Part 38 (1/2)

”I am glad of that,” she said. ”I have always feared he would. Then there could have been no doubt. Was he found?”

”Yes. Durham was driving in from Waroona Downs with Brennan. They found him in the water where the creek crosses the road in the range.”

”Drowned?” she asked wonderingly.

”No, not drowned; he had been shot.”

She shuddered and gripped his hand.

”They did not----” she began brokenly. ”They--it was not because he was--escaping?”

”They found him,” he said gently. ”He was lying in the water--the shot had been fired from behind him.”

For a time she sat silent, still holding his hand firmly.

”Where is he now?” she asked presently.

”They brought him in and Durham came across to tell you. Will you----”

”No, no. Oh, no,” she interrupted as she shuddered and hid her face in her hands.

Presently she raised her eyes to his.

”It is better so,” she said. ”They may find out now that he was innocent; they would have condemned him had he been taken alive.”

He laid a hand on hers without speaking.

With a quick gesture she raised it to her lips.

”Oh, Fred, what a friend you have been to me!” she murmured.

CHAPTER XV

THE RIDER'S SCORN

Late into the night the townsfolk of Waroona stood in knots and groups in the roadway discussing the mystery surrounding the death of Eustace.

Until the closing hour compelled the hotelkeepers to turn their customers out, the bars were crowded and a roaring trade was done, all the loose cash in the place pa.s.sing into the tills which were full to overflowing.

Everyone had a theory, which differed from that of everyone else, but as one after the other told his particular views on the question and heard them criticised and discussed, and heard also the views of others, there was a rapid falling off in individual opinions and a tendency to concentrate on one or two which withstood the test of criticism the best.

On one point there was unanimity of opinion. Eustace and the man with the yellow beard had been in league. They had robbed the bank together, Eustace having drugged the other inmates so that there should be no chance of the work being disturbed.

Eustace had also partic.i.p.ated in the robbery and outrage at Taloona. He it was, the townsmen decided, who had his face hidden by the handkerchief mask. The indifference of his companion whether his face was seen or not suggested to them a stranger, one who was not known in the district, but who had come there for the purpose of carrying out the robbery of the bank.

When the first sum of twenty-five thousand was so successfully secured, Eustace would know that the Bank, for its own protection, would have to hurry forward another similar sum to meet the obligation of its client.

He would know that old Dudgeon would refuse to leave it in charge of the Bank, and would decline any police protection even if it were offered.