Part 36 (1/2)

As for Jeanie, she was alet back to Melbourne and away fros She was afraid of many of the people she saw, and didn't like others She was terrified all the ti at the Prospectors' Ar leads to,' she said; 'let us have our own hoh'

Kate went out to Specimen Gully to see her sister pretty often, and they sat and talked and laughed, just as they did in old ti, and her heart was as pure as quartz crystal I do really believe she was no match for Kate in any way So the days went on I didn't dare stay away from the Prospectors' Arether, and yet I was never altogether comfortable in her coet round us all, even old Arizona Bill, who used to sit solee, until at last his brick-coloured, grizzled old face would break up all of a sudden, and he'd laugh like a youngster As the days drew nigh Christmas I could see a restless expression in her face that I never saw before Her eyes began to shi+ne in a strange way, and sometimes she'd break off short in her talk and run out of the rooone, and that she'd never seen us again I could hardly tell what to make of her, and many a time I wished ere on blue water and clear away from all chance of delay and drawback

Chapter 30

We made up our ht and travelled nigh a hundredIt'sA chap has tis just as he would like; besides, a quieter time to slope than just after breakfast The Turon daily h it was, and the roads dangerous in places, the five big double-reflector lah up over the top of the coach in theplain We Cornstalks never thought of ular pair of lamps, pretty lon, too, before the Yankee ca was We never knew before My word, they taught us a trick or two All about riding caes about harness we never so old rush

We'dstood in the way of a start next evening This was Friday Jim hadn't sold his bits of traps, because he didn't want it to be known he wasn't co back

He left ith a friend he could trust, though, to have 'ee, and to send the money after him My share and his in the claim went to Arizona Bill and his mate We had no call to be ashamed of the money that stood to our credit in the bank That we intended to draw out, and take with us in an order or a draft, or so, to Melbourne Jeanie had her boxes packed, and was so ith looking forward to seeing St Kilda beach again that she could hardly sleep or eat as the ti had been settled It was the last night we should either of us spend at the Turon for many a day--perhaps never I walked up and down the streets, s it all over The idea of bed was ridiculous Hoonderful it all seeh and the state ere in less than a year ago, to think that ithin so little of being clear away and safe for ever in another country, with as much as would keep us comfortable for life

I could see Gracey, Aileen, and Jeanie, all so peaceful and loving together, with poor oldwhenever she heard a strange step or the tread of a horse

What a glorious state of things it would be! A deal of it ing to the gold This wonderful gold! But for it we shouldn't have had such a chance in a hundred years I was that restless I couldn't settle, when I thought, all of a sudden, as I walked up and down, that I had proood-bye to Kate Mullockson, at the Prospectors' Arht for a moe, unwilling kind of feeling about going there again; but at last, half not knohat else to do, and half not caring to make an enemy of Kate, if I could help it, I walked up

It was latish She was standing near the bar, talking to half-a-dozen people at once, as usual; but I saw she noticed me at once She quickly drew off a bit fro-up tih the bar into the little parlour where I was sitting down It was justin So when she came in and seated herself near me on the sofa I heard the clock strike twelve, and an to clear out

Sooodish while, and done well there, and had friends as has stuck by you, as we had at the Turon, you feel sorry to leave it What you've done you're sure of, no matter how it mayn't suit you in some ways, nor howto You had that and had the good of it What the co you can't reckon on All kinds of cross luck and accidents may happen What's the use of money to a man if he smashes his hip and has to ith a crutch all his days? I've seen ain, but he'd been crushed pretty near to death with a fall of earth, and about half of hiood dinner to a man that his doctor only allows him one slice of meat, a bit of bread, and some toast and water? I've seen chaps like the aith a heavyit like a ood time there, Jim and I

We always had a kind spot in our hearts for Turon and the diggings afterwards Hard work, high pay, good friends that would stick to a e, and a safe country to lie in plant in as ever was seen

We was both , to clear out Not as Jiht it all the saot talkin' and talkin', first about the diggings, and then about other things, till we got to old tian to lookthe old man, and wished she'd drownded herself first She made me take a whisky--a stiffish one that she lass, and I felt it took a bit of effect uponthe day I wasn't no ways drunk; but I must have been touched more or less, because I feltat last, dick,' says she; 'and I suppose we shan'tto have a look at you now and then

It reminded me of the happy old times at St Kilda'

'Oh, come, Kate,' I said, 'it isn't quite so bad as all that Besides, we'll be back again in February, as like as not We're not going for ever'

'Are you tellingup and fixing her eyes full onanother deceit, to throw et rid of me? Why should you ever want to see my face after you leave?'

'A friendly face is always pleasant Anyhow, Kate, yours is, though you did play me a sharpish trick once, and didn't stick to ht have done'

'Tellone hand on h the very soul of rew deadly pale, and her lips treular beyond herself--'will you take ood and all? I'm ready to follow you round the world Don't be afraid of my temper No woman that ever lived ever did ood to Jim--and you know she is--I'll be twice the woman to you, or I'll die for it Don't speak!' she went on; 'I know I threw you over once I was e and shame You know I had cause, hadn't I, dick? You know I had To spite you, I threay my own life then; now it's a misery and a torer, I tell you

It's killingme day by day Only say the word, and I'll join you in Melbourne within the week--to be yours, and yours only, as long as I live'

I didn't think there was thatnature about her She used to vexI knew then she cared about ht about any other woman

Nohen I didn't ask her to bother herself about o her oay, she must turn the tables on ain