A LINDSAY 0' THE DALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13611, 3 December 1907, Page 3

A LINDSAY 0' THE DALE.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

v. BY A. G. HALES, Author of " The Watcher on the Tower." "Driseoll, King of Scouts," " McGlusky," " Jair the Apostate," etc., etc. COPYRIGHT. CHArTER XIII. THE FALLING OF THE THUNDERBOLT. . The coach took us from the bush, and at every little township wo stopped at to change horses tho folk came round; to look . at us; for, somehow, tho news got about that we were the relations of the famous fl " cns> This annoyed us a good deal, because wo had hoped to sink our identity ( as soon as we got out of the districts where ' wa had been known by sight. At one place a rude fellow was brutal to us. Coming close to the window of the coach, he called out to us insultingly, but a police-trooper, who was standing by, struck the ruffian across tho mouth with the back of his hand, sending him reeling yards away.

"You wouldn't dare to look sideways at ,hese people,"' growled the trooper to the ruffian. "if either of their bushrangiitg brothers wove within a hundred miles of you, you infernal cur; and you shan't do it. whilst 1 am about." Kenneth had leaped from the box-seat of the. coach, and I saw his pistol in his hand. v Ken," I called, " for Heaven's sake don't shoot; it will make fresh trouble for us all." The good-natured trooper walked quietly over to Ken, and said in a. low voice, "I'd put that pistol away, if I were you, young fellow. You and yours have enemies enough watching you now, without you look- , ing for more." I fancied that there was something behind his words, and in the end I found that my instincts were right. The kindly trooper knew more than we knew. All the way down to Sydney poor old mother sat in her place and seldom spoke a word. She looked a tierce, wild creature, with her staring eyes, her gaunt frame, her grey hair that would straggle over her bony shoulders. But though "she seldom spoke she was strangely restless, wid her eyes turned incessantly* from one epot to the other as if she expected danger. She was like some old, gaunt she-wolf, that knew the hunters were around her. Kenneth watched her like a thing bewitched ; when she turned her eyes in any direction, he turned his that way also, for the pair seemed to understand each other withont speaking. .When we arrived at Sydney city wt made inquiries openly concerning a ship that might be ready to sail for England and learnt that the Lord Nelson, a sailing ship, was to leave in about nine days. \V< booked our passages, and then "settlec town to wait with what patience we coulc :onamand. To Mary McAllister and to me thos<

days were fraught with great anxiety. We had had so many anxious years that we wanted rest; we longed for peace. Only those who have lived such a life as we had been forced by circumstances to lead, can understand our feelings. We were prepared to go to the end of the world, we did not care where, so long as we might lie down at nigl!t and wake in the morning without the haunting dread of disaster hanging over us. On the afternoon of the eighth day we went on board the Lord Nelson, and unpacked our things, and made our cabins as nice and comfortable as we could. That, night I could not sleep; my mind was in a mad whirl; and at last I got up, and, dressing myself, I went on deck and ; leant over the rail, watching the sea. Suddenly Kenneth stole to'my side and slipped his arm round my waist. He was a tall, slim, bonny fellow by this time, and I laid my head upon his shoulder lovingly, for he had been a good brother to me. So wc watched the night out, scarce saying a word, as we beheld the light» in- the city and harbour die out one by one.

At about noon the word was given to •weigh anchor, and the seamen were busy at this task when a boat ran up alongside, and four men were helped on board. We all thought that they were late passengers who had nearly lost the ship, and. none of us paid any attention to them., until two of the late arrivals, stepping quickly up to us, grasped Kenneth by *both hands, and, before he could say a word, or make any resistance, slipped handcuffs upon his wrists. Then one of his captors said sternly, "Kenneth Killowen, I arrest you, in the ' Queen's name, for highway robbery and murder!" We all stood dumb, like driven sheep. Ken smiled at us, but did not speak. Suddenly an old-looking man, with nearly white hair, and a thin, clean-shaven face, stepped forward, and, raising his hat with a polite gesture, said- 1 - Really, ladies, this gives me intense . pain, but duty is duty, all over the world, and I must do mine." Then, smiling into my face," he continued, The Killowens , are an unlucky family, I am afraid, Miss Kate." I knew him then ; knew that Vernon, the wrecker of our happiness, stood before me. He had altered so much since I had seen him last, that I should have passed him by had I met him in the street. "Ha, my charming young lady,'" he said, " I see by your looks that my appearance is not what it once was; that I owe to your brother David —a fine fellow, a very tine fellow in his own way, but a little "bit lawless. Yes, I may say, with- ' out fear of contradiction, that Dave Killowen is unquestionably lawless." , I had no taunt ready to fling at him. I was too utterly crushed by the suddenness of the blow. So he turned to mother, and once more he raised his hat and bow-

cd. •" My dear Mrs. Killowen," cried he. " I should have thought you—you of all people in the world—would have known me at a glance. We used to be such good friends in the old days—before your husband's recklessness made friendship an impossibility between us.": . .He spoke with a smooth, beautifully modulated voice, but his eyes were full of a cruelty that was devilish. 'Mother drew herself up, arid swept him a' curtsey in a grand, stately way, that made everybody who saw her wonder. ■" Know you, Mr. Vernon, I should have known you under any circumstances." Then she pointed one long, bony finger full' into his face, pointed it to a scar that ran across his check. " I should

have known you," cried she, "by the . mark you carry, and will carry to your gravethe mark of my husband's ridingwhip. It is many a long, long year since you came like a coward to my home, to offer me the deadliest insult man can offer matron; but I have not yet forgotten it. Neither have I forgotten how Killowen, my husband, this boy's father, whipped you, whilst you cringed on your knees at - his feet on the floor of our cabin like a hound in front of his master." Vernon stood ghastly with wild fury it her words. " He paid a big price for his pleasure," he snarled at last. "Yes," said mother, "you shot him from behind; you, who never dared to 'ftce him. * And now you are going -to try ■ and swear away the life of his youngest ■ ' born.'' . * - "His eldest born tried to do me to Jieath in cold blood," he sneered. , t "You lie!" retorted mother; "Davie Killowen rode you down in the midst of {'our men, when the odds were twenty to , one against him. He rode you down like • dingo because of the insults you offered . lus mother, and because your hands were red with his father's blood, you coward !*' I have heard many a taunt flung into the teeth of men in my time, but never did I hear one that went home as that taunt did—"you coward!" The words / fell like a whip-lash, and the man writhed '„ 4 under it, for lie knew that every word Would be repeated when those with him went ashore. • " You old grey hag !" he shouted ; " you ■■■■' : fancied that your boy and'girl were going , V' get safe away to join the rest of your brood, on the other side of the world. 1 ■ , . pad the warrant for the arrest of this one h, in my pocket, and I was within a mile of ft v ; your cabin when you left it. I let you L/ run free this, far so that I might teach 4 ■ l * never forget nor forgive."' fe ' .

The wondering'passengers and the plain clothes police stood around watching the bitter human tragedy. Suddenly Vernon got hold of his nerves again, and once polite Volce was cool and his language You and the rest of your party are free to go where you will, with the exception of this young man: he is my prisoner. He looked at Kenneth, and Ken looked back very steadily at him, but neither spoke. But I saw that my brother was tumbling with his manacled hands at his shirt front) and I knew that ho was trying to get hold of his pistol; and in the bitterness of my heart I did not attempt to stop him. 1 Vernon turned to speak to the captain of the ship, and Ken had hold of his pistol, when one of the plain clothes men, screening him with his body from observation, quickly drew his pistol and dropped it over the side. "fPi 0n \ )C a f°°V' he whispered, in a gruff but kindly way. "You are not condemned yet, you know and you may get a chance to dodge the hangman if you are careful. But if you had used that pistol you would swing, as sure as fate, and it's a thousand to one against a man with the bracelets on hitting anyone he fires at.''

It was Mary McAllister who found the words to thank the man. I had none for anyone; I was like a creature suddenly struck dumb. Vernon was speaking to the captain of the Lord Nelson. He had produced his warrant, and was once more all suavity and politeness. " I'll take my prisoner now," said he. "As for the women, I don't want them; for as long as I hold Kenneth Killowen a _ prisoner I shall have a magnet that will draw his brothers back to me as surely as wind lifts the waves." " You think the rest of the gang will come to try and rescue this young man?" asked the captain. " I don't think it, I know it. You see, skipper, I know the breed, and I knew the father and the mother well at one time. No matter where the others are—and I have an idea that they have got far away beyond the pale of English law—they will hear of this, and come back to try and free this bird from his cage, and then the law will get them." The captain, who was a rough, blunt man, snapped out in reply to this, " Well, Mr. Vernon, if the others come from the ends of the earth when they hear of your capture they can't be such bad fellows, after all. Most rascals only think of their own necks and their own liberty." " They are outlaws, with a blood price on their heads," was Vernon's nonchalant answer.

" Yes, so I understand ; but they are not gutter-bred, or they would not do as you say they will do." " Oh, as for their breeding," sneered Vernon, " that is right enough ; they have fighting blood in them on both sides. Irish, Scots, English blood all mixed up, and burnt hot with the Australian sun. I must be off now. Good-bye." He held out his hand. A pleasant voyage, captain, and a sale one." The skipper did not offer his hand, and Vernon flushed. " May I ask the meaning of this discourtesy?" he demanded, still speaking in his measured, cultivated voice. ; <■ The captain spoke back gruffly. "My hand is my own, Mr. Vernon; I give it when I like, and only where I like. Your warrant compels me to give you the run of my ship, but, by Gad ! sir, it does not compel me to give you my hand, and I won't give it you." (To bo continued daily.)