The GIRL WHO HELPED NED KELLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 5

The GIRL WHO HELPED NED KELLY

By

CHARLES E. TAYLOR

[ Copyright ]

CHAPTER X (Continued) “Damn the Kellys! I'm sick of the sound of their name. Kelly! Kelly! Kolly! Its Kelly from morning tilt night.'* Well, that's not surprising, is it?” frank did not reply. A little later Jack asked him: What would you do if you could lift the two-thousand reward, Frank?” His eyes gleamed greedily as lie replied:— "Get out o’ here tomorrow!” Won don't like the bush, then?" Like it? Who does? I’m getting Jut, too. Won’t be long before I ’teak away.” i What about, vour father and sistenr The old man may stay if lie wants and—and—you can look after tiita.” T’sf-nrfully, jack asked : what do you mean by that?” ''ell, you're sweet on her, ain’t yon;” lon're imagining things, Frank, -ook here if you're so keen on getting why don't you try for that re£j?’ other laughed bitterly, p, ce ohance I’d have, wouldn't I? ‘ • Sot a better way than that.” ”isht , "' at wbat ma( l e y°u so late last ■t was a chauce remark, but it had effect. Frank, with , eyes, jumped at Jack and him by the throat. {■ kill you for that,” he hissed. v ; 7! l ot had difficulty in releasing liis him* 6 sr ' p ’ an< t flinging him from dam° U . tool!” he cried. ‘'l’ve a oamned good mind ” b„ ? "is surprise, Frank, with bowed s j ant i hands hanging limply at his sin—'V tarn ed on his heel, and walked ? Into the bush. •lack ’ m jiggered!” exclaimed dJ as he returned to his work, time, j that incident many heal , rin? 'he day. At the mid-day ftm ’ 10 1 which Frank was late, he not « “ to hiita that her brother did 'H„ m , to be himself. to» h ® himself all right, only more ane answered. “Frank’s a queer

fish, and no one can get very close to him." “A girl?” Briant ventured. “I’m not sure. Julie says he’s infatuated with Kate Kelly.” “Is that so?” remarked Briant wryly. “Kate's a fine girl in many ways—don’t you think so?” “Well, how can I tell? I’ve never ” “You needn’t lie,” she said, with a trace of annoyance in her voice. “Everyone knows that Kate helped you back to Jackson’s when you sprained, your ankle.’ “Isn't, it possible for anything to happen in these parts without the whole countryside knowing it?” lie queried. , “It isn't, when it concerns anybody even remotely connected with the Kellys. You didn't answer me. What is your opinion of Kate Kelly?” "A brave girl—one of-the bravest. “Is that all?” “Well—she’s very attractive.” “Did you find her so?” He looked at her wonderingly. “Just what are you driving at, Nita?” ~ , ... -Oh —er —nothing!” she replied with averted face, as she left the room. When lie returned from work in the evening Nita greeted him with smiles. At the table she outdid Julie s gaiety, and even induced Frank to laugh. Jack recalled old Jackson’s words, “That gal's as deep as the sea!” CHAPTER XI. TREACHERY Curiously, Briant was wondering whether Jacobson was as crooked as Tom Stevens declared, when his employer asked him into the front room. Nita and Julie were clearing the table, and Frank had gone over to the horses. “Supposing you had a chance to earn the Kelly reward, would you take !t Jack was rather nonplussed by the directness of the question. He had expected Jacobson to spar around • •Two thousand’s a big lump of money, yet ’ “Yet what?” “It s blood money. Jacobson's face twitched. • It °s in a way, but someone s going to get it.” Jack laughed.

“Are you suggesting that I might be able to capture the Kellys?” “No; but you could help- to trap them.” “I’m not sure that 1 want to trap them.” “Why not? They’re outlaws and murderers.” “Not murderers.” “Didn’t they kill Kennedy, Scanlon and Lonergan at Stringybark Creek?” “Yes, but they wouldn’t have shot them if the police had surrendered. They only wanted their horses, food and ammunition.” “Who told you that yarn?” Jacobson demanded. “I heard it all the way up from Seymour.” “Well, they’ll swing for it, anyway.” “I hope not!” Jacobson gasped. “You don't mean ” “I mean that Ned Kelly's too good a man for the gallows.” “Lots of people think that way,” mused Jacobson, “but after what lie’s done he can’t dodge it. You must admit that.” “I’m afraid so—unless he can get out of the country.” “How is he going to do that?” “I don’t know.” Twice Jacobson was about to speak, but each time something stopped him. Then, bending over and graspiug Jack’s shoulder in a grip that hurt, he said tensely: “I want part of that reward, boy, and you can help me to get it!” Briant remained silent. “I want the money to get away from this damned hole. I want my girls to have something better than this. They’re young and need life. I want it, too. This is eating my heart out. Won’t you help me, boy?” Briant shuddered at the proposition and at the callousness of the man who made it. Jacobson and his family were tired of the bush, and this was the desperate way out! Jack’s first impulse was to ram the traitorous words back in his employer's throat, but he realised he would gain nothing by that—except self-sat-isfaction. If Jacobson was a Judas, obviously the best way to serve Ned was to watch him. If be continued to appear friendly he might learn a lot. If he broke with him and went back to Jackson's he would have little opportunity of knowing what was going on here. "You'll help me, won’t you?” pleaded Jacobson, mistaking the reason for Jack's silence. “How can I help?” “Play up to Kate Kelly. You stand pretty well with her. 1 know.” How he hated his employer for that suggestion! His fingers itched to get

at him. But he controlled himself and replied: “I don’t know that I do. But in any case Kate is too clever a girl to be tricked by me. What’s your scheme?” “We know Ned visits the old home, but, of course, we ” “We?” A guilty flush mounted Jacobson’s cheek. “I mean the police, of course. Well, as I was saying, no one knows when he’s coming. Naturally, the police can’t watch one spot every night.” “No; I suppose not.” “Kate must have a good idea when he’s coming—he lets her know in some way. If you could find out, the rest’d be easy.” Briant.’s brain was working fast. “But I can’t go to Kate without some excuse.” “A good-looking young fellow doesn’t need much excuse for calling on an attractive girl like Kate. You could fix that.” The idea was so repuisfve that Jack found it hard to conceal his disgust. There was one aspect that appealed to him, however, and he asked Jacobson for further details. “Suppose you ride across tomorrow afternoon, and see what you can find out?” “Leaving work pretty early, ain’t you?” remarked Frank next day, as Jack picked up his coat. “Yes; got to go a message.” Young Jacobson scowled. “Why the hell didn’t they ask me to take it?” “I don’t know,” Briant lied, as he left him. Jack’s brain was in a whirl as he rode toward Eleven-Mile Creek. As luck would have it, Kate was alone. She greeted him cordially and asked him inside. “You look worried?” she remarked. “I am w r orried,” he confessed. “Any decent fellow would be worried if he lived under the same roof as a traitor.” Wide-eyed, she gripped his wrist. “Jacobson?” He nodded. “We’ve been suspicious of him for some time. Tell me how you found out.” He told her the whole wretched story. “For God’s sake,” he added, “don’t tell Ned. I don’t want anything to happen.” She faced him with blazing eyes. “Nothing to happen to a dog like that?” “I know he deserves it. but it wouldn’t, do any good. Can’t you see, Kate, it wouldn’t help Ned if he revenged himself on Jacobson.” “It’d be £pe skunk out of the Way at any rate,” she cried between her clenched teeth. Neither spoke for some time. Then she said; “You’re right—it wouldn't help.” “Couldn’t the boys take advantage of the police being here?” Briant suggested. “They could go somewhere else that night.” The idea pleased her. “They could. There’s lots of things they want at — at—somewhere else. It'd be a fine chance to get them. What, are you smiling at?” “Only at the ‘somewhere else.’ Still

a bit distrustful of me, are you, Kate?” “Of course, I’m not. What’s that?” she asked, going to the door. “I thought I heard a horse.” She came back to him. “Tell Jacobson the boys are coming Friday night. Oh!” “What’s the matter?” “How do you stand? What’ll they do when they' don’t find them? They’ll blame you.” He laughed her fears away'. “Don’t worry your pretty head about that. I’ll find a way between this and then. I wish I could help more than this,” he continued, with a grave face. “There’s (inly one way—they’ve got to leave the country. And Ned say's he can’t just yet.” “Ned knows best,” she said, with simple faith. She made tea, and as they drank it, she inquired how Jacobson’s suited him. “Apart from this miserable business, very well.” “What do you think of Nita?” The question surprised him. It was tile same as Nita had put to him concerning herself. “Nita’s a very nice girl, hut hard to understand. Don’t you think so?” “Perhaps a little, but you’ll get to know her better later on.” “I don’t think so.” She started at his vehemence. “You don't imagine I’m going to stay there after what has happened?” “I think you should,” she added, as she noticed the rebellious gleam in his eyes. “It would help Ned.” “Then I’ll stay’, though it’ll hurt like hell!” “You are very good. My sister’ll he coming back soon. She’d better not, see you here,” she reminded him, as she rose. “Then I’ll be going.” He rode slowly' hack to Jacobson’s. His employ'er met him at the gate. “Well?” he eagerly asked, “Everything fixed,” Briant replied, with as good grace as lie could muster. Jacobsou followed him to the stable, looking round to see that they were alone. “When?” he inquired. “Friday night.” “Good! That gives us two day's to fix tilings. You won’t be sorry for what you’ve done, boy.” "I wonder!” he replied, turning his head away. “Did Kate suspect anything?” “1 don’t think so. Of course. I’ll have to clear out.” “I don’t see that. When we get Ned tliere’ll be no one to give any 1 trouble. Without him, the gang’ll crack up in a week.” “But supposing you don’t get him?” “We'll get him all right—dead or alive! Cheer up! Y'ou look as though you’d committed a crime instead ot helping to rid the country' of a dangerous criminal.” Jack hung his head. “I’lU ashamed of myself. Still, there’s something in what you sav I don’t see, all the same, how it’s going to be worth very much to you. All the police will share in the reward." “But I’ll get the lion’s share. I can prove that I arranged the whole thing

—that is. ■with your help. I’m not likely to forget you.” “You needn't consider me. 1 wouldn’t touch a penny of it. It’s blood money, and, beside that, I’m young and can get on well enough without it.” Jacobson could hardly believe his ears. Here was magnanimity, if you like. Ami it was magnanimity that was going to be very profitable to him. He slapped his open-hearted employee on the back. “I sha'n't forget 3'ou, never fear!” “I’m sure you won’t!” Jack replied, his mouth assuming a curious smirk. Young Jacobson was in a nasty mood when he slouched into his seat at the table that evseShg. “I hope you took yrrttr message all right.” he said, glaring balefully af Briant. Jacobson sat holt upright and looked inquiringly at Jack, who felt that something was expected of him. “Frank seemed to resent my knocking off early to take your letter to Barker’s.” he explained. “Barker’s —bah!!” Frank spat out the words. Jacobson brought his hand down on ■the table with a bang that made the dishes rattle. “Y r ou keep your nose out of this! Tt’s my affair who T send on messages.” His son was in no way perturbed. “If you sent him to Barker’s, what the hell was he doin’ at Kelly’s?”

One penny a dozen is all it costs to put down eggs with Sharland’s Egg Preservative. ’ 1-’

“At Kelly’s?” Nita and Julie said in a breath. “Yes, at Kelly’s. 1 saw him ride over there!” “So you neglected your work to watch him?” his father insinuated. Frank threw’ down his knife and fork and rushed to the door. “Damn the work!” he shouted. “I’m full of the lot of you, and I’m clearin’ out.” “Don’t bother about him,” said Jacobson, as Nita got up. “It’ll soon blow over, and he’ll come hack for his food.” Nita resumed her seat. “I don’t know what’s the matter with Frank lately. There’s something on his mind.” “There'll be something on his body, too,, if there’s much more of that non- j sense!” said his father, significantly. I Frank was still sulking when Jack went into the yard after tea. “Don’t | be a fool, Frank,” Briant said. “Go to hell! Go back to Kelly’s where you belong. Go back to Kate!” Nita caught the words as she came to the door. “What did you say?” she asked. “I told him to go back to Kate Kelly He’s in with the gang! He’s been in with ’em all along! He ought to be shot with the rest of ’em!” “It’s foolish to talk like that,” she said. “Foolish, is it? Well, you’ll see. Y'ou’ll see the kind o’ snake you’re harbourin’!” With black rage in his heart, he strode across the yard. “I’d like to know what’s wrong with

that boy,” Nita said, looking after him. “Didn't you say he was infatuated with Kate Kelly?” Jack reminded her. She eyed him closely as she answered, “Yes, and perhaps he sees in you a possible rival.” “Oh, don’t be silly, Nita,” he said,, a little awkwardly. “You did go to Kelly’s, didn’t you?” she inquired after a pause. “I had to take a message somewhere for your father.” “And you called in at Kelly’s on the way?” He did not answer her. With a look such as he had only once before seen in the eyes of a w oman, she went back into the house.” j (To be continued tomorrow)