped
up. "Good morning, Dick!" he said.
"I've had a good sleep!"
After the usual wash —when there
was water enough to have one we had
tie never varying breakfast, which was
barely finished when crack, crack! and
with a jingle and a rattle up came a
covered in wagon with six hors»-s drag
ging it. A couple of men rode along
side, while two black boys, in blue
serges and white slouch hats, came be
hind. driving some spare horses. Thoy
drove off the track and cut away among
the trees, drawing up about a couple of
hundred yards or so from our camp.
A few hundred yards behind came
the squatter and his daughter. I could
see that the horses which th»-y rode
were vastly superior to those generally
used in the gulf, albeit some of the gulf
horses showed a breeding that made the
inquiring mind speculate as to how
they ever came into the hands of the
men who ostensibly owned them.
The pair halted for a minute or two.
The squatter rode over to us by himself,
the girl going on to the camp.
Roderick Mackenzie of Tarragong
was a man who might bo a few years
over 50. of middle height, with clearly
cut features, holiest gray eyes, grizzled
hair and beard altogether a smart,
kindly looking gentleman. He had been
a long time in the colonies and had
done well. He had lately taken up land
in the northern territory, sent on stock
ahead and was now on his way out to
fix on a site for a head station
He rode np and addressed himself to
Jack. Somehow they always had a trick
of addressing Jack first.
"Good morning," he said gravely,
jumping off his horse. "Gordon, my
man, told me of the sad affair that oc
curred last night. If you'll allow me to
ussist you, we may be able to give you
terv material assistance. I'll send over
a couple of my men. Ah, here comes
Gordon with the necessary article, and
as the soil is sandy I don't think we'll
I ave much difficulty in digging a grave.
Have yon found anything on the bodv
tliat will lead to its identification . Per
haps a few notes with his description
might be of use when reporting the
matter to the police. I believe the po
lice have come to the Macarthnr river,
which can't be more than 130 miles
from here at the farthest." He spoke in
u quiet, unobtrusive, businesslike way.
"Perhaps, sir," I said, "you're a J.
P. in (Queensland if not in the northern
territory; so, if you wouldn't mind as
sisting ns and witnessing the inventory
of the dead man's property, we would
be greatly obliged to you. My name la
Parker, and my mate's is Tyndall. Per
haps you'd better take down our
names."
Hi' had taker- from a light gray khar
kee coat a notebook and pencil to facili
tate matters. "As yon wish, "he re
plied. "My name's Mackenzie. T.-irra
gong is the name of my station on the
Burdekin."
Then we lifted the blanket from off
the corpse. Perhaps I never saw a more
peaceful look upon the face of any one
who had died by violence than I saw on
the face of this man. Whatever may
have been his restless passions once
iir.oii a time they had now forsaken the
clay, and there was no expression there
save that of the pristine innocence of
the child. I had seen the same look on
Jack's face when he was asleep. He had
been, as the squatter said, looking sad
ly on his face, a handsome fellow. Then
we examined his possessions.
In the small pouch attached to his
belt we found a plain silver watch, in
his trousers pocket some silver, and two
£5 notes in an old purse. The squatter
untied a small parcel wrapped in oil
cloth and looked at a packet of letters;
he read the addresses on one or two of
the envelopes and seemed surprised;
then he examined tlx- correspondence.
His face was a study now: the deepest
concern and astonishment were depicted
ire lifted the blanket from off the corpse
there. I heard Jack ejaculate hoarsely
"Well?" but his face was averted.
Then the squatter, in his quiet but
somewhat formal way, said:
"This man, I learn from these letters,
is the son of one whom once I consider
ed my friend. His mother and my sister
were at school together. His name is
John Farquharson. Perhaps, under the
circumstances, 1 may as well tell you
that only a few years ago he had every
reason to consider himself independent,
but on the death of his father a sorry
state of affairs transpired and he found
himself penniless. I had heard about
his misfortunes and was aware that he
intended emigrating to Australia. Then
his mother wrote to me to the effect
that she had extracted from him a re
luctant promise that he would come out
to one of my stations. I believe there
were some remote prospects of his com
ing into some money, and something
else that I needn't talk about now. But
he never came to me. I was sorry, how
ever, to hear, in an official capacity,
that he'd been seen in company that
he'd have done well to have avoided:
but I'm not at liberty to talk of that
Now that I look at him, I can see the
family resemblance he is John Farqu
harson beyond a doubt."
"Then you'll oblige us by keeping the
articles belonging to him." I tagged.
"But 1 don't suppose you've had y<>nr
breakfast yet. If yon go back to your
camp and get it now yon mightn't
care al«>nt eating it here—we'll have
everything ready in half an hour's
time."
•Tll send Savile along to give you a
hand," rt marked the squatt« r and went
over to his own camp.
We chose a dry, sandv soot for the
>fr.ivt>. and Ja< k takiiitr th»* ~h<>v. 1 in
hit< band- tv. rk»'<l -te.nlih Tli> n >.»vil»»
cauii*. a uri at >trapi>itnr. qnict li-
individual, with a round, (foad natnr.-d
far.-. He t«. ijk tln> shovel forcibly fn>:n
Jack, who w;us t<» . mni h ast> .nish«'d at
thi* snmniary i:>ilo of pr<» ."durt- t.>. x
I>rc» disnt. "Yon sit down, mate."
he cried t > iu< , "yon'n n«>t li»«kinirt.<<>
«jiicy'" I had tieen jfmpinK ainib-*ly
arouml. To Jack he saiil "Well, it
will work, yon can jr»'t a sheet of Ivirk.
I've got some roi*>"— this f>*r the bn.-h
coffin.
In le«s than an hour's time every
thing was ready Then we place«l the
snjijxised John Farquharsi.n <>n the »he.-t
of hark ready to lie roll«"«l round bis
[w I>T body when we lowered it into the
grave, and now we Haw Mackenzie of
coin ing among the tr>. ac
compauied by his daughter, a girl who
I siipjicsed would IK* about lit years ■ f
age. and with ln-r a fair, fresh, pleasant
woman who was evidently some few
years older.
For a year or two I had net seen
many %-onien In fact, they were few
and far between in that gulf country,
and such women as there wer>- well,
the less said about some of th. m the
liettcr. It was little wonder th.-r. f .r>-
that Norah Mackenzie I had heard her
father inenti n her name—sh>>nld hwve
filled me w ."h a nliar inWrest. She
was slightly built and wore a well fit
fiiiif riding hal>it that her n ..t.
trim figure to i>erfection. On h.-r In .el
was a gray, broad brimmed felt hat
canght up at on> side and helil by a
email old fashioned Celtic silver brt> «:li
Und' rneath her large dark eyes looked
out from a delicately molded face that
remiieled me of some old Italian or
Bpaiii-h picture Her conipleximi was
of a warm oliw tint. and. what with
her dark eyes, heavily fringed eyelids.
Mid the light brown color of her hair.
»he represented a type of Australian
womanhood that for subtle, attractive
power will hold its own with any in
the world. It was the Saxon type mod
ified by the healthful, outdoor life . f a
bubtr pieal climate. Her face was of
too a cast to compare to that
of a gypsy'--. t>nt apart fr >ui its natural
Belf flosses-101 l there w;;- ■= niiething s )
alien from c nventionalitv in hr -n
ner that the comparison t i
I saw Jack look at her steadily, th. n
abruptly turn away his he::d. I >rld
not see his face. Th->n th • ether man
came up and one of the bla k 1 •> •
The little group gatlured ro ;..l ti..«
grave. The squatter, taking li■ -
ter by the hand, lifted a corner of t'i >
blanket and looked ujwn the | eac'-fnl
white face. Then the girl placed i
wreath of wild flowers, which -he h 1
carried in her hand, ufion his 1 r. .;-i.
and it seemed me as if tear- - -1 in
her eves. When for the first time 1 - r
the face of Norah Macki nzie, if
me that there was not much
escape her observation, nor was I mis
taken. She only 1. oked for a mcneiit
n[X'U that cold mask of clay, and th« u
involuntarily, as it were, tnrnin r<.ui: 1.
gazed in a strange, puzzled fa»hl>n ;-t
Jack. The likeness hod struck her and
evidently made her think
"Have yon a Bt><>k of Conn *i
Prayer t" the squatter asked. "I'll r 1
the burial service, being the old<>st
you don't mind," adding in an nv. !• r
tono, "I'm not an Episcopalian. ! t
that doesn't matter."
And here something occurred which
shows how at times into the most I
and solemn offices a touch of tli hid:
cronswill creep. 1 glanced at Jack, »:: I
Jack returned the compliment. I snp
pose both of us must have ife- 'iit< 1
such a shamefaced and guilty ;r , ir
ance that when I looked up and cHU-.ht
Miss Mackenzie's eyes. while Jack -t ■ in
niered out something about "!•• in;
afraid he had forgotten to fetch his
prayer book along with him," there was
an amused expression in them f >r a s«t
ond, indicating a quick appreciation < f
the situation. In another instant, how
ever. it had died away, and the squat
ter himself came to the rescue.
"Oh, well, if you haven't one handy,
don't mind," he remarked. "I put
mine in my pocket in case of accidents.
And now in the shade of that great
blood wood tree the solemn word- of
the funeral service commeno-d the
most beautiful and solemn words of any
like service in the world.
Then clearly and distinctly cam'' the
words, spoken in a manly, earnest voice,
"I am the resurrection and the life. "
It was Indeed a solemn scene. I had
seen many funerals at sea. when those
whom I knew well weie committed to
the deep, and fully realized the solem
nity of tho situation, but there was
something tragic about the fate of him
who lay in the sheet of bark, now folded
round his poor, blood stained body,
that was unspeakably pathetic. What
ever the faults or passions of this man
may have been a sheet of bark and six
feet of sandy soil in that far Australian
forest were all that pertained to him
now Within a year or two, such is the
changing nature of all things tropical,
even the place where he slept would be
a matter of conjecture. Perhaps the
fever had made me somewhat fanciful,
for I rememl>er it flashed upon me sud
denly what a strange spice of mockery
there was in this burial after all If I
were not dreaming the night before—
and I was half inclined to think I had
been, or that it was some trick of the
brain arising from the fever—l had
seen Jack take from this man what
pimply obliterated his identity and left
him with that which gave him a false
one. He was being buried under the
name of a man who ut that moment
was assisting at his burial. For I could
not but suppose that my mate Jack was
the same John Farqnh arson to whom
the letters which the squatter had tak'U
from the corpse had l>een addressed,
and who for some reason or other wished
to lie forgotten by the world. He had
seized upon the present opportunity of
accomplishing his purpose to be consid
ered as dead. The name which I liad
known him under, that of Jack Tyn
dall. was, of course, a false one. Still I
could not be angry with Jack "Speak
of a man as you find him" is not only
a charitable but a just maxim. I had
never met with a more straightforward
or a more unselfish man.
The elder of the two women was now
crying silently. One could not but ob
serve them. The younger of the two
had placed her arm round the other's
waist and held one of her hands as if to
comfort l.i r, although her own eyes
Were undoubtedly dimmed. It was evi
dent site was averse to betraying her
feelings.
"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and
dust to d.ist " And in a few minutes
all Wits over. •
The women went back to their camp,
and the squatter, with his own hands,
cut four strong ix<sts and placed them
at the corners of the newly made grave.
He also cut out on{the bsffk of the tree
tin' name "J. .n, and the
date, "July, lss.vj" "I'll get an iron
plate made in Sydney and have it sent
up to be placedovar the grave.'' !»<• said
CHARTER 111
THK WO)L\!fAND THE BKKPKNT.
When withinJOO yards or w> of Mr
M ackenzie's camp, I witnessed a rather
exciting little adventure
Beneath an ;«wning that had been
rigged under tho .trees the squatter was
sitting with his, daughter A httle
farther "f w»re th. wagons wfcetf Sa
vile, tin . ok. was t.u-ym ; hims. 'f over
H camp . ven A httl -farther -till I
cortld see the tv. o bkirk 1»»j- engaged
after the I. anm-r of their j» ■ pti>. wan
dering al««nt t mahawk iUiijn-lfr .ru
tr< • to tr>-> K% ni nth witl: an eye t« »
|» ■ sni i. ..n 1 ;uan.i r a "sugar bag."
as thev caii a hive of bees. Suddenly,
wth n i.. iik fallen log. I saw •n- f
th- in ;i. a -Kip and jump aiitl heard
him slug <»nt to bin fellow:
"Yarry. Yarry, lookout! Bi(t fell w
make'
Even from where 1 stood it conld 1-e
seen. for it was an en. rmous tigi r
snake. ' »t» • could see the ptteiMcf yel
low amid the hi rrible, -inn. .rts
f< Ms It foiled itself up hikl stood i n
t!: Yarr; promptly cut • "f
.t.- retreat in another direction. It had
thrown it» If at Snovrltall and narrow
ly mi.-sed that gentlei aa'« Iwre shin*
1 cut a stick as I ran. intending t kill
it. for buhnicn invariably dispatch a
snake upon j>rincipje Th- re is not
inn<'h to fear from one if yon keep well
in fr nt and k.-ep cool. If it is a pood
fighter. there is just en. >ugh danger to
give a certain relish to th- ratertain
n; nt Hut the sj. rtir.c bent of my na
ture was not to be uid ilkr»il Mi* Mac
k> uzie threw down the 1» ok -he had
b- • n r- -ading and cried. • Savile. hand
mo y ir » sip and tie up the dig*. "
"Hera, miss." cried th.- cook, run
nm* toward her with it. Savile wa»
courtesy itsflf where the female -< i was
concerned. "But don't get ti*» close
he's an ugly chap. "
At the same moment Yarry -anj nT*
tome. "Yon wait a bit. wkit# fdkw
miesis that one white Mary— ehe kill
"ni plenty quick— that fallow kill n-.
snake."
I stood still and wait things were
growing interesting I hid - n girto in
the 1 -h kill snakes, bat *h" was th«*
fir-t I lukl -.■• n practice upon ne with
a stock whip, which was evidently her
Contemplated mode of warfare Thi<
strange irirl had pinne<l up her riding
habit, so as not to interfere with her
freedom of action, and took the whip
from the hands of the cook
"Now. lie cart ful. Xomh" ' herfatb» r
critsl. But it was evidently no new
night to him; he sat coolly oa a canip
stool and watched what was going for
ward-
she ran into the open until she was
within a f» w yards of th»- snake, whieh.
with body coiled and with head and
neck reared and swaying from side to
side, looked the very incarnation of
wickedness. As m<>*t r--a<l''r« know, the
handle of a stock whip is short, perhaps
not inor. than 'J4 inches in length at
the out-ide. while the lash is * or 1» feet
l-'ng; it r.-«4nir»-< -killful han<ilicg An>l
u w tli-• li.'ht. lith- ti_*ur- . f the girl
stepped cl » r tt> the snake, her head
b*'inir erer »-liirhtly inclined forward
I observed a h ;.;htened color steal Into
the delicat" -live of her cheeks. A> I
watched tho«e creat. in««-rutable dark
eyes of her-, in which some uncanny
kind of uour seemed to lie. 1 th. >nght
of the r-nake fascinating the bird, bnt I
also thonuht that th>- snake ha«l met
uiiir.' tha i Its match this time Ther»»
was something Very like a smile np n
her lij's a-, -he watched it. She drew
the soft, pliant body of the whip through
the palm > f her left hand, and then.
rai>in>; her right arm. the lash described
an airy circle round her head With a
forward and downward motion it cut
through the nir; a sharp report like the
crack of a pistol right over the snake's
head was the result I never before had
wen a girl handle a stock whip as -be
did. With eyes that seemed to blaze
with fury the -nake threw itself half of
it* own length toward her and struck
at her with a lightninglike rapidity
My heart was in my month. At the
same moment one of the blacks sprang
forward as if to deal the angry reptile a
stroke with a stick But he never toadi
ed it. for swiftly the long lash whizzed
through the air. the girl made a quick
bnt deliberate step backward, and Snow
ball cxjierienced a slight nip somewhere
in the neighborhood of the right wrist.
He dropped his -tick as if he had been
bitten by the snake and with a howl of
terror skipped quickly nut of harm's
wav
"Now then. Snowball," cried the
gypsy looking girl, "baal I had been
tcli 'lll yon kill 'em snake. What for
you touch him?"
Tin- quaint black's pigeon English
came from her lips* as trippingly as if
she hiul l»vn a Mack gin
"My word, plenty coo la h that fellow,
missis," said Snowball by way of re
lieving bin feelings and imparting in
formation. at the same time ruefully
mill ing his wrist.
The snake coiled itself l«tck into
frition again, as if waiting for round
number two. And now the jtirl and the
snake seemed to be xazing into each
other's eyes. I could see the snake »
scintillate. Suddenly and before it
threw itself at her a second time the
long lash curled through the air, and
Co* 1
4|" W •
The lomj lash curlal thnrugk tt it air
with a deafening report struck it on
the neck with a force that n< doubt
must have broken it. for the snake
writhed h confused sen-u of coils upon
the ground Two mora steady cuts
from that firm, graceful. lithe ari ..
and it lay still She gathered up thi
coils »f cowhide in her hand and >1
th< whip by the lash end Then ah<
stepped forward till she «t««»1 nearly
over it, and with the butt end of the
whip raised its head I advanced to
ward her.
"Did you ever watch a snake » eyes
when it was dying T" she a*ke»l "If
»t. just 1 •■■k at this one.' These were
|h>- first words this oßCOGveStiooai girl
tv* r spoke to lue
Now. I do a t like to see anything
die— not even a snake. Still tny sport
ing instincts are keen. and no doubt re
semble that typical Britisher's whom
the Frenchman described thus "He
gets tip and says. 'lt's a beautiful
niornin*; let us ico out and kill some
thinif ' " But then, the case t»-ars en
tirely a different aspect when :t comes
t<> watching anything in a death a*>ny
Such a condition "f mind must Iwtray
a great deal of the old original Adam,
in 'nr nature that savage instinct
.No. 37
who h ffi--atk> ..v.-r anvthin« either dead
i* dym_- The principle and the -Tarn
p.> r- • > . . - > I - jio-rance aik-w
a ■ hsld th- n^'htl—'-Iv t, destroy animal
life. t<> h. criel to a <•:«» .-r a dog. aid
in nino out ..f ten rhat rfaibl will
in"'"* np a mi < r w..nuui. m the c**
may he. with a lat. Nt cruelty which
will a- ■ niter If « ner er later and
pr. ve a , ~s». ti« its p. --.-«-i..r thia is
a» u and lmi :■ »bi»> law <>f na
ture h;?'4 ng on tli.. law of • rder and
part of the )fr»t»d scheme.
she: -•-* hav t. I - methinig of
that which w.«e n.»- in-j thr »ith my
minii. f r aft-r ■ •juies ,;bn • :n m
h-r larif -dark ey.*. -hi* remarked "I
see y<>n<t ft t un.lt r-r.»mi why 1 ask yon
to 1— k Ci n»e ht-r ■ ->he ha>l a sTIMkC*
srift. trnly. of •ltvin'RX •n»- - thought.<
I . (ey.ni an>l lt»iire«| mt«. the eye»«#
the
f. *• t.l turn* : tw»-n >t.«rtietl It seemed
to t .ether" w; - a • ncentrati. n < «nch
devuish hata-aml imp. tent fam- in them
thar 1 tn\ t Inntarilv turned awav mr
heati
"It's not a pleasant -ixht «w my
comr.i. n: "I d- a't know h»w y»«» n*n
V«4t at a tbtnx. " To bh» the vt-ry
idea ><f th fawnlikt* ey«i at
su. h a i .»ive - hject wae ht>rr»Ne.
an 1 I nin-t Lave show a my disffna*.
• 'My only lr» ti».r was killed by the
bite of t>n-* " sit" r> i.iarkt 1 simply tad
th»-n sfrwk i* on tit.- heawt with the bott
end of her st.ick whip.
"I pat it »nt of its ausfry any
h -v but I i-nppsf T..n'll ascribe nw
• ■th r u: tire t-»the acti. a '* She turned
to the Macks ■"Yarry. here yon tahe
ein This .n- bn i«ei*» HVw -oake "
Th-a she waikett off without *> urnrh
as U*»ki»-» at iw bef. .re 1 barf time an
diss> at from tats uncalled ftr tispar
ageureat I a>u<4wrMl an»>yi*l at
her nvinr-r but went awer to th#>
M|ttatter wh. .was jnst iißttbia? ».me
writing and took *» «ent with him is
th - shade under th*- awning
***ilad see y.'-i, 'he -aid heartily
"Where'* yt ttr friend"*'
I explained that Jack wae finishing
the fen • r> und the itrave What had
ocewn d in i iaed to have him
Then w • tsiketl aN.ut varh'i— tfitaaa
s.. n h • h.i<l ;*ait»ed fr»»m m* such m
fomiat:. r as the ram* - -if tile srhtsds
ami Jack ami I bad been at awl
other matters a like nature I .hd
nt miad trtiint him soch thiates. t>r
in th.- Australian bark bhs-ka. ta the
mtet nniik-ly i>ti yon nvet all sm
and condition!* «>f cm. an that n-.tUaf
conies in the nature . f % snrpriar 1
also t->l.l him that Jack aad I w»ra
traveling overia.M to the .iitorin«s new
ly IT. >ken not ta Western Australia
"I can't bat think that yia'r* mak
ing a mistake." remarked the «>i-tatter
at this point. "I'm Ust to anderstaad
it's a mi-« raWy dry «> watry !*o I
shoukl wait if I w*te y.tn natil jaat ha-
Cure th wet - aeon sets ta aad thea
yon 11 hav# a rha nee of pr spn-nat th*
ranges properly Hun.trede will to
driv-n R the held before that tune,
mark my worde **
"Yes." 1 tej. lard. "I've ao
that s sonml atfvn-e. bat what are w»
t«» do in th- me»ririme? There ara k>ta
of wiH bt r«-t down ne*r the salt paan
—1 >i nt >uppoMe the is mote thaa
fto miles off bat yoa kaow the clam
of felk w* who are tli.wn there, making
horse hunting aaricae for keeping oat
of th** way of the poUce, ami nt ithe*
Jack nor I want t«> get mixed up with
them "
"WtdL I'll tell yoa what. " «aM th*
«|Ua!t -r, "tbtaigh. ofc> nne, We needa t
ci .me to any definite nt»tcr-r»nding jaM
at pre* nt. the land I n taken up to
some do miles <s>ntht f the track oa the
Robin ton river I «eat i,ow head oi
cattle «>n ahead stgne five m« ntha agt\
bnt am rather anxious about them. The
blacks in that particular locality an»
nmlonbtetlly bad. and I f>-ar that naee
this rash to Wt-itera An "ralia has eet
la some •-f the men that •hhea, the
ilrover. hat! li king after them may
have g>>oe off to it. I a»-ver saw it
erwiw yet The native btga A*i»traUaa
will maintain that two birds ia the
bosh are worth • »ne tn the haa>l aay
day. especially where a if-tifield to era
caned, if y. .it t are to f lit >w my alrka
I'll give yon both work at 8a IW. a
week when y.*i get t*» the atatkta aad
until yoa thiak it t> time to start fur
Kimberiey; so if. as yyo may find -at
before then, the rush has proved a
•duffer' yon II be money in pocket aad
w. Nt havf wa-ted time Then if yna
want to remain ami help to form the
•tation - I'U only stop ft* anetoth or »
Toti tan tlo m\ "
1 thank"! him, (t >intsina lu arramr
th- matter with Jack I knew be heM
ont this offer to us with Um br«rt .4
motive" ami not bn'iW br mar ktv
wished lu sx-urelahor Hp ißf"Tßfd «•'
that in half an hour's time th-y wont
strike ruup and pnsh « n Anyhow w
won hi Kv hint • n Stale*® creek tha*
ni-ht TnTitei ipm r»lly rmnprd is
cl<«»-proximity to each other "® th >
| >nely track f r fear . f heimr attack •
by th" blai St.*.
"Look bet*. Dick. Mid Jack. **l
think tt s tic: to tell you something. a»I
may as well tell Ton It now a* later •«.
Dick, before I met ym I got Into a
cid>rab!e bit «t tn«bfe- that * fc. say
was K<*n in preriuoa bad company «i»l
under dmillMWi which w. *ild nat
urally mntr the p.4tre jump at straw
conclusions. I n«<d hardly nek yo* fc»
believe me"—
••Jmrlt " I pn>t»-«ted. "IlyMfc y«*»r
head for you in another minute"
"All ritfht. old chap, you can after
war L " The *h.»t .f a smile lit npfefe
face fi.r the moment, and he went
again as if there bail been no interrup
tion "I've a viry ~tr u< suspicion that
there's a warrant «ut ft* my arrest In
fact, if wa.- th»* knowledge of this that
ha-ten-d me to make tip bit min«i when
you asked me to ifo with ti u to W-st
eni Australia. Y«u>e only known uw
by the name ..f Tyn«lail I «uspert th»-
police have att th«»r -ne for m«' bnt
from motiv»-s of pru-b-nce I think it
will !»• better to «tick to my pi»
name If the police have rotiie t. h.
M.n arthnr I h«-sinl they wrr»> cnauna
--thev be in a p<*«it;> n to mak'- i*
awk wanl for me. s«» you're liable to h»
seriouslj inc.inventeno-l at*any time
thr n>ch keeping my company S w
Dick all you're gr»t ay is that vow
want to tro with SfarkenKie and I I 0->
right on Y->u '-an make anr ex< nt
nie yon like I'll *pan ■ nt' «>tie r
Ji'tw. <p»-ak oot. I riaa t • -ff* '. •» -t
whatever y.-'i And. fc*>k her' i U
leave yon the ifr»y as a keepsa* J I
chap
"Jack, yon cowardly l*nte' Y- •«
know I haven't -tremrth left to j ti
your head -V* for fhe p..!!""". iu"
them' "
I was disappointed in Jack, bar an
d.,tibt*-lly my refer n«-- t«» the
wa- and uticalle<J f.r
I |to n co»wi»|
\» UHWt l »eU.
S«k :et> l£ej»>rter Mr* Skitirf.'.
plains that the picture w t pr«nte«l
not lot'k a t'it like her
Alitor That's hicfcy. We .-an r
for some one el>*c f':en ?i«-» \ u
W,-eily
Off « i>«ar
"The other man in any controversy
luis as Bi«l a rU'it t»» h>« .»p«t»'.»n am
Jotl have t.. y"ir
*les. t*nt h«'s si» u a chuuip. » * al
wavs wrong." Chu i> '