WOOL AWAY!

Evening Star, Issue 19664, 17 September 1927, Page 13

WOOL AWAY!

SINISTER MSS IN THE BUSH [Written by Harky Scott, for the ‘Evening Star.’] CHAPTER V. Towards the close of our run at “ Kenilworth ” 1 found out that J had been living in an atmosphere of romance. It seemed that Paul Mart ami my brother had lormcd the pleasant habit of walking out in the evenings with the two girls from the homestead, Katie Cole and her friend, Girlie haw. One evening, when these lour had wandered off to leave me odd man out, I noticed Stringer and a small group of men lidding an earnest conversation, which ceased when T passed near them. This fact in itself was sutlicient to arouse my suspicions. llemcmboring my position as private detective for our gang, I. resolved to look out for mischief. Keeping in the shadows as much as possible, I kept watch on Stringer. Soon he loth the other follows and wandered away into (Ini shearing shed. I hastened round the outside to find myself a look-out stance by one of the portholes. Owing' to the quickly descending darkness Stringer was lorced to use n, light. By its aid 1 could see that ho was tampering with Peter’s stand. Then somebody, who was obviously in league with the half-caste, came sneaking into the shed like a thiol in the night. This wa.s a hit of luck lor me, for a, conversation bet won these two might reveal any plots that had keen hatched.

“ Look hero, .loo,” said Stringer quietly, “[f T don’t- heat that rod headed now now, I'll oat my hat. Don’t know what Bert Flavell is goin' to say if 1 let him win. Jlo said J could have the girl it J heat him.” T had to bite my lips to prevent prevent myself from crying out with astonishment. A lady in the ease! What girl 9 And what did Bert Flavell have to do with it? Truly the plot was thickening. 11 No wonder yuh’rc gel-tin’ sort of desprit,” growed the honorable Joe. ‘‘Desperate? I won’t stop at murder for that girl. That fool Paid Mart is out with her now. The four of them have been out walkin’prefly often, and it's goin’ to stop. To-night lor preference. I'll need your help, doc,” “ 1 reckon I'm llie only bloke ynh can roly mi. Jack. Most ol Ihe other blokes would split if I hey thought there was anythin’ brewin'. “Light. Conic on. AW’vo got to .act quick. Wed! knock that long slab Mart senseless, grab the- girl, and fie her np in the send). I'l slop away from ‘"Kenilworth ’ tor the night, and everybody will think she spent the night wiih mo. Flavell 'will I Link it's great sport. Let's go, Joe; [, know where to find them.” It was all I could do lo keep myself from letting out a roar and leaping nut on them there and I hen. (hit .1 knew J was no match lor the two ol them. They could quite easily have laid me out and faded away on their nefarious errand, without any chance of a- warning being convoyed in Mart and Peter. J decided merely lo shadow them in the .meantime, and reveal myself when 1 was within eooce of my mates. “So it's Kalio Colo you're idler, Mr Stringer.” I muttered to myself as J. dodged from bus! to bush in pursuit of these two lo The numerous clc made, things niliier awkward for had no idea where wo were gc ml f could hardly wait until they were right across each one before stepping out after loom. The- plan I Thought best was to run round aiicad and wait for them. Presently wc came to a big stretch of open paddock. I crept swiftly round the scrub skirting it, and lay in hiding until they camo across. Jake a pair of cats they came, with never a, word between them. As T edged away 1 heard Joe break the silence. “They must ho about here,” he whispered. “Shut up,” snapped SI ringer, “we’ve got lo take them by surprise.” Suddenly I heard Paid Mart laugh just behind me. A remark which 1 conhl hear plainly camo to my ears. Quoth my amorous friend: “If Bert Flavoll over says such things to yon again. lvalue, you must come to mo at once. I wish f ennld marry yon right away, hut I’ll have, to pile np a. bit of a. nest-egg first, old girl. You’ll wait at ‘Kenilworth’ fur mo won’t you ? ” “Yes, Paul,” came a soil voice in answer. Then there was a- lull in the conversation, (he significance of which I could not fail to interpret. I realised I was in an awkward position. Unintentionally I was eavesdropping at the- expense of my friends. Hut 1 thought it best not to move in case Stringer and doc heard me. Those two scoundrels were now ominously quiet. Finally t decided lo creep up lo Mail and warn him of the mischief that was lire wing. “Mart,” I whispered almost in Ids ear, “ for file the love, of Mike don't make a noise now. Where is Peter? “ .1 don’t know. Harry.” “flood Lord, let’s go and find him. quick. Stringer and Ills cobber, Joe, arc on the, war path.- and they're out to get both you and him to-night.” “They could have got mo dead easy a few minutes ago.” “ Yes, yes, I. know,” I answered. “ I hoard it all, but your secret’s safe with mo.” We started off in our search for Peter. Suddenly wo heard a girl scream, and Paid was off like a shot out of a gnu. leaving me to stand by Katie. The girl, clinging to my arm, became almost hysterical. “Oh. they will kill him,” she cried. “And Girlie, too. You’ve no idea how bad that brute can lie.” I “Calm yourself,” f said as soothingly as I could. “Como on quickly; J’vc got to help my brother.” Dragging the girl with me, 1 plunged into the scrub. In a few moments wc broke through into a small clearing, where I beheld Paul Mart fighting desperately with Stringer and Joe. The toughs were working wide, trying to get on each sido of him. A rush from the half-caste, a, solid rigid; hook from Paid, and the follow was down. I let Kate Colo go, and rushed into t-ho fray. Joe, seeing mo coming, turned to face mo, but, as hick would have it. 1 caught him fairly on the point, of I lie jaw with my first punch, and he fell like a log. Stringer’s nead had struck a stone as ho fell, so that lie, too, was in tlio land of dreams. Near by 1 could see the oilier girl bending over the prostrate form of my brother Peter. The blood streamed down his face. At sight of it f lost control of myself. Paul pushed mo aside and administered first aid Just then Jack Stringer rose on one, elbow, and glared across at us. In my madness f rushed at him, and, with a. vicious blow, put him to sleep again. “Cut it out,” shouted Paul. “Don’t, hit, a man tPhen lie's down, even if lie is as low as a snake.” “ Sorry, Paul,” 1 answered in a more sober frame of mind. “ f felt I could have killed him.” “ It’s all right, Peter's only stunned.” Just then Peter sat up to ask shakily where he was and where everybody was. It seemed that all ho remembered was seeing stars. Now ho was acutely conscious of a very soro head and a badly bruised and swollen right hand. “The dirty swines,” I roared. “ Stringer must have jumped on your hand to spoil you for shearing. .It’s your machine hand !

“Sure enough,” answered Peter. “But I think Pm all right. Come on home.” Having eolieeted our party, wo started oil', leaving the two sleeping beauties to pick themselves up. I was dumbfounded when Paul asked us nut to say anything about the matter at the station. “ Don’t be Uncle Willie,” I answered. “I’m damned sure. Stringer will never shear ainyther sheep here as lar as Pm eonerned. “Oh, won't heP Von wait and hear what I have to say. old man.” “ I don’t, care a hang what yon say. It's what I do that interests me most.” I snapped angrily. “You’re too damned soft.” Paul sighed.> “ .No, I’m not being soft with them. Harry. I have my own reasons for letting them o(f. If you demand it. fll tell yon all about it, but I’d rather, not. If anything leaks out the gilds will he muddled up in it. Yon understand that? J\ly perceptive powers grew clearer, and I was forced to see login in Paul’s argument. “Bight, we’ll have to let: it, go at that.” 1 agreed. “ But may Peter wipe the floor with him for the shed sweepstake, and. oh. by the way, Peter,” 1 went on. “J eauglit Stringer doing something to your stand this evening before he came out here.” “ Indeed,” replied my brother, grimly. “ We’ll sec about that in the morning.” Onr final surprise fame when we, found that Stringer and Joe had raced ns home, and, to all intents and purposes, were sleeping ns innocently as two pet. lambs. “Kiddin',” murmured Paul; “cunning as foxes—both of them.” (To ho continued.)