Part 25 (1/2)

The other occasion when he showed any interest in the conversation hen it was said that Tony and his two old-fields had taken young Murray with the paid for his share in the stores and tools of the party

That piece of inforhter alh he had not spoken--as Sue--there had been a light in his eye and an expression on his face that had escaped no one

And yet none of thenificance of it all--until the bald fact of the revealed secret came to them

Each one claimed then that he had seen, noted, and understood the peculiarity of Slaughter's behaviour on the two occasions, but he had held his peace lest he should be doing an injustice to a fellons an opinion nor so generous in respecting another's fair name But lost time was made up in the fulness of opportunity that was now offered

The beginning of the story was vague and uncertain, and, as no particular interest attached to it, it was practically left alone The interest of Birralong commenced with the alarard to Nellie With a big family and a small selection, there was neither time nor inclination on their part to mince matters, and Nellie had been questioned severely and pointedly An obstinate silence was the only result, and her parents losing patience, she had been left in a room with a locked door in order to acquire the necessary sense to anshat she was asked Instead, however, of learning the folly of obstruction, she found that the as open; and when her parents returned, many hours afterwards, to renew their inquiries, they found that Nellie had vanished

Disliking the idea of publicity--asoundly condemned them--they had kept their own counsel for days--days when, as Marhter had visited the store and displayed that taciturn ht of subsequent revelations

As the days passed and no sign was given by the an to be ht by a boy, who said he had received it from a man on the road, that Mrs Murray would do well to hurry to Slaughter's at the Three-hbour who happened to be at the selection at the ti-cart to the Three-ht her back; and then the news leaked out, and Murray ca to be shohere Slaughter was, and calling for his son to come home and help him exact retribution for the betrayal of his child

But no one knehere Slaughter was; no one had seen him in the townshi+p for days; and, as far as could be learned, there were no signs of his having been at the Three-mile for days; while Nellie held her peace, even when her baby came and died, and she al heard, and nightly was the gathering on Marmot's verandah entranced with the discussion of it, and the considering of all the _pros_ and _cons_ concerned in it Aggravation was given to their interest by the arrival of the periodical letter for Slaughter; and, having discussed the th determined to send out word to Murray, so that he should be ready to start whenever warning was sent that Slaughter had co between the tould be picturesque, and Marmot and his friends had an eye to the picturesque in that respect They were aler returned with Murray's reply, for it dispelled immediately any prospect of entertainment; Murray replied that they could hter caether when he rode up on his old scraggy horse He threw the reins over one of the posts as he got down from the saddle, and walked on to the verandah with an air of unconcern that made every man look at him open-noring the rest

”Post-office's shut,” Marmot replied curtly, as he stood up ”You can coot for the e, and the murmur of approbation that passed round the assembly at his words pleased hi hiht in the face

”Well, it is now,” Marain

On a small rack above the counter, just in a line behind Mar, was displayed the letter Slaughter had come for, and as Marmot sat down he saw it He pushed past into the store and took it from the rack As he turned to the door, he faced theround Maran loudly

”Get out of hter shouted, as he advanced towards thery eyes and closed fists

They had seen such an expression on his face once before; and as they did then, so did they now, as they fell apart and allowed hiain

”You mind your own affairs,” he said, with a snarl in his voice; and before they could find an answer for him, he mounted his horse and rode away

”Well!” Marame's this, I'd ask?”

S Slaughter ride through the townshi+p, laughed as he answered--

”Old Cold-blood's waking up As the missus says, them freezers is always the worst when they thaws”

”Seeht ain't the only trouble in the district; and old Cold-blood, coot in ahead of us so a lone hand for all he's worth He's bluffed Murray”

”Wha-at?” Marmot exclaimed