Part 25 (2/2)

Dr Tom was pleased to see Adye Dauntsey, and the good-humoured magistrate was equally delighted to again meet the doctor.

'You are quite a stranger at Barragong,' he said. 'We very seldom see you there.'

'I have so much to do here,' said the doctor, smiling; 'but I mean to trespa.s.s upon your hospitality some day before long.'

'And you may be sure of a hearty welcome,' said Dauntsey. 'Is this the young jockey who will ride Neptune?' he added, as he patted Willie on the head.

The lad shrunk from his hand, for his head was still painful.

Adye Dauntsey looked up surprised. Jim Dennis hastened to explain.

When Adye Dauntsey heard what had happened the night previously he looked severe.

'This must be inquired into,' he said; 'but you were quite right to wait until after the races. I should not be at all surprised if that scoundrel Dalton had a hand in it. I think you made a mistake, doctor, in allowing him to run horses at the meeting.'

'I could not very well prevent him, and it might have caused an unpleasant scene.'

'But he's such an out-and-out bad lot.'

'He is, I'll grant you that.'

'Why does not Sergeant Machinson lay him by the heels?' asked the doctor.

'That is a question I have frequently asked myself,' said the magistrate. 'You see, Machinson holds a very responsible position and works a large district, and so far as I know does his duty, but I have often thought he ought to pay a little more attention to Barker's Creek and its inhabitants.'

'And you are quite right too,' said Jim Dennis. 'If you knew all Machinson's little games he would not be sergeant in your district long.'

Adye Dauntsey looked grave. He had his doubts about the sergeant's integrity himself, but it was a difficult case to inquire into. If he made a mistake there would be nothing for him to do but to resign his position. He must be very sure before he moved.

'One thing I must do,' he said, 'I will instruct Machinson to inquire into this a.s.sault upon your son, Dennis; and I shall expect him to find out the culprit.'

'That he will not do,' was Jim's answer.

'Why?'

'Because I firmly believe Dalton had a hand in it.'

'And why should it prevent him from doing his duty?' asked Adye.

'That is best known to himself. Machinson has never been fair to me. He still believes, or professes to do so, that I had a hand in that Potter affair, and he circulated a rumour at the time that I was responsible for the Seahorse business.'

'No one believes it, Dennis,' said Dauntsey.

'I am glad to hear you say so again,' said Jim; 'but it sticks, after all these years. There is trouble brewing again around here, let me tell you. Seth Sharp has been at Barker's Creek ever since his discharge from prison. They ought to have hanged him.'

'Seth Sharp at Barker's Creek!' exclaimed both Dr Tom and Adye Dauntsey.

'Surely you don't mean that?'

<script>