Fairly Duped.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 60

Fairly Duped.

Written for the C)uldrt*n'B Pag?.

(BY COUSIN CARLE.)

*T say, partis, what yer going ter do?' asked Iron Mick.

"D<>? Why. we wants money, so well soon find cue something ter do.” replied little Ned.

The secue is in an Australian bush, and a Land of robbers have assembled for their weekly meeting, which meant, they were to discuss some nefarious scheme whereby they could get money. The wind as it howled around the hut thev were in did not seem to disturb thm as they sat >n front of a burning fuel. It was in the heart of the bush, and a solitary traveller wended Iris way towards the hut, heeding not the ghost-like appearance of the trees er the wav the wind blew. The tall trees betiding and shaking with the win.;, aud the solitariness of the place, did not arouse him, but there was one t'ling evident, as aforesaid, that he was making his way to the hut, the only one for miles around. Presently some one in the hut heard his footsteps, and was just going to the door to see who it was. when the stranger eame up and walked in. "Well, stranger,” said one. “what yer doing out this time a night? Y'er should be home under the skins.” "Wen,” returned the stranger. "I don't think so. I hope I am wvleome.” “Ob, yes,” answered Iron Mick. ‘ but if yer wants out patronage yer will have ter work.” "The very thing I want to do, as 1 am a bit down in my luck.” he answered. “Oh! are yer.” pat in Little Ned. "but yer are a swell, and if yer wants ter stop yer better give us them vatuibles yer got on.” "Them valuables” referred to by Mick were the stranger's watch, tie pin. stu's, “Oh! very well.” answereil the stranger. whose rente was Fabriau Xlesket. “I don’t mind.” “Well, that's good fcr yer. > r yer would a have this a being in use fer yer.'’ said AXiek, showing him a pistol. “Now, what are you going to do with met” asked Fabrian. “Do yer think we wants ter mince y-rt” asked one. "No, pawl,” said Mick, “the captain is taking a job on at the bank next week; will yer help him ? ' “I don't take to the kind of jobs you mean,” he answered, "so I will go. if you will be kind enough to give me my jewellery baek.” “We don’t do that, pard.” they all langhed. “Well, then. I will go without them,” he answered, stepping towards the doer. "Stop.” shouted the captain: but as he did not lie tired a pistol. It missed Fabrian, but had the desired effect. Coming beck, he said; "What are yon to do, you galoots? I can give you nothing else, and I am sure if yon heard my story you would let me go.”

“Wtll. then, tell is* your storjthey said in chorus, “and we might l;e able to help yer.”

‘'Thank yon for those words,” he answered, then continued: “Well, there was a girl in Sydney. Lerna Peyton by name, and I asked her to be my wife. She would have consented, but her father said I must prove myself worthy, and to do that 1 must get £SOO cash, and when I

got that he would consent. Oh! boys, you don’t understand, but I love Lorna Peyton.” ‘■Love, eh,” they all laughed: “win ever heard of love? Ha! ha! ba!” Any how, the captain, who was taking in Fabrian’s story, said: "Well, you help me and I will help you.” "Right you are,” said Fabrian: “from this I am your mate.” PART H. A week has passed, and towards the hank one night at twelve o’clock two men, who need not be mentioned, carefully made their way. The building reached, they went to the back, and were trying one of the windows when a solitary policeman cautiously crept up behind them. He had followed them unnoticed for a little distance. Before he could do anything Fabrian was on his back and handcuffed. The policeman then signalled for help by blowing his whistle, as it took him all his time to hold Fabrian down. The captain was just making for the policeman when two more came up, so seeing it was useless to stop he made off as quickly as he could. Next morning Fabrian was tried by a Justice of the Peace and convicted, and -entenced to five years’ hard labour for being in company with Archibald Davis and trying to enter the bank, for the policeman had recognised the captain as tne noted Archibald Davis. "Umph!" said Davis, when he read the paper. ”1 got him into this bother, so I will have to get him out of it, and. by jove. I will.” PART HI. Glancing down the paper his eye mught the word "Wanted.” It was that the gaol wanted another warder. "By jove,” he said, "I must see if I can’t get that place. "Fancy, the very gaol the kid’s in.” Going to his hotel, he went to his room, and in a quarter of an hour he had disguised himself so thoroughly that he could not help murmuring when he looked in the looking glass: "Ain’t I good at this kind of work?” He then took some papers from his bag which he called testimonials, and went straight to the superintendent of the gaol. After a bit of talking and a I.st'e fuss, anyhow, he was appointed to the position of warder in the gaol. It was a strange thing, but he was warder to Fabrian’s cell. Four weeks have passed, and Archibald, aftei getting his little plot ready, thinks it about time to strike the nail >o, oue day he goes to the superintendent and said: "ion knew, sir, No. 24 is bv the river side.” "Yes,” he answered. "Well, I heard the swish of oars, so I went in and found No. 24 reading this; so t- ok it off him.” “We are getting together to-night to think of a way of rescuing you; don’t 'ose heart.—A.D.” was what the captain read. "That is Archibald Davis,” said the superintendent. "Well, I know where he holds his meetings, but have never been able to find out when he holds them. Ah! by heavens, what’s this? ’The meeting will be at Isaac Sparks’.’ This is on the

back of the note,” said the superintendent; “the very place I was not going to. I will be there to-night, too.” That night the captain was left in charge of the gaol while the superinten dent and five other warders went to Isaac Sparks’. He was delighted with this, for there were only four warders besides himself left behind. He went to Fabrian and told him about his plot, and told him to follow him. They had reached the foot of the stairs of the gaol outside. They were just making for the gate when one of the other warders came

running after them and caught hold of Fabrian. and said: “No. you don’t escape, my boy. but Archibald soon quieted him hy gagging him. and telling him that if he did not go peacefully with them he would put a bullet through him. When the superintendent came back he was mad with rage, but when by the next mornings post he received a note saving that a ransom of £750 was wanted for the warder, he was frantic. Anyhow, he had to comply, and within another forty eight hours Archibald had the monev. “My boy,” said the captain. “you came

this way looking for £SOO. and throng! my fault got put in prison. Now. I hav. rescued you and got the £SOO for vol also.” Then, turning to the captive war der. he said: "I have got a ransom o £750 for you. so I will get my men t< blindfold you. and lead you out of thi bush.” Three months later Fabrian Heske married Lorna Peyton, and he always n members with gladness in his heart th qui-kness of thought and the goodrn - of heart of Archibald Davis. End.