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Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 31

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(Written for the Otago Witness by an Australian Detective. )

Chapter 11. Dick had gone off in a hurry, and had not waited for any information but the little Evans gave us, so it was doubtful, to say the least of it, if he would succeed. However, if you have got patience to hear me, I'll tell you as briefly as I can. I told you that his notion was that the stealing of the horses was part of the murder ; that the two scoundrels were acting together. In fact, as he afterwards said, had it not been for the missing tooth, he'd have been inclined to think thab Mooney, after stealing the nags, had come back, and, meeting Hunter, by chance or not, had fallen foul of him. But the tooth puzzled him. That wasn't Mooney. He had gone, he told us afterwards, about thirty miles, and had got among some mallee scrub. He felt sure that ho was on the right scent, but his horso foil slightly lame, so he resolved to turn off, and camp for the night at a hut he knew of. When ho got there, there were two men living in it. He of course tried to iind if they knew anything, but they seemed ignorant. He gleaned, however, that he would likely meet some blacks next day from the plains. Now his theory was that the criminals were making to the plains, so he was anxious to meet them. Next clay he met them sure enough. As he had hoped, the blacks had seen two men, mounted, making for the plains. By the description he know them for Ills birds, and his heart beat high with hope and savage joy.

But Dick wasn't to be so soon successful. He lost all trace again, and was at fault for several days. j±h last he made for a little township, partly to give his horse a little- rest, and partly to see if he could hear anything. By this time the news had spread, and people in the town were talking about it.

As Dick walked into the bar of the village public-house, what should he see but a man paying for a drink of brandy with a sovereign with a hole ia it. This struck Dick as curiou3, so he took it up and examined it. He shut his teeth as he recognised a trinket that poor Hunter had worn on his watch chain. By the hole in it was a very small anagram, so small, indeed, that it required close inspection to detect ifc.

"Where did you get this, mate?" inquired Dick. " This T said the other, taking it from the trooper as lie spoke. " Why, I got it with two or three others from a man about four days back. I sold him a revolver I mind."

"Think you'd know him again ?" said Dick, carelessly. "Yea, I'm sure of it. Queer looking cove he was as over I sot eyos on. Had a big front tooth gone, by the way ; looked as if it had been knocked out,"

"Well, I rather fancy this here," rejoined Dick. "I'll give you one for it. i suppose it's all the same to you."

"Oh yea," said the other. '-If you've a liking for it, it's all the same to me." And Dick, putting it into his vest pocket, paid the sovereign, and strolled into the next room,

Sitting down by the table, he called for a nobbier, and began to smoke. I need hardly say that he kept his eyes and ears open.

Presently a man said to him, "Well, pard, what's the news 1"

"Not much," replied Dick, knocking the ashes out of his pipe. " I'm just knocking around. Heard of the murder of poor Hunter, I suppose ?"

"Yes," said the other, "Iheerd'em talking about it. An infernal shame by all accounts."

"So it was," said the trooper, "a black business altogether." As he spoke, the late owner of the sovereign came in.

"I suppose, now, you couldn't give me any sort of a notion where that chap is you got the coin from," said my chum to him. " I've an idea he's an old mate of mine. "

" Well, no," was the reply, " only Ido fancy he was making somewhere towards the Murray. Seemed in a devil of a hurry, I thought.

" Well then, I'll tell you where 1 think yon'll find him," said Dick's neighbour. ' ' You go up north for about a day or so, and strike off west. You're pretty certain to find a track that some fellows go by. It'll take you to a hut a long way back. I've been there myself, something like ninety odd miles away." "Thankee, mate," said Dick. "I'm obliged to you. "

About an hour afterwards he was in the saddle.

Right glad he was when, after many hours' hard riding, he at last struck into the track. I think, anyway, it was about sundown when he got to the hut, so close, I mean, that he could see it. He must have been a quarter of a mile or so away, and was making his way through the timber. He was mad with rage, and filled with fierce longing to have his grip on the murderer's throat. You see he made sure that the man was there, although he had nothing certain to guide him but that broken tooth.

I'm coming to the end now. Closer and closer Dick crept to the game. Just one fence cleared, and the reckless fellow would have galloped up to the hut, eager for the life and death quarrel that would too surely ensue. The moments seemed like years. In a delirium of mingled feelings Dick put his horse at the leap, and rode her like fury at the fence through the gathering shadows. Crack ! The mare's hind feet struck the fence.

Crash, and she rolled heavily over, man and beast together. The mare was soon on her legs. Not so my poor mate. For a short space he lay stunned ; then, recollecting himself, he rose, but slowly and painfully. His right arm hung feebly by his aide, crushed and broken. Surely man was never more unfortunate. Dick, poor fellow, might well be pitied. Three hundred pounds and promotion were awaiting for the captor, besides the honour of the deed, and here he was, just on the eve of success, when the cup was dashed from his lips. How did you feel, I wonder, when the horse you had backed so heavily, and that you were certain would win the Derby, cannoned against a post, unseating his jockey, and throwing nimself out of the race 1

But Dick hadn't lost all hope yet. Alone and crippled, with supplies running short, he was never more resolved than now to succeed or die. He haltered his horse, looked to his revolver, as well as his one arm would let him, and doggedly sat down to wait* By and bye, a man came our. of the hut. It was getting dark, and not easy to make anything out, but Dick's heart gave a great bound, for the feeling came over him, rightly or wrongly, that he was looking at his friend Hunter's murderer.

While the first man was standing by the hut door, another came out and joined him. They seemed to be looking about suspiciously. But they became satisfied after a little, and went in, closing the door after them. Then night fell. The air grew cold. The clouds sailed over the sky, the wind sighed mournfully among the branches, the hundred voices of the wild woods sounded in his ears, a little brook babbled musically, his horse came beside him and neighed, desiring human companionship, bub he scarce heard or heeded — his gaze was fixed on that hut where was the man whom he had vowed to take living or dead.

The hours crept slowly on. The pain in his arm grew intense. At last, when the stars told him it was midnight, Dick rose and prepared for action. His revolver was placed ready to his hand. He led his horse near to the house, and tethered it firmly near a fallen tree in such a way that he would be able to mount in the morning, if he succeeded. If not, why then life and everything else would be for ever over for him.

Warily Dick walked to the hut. Did the door creak 1 Was that a head peering out ? No, all was still as the grave. He laid his hand on the latch. Gently he opened the door, and felt his way in. For all he knew, the next moment might be his last. He was one and disabled, against two desperadoes who might be watching for his entrance. Yet his nerves never failed him. Dick the Devil had not earned his surname for nothing.

Ha ! what was that? Is that a foe ready to slay 1 Nay, 'tis but the heavy, laboured breathing of the two unconscious sleepers. Hark, one of them moves uneasily in his sleep. Dick moves nearer the bed. Stop ! one villain cannot sleep soundly. He talks in his dreams. Such dreams ! Dreams that unlock the terrors of his mind, the horrors of his crime. 331g0d ig on his tpugue, blood on lug hand.

He clutches wildly at the blanket, hd deals blows at vacancy. Dick can hear this, but he cannot see, for all is in darkness, save one or two dull embers on the hearth. The dreamer is still again. Now his unsuspected watcher is close beside him. Still he sleeps soundly, as soundly as if he had never stirred. "Which of the two is the murderer? Gently, cautiously, lightly, the invisible trooper lays one hand, his one sound hand, on the chest of the man nearest him. Touch him gently, Dick, for he will wake easily ! Upwards, very needfully, glide those stern fingers. Pasing lightly over a large beard, the forefinger reaches the sleeper's mouth.

Ha ! it is open. A little more yet. Ah, Dick, have you got him at last. God in heaven ! how the trooper's frame quivers with illsuppressed excitement, as his finger-tip rests lightly, but surely on the gap left where that broken tooth, broken off short by the gum, is a silent but fatal testimony that Dick the Devil has run his quarry to earth at last.

After making sure of his man, he wen gently to the hearth, and, finding some dry fuel handy, he Boon had a blazing fire. It was characteristic of the man that he waited to be sure of the murderer before getting a light. I wonder how many men would have the cool courage to go, with one arm broken, into the lonely hut of two such desperate characters, and grope his way in the gloom till he had his finger in the villain's mouth ? Yet Dick did it, as surely as I sit here and tell the story. I have not much more to say. You can imagine the scene that followed, Dick roused up the murderer. You can guess what a waking that was, what bewilderment, what terror, and blasphemy, and useless rage, as the "Demon" trooper remorselessly compelled him to tie his brother ruffian, by holding his revolver to his head, then to tie one of his own arms to him, while Dick secured the other. Then the stern vigil till the dawning, amid frantic appeals for mercy, idle threats, ineffectual struggles, and savage gloatings over his crime. The morning came at last. Dick forced them out of the hut, secured them by a cord to his saddle, contrived to mount, and drove his captives in triumph before him. Eight miles' riding along the track brought him, to his surprise and delight, into a road he knew well. Half a mile further, and a police barracks was reached, and the daring fellow's difficulties were over. Dick, when he heard full particulars of the reward, namely three hundred pounds if the man was taken alive, said he would take him on himself. But he was not to be so lucky. He had not noticed, nor had the other constables, that the knot had slipped, neither had he seen the strange, dogged look that had come over the murderer's face. Presently the man asked if he might sit down in the office for a minute, and if he might have a drink of water. A trooper got him some water, for Dick wouldn't »tir from Ma side. When the water came, Dick held it to his lips, and then turned his back to put the cup on the table. If; didn't take many seconds, but the man's hand was out like lightning, and in his side pocket. Dick turned round, saw it, and was beside him in a second. Too late, Dick, too late ! You'll never see him hung, aa you fondly hoped. The fellow had slipped a razor out of his vest, and before he could be stopped, his throat was one great gash from one ear nearly to the other. " Damnation !" roared Dick. The shout brought every eye upon him, and there was Dick, as true as I live, holding the fellow's head, which was nearly severed, trying to put it on again, the blood streaming over his fingers, and over the man's clothes.

Queer, perhaps, but so it was, as some now living can tell you. So Dick didn't see him hung, after all. They only gave him two hundred pounds, as the man wasn't brought in alive ; to head-quarters, I mean. Bufc Dick was promoted, which he cared about more than the money, and he was a hero everywhere, which. pleased him most of all.

This deed roused up all the force. Not a man of us but was on fire to outdo this exploit of Dick's, and one or two plucky things were done, as I may tell you some day. But this yarn is quite long enough, so we'll say good bye for the present. Beta.

A TRUE STORY, IN TWO CHAPTERS.