WOOL AWAY!

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 11

WOOL AWAY!

ENTER A VILLAIN [Written by Uaruy Scott, for tho ‘ Evening Star.’] CHAPTER HI. Wo were to commence shearing at “Kenilworth” on a Thursday—a good day, too, for it .would give us only half a week’s shearing before a spell at the week-end, and, seeing that this work is rather trying for a start, the premature break promised to be most welcome. At about 4 o’clock on tho Wednesday evening the boss held a roil call. All but three shearers were present. Of cooks there was a,surplus, !jp we were forced to vote in onr favorite. This having been done, wo helped him to get his house in order. Late that evening the missing shearers arrived. Included among tho party was a big half-caste called .lack Stringer. He was half white Australian and half Maori, and, although a fine specimen physically, he was soon to prove that his moral behaviour left much to bo desired.

By the quantity and quality of his verbal efforts, it was obvious that Stringer had surrounded quite a deal of drink that day. Having nearly worn out his tongue asking questions, lie began to create for himself a little diversion by bullying the cook; whereupon Paul "Marl quietly asked him to got out of the conk’s way and lot that worthy get on wih his work. “Oh. ho!” bellowed Stringer. “Who arc von, anvwav? Wa’sh your rame. eb?” ‘.Paul Mart, it you want to know.’ “I see. You’re the cove that heat up tho charcoal burner the other day. Perhaps you’d like a pop at mo, ch?” “I could quite easily give yon a go, oh! man,” returned Paul, calmly. “I guess you’d bettor cub your stick before T cot angry.” At this critical juncture some of the other men dragged Stringer outside to cool off in the fresh air. But as lie was being hustled out the door lie hurled us a vindictive promise. “I’ll get you yet, Mart—you and your red-haired cobber.” lie harked. Realising that most men of Stringer s tvpe are about as straight as a corkscrew in fighting, as in everything else, I resolved' to keep a close watch on him. „ T “Can yon use your lists, Paul? 1 asked my mate. “No, Harry,” answered Paul. But there’s no need, to worry about that fellow. He talks too much. It’s the quiet joker you don’t want to get on the wrong side of.” By this time most, of the shearers had settled down to a game of nap. Peter and I wore tired, so wo contented ourselves with watching the game. T , Some time later _in earn© -lack Stringer again—still in a cantankerous mood. “ Hero is my pretty boy playing nap,” he cried. 11 1 don t think ho can bo a nice boy. “ 1 wonder if he can shear like he beats up coal-burners.” Paul went on with his game, and took no notice, but I bristled up like a cat, and whispered to Peter: “Watch out for a sclilititcr.” “ We’ll keep him busy,” answered Peter. “But what’s ho got against us? We’ve never seen him in our lives.” “ Well, he said, he was after Paul s red-haired cobber, too, and, as you’re redder than me, I reckon it’s you he s after.” “Aw, take no notice. It’s only the booze talking.” As though to show idle interest in tho game Stringer walked round the table behind Mart. -Ho pulled a bottle out of Ids pocket, and had a drink. In my mind I felt that he meant miscliief, so I wandered round alter him. in case of foul play. I was too late. Before 1 reached the table tho half-caste raised tho bottle in tho air and brought it down with all his might. Mart’s head should have been under it, but, either by chance or through our mate’s own powers of anticipation, it moved at the crucial moment, and tho bottle crashed on the edge of tho table to bo broken to smithereens. Mart turned round rising. “ Look here, Stringer.” lie said, with a grin, “ if you must come breaking bottles I hope you understand you will have to clean up tho mess. I told you before not to humbug the cook.”

1 couldn’t understand Paul Mart at all. Hero was a man who had proved himself the possessor of courage of a high order letting off a blackguard who had attempted to murder him. I can only say that his self-control was wonderful The matter fowled out at that. Shortly afterwards wo all turned in to be ready for our first day’s shearing.

(To bo continued.)