Part 44 (2/2)

Then, fixing his black snake's eyes on her, he poured out about half a tuum!' he says, 'I ood rooular shook on the polka You play us a good 'un, Polly, or whatever yer naht if he never sees another Cooes for my partner'

'Come, Moran,' says Burke, 'none of your larks; we're very jolly, and the young ladies ain't on for a hop; are ye, est Miss Whitman, who stared at him for a oin' to play as I told yer?' says Moran 'D'ye think yer knohen yer well off?'

The tone of voice he said this in and the look seeirl so that she started an old-style polka there and then, whichhis heels on the floor and spin round as if he'd been at a dance-house As soon as he'd done two or three turns he walks over to the sofa and sits down close to Miss Falkland, and put his arm round her waist

'Come, fanny Falkland,' says he, 'or whatever they call yer; you're so dashed proud yer won't speak to a bush cove at all You can go home by'n by, and tell your father that you had a twirl-round with Dan Moran, and helped topass pleasant at Darjallook afore it was burned'

Anything like the disgust, e mixed up that caether-like, I never saw She rew paler and paler; she turned white to the lips, as treled fierce and wild for nigh a solid minute to clear herself from him, while her beautiful eyes ht in a trap Then, when she felt her strength wasn't no account against his, she gave one piercing, terrible screa and unnatural-like in the tone of it that it curdled my very blood

I lifted up the -sash quick, and ju past me, and raised his pistol

'Drop her!' he shouts to Moran; 'you hound! Leave go Miss Falkland, or by the living God I'll blow your head off, Dan Moran, before you can lift your hand! How dare you touch her, you cowardly dog!'

Moran was that stunned at seeing us show up so sudden that he was a good bit took off his guard, cool card as he was in a general way Besides, he'd left his revolver on the piano close by the ar was Burke and Daly were no better off They found Starlight and Warrigal covering them with their pistols, so that they'd have been shot down before they could so much as reach for their tools

But Ji on his feet, feeling for the revolver that wasn't in his belt (and that I never heard of his being without but that once), he ju him by the collar and waist-belt, lifts his hith I thought his brains was knocked out, dashed if I didn't I heard Moran's head sound against the stone ith a dull sort of thud; and on the floor he drops like a dead ht he had killed hiain, Jiot as much as 'll do hiht I don't hold with being rough to woot wives and kids of our own'

'Then why the devil didn't you stop it?' says Starlight 'You deserve the sa there like a couple of children, and letting that ruffian tor up on your own account, and I hear a whisper of your behaving yourselves like brutes, I'll turn police you in Now, mind that, you and Daly too Where's Wall and Hulbert?'

'They went to yard the horses'

'That's fair game, and all in the day's work I don't care what you take or whoht; but I'll have none of this sort of work if I'm to be captain, and you're all sworn to obey me, mind that I'll have to shoot a et attended to That brute's co to Lift him up, and clear out of this place as soon as you can I'll wait behind'

They blundered out, taking Moran with theered as he walked He wasn't hier too, and threatened a bit, but he soon saw he'd no show, as all the fellows, even to his own ot

Old Ji nor speaking, with his eyes fixed on Miss Falkland, who had got back her colour, and though she panted a bit and looked raised like, she wasn't much different from e'd seen her before at the old place The two Misses Whit up with their ar down their faces like rain Mrs

Whit back in her chair with her hands over her face cryin'

to herself quiet and easy, and wringing her hands

Then Starlightinto a ballrooave for the hospital at Turon

'Per ladies, for the rudeness of one of my men, whom I unhappily was not able to restrain I have had the pleasure of ret that I was not in tireat annoyance to which you have been subjected'

'Oh! I shall be grateful all my life to you, and so, I'm sure, will Mr

Whitman, when he returns; and oh! Sir Ferdinand, if you and these two good young men, who, I suppose, are policeoodness only knoould have beco under some mistake, my dear er or any other baronet at present; but I assure you I feel the coood friends here, James and Richard Marston, do equally'

Here the Misses Whitman, in spite of all their terror and anxiety, were so tickled by the idea of their ht and the Marstons for Sir Ferdinand and his troopers that they began to laugh, not but what they were sober enough in another minute