DYKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7329, 15 February 1902, Page 2

DYKE.

(By JOHN DARLING.) Chapter I. , \ . "Doeg one good to feel one's in the ol£ Country again!" said the man in the far corner of the carriage, with his back' t<» the engine. The 5.10 train out of Lime Street .was just about to start. ■ There were two other occupants of the carriage. The one ; was a slender young gentleman, in a frock coat and, tali hat. The rosebud in his buttonhole was as fresb as bis hairless face. The other was -Septimus Merriton, with a heart and a head stuffed with; anxieties. ; - '. "Indeed!" said, the young gentleman, amiably, -glancing at the speaker's luggage. This consisted of a rude bundle of bearskins and macintosh stuffy strapped to a wooden frame. A leather sack witha ; big bulge to itr was also attached to the frame. "Ay, it does! Thirteen years it is since I tasted fog like this. Real good I call it. Strike me, what I've gone through sine* I run ' away from my old' dad's workshop and hid in the hold of the Susan Jane, sailing ship for Melbourne! But they'll be glad to see me now, you bet." Septimus Merriton' s interest also was now aroused ; but he 'did hot show it much. '■" Cofme back a rich chap, I hope?" suggested the young man, smiling. . "Rich! Well, you mightn't call! it that. Try amd lif t that heap!" . . ;- The young man strained, at the. pack. " What the deuce makes it such a weight?" he demanded, with! a. blush, part* due. to shame, and parfc to exertion. "Ay," laughed the man. in .the., corner,, "that's what the; old folks at home'll say when.- they come to finger it. . There's boots and' things rolled up inside,; but it's the outside that I've sweated for thatlicks you. See here!" ' > ■ . . ■...-. .-.,. He produced a . little lump of whajb -looked like twisted brass. ; twC "By. Jingo! that's a. nugget!" exclaimed the young man. • . ■•■. ■ He was allowed to handle it. ; "Assays well, too, I expect," he added. I'm in a bank, so I know something about gold, you know. Six : ounces ?" - " Five and a half, at say eighteen dollars the ounce. And there's a sacK full of the same there, and Tom Simpson's going to stick to the lot like grimMeafch till he takes a cab to a Birmingham bank and opens a scorching big account for the old folks $£ home." \. ...... , . ' Meowed down. : . U" I' Bj^pvre r said the young manr^indIng back the nugget. " Should like to bita ftgbit off for a pin. This is Edge HLLU. (Sod-night and good luck." „ . He winked ligntly'at Septimus Merriton) as he passed towards the door.- It was a, wink easy of .interpretation— "A simple sorb of chap that, to flutter his gold aboub before strangers!" The train moved oh again. . . . " Were you on the Oceanic?" asked. Sep« timus. " I was, sir j and, barring the Banksj. we made good time, I. reckon." .. ■■:: "Yes.- I was on board, too,ri.Er— l didn't notice you." . - -v " I came steerage, sir. Had enough, wast* over half-dollar drinks and cigars but in, Dawsoh City. A treat to be on thd oheap again." • "Quite so. For my part, I'd as soon travel third-class as first in England. But don't you think it rather risky talking to strangers about your gold, if it really ia gold in that bag?" / Septimus hoped he looked properly be« nevolent. ■ The man in the corner seemed surprised. "Risk! Here, in the Old Country? No, no, I reckon I'll get anchored safe enough. Like to see some of it?" '.',.. This with a movement towards the Dag, "I think I should," said Septimus,. with many thoughts bustling about his mind. The man spread "a newspaper pfi the seat, untied the bag, and emptied. nuggets by the hundred, big and little, upon *u« paper. He raked his fingers among them, with the enthusiasm of a miser. "A two years' picking!" he murmured. "And it's nothing to what I'll do ; when I get back. I've three gold claimsr and more staked out. When do we stoji Btttg Mister?" . ■•'..■: . • " Er— Crewe," replied Septimus; "Long way?" " About an hour, I . fancy," The man turned from his gold with 4 grin. •• "Pity you're not a bank," he said, "for, between you and me and the bearskins, I' 7« had about enough of the job of lugging the stuff about. I'd parfc with some of it anyway at three pounds an ounce." . " You would?" 'exclaimed Septimus, drawing a deep breath. . , .<, "Well, say three pound five. I don't know what gold fetches in. this, country^. Commissions and fees suck up the profit." Septimus scratched his cheek and looked at the man shrewdly. " "If I were sure you meant it, and .you had .scales,. you know," he murmured-; buti the words were 110 sooner spoken than th« scales were produced. -" ' . .-■ "Like to : see the NewiYork assay paper as well?" „ . ." ..' . • . • '. This also was exhibited to Septimus,, who understood it sufficiently to .see that it certified to the value of a nugget, the size of the one first shown in the car. This .. compared as. nicely as possible with the. sub" stance of the contents of the bag. # "Do you know," murmured Septimus, with, what he .trusted might be .taken, for just a natural amount of anxiety,, "if you re serious, I wouldn't mind taking a thousand nounas', worth .of the stuff." *. (t _. - <v Got. it about you, sir?" .;....i "It's a funny thing, but I do sliiappen to have. Realised a lot of stocks to-day and took the proceeds in new notes. Was thinking of a fre3h investment when I got to the station." . v. The Klondyke man burst out laughing. "Why, what's the matter?" . ,; asked Septimus, with a frown, toat did not by any means betray all its meaning, "I can't help it, blamed if I can H;' was the replyf f'To take a fellow's Word for gospel like this! It's too good, blow me if it ainffc! You're not an expert, and how can you tellhow the stuff will «pair out? For a moment or two, Septimus Merriton felt inclined to knock the man down. .Then he composed himself. •. > n« " It's just as well we're two honest men! • he said quietly.. "Have a. cigar?" "Thanks, I don't mind if; l do." ... ! Both men sat back vn& smoked. ..The gold lay exposed as before on the newspaper. : ''"xi

!U "I've had my fill of gold-mining£|«ia