NOT TO BE DUG UP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1696, 9 February 1888, Page 4

NOT TO BE DUG UP.

It was on the Barcoo, in the rousing old days of big cheques and bigger sprees, when a veteran shepherd, on a certain station, in running round a mob of ewes and lambs to force them into a yard close to the boss's homestead, dropped dead in his tracks. The squatter, a regular colonialexperience man, fresh from an English university, knew as much of the lavs as one of Inglis's J's.P., and had thC old hand shovelled into a deep grave on a sandhill hard by, without the of a prayer or wake. The wheels of justice often got bogged in thoße days, and consequently it was many Sundays after when the mounted police sergeant and bis full private drew rein at the homestead verandah, and were warmly greeted by the boss, and a stiff glass of rum. "Anything up," exclaimed the squatter. "Not much," replied the sergeant, " only we've come to see about that old man of yours that pegged out lately." "Why, what about him !" " Nothing, only I've got to dig him up and hold an inquest as to the cause of death." " The cause of death," exclaimed the squatter; "why, you don't think we Ve killed him ?" " Ob, dear, no, only the law requires it. That's all." "Then I'll see you'd— before I let you dig up tbat old man," was the reply. After a strong remonstrance the sergeant caved in, well aware that his chief and the squatter were pretty " thick". Next morning the members of the force rode homeward to concoct the best report they could. Months subsequently the squatter on his way to town for supplies, dropped in to have * yarn with the district police inspector. They chatted cordially until at length the officer asked, " what was it, by.the bye, that made you so infernally rusty about raising that old man of yours?" " Oh, a likely thing I Avas going to have that old joker dug up; he had a cheque of mine for £35 in his trousers pocket!"—Bulletin.