Part 64 (1/2)

'Haven't you served those drinks yet, Bob?' she sings out 'Why, the gentleo I never saw such a slow-going crawler as you are You'd never have done for the Turon boys'

We all looked at her--not a bad-looking woh you could see she'd come down in the world and been knocked about a bit

Surely I knew her voice! I'd seen her before--why, of course--

She was quicker than I was

'Well, dick!' says she, pouring out all the drinks, taking the note, and rattling down the change on the counter, all in a h shop to meet old friends in, isn't it? So you didn't know ed a bit You look pretty fresh on it A wooes to the bad And Ji up here too! One would think you'd put it up to meet at the townshi+p on soh! How in the world did ever she get here? I knew she'd left the Turon, and that old Mullockson had dropped a lot of hiscoold enough to pay for the quicksilver in the first crushi+ng

We'd heard afterwards that he'd died and she'd ht down so low as this--not but e'd known s with silks and satins and a big house and plate-glass s brought down to a cotton gown and a bark shanty before half-a-dozen years were over

Jih Any one could see ere both in a fix Ji aat her very quiet-like 'Take care what you say'

He'd better have held his tongue I don't knohether she really intended to give us away I don't think she did altogether; but with theular toss up whether they'll behave reasonable or not When they're once started, 'specially if they think they've not been treated on the square, they can't stop the her voice to a screa as if she'd jump over the bar-counter and tear the eyes out of me 'Why should I take care? It's you, dick Marston, you double-faced treacherous dog that you are, that's got a thousand pounds on your head, that has cause to care, and you, Jim Marston, that's in the saainst you, Jim You're a man, and alas I'll say that for you'

'And you're a woroans out poor Jiue, I suppose'

Kate had let the cat out of the bag now and no mistake You should have seen the drover and his ers a them that they'd all heard so much about this years past Sohed The drover spoke first

'Bush-ranger here or bush-ranger there,' he says, 'I' cattle; and if this chattering fool of a woht have come on with the cattle till they were delivered Now I'm a man short, and haven't one as I can trust on a pinch I don't think any ive away your friends, supposing they had been on the cross'

But Kate didn't hear She had fallen down in a kind of fit, and her husband, co in to see what the roas about, picked her up, and stood looking at us with his mouth open

'Look here, entle to Jis, and seeot rather excited over it If it orth our while to stay here, we'd et her to lie down, and advise her, when she coht be made to suffer by it'

'She's a terror when she's put out, and that's God's truth,' says the chap; and starting to drag her over to one of the bits of back bedroo hat don't consarn her I don't care who yer are or what yer are If you knowed her afore, I expect ye'll think it best to clear while she's unsensible like'

'Here's a shout all round for thesea note on the bar 'Never entleether, and there's no bush-ranging in it, you may take my word'

We all left then Thethe road to Cunnamulla just like any other traveller I went down and saddled up , so I'd left the other horse at Willaroon

'Neverback to the station after I've finished my business in Queensland, and we can make up the account then'

The overseer looked rather doubtful

'This seems rather mixed,' says he 'Blest if I understand it That woman at the pub see chaps like you can be the Marstons You've been a thundering good road hand anyhow, and I wish you luck'

He shook hands withthe road till I overtook Ji steadily along the road, looking very dull and down-like, just the way he used to do when he was studying how to get round a job of work as he wasn't used to He brightens up a bit when he sees ood shake-hands and a yarn I told him about mother and Aileen, and how I'd left dad all by hiht, but of course he'd never heard of 'e her again, particular now this blessed woman had dropped across us, and wouldn't keep herto do with her, bad luck's followed up,'

says Jiain'