THE GIRL WHO HELPED Wed KELLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 5

THE GIRL WHO HELPED Wed KELLY

By

CHARLES E. TAYLOR

i Copyright ]

CHAPTER XIII. — (Continued) "Give me the light a minute/ 9 said Sam Jackson. He dropped on his knees and carefully inspected the sround. “Something scared him/* he added, as he pointed to the hoofprints. "But how did he get away?” asked Began. “Pulled the reins loose,” replied Jackson, indicating a slight abrasion on the bark of the tree. Ned scrutinised it closely. “You roisht be right,” he said in a relieved lone. “Let’s beat the bush a bit.” They separat€.*d and scoured the scrub for some distance round the clearing, but there was no sign of the missing animal. ‘‘You'd better take my moke, Ned,” said Jim Kerry, when they met again. 'Or mine,” chorused the others. . The bust ranger shook his head. Thanks, boys, but I’d sooner find him.” f Again they searched the bush, •lanton keeping a close eye on Larry °r any sign of warning. Twice the stopped and sniffed the air, but ®ade no sound. "Listen!” Young’s quick ear had ./tected some noise on the hill beyond Th C f eek ' “There you are again, neiv’s a h orse over there, or I’ll eat y hat. Let me go—it might be a trap.” Anxiously they waited while Young DUinged into the scrub. He seemed o be gone for hours, but in reality , Was only a few minutes when they ea Jd his excited call, “I got him!” ->ed ran to' meet him. and took the ems from him. He breathed a sigh .. While he doubted the postmity of police interference after Qch care had been taken to put them i? '-* le scent, experience had taught ! m ulw'ays to be on his guard, and the \Bence of his horse had looked deciaecjly suspicious. It took the edge the enjoyment he had derived from e company of his friends. His voice as much less cheery, therefore, when e announced that they had better be going. ‘ was reckonin’ on the four of you

stayin’ the night,” said Manton, ruefully. “Not tonight/’ Ned replied. “Come on, Dan, Joe and Steve.” “Well, let’s have another drink before ye go,” O’Rourke suggested. Ned shook his head. “It’s time we made a move. Good-night, boys—and tnanks again.” They pressed him to stay longer, but he was obdurate, and to the accompaniment of their good wishes, the four horsemen rode into the night. They watched them grow dimmer and dimmer, until the shadows closed round them. “Ned seemed a bit shook up over that horse breakin’ away,” remarked McCullagh. “No wonder!” muttered John Cavendish. “My God, what a life!” CHAPTER XIV. “ I LOVE YOU, NITA ! ” Two days later, Jack carted his first load of wood into Benalla. On the way he overtook the tramp he had encountered on the road to Jacobson’s. “Hullo,” he said. “I thought you went to Melbourne.” “I’d —I’d been there before now only I hurt me foot,” was the hesitant reply. “You got a job, I see.” “Yes.” “How d’you like it at Ja —at the place you’re workin* at?” “Oh, all right.” “Better than Jackson’s, I reckon/ “In a way, yes.” “Better company, th? Two fine girls, ain’t they?” He looked as though he regretted that remark. “Look here,” said Jack, “you seem to know a good bit about the people round here.” **E r —y-es, I’ve been through these parts once or twice before. ’ “As a swaggie or as something 61 Tlie man started perceptibly, and he was slow to reply. “Of course, what else?” „ Briant laughed. "Sure you werent wearing uniform the other times?”

“Uniform?” —with a gasp of surprise. Jack eyed him up and down. “You’re the worst imitation of a swaggie I’ve ever seen. You don’t know how to carry your bluey, and no tramp ever walked like you walk. The Superintendent should have got someone to school you properly.” The tramp laughed a mirthless laugh. “Gord! you don’t take me for a copper, do you?” “As a matter of fact, I do—l did the first time I met you.” “You’re like everyone else, I guess —this ’ere Kelly business has got on your nerves. You’re fancyin’ things. I believe I saw Ned the other day.” “Yes? —and what did you do—run?” The tramp's eyes flashed angrily, but he managed to control himself. “There wasn’t no need to run. The gang wouldn’t do me no 'arm. I got nothin’ for ’em to rob either. ’Ullo, ’oo’s this cornin’?” A horseman appeared round the bend of tlie road a bearded man with one side of his head bandaged. lie rode a jaded-looking bay gelding. “Look’s like a trooper,” Jack commented. “Does a bit, don’t *e?” When the rider came up Briant was struck by his familiar appearance, although his head bandages gave his mouth a peculiar twist. He pulled up a few yards from the dray and beckoned the tramp over to him. “I’m Coombes from headquarters,” he said in an undertone. “Haven’t seen anything suspicious, I suppose?” Without waiting for a reply he asked, “Who’s the young chap?” “Used to work at Sam Jackson’s, one of the Kelly mob, now with Jacobson,” the tramp answered. “Is he all right?” “I—don’t know. Wants watching, I should say.” “I’ll have a yarn to him. 1 want you to give this to Superintendent Hare as soon as you can. It’s important, and no one else is to see it. Be as quick as you can.” He gave the other man a letter and then rode over to Briant. “Know me?” he asked. “Damned if it isn’t Ned!” exclaimed Jack in amazement. “I suppose you know that tramp’s a policeman?” “Oh, yes,” with a laugh. “I’ve given him a letter for Hare, inviting him to come and take me.” “Do you think ” “That he knew me? I’m certain he didn’t. These rags alter me a bit, don’t they?” “They certainly do. I wasn’t sure of you myself till you spoke. You're taking a bit of a risk, aren’t you?” “It’s a risk all the time. Was Nita home when you left?” “No: she went along the bush track on the black mare a good while ago.”~ Ned’s eyes showed the satisfaction the news gave him, and with a hurried

“Must be off now,” he galloped away. What were the relations between tlie outlaw and Jacobson’s daughter? Was she the girl Avhom rumour declared Ned met clandestinely from time to time? Was it possible that while the father plotted against the bushranger, one of his own flesh and blood was secretly in love with him? The suggestion did not please Briant. He wondered why. Was he in love with her himself? He asked himself that question a dozen times as he drove along the road, without being able to supply a satisfactory answer. There was something about Nita that made a strong appeal. Possibly it was that her curious two-sided nature constituted a challenge. She was a difficult girl to understand, and her, attitude toward him —at times frankly affectionate and at other times coldly indifferent—set him a puzzle that demanded a solution. On two other occasions he liad seen her ride away alone, and late one night he heard, or fancied he heard, her voice and a man’s at the sliprails at the back of his sleepiug quarters. He made up his mind to try that night to find whether there was any ground for his suspicions. On his return from Benalla he asked Jacobson if he might have a horse to ride over to Jackson’s, being careful to add that it was as well to keep in with the old man, who seemed to know a good deal of the gang’s movements. His employer readily assented. “I’m riding across to Jackson’s tonight,” he told Nita when he found her alone. “Like to come?” She accepted his invitation with obvious eagerness. “Remember our last ride?” he asked, when they had gained the track. “Of course I do. Why?” “I was just wondering.” “Wondering what 7 ” “What someone else would say if he knew.” “But father knew I came with you,” she replied without a moment’s hesitation. Briant laughed. “You’re a clever girl, Nita.’* “Thank you for the compliment.” “Is your father the only one who has a right to be concerned?” “Well, there’s Frank, but he’s younger than I am. and you’d hardly expect me to be responsible to him, would you?” “No, I suppose not,” he admitted. “I say, let’s sit on that log for a while and talk.” The suggestion seemed to please her. They tethered their horses to a j tree. When they were seated she I asked: “What made you mention our last j ride?” “Well, I just wondered whether I ]

might be treacling on someone’s corns. I say can j T ou guess whom I saw this afternoon?” “Ned Kelly—l saw him myself!” Her frankness astonished him. “Y—yes.” “Yes, I was riding over to Jennie O'Donnell’s. She’s my cousin, you know.” “You’ve never told me that before,” he said sharply. “No. Well, does it matter?” “Perhaps not. Go on. Did you speak to Ned?” “Yes. I said ‘Hullo, Ned,’ and he said ‘Hullo!’ ” “Y'ou know him pretty well, then?” “Oh, yes.” “X suppose you didn’t by any chance feel you’d like to ride into Benalla and tell the police?” “I certainly did not.” “Why not?” “Well, for one reason, by the time I’d have reached Benalla Ned would have been miles away, and, for another reason ” “Yes—yes.” Her reply was to jump to her feet with a startled cry. “What is it?” he asked in alarm. “I—l thought I saw a man move from behind that tree. Perhaps I was wrong.” “Shall I have a look?” “Oh, no. I must have been mistaken. There are funny shadows in the bush at times.” A little later he turned to her intently. “Nita, you didn’t answer my question.” “What question?” “You didn’t tell me the second reason why you didn’t try to tell the police Ned was in the district.” “Didn’t I? Well, perhaps there wasn’t any other reason.” “But there was. You said so yourself. You said ‘and for another reason.’ ” “Did I really? I say, don’t you think Frank’s getting more morbid? I’m afraid of my brother.” He saw that it was useless to pursue the Kelly topic, so he said: “Frank is fretting his heart out here. He wants to get back to town. Don’t you, Nita?” “Yes—and no.” “Do you mind explaining the reservation?” She laughed. “It’s a prety dull sort of life here, as you know, yet ” “Yet there's someone who makes you want to stay?” “Yes, there’s something about the bush that seems to grip you. You wouldn’t feel like that, of course, as

you haven't known it long enough.” “Nita, you’re wonderful the way you side-track a direct Question. I didn't say ‘something.’ I said ‘someone.’ ” “Oh, there are my father, brother and sister, of course.” “And me?" “Oh, of course,” with a merry chuckle. “No one else?” he asked. "Surely those are enough.” Suddenly her manner changed. “Jack, do you mind if I don’t talk for a little while? I want to think.” “Of course not. Lean against me —you’ll be more comfortable.” With a scarcely audible sigh she allowed her head to rest against his shoulder. Instinctively his arm went round her. “Is that better?” he asked. “Much, thank you.” Neither spoke for a few minutes. The warmth of her body t thrilled him, and he drew her closer. “Nita!” he whispered. She did not reply. He saw that her eyes were shut, but her lips were smiling. He bent down and kissed her lightly, but she did not stir. Again he kissed her—this time passionately, almost savagely. With a little cry of delight, she threw her arms around his neck and her lips clung to his. "Nita—Nita!” he murmured. “Oh, Jack.” she answered, snuggling still closer to him. “Do you love me, Nita?” he whispered. “I do—oh, I do!” she cried. “Do you want me, dear?” “God, how I want you!” He crushed her to him and rained kisses upon her responsive lips. “Take me away from here, Jack,” she pleaded. She noticed his surprise, and added a little hystericall}': “I can’t stay here without you—it —it would be unbearable!” “I’m sorry,” he said in a half whisper. She freed herself from his embrace. j “Sorry for what?” she asked tremulously. “Forgive me, Nita. It was wrong of me.” She sat staring in front of her. Then she rose from the log. ; “We had better be moving if we are going to Jackson’s.” It was now the other Nita who spoke—the cold unemotional girl whose moods had so astonished him. Her voice was calm and steady, and bore no trace of the passion which a few moments previously had shaken it. He was so amaazed at her sudden change that without a word he followed her to the horses. Neither spoke for some time as they . rode along. They were too full of j their own thoughts for conversation, i Inwardly Jack cursed his impulsive- ‘

ness. He did not wish to fall in love with Nita Jacobsen, yet there were times when he felt her attractions irresistible. Did she really care for him? he wondered. Had she, like himself, merely acted on the impulse of the moment, or had she been stirred by a deeper emotion? Surely her display of feeling toward him was sufficient proof that his suspicions concerning Ned Kelly were unfounded—unless she was a sort of girl he did not for a moment believe her to be. “Nita,” he said at last, “are you sorry for what occurred just now'?” “Please forget that it ever happened,” she replied, with a little catch in her voice. “You’re a strange girl, Nita.” “I know I am—so strange that often I don’t understand myself. Sometimes I do things which a little later I hate myself for doing. That isn’t the sort of nature to make one very happy, I assure you.” “Then aren’t you happy?” “At times w'ithout a care iu the world—at other times the most miserable creature living. Who was it said, ‘As high as we have mounted in our delight, in our dejection do we sink as low’.” “That was Wordsworth.” “That’s one of the reasons why I like you so much, Jack,” she said. "It Is a treat to be able to talk to someone who knows other things than the price of wheat and stock, and the sort of bush talk that one get 3 so frightfully tired of.” “So my chief attraction is the education I received as a youth,” he bantered. “Don’t be unkind, Jack. You know it isn’t only that.” “You told me just now that you loved me.” “And you said you wanted me.” “Well?” She reached over and laid her hand on his arm. “Please, Jack, let us forget.” “But supposing I didn’t want to forget?” Her answer was a sigh. “What would you say then, Nita?” he persisted. “Don’t, Jack, don’t!” she pleaded, as though the suggestion hurt her. They had now reached Jackson’s, but no dogs greeted them. The hut was in darknes “Queer!” Jack muttered. “Even bush folk don’t always stay at home,” Nita reminded him. “No, I suppose not.” He knocked at the door, but there was no response. The harness and dray were missing from the shed. “They’ve gone to one of the neighbors, I suppose,” s; Nita. “Perhaps a bush party somewhere?” he suggested. (To be continued tomorrow)