THE MYSTERY OF THE OUTLAWS' HUT

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 47, 8 June 1928, Page 15

THE MYSTERY OF THE OUTLAWS' HUT

(By

Peterkin

\ ANY years ago, ine outlying dis- * tricts in Victoria, the smallest of (he Australian States, were troubled by the doings of several gangs of bushrangers. One particulary county had been visited more than once by a gang of three men, and many a farmer’s most yaluable horse had disappeared in broad daylight. The police seemed powerless to effect a capture, for once the outlaws entered the bush it was a hopeless task to find them. The chief of the district police foree, Sergeant Grey, was at his wits’ end to know what to do. Once he had tracked one of the outlaws to a hut in the heart of the bush, but when he entered the tumble-down shack he was. surprised to find that it was empty. There wasn’t a living being within it. Grey’s son Dick, a fair-haired, bronzed youth of seventeen, had often asked to be allowed to assist the police, but his father usually smiled at his son's eagerness to help. "What could you do, Dick?’ he asked, when his son again requested to be. allowed to take part in the search for the men, "If experienced officers fail in the task, what could a youth of seventeen do?’ "T don’t know, exactly,’ answered Dick, "but I'd like to tackle something difficult just to see what sort of a job I would make of it." Grey looked thoughtfully at his son. Dick seemed so earnest he almost felt tempted to accede to his request. "You wnuderstand," he said, "that you would be taking on 2 dangerous task, and that you ‘vould be pitting your wits against men who are noted for their cunning and daring." "Yes, Dad, I do," was the steady reply. "Won't you let me help?’ Dick looked so pleadingly at his father that his wish was granted. "And what do you think we should do?’ continued (xrey, a twinkle in his steady blue eyes. Dick was in too serious a mood ‘» realise that his father was joking. "it seems to me," he began, "that there is something queer about that hut you told me of. Tet me pay a visit to it. I might pick up a clue, and 1 wouldn’t be recognised if I stumbled across anyone, You are too well known, Dad." . Grey looked across the yeranda at the rapidly darkening bush. From the bluegums came the noisy chatter of magpies. His joking manner had disappeared when he turned to his son and said: "Dick, I will do as you suggest. Let’s talk it over."

‘Si aree Se Just before 10 o’clock on the following morning Dick approached the outlaws’ hut. He looked a typical sundowner, Slung across his back was a tent, from the end of which hung a well-blackened billy, while his grimed face was shaded by an old felt hat. With a slow, heavy step he walked up to the hut. The knowledge that, a few chains away, his father and two mounted police were waiting, gaye him eonfidence, and the two revolvers in his hip pockets helped him to carry out his task, "Good day,? he called to a roughlooking man seuted within the hut, "Got a drop of boiling water to make 2 billy of tea with?’ "Fire's out,? was the gruff reply. "Dare say I vonld fix you up if you wait a bit." Dick threw his swag on the doorstep, sat on it, and wwopped his face with a dirty ved haudkerchief. Round his head a swarm of flies buzzed. "Come far?? the man asked, eyeing him euspiciously, "Yes,? answered Dick, surveying the interior Of the hut. "Gippsland way. Had a row with the boss. Tossed up wy job Think IN analke up towards Mildura. Do » bit of fruit-pickiug," The onlaw sraniel, threw some bark and sticks on the fire, and hung a

oienlicenmiamite ean of water over the flames. Dick | wus just beginning to wonder where) the other two members of the gang. were, when he noticed that in front of | the fireplace, instead of the usual clay | hearth, was a flat slab of stone. To his astonishment the stone began to tilt upwards and a man’s head and shoulders came into view. ‘All right, Bill," he called below; "Only a swagger." The next minute he ¢limbed up into the hut, quickly followed by a third man. "Tow did you find your way here?" he asked Dick, as he lowered the stone into position. "A bit off the track, aren't you?" "IT was looking fur water,’ answered

neal 4 Dick, trying to speak naturally, "when I noticed the smoke from your chimney." The three men exchanged quick glances, | "Strange," suid the one whom Dick had first seen. "Fires been out for over an hour," "See here, mate, suid the taller of the newcomers, "T don't quite like your story. Let's have a good look at you." : Dick sprang to his feet, blocking the doorway, &@ revolver in each hand. "Take a good look at me from where you stand," he cried. "Put up your hands and don’t move. I can shoot quite straight." Each man obeyed, and Dick fired a shot into the rovf of the lut. "Just to show you they're loaded," he said, Within ten sevonds the sound of galloping hoofs was heard, as Dick's father and his assistants dashed up. In another ten seconds the outlaws were capturcd, and the party started for home, after examining the seeret of the hiding plaee, which proved to he a cellar vonnecting with. the shaft of @ disused mine, It} was on exceedingly proud and lnippy Diek who went to bed that night, after listening to his father's

ERT NTE oe! OSM wre io ee ee emegratulations, but it was a much more excited youth who, a few weeks later, received a very important-looking letter from Melbourne, which, besides containing a letter from headquarters, commending him for his courage, meine contained a cheque for £50.