Part 13 (1/2)
Gleeson, fearful and subdued, scrambled up as he was told
”Now,” said Palo on to the second portion of this 'ere dra to Tony, and pointing to the weather-worn thongs he had bound round his swag
As soon as he had them, he placed one in a noose round Gleeson's neck, and drew it tight enough to be unco
”You hold this, lad,” he said to Tony, who took the loose end of the strap and, just to see that it was all secure, jerked it slightly
”I haven't done you haran to whine; ”I haven't done you har----”
”Dry up,” Pal up one of the picks, he stepped in front of Gleeson, and held the pick so that the point of it rested on the crown of his head Peters, following a hint, took up another, and stood by the side, holding it over his shoulder as though ready to strike
”Now then, you scab of ashark,” Palmer Billy said, in the full force of his raucous voice, ”you'll say what I bid you, or we'll sink a shaft through your skull and see where your brains lie D'ye hear?”
Gleeson, muddled, dazed, and terrified, mumbled out that he had never done the about that, because there ain't no talk in it We ain't sharks, but you are, and we're just going to teach you so of ork is like First you'll tell us just what your game was and ere in it Then we'll tell you e'll do”
”You're chokingame?” Peters interrupted to ask
”I told you I never meant to harm you It was a fair deal The clai find was to be ain, only to so wrong in that It's done every day infor nuggets is no good Not one in ten thousandout of that; any fool can make a pile out of the other, if he only does it properly I know the ropes I'll put you all into a good thing later on, you see; so withafter nuggets You trust me I'm square I don't want to har in over this swindle with you?” Peters asked
”It wasn't a swindle It was a fair speculation--a good open deal, and it would have h it Where's the swindle to sell what others want to buy and at their own valuation? We don't ask them to buy We don't put up the price We only tell people what a good thing we've got, and let it get known that so old has been found on our clai sums for our chance, and we take the offer, where's the swindle?”
Palnation, dropped the pick he was holding, and walked away for ten yards, swinging round and cory stride
”Swear, you slippery-tongued shark, you; swear by all the bones in your body that if you----”
The oath, whatever it ht have been, was never co tooupon Gleeson, and gave vent to his feelings in ato him than a mere oratorical outburst Had he been allowed to complete his intention, the future career of Gleeson would not have been connected withswindles
For a ti predisposed in favour of Gleeson, stood by watching the chastisement Palmer Billy meted out, undisturbed by the cries forblows of the raging digger called forth from his victim It was only when both cries and yells ceased, and Gleeson lay senseless and inert, that they interfered
”You're only wasting it,” Peters said quietly, as he took hold of Palht the other ar a blow at the man who had interrupted Pal one of a tribe who had so often lured hiasped, as he struggled to break away and re-open the can on the prostrate Gleeson
”Give hiet his wind There'll be none left for us to go for if you don't ease up a bit”
”That's fair, boys; that's fair,” Palo next; I'll stand by while you have your go”
”But what have you left for us?” Tony asked, as he let go Palmer Billy's arm
Gleeson, very much bruised and dishevelled, lay on the broad of his back, breathing heavily