Part 44 (1/2)

”Where's he from?” Dudgeon asked, looking after him.

”Oh, that's Mrs. Burke's Irish body-guard,” Soden said. ”Says he should never have left Ireland, and I agree with him. There'll be trouble out at the Downs some of these days, if she doesn't clear him out or he gives over drinking. Don't you serve him any more, do you hear, Jim?

Hand him over to Brennan if he comes in again,” he added to his barman.

”Well, what's the news?” Dudgeon exclaimed as he got out of his buggy and limped over to Soden.

”The leg's not all right yet, I see?” Soden said.

”Oh, that's getting on. Anything fresh about the bank?”

”Why, haven't you heard?” Soden cried. ”They've found Eustace, found him with a bullet through him, lying in the water at the ford in the range.

He's over there now,” he added, jerking his head towards the police-station.

”What's that you say?” Dudgeon exclaimed, open-eyed and open-mouthed.

”They found him only yesterday--the sub-inspector and the constable. And last night, what do you think? His mate, the man with the beard who stuck your place up, galloped through the town here, and afterwards, when we were all out chasing him, doubled back on us and stole everything he could lay his hands on.”

Dudgeon still stood staring open-mouthed and open-eyed.

”There were only two places he missed, the bank and the cottage down the road--Smart's place--where Mrs. Eustace is living.”

”Ah! Then that poor thing's a widow?”

”That's so,” Soden replied. ”But, between you and me, I don't think for long. You know she and Harding--he's our new bank manager, by the way--are old friends, Mr. Dudgeon, and from what I hear from Jim, my barman, who's got his eye on the girl Mrs. Eustace has, they're pretty good friends now, if not a bit more. I shouldn't be surprised, speaking as between man and man, to see her back at the bank again before many years are over, that is, if young Harding stays on here.”

”Oh!” Dudgeon exclaimed. ”Oh!”

”He's a fine young fellow, Mr. Dudgeon, and you ought to be interested in him, for he was the first to look after you when you were knocked over. But, here, won't you come in for a bit? You're in no-hurry.”

”Yes, I am,” Dudgeon replied. ”I'm in town on business, and when I have business to do, Mr. Soden, I do it. See?”

”It's a good plan.”

”Yes, it's a very good plan. So I'll move along. Don't forget to have that horse in sharp at four--I don't like waiting.”

He limped away down the road and Soden turned back into his house.

”Old Dudgeon don't seem to have lost much of his sourness since he was laid out,” he said to his barman as he pa.s.sed. ”He's never been inside this door since I've been here, and they say he hadn't been in for years before then. Queer old chap he is. I wonder if he is mixed up with the Rider?”

Limping along, Dudgeon made straight for Smart's cottage and knocked at the door.

”I've come to see Mrs. Eustace,” he said gruffly when Bessie answered.

”I'm sorry, sir, but Mrs. Eustace can't see anyone to-day. It's----”

”You go and tell her it's me, do you hear? Mr. Dudgeon of Taloona. I'll come in and sit down till she's ready.”

He pushed the door wide open and stepped inside.

”But Mrs. Eustace, sir----” Bessie began.