The GIRL WHO HELPED NED KELLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 5

The GIRL WHO HELPED NED KELLY

By

CHARLES E. TAYLOR

[ Copyright ]

‘ r' CHAPTER IV.——Continued. , Warpreting his motive, the “If three policemen drew their W. "Diva that!" commanded Costello. “threw the pistol into the corner .l 11. room. “hobound Macguire recovered it. “1 Mailed it. at the young man’s 5"- McCullagh, shotgun in hand. W 39 to the enraged trooper until “he with within a. few inches of “Involve:- muzzle. We,” he said, in a cold, hard “‘o'. 'thore's things the police ain’t WWI-go do. It you want to save h but that pistol away." 1'" threaten me, would ye? By 50‘. Ol’ll-" 5| did not complete the sentence. “Wll wrenched the revolver n'lllhll. and gave him a push that will! staggering against the wall. h”. m the other three troopers m forward. Costello was the I" to reach McCullagh, but he was ~llide. Numbers prevailed. howno. tad in a. little while the big “In, still fighting desperately. h ”me to the floor. A pair of We flashed. but before they were H on his wrists’ two figures :5“!!! the door. and a big voice ‘0!!- “Here. what's the shindy?” “:50 intruders were in striking conat One was a. giant, 6ft Sin or 6ft Eb Wlth a body built in proportion. h“Clfillbslmven face accentuated the Nick beard worn by his comhim, I little fellow who did not. Mums armpit. Each man carried Mun. in. “boners had jumped to their °* I‘ the sound or the big mam‘s M "Id McCullagh was free to rise. mm! the polivemnn altogether. he “Me to Jackson. @331. We're ready for those ‘i'oos W ' been eatin‘ your bit of a crop. , “nut know ye had company. “'9. unit ten miles from here was the wan-nit.

a do you mean by that. Big r'demanded Kenny. ~Mn|3 zaze conveyed a world of ‘9’! no one within ten miles 2'o that needs the police," he ‘3 M a threat?" snapped Cos-

11“ bu't a healthy district for any want further than Luske's on ““50 and Sheoak Creek on the ‘ We‘ve come to help Jackson “I“ 0! those kangaroos. and we're Elia. 'lO Set on with the job. 50—" hunted to the door. _ r “'01"! amazement the Your 1101ch@W'mg angrily. left the hut. _At .ht _Cgstellq said. as a. partmg

§shotz “You‘ll hear more of this, Manton!" “Not this side of Luske‘s,” replied the giant meaningly. “I‘m sorry we’re late, Sam," boomed the big voice again. “But We got here in time. \Vho’s the youngster?" Jackson led him outside, so that Briant did not hear how his presence was accounted for, or what sort of character he was given by his strange employer. Apparently it was satisfactory. for when they returned Manton gripped his hand with a fervour that threatened to reduce it to pulp, 1 CHAPTER V. KATE KELLY. ; Briant saw little more of either‘ Regan, McCullagh, Manton, or the little bearded man. Apparently they had some private business With Jack~ son. for they remained inside for a. long time, and when he returned from his work in the gully they had gone. Then he realised why his employer had been so unperturbed by the possibil ity of the police-men’s return, and Why he had ridden away so early in the morning. The honours had been with the bush—men. but. would the troopers let it go at. that? If he had any knowledge of human nature, they would not. Still. they seemed to tear the giant who had been responsible for their sudden dc—parturo. But would they heed his warning not to come near the place again? It had been an exciting morning. but he did not like the way things had shaped. McCullagh's attack on Macguire obviously was an assault. and the fact that the policeman had ‘been exceeding his duty might not iweigh greatly with the authorities ii ithe incident were brought under their

notice. He voiced his fears to Jackson during: the midday meal. "They won't come back here [or a long time," Jackson said, confidently. “I hope you're right. All the same, its a serious business. They might get. McCullagh for what he did.” The old man shook his head. “W'ho was the little fellow?” Jack asked. “Tom Stevens—lives down by Mantom's. Ain‘t much to look at, but there’s nothin' on two or four legs as has ever scared him yet.” "And I should say that nothing in heaven or earth could scare Mantou.” Jackson chuckled. , “Strongest fellow I've ever seen, but as gentle as a baby till you rouse him. He could make mincemeat of any two of them troopers Without. tm‘nin’ a hair." "And they seem to have a whole"some respect for him. too."

The old man chuckled again. “He was run in once for havin’ a horse that didn’t belong to him. \Vas ‘ silly with booze or they’d never have handled him. He sobered up in the night, tore down the wall of the cell, woke up the two troopers at the station, and told ’em he was goin’ and it wouldn’t be well for ’em if they in—tert‘ered.” “They let him go?” “Only too glad to." ' “And was nothing said about it?” “Police said they made a mistake or somethin.’ ” - * Jack laughed. “The friendship of a man like that’s worth presenving. Your ‘friends are very loyal to you. Mr. Jackson.” Jackson did not reply, but his wife, who had been a silent listener, turned to Briant. “Did you ever see a bush fire, boy ?" she asked. “People mightn‘t he on the best of terms in ordinary times, but when the fires on they fight like one man. They dares’n’t do anything else." Next morning Jackson handed Bri—ant a letter. “Do you think you could take that

WWW up to Jacobson‘s near the Big Bend?” he asked. “I can't let you have Honey. ’cos I‘m doin’ a bit 0’ ploughin.’ but it's only a. matter of five miles or so." “Of course. I can take it," Jack responded. “I‘m used to walking." “Don’t let this get into no one else's hands,” the old man warned him, as he gave him an envelope bearing a name in an almost indecipherabla scrawl. "It’s terrible important." "You can trust me for that,” Jack replied, as. having received explicit instructions how to find Jacobson‘s, he left the but. It was a. glorious morning, and, user] to the bush as he had been for some time, he could not. help being struck by its beauty. The early light accentuated the varying shades of green of tree and shrub. upon the leaves of which the dew glistened like diamonds

r W‘ith the precious missive concealed inside his shirt, he left the track and pushed through the scrub to make the short cut of which Jackson had spoken. He wondered what he would do if a policeman met him. If he seaiched him would the loss of the letter mean much to Jacobson—or to his employer? Once or twice the snapping of a twig ahead of him caused his heart to miss a beat. Once he saw the cause in a wallaby that leapt through the undergrowth at his ap« proach. The events of the last few days had set his nerves on edge, and he.jumped at sounds which a. week previously he would have ignored. Suddenly, through the scrub, he thought he discerned the figure of a man. He dodged behind a tree. A loose stone upon which he stepped rolled from under him. and he fell heavily. When he regained his feet. the pain of his right ankle was so great that.he had to sit down. Crawling on his hands and knees a. few yards to Where a. stick lay, byj

its aid he struggled to his feet. By relieving the weight on his injureci foot he managed to walk a short dis tance, but his progress was painfullj slow. How was he to cover the four oi five miles that lay between him and Jacobson’s? He did not like to calJ for help for fear of attracting the kind of assistance he least desired at the moment. Whatever was in the letter he was carrying, it seemed certain from Jackson’s anxiety that it should bo delivered to the addressee —that it was not intended for other eyes. The more he reflected on his position, the more depressed he became. The only people likely to pass his way were the police. If they did find him. he tvould have to be ready for them. He removed the boot from his uninjured foot, and placed the letter along the sole, as he had previously done with Ned Kelly’s gift banknotes. The movements caused him intense pain, and when eventually he tried to walk he found that the paper in his boot added to his discomfort. He

■y struggled along for a little while, and d then sank down exhausted. After a s- rest he tried again. In these painful y stages he covered a few hundred yards, but as his ankle was becoming >r more painful he was forced to give in. d Crawling to a stunted gum, he sat with 11 his back against its butt, and, wet with d perspiration, though the afternoon was e cool, he again reviewed his desperate r position. '* He would have to call for help, and d chance who came to his assistance. lt No, he would wait another hour or so, in the hope that someone might come 1_ his way. ' He was glad of that decision fhe j moment he made it, for the sound of a horse coming through the bush j‘ reached his ears. It was heading his r l way, too. After what seemed an eter- “ nitv of suspense he saw its nose appear from behind a big tree, then its '■ forelegs, and then the rider —a woman, o' “Hey l" he called, s ! She pulled up dead, and looked e i around her. Even from that distance

lßriaut could read the anxiety in her} face. ; I “This way," he called again. i Then she saw him, and cantered over to him. Although he had never‘ ‘before seen her, instinctively he knew who she was. Her features werel pleasing, and her colouring attractive, but it was the strength of character revealed in that well-poised head that he observed most of all. She cut a fine figure as she rode over to him, and with airy grace dismounted. She looked at him keenly before asking: “Aren‘t you young Briaht. from Jackson’s?” How well-informed these people seemed to be of everything that went on around them! “You’re a. good guesser, Miss Kelly." he replied. It was her turn to look surprised. {"How did you know my name?” I “I knew you from descriptions given gme all the way from Melbourne.” { She bent, over him. “Are you hurt?" I “TWisted my ankle on a. stone about

[a quarter of a mile back. I was taking a. note to Jacobson's." ‘ There was a note of anxiety in hmvoice as she askedl—“Did you give it ‘0 him?” I “No, I was on my way.” ' "W'hy did you go on foot?" “Jackson was using the horse. It’s only about five or six miles, you know.” “The letter——“ "It’s safe—4:l my boot.” “Good!” (To be continued daily)