Part 20 (1/2)
”You can demand it, of course, if you care to,” Durham replied.
”And where are you going to camp? You'll want a feed, I suppose?”
”I reckoned I could get one here.”
”Oh, you can get one here all right. There's no luxury about the place.
I'm a poor man and just carry enough stores to keep me going. There's only me about the place now, so you'll have to do your own cooking; but you'll find it as comfortable as any bush pub, and cheaper, for there's no drink to be had, and half a crown for your supper and bed won't hurt you. You can take it or leave it--I'm not particular.”
He climbed out of the buggy and began unharnessing the horse.
”You have heard of the robbery at the bank, I suppose, Mr. Dudgeon?”
Durham asked.
”Heard of what?”
He stood up with his hand still on the buckle he was unfastening.
”The robbery at the bank. I thought everyone in the district had heard of it.”
The old man remained without moving, his eyes fixed on Durham.
”Haven't heard a word. What's the yarn?”
”The bank was robbed yesterday--all the money taken, including the gold which had been sent up to pay you for Waroona Downs. Soon after the robbery, Eustace, the manager, disappeared.”
”Then who's Wallace?”
”He is one of the officials from the head office.”
”But he had the money ready to pay me. How could that be if----”
”He arrived with it to-day--he was expected about noon, I believe.”
Dudgeon let go the buckle and took two slow, deliberate steps nearer Durham.
”Brought it with him?” he exclaimed. ”And only arrived about noon?”
”About that, I believe,” Durham replied.
The old man s.n.a.t.c.hed the hat from his head and flung it on the ground.
”Sold! by G.o.d! Sold!” he yelled. ”If I'd been there before that chap arrived, I'd have beaten them--they couldn't have paid, and I'd have cried off the deal. Why didn't you come and tell me earlier? What's the good of your coming here now?”
”Don't you think it rather risky to drive through the bush with a pile of money like that in your buggy while those bank robbers are still at liberty?” Durham said quietly.
Dudgeon stood back and looked at him quizzically.
”Oh, you're on it too, are you? That's your game, is it? Well, see here, my lad, anyone who can take this money without my knowing it is welcome to it. Do you understand?”
He resumed his work of unharnessing the horse, leading it away, as soon as it was clear of the shafts, to a lean-to shed at the side of the hut where he hung up the harness and turned the horse free.