THE DUMMY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6072, 8 January 1898, Page 1

THE DUMMY.

[Br Wa-iba.] [Sydnty Morning Herald). Sandy'M'Cluskie was a ne'er-do-well of the back. blocks; that is to say, he had certainly never done any good for himself, and a man who only benefits others is properly despised. But occasionally even such a one is sought affcer, and it was 'so with Sandy at the present moment, camped 1 outside a township in the Western district. Matters had gone rather worse of late than was usual even in his career of unprosperity, so that he, with Mrs M'Cluskie and live young M'Cluskies of great appetite, .lay encamped in the "Beserve" outside the township. They had of lafce taken to a Murrumbidgee whaler, that distinct conveyance of the Australian nomad. Great coarse river cod from a Murray tributary, hares and an -occasional sheep that would come near the little encampment enabled the M'Cluskie menage to sustain themselves on the face of the earth. Still, the days were distinctly evil for Mr M'Cluskie. Life is not worth much to anyone without tobacco, but when you are out of elbows with Fortune in the backblocks it becomes the blackest *c_iironies. Mrs M'Clu_kie was better ofej-ffnee she had the distractions of the household on her mind, for it is to be observed that a -vryiTiii, if you place her in a bark hut with rio^walls and nothing inside it, -will--stx*aightway fall fco tidying the place-' up— that is, if she be a proper woman. Eve's practice of leaving the breakfast things standing about all the morning accountsffor many weaknesses in her chStracter. M'Cluskie was wont to make periodical jaunts into the township, where ho was in the habit of standing about under the verandahs of the four leading hotels— -there were four hotels in the Thingmaburndah township, and they were all leading. On these excursions he was accompanied by a seasoned dog of absolute fidelity and tenacious memory. In fact, that dog's memory was appalling, and since it has been with Sandy all its days the master was never at fault when his own rather dull recollections were stirred by a peculiar yelp. He knew that Transfer had come across a familiar face or sight. Man and dog were blinking in the brassy sun one morning under a verandah in the township. The ennui of things at the Whaler had grown intolerable, land Mrs M'Cluskie, ordinarily long-suffering enough, had been heard to make loud asides to the gum trees about men who laid about in the sun all day whilst their belongings starved. Wherefore Sandy had bestirred -himself and come into town with his dog •and leant against a verandah post. On the whole it seemed the most judicious thing to do, and Transfer, the dog, highly approved of the-change of venue. Presently he desisted from the sleepy contemplation of a road lizard, and uttered a -sharp reminiscent bark. M'Cluskie looked up and saw a stranger approaching on horseback. He had seen, him once or twice before when he had come into the township without Traaosfer^ but, now he knew that he must be acquainted with him. But how exactly to place him he did not know, and he scratched the back of his head in puzzled reflection. Bufc the stranger did not,leave him in any doubt. He rode up with outstretched hand. "What, Sandy M'Cluskie?" he said. " I'll bfifc from your face you don't know md?'*vf Sand; looked ftt the stranger hard, and his bustt eye told him that there was ; a city flavour about the mas, in spite of his country riding -boots and *flannel shirt. "You're not," he said slowly, "one of those who was in the Forbes mob ten years ago?" "Not too bad for a guess," replied the other with a laugh ; and he bent down and whispered something in Sandy's ear. A light appeared to dawn upon that worthy. "I could do with a little job like that now," he answered, "Mr Eeachem," he said. " And so you shall," said Mr Beachem heartily, " as good a day's work as you ever did. Come across and have a tot." They went across to one of the four leading hotels, where the landlord, who was standing in the doorway, received Mr Reachem with marked respect. " You can take the nag round to the stable," said the latter, " I shan't be shifting for an hour or two." Sandy's eyes brightened — an hour or two at fche Palace meant many drinks, a sensation he had been too long a stranger to. I often wish some of our raving prohibitionists could enter into the feelings of the country dead-beat. Then they might realise that that cursed thing Drink is sometimes the one phase of life that makes ifc tolerable. However, Sandy never reasoned about the matter; he accepted impartially any overture of a liquid kind. But as a mark of deep thankfulness he did kick Transfer, who offered to follow him into the hotel, across the road. From this, Transfer knew that his master's spirits must be rising, and he took up a watchful attitude across-'the road. # * # * * The incidents I relate happened a great many years ago ; they would be impossible now. In the bad old days vicious land laws made vicious people, just as now enlightened legislation has produced a race of landowners-and workers who would not, if they could go wrong, and couldn't if they would. But in the days I .speak of " dummying " was quite common, and the presence of the blackmailer was felt throughout the country. Mr Eeachem combined both* these specious practices ; at least, he was an agent for a syndicate that devoted all itsienergies to these roundabout but profitable methods of opening up the soil. You see, in the dim days I speak about people had not thoroughly realised the all wisdom of Parliament, and they would adopt their own little ideas in certain contingencies. Indeed, staggering as it may sound to modernears, it was said that some of the most influential people in the land suffered from this moral obliquity ; and it was common talk that Reachem was financed by a wool firm of the very first rank. The mere rumour of such a thing nowadays would probably cause the whole commercial community to expire on the spot. But it was a tougher race then. The fact remjains, however, If^that Mr Reachem was in. a fair way of life. He was welcomed and in the districts that he travelled. * IF # * * * When Sandy , and Eeachem found themselves together fin the little parlour behind the bar a highly technical conversation at first ensued. 'There was a good piece of land down at Scrubby Corner, a fine piece of land, just thie sort of block that would suit a hard-working man like M'Cluskie and his family, aad the luck of it was that there were three .other blocks close by, and Sandy's children ncould pufc in applications for these — how did Sandy like the idea, of starting for himself again? And there was another and favourable circumstance. All Hie land adjoined the great run of GrabaiJL the squatter, and who knew but what Graf-ball wouldn't take an interest in Sandy — \he was a most charitable man where he *saw a selector really trying to better hhraself — and help him on in the world ? Alliti is was said with great archness, and Sandy laughed immoderately at the humour of it. Also, he drank whenever the occatsf-on presented itself, and he agreed boisterously to every proposal that was made. When Sandy staggered to his feet atoi shook hands tho men understood each ..oifcher. All the_ legal

forms of application were to (be arranged by Beachem, and Sandy and family were to " dummy " the blocks for Graball. "Twenty-five bob a week and fcuoker," said Beachem. "Make ifc thirty bob ?" urged>Sa_tdy. "Well, well," said Beachem,*" we'll see. You understand— you'll have to. give a P.N. and take out an insurance policy in our favour. Here's half a sovereign to go on with. And, mind you, no more grog till ifs all through." "All right," said Sandy, and he rolled out and down the main street, making futile attempts to kick Transfer, who led the way, whenever the recollection of his good fortune dawned upon him. But the dog avoided these kind attentions witi-sall the ease of long practice, and amused itself by lea_ing'the way. On the road he picked up a piece of paper, which he held in his mouth, nor would he leave go of it till he reached the camp. Here he disappeared, not wishing to be a witness of a domestic scene, which he knew must be - touching. It was, and even the prospective good fortune in store for her could not quite calm Mrs M'Cluskie's angry spirits. The end of ifc was that she bade Sandy peremptorily not to come into the house that night, which was exactly what her fuddled lord and master wanted. He simply threw himself down on the ground and slept under the stars like a child. When he awoke in the morning the first thing he saw was Transfer ohasing a piece of paper. "Blame that dog," ho muttered, "it's gone balmy over that paper," and he threw with a precision he had lackecLon the previous night a billet of wood at the dog, whioh dropped the paper and scampered off. Sandy went over and picked up the paper and threw it down immediately in disgust. It was the sideof a cheap liondon periodical, and did not interest him. But as it flattered to his feet his eye foil on it again, and without knowing why he took ifc up. There waa a great black heading on the page, "Clever Insurance Swindles," and Sandy began to read down the column with some interest. Presently he became thoroughly absorbed, and when he had read through every line of the article he folded the paper up very carefully and put it away in his breast pocket. He might have been seen once or twice during the day referring to it. * * # * * All the details for the "dummy" leases, were completed a few weeks afterwards. Sandy had attended at the Land Board and had cheerfully perjured himself on, two or three occasions, and the watchful*: Mr Reachem had been by to guide his unsteady footsteps through the mazes of the regulations. Casual half-sovereigns had -served to keep the TVPCluskies in comfort, -and Sandy in almost chronic inebriety. It was a few days before Sandy was to enter in possession of his land, and he had to meet Beachem to arrange some necessary final matters. Beaohem came to the Palace, but Sandy was in so hopeless a state of intoxication that he saw it was useless to try to do anything that day. " The drunken brute," he muttered, " I'll , .see that' this doesn't happen again," and he went off. Sandy, who had heard this remark, re-"' covered himself marvellously the momentihis friend had left. " Drimken, am I?" he repeated ; " we'll Bee " — and he drew from his. pocked a piece of folded printed paper, opened it, and began to read with evident enjoyment. Then he replaced ib with a chuckle, and admirably simulating a drunken stagger made off out of the township. Sandy was so consistently the worse for liquor after this that Beaohem lost all patience. "After all," he said to the landlord of the Palace, from whom be seemed to have no secrets, "The man's only a fool. It's quite safe to let him go on the land, and when he sobers up I'll get the P.N. and insurance policy from him afterwards. There'll be a row if we don't occupy soon. So Sandy and his family duly went on the land ; but to the horror and disgust of Beachem, he did not sober up. Where he got his liquor from was a mystery; but he was always helpless. Sometimes he was abusive. "Look here," said Eeachem angrily one morning, coming into the miserable homestead that was beginning to appear, " you've got -to sign these papers. You knew the game and so does your wife —Graball and I don't make presents to the likes of you — and your wife knows that as well as you." "I'm sure, sir," said Mrs M'Cluskie apologetically, "I've done all I could to make him sign ; but he's that obstinate in drink that I don't know what to make of him. Sometimes I'm afraid to be-left alone with him. He very nearly burnt tlie placo down last night in one of his mad fits." i " Ye're leave the old woman alone," here interrupted Sandy, and he staggered to his feet and grabbed an axe. Reachem retreated to the door, and Sandy's mood suddenly changed. The documents Eeachem had brought with him were a promissory note for .£IOOO in favour of Graball and an insurance policy for a similar sum, to be endorsed in Graball's favour. " Looko here," said Sandy, with a hiccough, "I ain't going to endorse no bills; don'fc mind sharance — no bills," and he began to weep. " You had bettei humour him, sir," said Mrs M'Cluskie, and Beachem, only too delighted to get half his business done, seized the opportunity. Pen and ink were brought, and Sandy duly endorsed the policy to Graball. Reachem placed it in his pooket, and Mrs M'Cluskie followed him out. "It'll be all right to-morrow, sir," she said respectfully. "You leave the bill with me, and I'll get him to sign it." Eeachem, now considerably mollified, did so, and bestowed ten shillings on Mrs M'Cluskie.t who accepted it with deep gratitude. When the agent's figure was well oufc of sight she returned to the hut, where Sandy, erect and sober, was performing an uncouth dance. Mrs M'Cluskie joined him, and afterwards, when Sandy drew from his pocket a folded piece of paper, perused it with him, greatly interested. They had both read it before ; but it was still, apparently, of deep interest. When Beachem rode up next morning he was tlie witness of a heartrending spectacle. The hut was a pile of black ashes, standing in the middle of a fire-wasted circle, and on the ground was Mrs M'Cluskie, weeping as if her heart would break. Noar her were the three children, also howling. Between sobs Eeachem learnt the whole sad story. Tho previous night Mrs M'Cluskie and the children had been away in the scrub gathering firewood. When they returned in the dusk they were startled by a glare, and on coming in sight of the hub it was in blazes. They were miles away from anyone, and no answer was returned to their cries. Transfer, who waß with them, rushed into the blaze, only to reel out again in a few minutes dead at her feet. " And," said Mrs M'Cluskie, with a creditable dramatic touch, " I forgot my pore 'usband for a moment, when I saw the faithful animal dead at my feet." Sure enough Transfer lay on the ground with his head burnt off. Mr Beachem was deeply sympathetic, but he reflected that he held a polioy for £1000 over the life of the unfortunateana-i. Under the circumstances he presented. Mrs M'Cluskie with half a sovereign ; but she went to a neighbouring township, and related all the facts to the editor of the looal newspaper, so that Beaohem advised Graball to make it £10. This was dono, and Mrs M'Cluskie left tho district. As for the . insurance company, it paid up withont muoh delay. The case was dear, Mrs M'Cluskie -had made depositions, u and' th<^

— ; f act-that no body had heen found did thA excite suspicion. M'Ctaskie had wuiply been burnt-toiashos. * # ** * • It was three' toonth-»-«fter this-thafc the resurrected Sandy M*C_UBkie presented himself before the eyes of the astonished Mr Beaohem. It was in this gentleman's office in Sydney. During the time thafc had elapsed' between t__3f_re | theM , X2_BkiM had exercised enormous self-control-- but they had now learnt that the insurance** moueyhscTbeen-'paid. "And weren't you really burnt aftej? all?" exclaimed the amazedßeachem. " You know very well I wasn't," «&_} Sandy, shortly. "Don't give us any gammon of that sort." Mra M*Cl_Bki9 was with him. ' "What gammon?" retorted Eeachtem, angrily. Then a light began to dawn upon him. " Great heavens!" 'he exclaimed, "what do you wont P" "I want the shurance money/-* said -Sandy. "The arrangement was that I was to be burnt to death, and' when it bfew over get half the cash. Wasn't it, Jenny?" "Oh, yes," said Mra M'Cluskie oheer-* fully. "I was there, you know, at tbe time, and a wicked thing I thought it, though afraid to say muoh. But fair's fair." " Yes," cut in Sandy, " and as you 'aim. kept to your word, I'll have the .ot now. Precious fine you and Graball and those behind 'emil look when I turns up at the insurance office, and proves how you putane in to dummy for you first (tod then burnt! me to death. I reckon some of your bigwig friends '11 sit up." And Mr Reachem perceived the truth ot this, too, and so did his patrons. They expostulated, they argued, and they threatened ; but delay was too dangerous, for M'Cluskie knew the strength of his hand, and was determined to play it for-all it was worth. He got his full JgIOOO, and several times afterwards when he waa pressed some useful accommodation, and It was not till he really did drink himself to death in an obscure part of tho country that the aggrieved land syndicate felt _il ease. This little reminiscence merely -proves the value of cheap literature and & faithful dog. It also seemß to Bhow that weshould be deeply grateful for our improved land laws.