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The Secret of the Sandhills:
Arthur Gask:
eBook No.: 1203331h.html
Language: English
Date first 地位，任命するd: Aug 2012
Most 最近の update: Feb 2021

This eBook was produced by: Maurie Mulcahy, Colin Choat and Roy Glashan

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The Secret of the Sandhills

by

Arthur Gask

First 調書をとる／予約する 版: Herbert Jenkins Ltd., London, 1923

Published as "殺人 in the Night" by Austin Macauley, New York & London, 1934

Published serially in several Australian newspapers

This e-調書をとる／予約する 版: 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia, 2021

"The Secret of the Sandhills," Herbert Jenkins Ltd., London, 1923

"The Secret of the Sandhills," Herbert Jenkins Ltd., London, 1923, 肩書を与える Page

THE STORY

IN shabby 着せる／賦与するs and frayed collar, John Stratton stood watching the life and bustle outside the 地位，任命する office, conscious that his position was desperate. A grey 自動車, a pretty girl, and a dropped pocket-調書をとる／予約する 一時的に send up his 在庫／株.

Then comes the 殺人 on Henley beach, the police and—danger. John Stratton has to 自白する that he is in rather a tight corner; but there are always the blue 注目する，もくろむs of the girl in the grey car.

As 長，指導者 視察官 Edis 発言／述べるd once "John, you're a smart fellow 権利 enough," and it was Stratton's quickness of brain that enabled him to 避ける the 逮捕する that at one time seemed likely to ensnare him.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. — THE TURNING OF THE TIDE

THERE was no 疑問 about my luck 存在 out that 有望な summer morning, as I stood, shabby and 負かす／撃墜する-at-heel, outside the General 地位，任命する Office in Adelaide.

My collar was frayed away at the 辛勝する／優位s, my poor old blue 控訴 was 井戸／弁護士席 worn and shabby, my hat was stained all over, with the 禁止（する）d gone, and the burst in one of my boots 示すd me 負かす／撃墜する 明確に as a man who was not by any means in 豊富な circumstances. Everything about me told of 存在 負かす／撃墜する and out.

Yet いっそう少なく than two months ago I had got into the train at Broken Hill with a comfortable 厚い wad of 公式文書，認めるs in my pocket, the result of over a year's hard work 'out 支援する' as a 境界 rider. But a too-confiding 信用 in my fellow 乗客s, and a too-深い slumber as the ever-stopping train had ambled on, had been my undoing, and I had awakened at Peterborough in the 薄暗い hours of the morning to an empty carriage, and, worse still, to an empty, ライフル銃／探して盗むd pocket.

But it served me 権利. I, who had been over half the world before I was twenty-seven, and who had fought for over three years in フラン の中で one of the toughest （人が）群がるs on earth; to be taken in and bamboozled by two innocent-looking old fellows who had led me to believe they were just honest farm 手渡すs going 負かす／撃墜する to see their 親族s in Adelaide.

Yes, I can tell you that that Saturday morning, as I stood kicking up my heels in King William Street, I was feeling pretty despondent and pretty sick with myself.

I had been doing 半端物 職業s about the city, without, however, much success, and at that particular moment my entire 所有／入手 in the world in the way of money was a one shilling piece that I was reserving for my evening meal.

I was やめる alone in the world, with no parents living and no relations 近づく to help me and no particular friends in the city upon whom I could call. It was true I had one cousin in Australia, who was という評判の to be a 豊富な man. He had a sheep 駅／配置する about thirty miles from Pimba, but I had quarrelled with him years before, and was much too proud to let him know now that I was in a bad way.

Weeks ago I had written to an old friend of my father in Melbourne, but no reply had come 支援する, and finally I had given up even calling for any letters. I had got too ashamed of going up day after day to 直面する the amused grins of the attendants at the 配達／演説／出産 反対する. It always seemed to me to afford them much amusement when I appeared to receive the same invariable reply, "No, nothing to-day." I guessed they knew how things were with me.

I stood watching the life and bustle about the 地位，任命する office, wondering in a careless sort of way what was going to happen next.

A 罰金 big grey モーター drew up to the pavement and in it I saw were a man and a very pretty girl. I thought I had never seen such a pretty girl.

She was, I guessed, about twenty, of medium 高さ, fair, with delicious blue 注目する，もくろむs and with a beautifully わずかな／ほっそりした but 井戸／弁護士席-一連の会議、交渉／完成するd 人物／姿／数字. The man with her was undoubtedly her father. He was tall and soldierly looking, and his handsome 直面する was 燃やすd to a 深い bronze. He seemed oddly familiar to me. One who had done his bit too, I thought, as I watched him. There is no mistaking a man who has held responsible positions on active service.

He got out of the car, and nodding to the girl, went up the steps and disappeared into the 地位，任命する office.

I watched the girl with an unusual 生き返らせる of my heart. She looked so deliciously 甘い and dainty sitting there, やめる unconscious of the 賞賛 she was evoking. She was interestedly watching the （人が）群がる that is always to be 設立する in King William Street about 中央の-day. Suddenly her gaze turned in my direction, and at once her 注目する，もくろむs were held by 地雷.

It would be stupid for me to pretend I am a bad 見本／標本 of an Australian. I am tall and 井戸／弁護士席 始める，決める up and have always carried my 長，率いる proudly, as becoming one who has held a （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限. Besides, a man who has smiled with death as I have for nearly four long years must surely always carry something of courage and strength about him for the 残り／休憩（する） of his life.

井戸／弁護士席, she looked at me and I looked at her. She was a picture of 高級な and prettiness, and I—井戸／弁護士席, everything about me spoke of hardship and rough times. There could not have been a greater contrast, and yet the man in me called to the woman in her, and for a moment she answered me. Then she turned her 注目する，もくろむs quickly away, but a second later looked hesitatingly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する again and gave me just the ghost of a very 甘い smile.

I felt myself get hot with shame, for I was suddenly conscious of my shabby 控訴 and my woe-begone hat, and the 広大な／多数の／重要な burst in the toe of my 権利 boot.

I turned quickly away from the car and banged straight into her father's 武器 as he was coming 負かす／撃墜する the 地位，任命する office steps. To my 陳謝s he gave a genial smile.

"All 権利, my boy, there are no 死傷者s this time," and with a wave of his arm he turned に向かって the car.

I watched him give some directions to the chauffeur, and then, after a little difficulty in 開始 the door, seat himself 支援する in the car beside what I already considered the loveliest girl in all the world.

The car turned smartly away from the pavement and made off in the direction of South Terrace.

Then I noticed suddenly that there was a pocket-調書をとる／予約する lying in the gutter, just under where the door of the car had been.

The girl's father, I realised 即時に, must have dropped it when fumbling with the door. I ran and 選ぶd it up and looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for the car. To my satisfaction there was a 封鎖する at the cross-roads and a policeman was 持つ／拘留するing up the traffic. I ran quickly up, and threading my way between the waiting 乗り物s, reached the 味方する of the car. I raised my hat and held up the pocket-調書をとる／予約する.

"I think this must be yours. It was lying in the road when your car pulled away."

The man looked at me, wondering for a second, and then clapped his 手渡す to his breast pocket.

"Good lad," he said, smiling, "and a very honest one too," and then, before I knew what he was doing, he pulled a banknote out of the 事例／患者 and thrust it into my 手渡す.

"Go and do yourself 井戸／弁護士席; you've deserved it."

I forgot my shabby 着せる／賦与するs and was indignant at once.

"No, thank you," I said hurriedly, "I don't want anything for bringing it."

"Nonsense, sir; take it. It's a 楽しみ to give it you. You might have made a very good 運ぶ／漁獲高." Then, shrugging his shoulders, "井戸／弁護士席, if you're too proud to keep it, go and 支援する a horse with it. I'm sure it will soon leave you that way."

Then the girl chimed in, and I thought her 発言する／表明する was like the tinkle of a silver bell.

"No, father, don't be so discouraging. I'm sure he'll 支援する a 勝利者. No, no, keep it," she pleaded, looking me 十分な in the 直面する; "I'm sure it will bring you good luck. Good-bye;" and before I could collect my wits that had all gone when she spoke to me, the car had moved 速く off and I was left standing still with a ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める in my 手渡す.

For a few moments I was very angry with myself. I, who had held a （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 in フラン, to be tipped in the public street for 選ぶing up a pocket-調書をとる／予約する! Then my commonsense （機の）カム 支援する, and I thought grimly I was really a very lucky man. The ten 続けざまに猛撃するs would, at any 率, be a happy 一時的休止，執行延期 for me, and I could buy several things that I was undoubtedly needing very much. Quick always to 答える／応じる to good fortune, I began to feel やめる elated.

She had said it would bring good luck to me, and I felt sure it would.

I looked furtively at the ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める and, remembering my shabby 条件, thought it would be best to get it changed where no 発言／述べるs were likely to be made. So I went up into the 地位，任命する office and bought a 選び出す／独身 postcard.

Then an idea struck me. I thought I would make use of my postcard 権利 away and send it to myself, so that at least for once there should be something waiting for me, if, indeed, I troubled to call for any letters again. Sitting 負かす／撃墜する at one of the public （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs, I 演説（する）／住所d the card to "John Stratton, Esq., 地位，任命する Restante, G.P.O., Adelaide," and I congratulated myself upon the piece of good fortune that had befallen me. I felt sure the attendants would read it.

I told myself to buck up, for my 星／主役にする was 向こうずねing all 権利 now, and I had only to go boldly ahead and there would be no more looking 支援する.

I 調印するd the card 'Mary,' because Mary was my favourite 指名する, and I thought too I had heard the man say 'Mary' to the girl as he had got out of the car.

I dropped the card in the box, little dreaming that that simple and 明らかに foolish waste of a 地位，任命する-card was to alter the whole course of my life, and bring the girl I was dreaming about to my 武器 as my affianced wife within いっそう少なく than eighteen months from that day. Yet so it did.

As I went out of the 地位，任命する office the clock chimed one, and I remembered with 失望 that my new riches would not be of much use to me in smartening myself up for that day at all events. It was a Saturday, and all the shops, I knew, の近くにd at one.

I went 支援する to the cheap 宿泊するing house in Hindley Street, where I had been living, had a good meal, and taking heart from my brighter circumstances, did the best I could to make myself more respectable-looking.

I 小衝突d everything carefully, and 後継するd in buying a fresh tie and collar from another inmate. Another pair of boots I could not get, but with a bradawl and some 井戸／弁護士席 黒人／ボイコットd string I made the burst いっそう少なく 目だつ, at any 率 for a time.

Then I went out into the 有望な 日光, feeling やめる a happy man. I turned unconsciously に向かって the general 地位，任命する office again, and standing in the same place where I had stood that morning, watched the bustling （人が）群がるs on their way home from work.

The trams stop just opposite the 地位，任命する office, and as they （機の）カム up one after another, I was idly 利益／興味d in their さまざまな 目的地s.

Presently one （機の）カム up 示すd 'Races,' and I remembered in a flash what my benefactor of the morning had said.

Of course, they must have been going to the races themselves, and my heart 強くたたくd as I thought that if I went there too, I should probably see them again.

I boarded the tram at once, and, 購入（する）ing a race card from one of the noisy youngsters importuning on all 味方するs, I leaned 支援する and gave myself up to a 熟考する／考慮する of the afternoon's programme.

I knew something about horses, of course, for what Australian does not, and in happier and more 繁栄する days, had enjoyed many a good time at Victoria Park.

The racecourse is a beautiful one, and every yard of racing can be seen from anywhere.

I had ーするつもりであるd, at first, to go into the cheap stand, but the girl's 直面する was haunting me, and so, indifferent to my shabby 着せる／賦与するs, I planked 負かす／撃墜する eleven and eightpence, and was soon mingling with the gay （人が）群がる on the lawn before the grandstand.

I was late in arriving, and the second race was just over. I looked everywhere for the girl and her father, but without any success, and the numbers for the third race 存在 hoisted, I thought I would turn my attention, 一時的に, at any 率, to the 商売／仕事 of the afternoon.

This race was a Juvenile 障害（者） of five furlongs, and the 火刑／賭ける money 存在 &続けざまに猛撃する;300, I guessed some pretty good animals would be in the running. There were eighteen 走者s, and the Totalisator* began to get busy at once.

* The Totalisator is the only 合法的な form of betting in South Australia. At all race 会合s during the half-hour すぐに 先行する every race, money can be 投資するd on any particular horse by the 購入（する） of tickets of values 変化させるing from half-a-栄冠を与える to five 続けざまに猛撃するs.

At the 結論 of the race all the moneys so 投資するd—支配する to a 確かな 百分率 deducted for 税金s and expenses—are divided between the 支援者s of the first and second horses in the 割合 of three-fourths to the 支援者s of the first horse and one-fourth to the 支援者s of the second. This money is 公式に known as the '（株主への）配当.'

Occasionally when it has happened very little money has been 投資するd on the winning horse, very large （株主への）配当s have from time to time been 宣言するd, but in South Australia itself, I believe &続けざまに猛撃する;184 for &続けざまに猛撃する;1 投資するd at 現在の 持つ／拘留するs the 記録，記録的な／記録する.

All the later types of Totalisators are electrically controlled, and 直接／まっすぐに a ticket is torn off the 派手に宣伝する, the 量 投資するd is instantaneously 記録，記録的な／記録するd upon the 指示する人（物） in 十分な 見解（をとる） of the public. The 指示する人（物） is a large でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる 始める，決める in the 前線 塀で囲む of the Totalisator building. Each horse running has its own particular slot in the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, and its 指名する is conspicuously printed over it. At the 最高の，を越す of the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる there is a larger slot that 示すs the total 量 投資するd on all the 走者s.

The instant any money is 投資するd on a horse—up go the 人物／姿／数字s under that particular horse's 指名する, and up go the 'total 量' 人物／姿／数字s to correspond. By these means—'the way the betting is going' can be followed 明確に from start to finish without any chance of secrecy or mistake.

Beacon Light was evidently going to be a hot favourite, for the 人物／姿／数字s above his 指名する were never 静止している, and with every click of the machine went up fives and tens.

Next to him in favour was 母国, and then followed six or seven all in a bunch. Much lower 負かす／撃墜する in the public estimation were some horses almost unbacked, and one I noticed was a filly with the pretty 指名する of Rose of 夜明け. Eleven 続けざまに猛撃するs only so far had been 投資するd in her direction, and her number on the card was seventeen.

The horses （機の）カム out of the paddock in a pretty stream of 有望な colour, and paraded before us on their way 負かす／撃墜する to the starting 地位，任命する.

As far as looks went, Beacon Light was certainly a beauty. A 罰金 upstanding colt of magnificent 割合s, every curve and every movement of his 団体／死体 spoke of 血. His shapely neck was arched proudly, and the beautiful satin polish of his coat told of the 罰金 条件 he was in.

But they were all a good-looking lot. Just at the end （機の）カム Rose of 夜明け with number seventeen on the saddle-cloth. I was charmed with her at once. Rather on the light 味方する, she was, however, a perfect little picture of a thoroughbred. She was of a light chestnut colour, with a beautifully 形態／調整d 長，率いる, and had the 罰金 large 注目する，もくろむs that in a horse are never absent from high courage. She cantered by very much on her toes, and seemed to me to be giving her (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 plenty to look after. I saw by the number board that the (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手, Ranson, was only an 見習い工, and that, no 疑問, accounted for the filly's low position in the public favour.

The horses having all gone on their way to the 地位，任命する, I turned 支援する to see how the betting was going on.

It was evidently going to be a good betting race, for when I reached the 雷 totalisator again, I saw that &続けざまに猛撃する;2,800 半端物 had already been 投資するd. Beacon Light was 責任がある nearly a thousand, but 母国 was 追い出すd by Clever Joe with five hundred and fifty to his credit. Rose of 夜明け was still 存在 neglected, and &続けざまに猛撃する;38 was all that had been 投資するd upon her.

I hesitated whether I should have a 続けざまに猛撃する on her myself. Mysteriously, she reminded me of the girl in the car. Both were so dainty to look at, and both so 十分な of the joy and movement of life. I stood hesitating, fumbling the 公式文書，認めるs in my pocket.

Then I heard a 発言する／表明する の近くに behind me, and my heart 強くたたくd in my chest. I moved 今後 a few yards before half turning 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.

Yes, there she was, and strange omen, she was wearing a big pink rose on her breast.

She was standing with two immaculately dressed men, and one I recognised as Percy Thornton, the 井戸／弁護士席-known and popular owner of Beacon Light.

He was smiling confidently, and pointing to the totalisator 記録，記録的な／記録する. Evidently he was proud of the favouritism of his colt.

How beautiful the girl looked, I thought. So animated and so 利益／興味d in the busy scene before her.

I 辛勝する／優位d 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （人が）群がる, and, pulling my hat 負かす／撃墜する over my 注目する，もくろむs, took up a position やめる の近くに behind her. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to hear her speak again.

"井戸／弁護士席, you see, 行方不明になる 先頭," Percy Thornton was 説, "it looks pretty healthy for Beacon Light, doesn't it? I do hope it will pan out all 権利, for the （人が）群がる will have a very decent 勝利，勝つ, although I am afraid the （株主への）配当 will be a small one—not much more than six to four at the outside."

"井戸／弁護士席, for their sake, Mr. Thornton," the girl replied, "I'll hope it will 勝利，勝つ; but who owns the filly with the pretty 指名する of Rose of 夜明け?"

"Oh," interrupted the other man, "I know all about Rose of 夜明け, 行方不明になる 先頭. She belongs to a very small man, in the racing way, at any 率—an Adelaide doctor. He only owns this one horse, and she is trained in a very unlucky stable. Rose of 夜明け has run several times, but so far, has never shown any 約束 at all. But she's a 井戸／弁護士席-bred one, I can 保証する you, and on her mother's 味方する, the 血 of the 広大な／多数の／重要な Carbine runs in her veins."

"井戸／弁護士席," replied the girl, "my father always 主張するs that 血 tells in the end, sooner or later. Her day will come some day, and who knows it may not be to-day? But come, I want to get 支援する to the stand. I'm sure at any 率, this is going to be a pretty race," and they moved off through the （人が）群がる.

"先頭," I ejaculated to myself, "so that is her 指名する is it? Then, of course, her father is General Sir Henry 先頭."

No wonder I thought his 直面する familiar. One of the 広大な／多数の／重要な heroes of the Mons 退却／保養地, his 罰金 features had looked out often from the pages of the illustrated magazines, and besides, I had seen him myself several times in フラン.

I hesitated no longer about Rose of 夜明け, but going quickly to one of the windows, took two one-続けざまに猛撃する tickets of number seventeen. Then I climbed to the 最高の，を越す of the grandstand, and was lucky to get a seat in the corner.

My 隣人 was a friendly old man, who started off talking at once.

"My word, sir," he said, mopping his 直面する, "it was a good pull up here, but it's 価値（がある） it. What a （人が）群がる, and what a lovely day! So （疑いを）晴らす too. A few years ago and I could have 選ぶd out every colour here without the glasses, but now my poor old 注目する，もくろむs are very bad, and these glasses even are no good to me, although, by habit, I still always carry them. Tell me," and he 手渡すd up a pair of very old-fashioned race glasses, "can you 選ぶ out green and gold over there? It's Bull Dog's colour, and I've got a 少しの bit on him."

I took the glasses, and was able to 保証する him that green and gold was 井戸／弁護士席-drawn in the middle, and behaving like a sheep at the gate. Then, at his suggestion, I 保持するd the glasses and kept him 知らせるd from time to time as to what was going on.

Rose of 夜明け—lilac and 黒人／ボイコット sash—I noticed with satisfaction, had quietened 負かす／撃墜する, and the boy on her seemed to have her 井戸／弁護士席 in 手渡す.

For a long while the starter was busy, and then a 広大な／多数の／重要な shout went up, "They're off!"

On the whole, it was a good start, but to my 苦しめる, I saw that poor Rose of 夜明け had been 不正に left at the 地位，任命する. To me, it seemed she had lost やめる three or four lengths; at any 率, the lilac and 黒人／ボイコット lay 権利 支援する by itself, 井戸／弁護士席 behind all the others.

I 緩和するd my feelings with the customary short word, and put 負かす／撃墜する the glasses in disgust.

"All up with the Rose," sneered a fat, red-直面するd man in the 列／漕ぐ／騒動 just in 前線 of me, "they せねばならない have called her Rose of Dusk instead of Rose of 夜明け."

I could have 攻撃する，衝突する the fellow. I felt myself, too, that it was all up with the filly, but in the last few minutes I had so come to associate her with the girl in the car that it was sacrilege to me for anyone to make the animal a 支配する of coarse wit.

"持つ／拘留する hard, my friend," I said 怒って （電話線からの）盗聴 him 概略で on the shoulder; "don't just be so ready with your opinions, for you may yet have the shock of your life."

The man looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in open-mouthed astonishment, as he 井戸／弁護士席 might, at 存在 so 無作法に 演説（する）／住所d by a perfect stranger, but he was too 利益／興味d in the race to say anything much, and contented himself with just scowling at me before returning to his glasses.

"How's Bull Dog going?" asked the old man at my 味方する, anxiously, after a few seconds.

I put up the glasses again to 満足させる him and 冷静な／正味の my 怒り／怒る 負かす／撃墜する at the same time, but he had to repeat his question three times before I told him quickly that Bull Dog was not in the first three.

Something had happened of far more 利益／興味 to me than the wretched Bull Dog's 進歩 in the race.

When I had put up the glasses again I could not at first find Rose of 夜明け anywhere.

There were five or six horses then behind all the others, with a goodish bit of interval between them and the next （製品，工事材料の）一回分. The lilac and 黒人／ボイコット sash was, however, nowhere の中で them, and I was thinking she must have been pulled up altogether, when, to my amazement, I suddenly spotted her 井戸／弁護士席 up with the middle bunch of horses, but 権利 （疑いを）晴らす of them all on the outside. Her (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手, I realised, must have 軍隊d her to a tremendous spurt to have made up so much ground so quickly. I knew it was a very risky thing to do, but she was 明らかに now running easily with that beautiful even 動議 of the perfectly-trained thoroughbred.

As I watched with a thrill of exultation, I saw her 徐々に draw away に向かって the 側面に位置するs of the leaders. They （機の）カム 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the bend into the straight, and the usual 嵐／襲撃する of shouting went up.

母国 was just 主要な, but he had Beacon Light in の近くに 出席, and I noticed the 割れ目 was running without 成果／努力. A couple of lengths behind （機の）カム Clever Joe, Seaboy, and the Dame, and then の近くに behind them, with her beautiful 長，率いる just level with their 側面に位置するs, （機の）カム Rose of 夜明け.

Her young (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 was riding her like an artist, as 冷静な／正味の and collected as you could wish, just giving her her 長，率いる and letting her choose her own pace. And the pace was terrific.

Two hundred yards from home the 主要な horse dropped suddenly out of the picture, but Seaboy and the Dame had の近くにd 速く with the favourite, with Rose of 夜明け now a good fourth. Beacon Light, however, had evidently a bit in 手渡す, for his (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 was smiling confidently, and made no 試みる／企てる to use his whip.

"The favourite 勝利，勝つs! The favourite 勝利，勝つs! Beacon Light walks home," yelled the （人が）群がる. "No, no, it's Clever Joe," for Clever Joe had at last got his 長，率いる to the favourite's neck. And all the while I saw Rose of 夜明け の近くにing in on them with a long, deadly swing, coming nearer and nearer, with the white-直面するd boy upon her crouching low 負かす／撃墜する on her neck.

Then suddenly a woman 近づく me shrieked, "Oh, look at the lilac one; look at the lilac and 黒人／ボイコット!" And 井戸／弁護士席 they might look. A few seconds before, the three first horses had all been bunched の近くに together 井戸／弁護士席 ahead of Rose of 夜明け, but the filly had now suddenly flashed level with them, like a 落ちるing 星／主役にする.

The (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 on Beacon Light saw the danger at once, and struck his whip はっきりと. The favourite shook off Seaboy and Clever Joe without 成果／努力, but Rose of 夜明け still went 今後 with him. 負かす／撃墜する （機の）カム the whip again, but Rose of 夜明け was still there.

They were now not more than ten yards from home, and beautiful colt and beautiful filly were locked by themselves in a mighty death struggle.

The 血 of 世代s of 広大な／多数の／重要な ancestors called to them in their veins, and neither flinched under the punishing 緊張する. Stride for stride, 長，率いる and 長，率いる together, nearer and nearer they （機の）カム. The excitement was 激しい. In a mighty roar from the （人が）群がる they passed the 裁判官's box, and a 広大な／多数の／重要な shout went up, "Dead heat, dead heat!" But no.

Almost to the last stride, the boy on the filly, with consummate judgment, had withheld his whip, and then, 権利 on the winning 地位，任命する, he had struck her はっきりと on the 側面に位置する, and she had 答える／応じるd to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the favourite by a short 長，率いる.

Up went number seventeen in the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, and I drew a 深い breath of 救済. But I felt really sorry, too.

That I should be a good 勝利者 by the success of Rose of 夜明け I 井戸／弁護士席 knew, but all thought of sordid loss or 伸び（る） had, for the moment, been 完全に swept away by the glory of the 広大な／多数の／重要な struggle I had just 証言，証人／目撃するd. Nothing could have been finer, and as I say, I was almost sorry it had not been given a dead heat.

Nearly everyone left the stand and went 負かす／撃墜する to see the horses come in, but I felt やめる sick with excitement, and remained in my seat until I saw the （株主への）配当 had gone up.

Sixty-one 続けざまに猛撃するs ten shillings was the （株主への）配当 宣言するd for each 続けざまに猛撃する, and with my two 続けざまに猛撃するs, I was する権利を与えるd to a hundred and twenty-three.

As can be imagined, the 支払う／賃金ing out windows were not very thronged with （人が）群がるs waiting to draw their （株主への）配当s, as when a favourite 勝利，勝つs, but, as often happens when a long-定価つきの-勝利者 comes home, a little knot of curious people had gathered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to see what sort of individuals they were who were going to draw the money.

One man only was waiting to be paid when I arrived at the window, but as there was some mistake in the number of 公式文書，認めるs he had been 手渡すd, I was kept waiting a little time.

I was very excited with the thought of having won so much money, but made my 直面する as impassive-looking as possible, and ちらりと見ることd idly at the people standing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.

One man in particular I noticed, perhaps because he was taking good 在庫／株 of me. He looked me up and 負かす／撃墜する two or three times, and my shabby hat and burst boot in particular, appeared to 利益／興味 him. He himself was やめる an ordinary, commonplace-looking man, dark, and with rather 深い-始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs. He was 井戸／弁護士席 dressed in a neat blue 控訴. He was standing の近くに to a much shorter man, and they were evidently friends, because I saw him scribble something on the race card he was 持つ／拘留するing in his 手渡す and 手渡す it across.

During all my life I have often noticed, in moments of 抑えるd excitement, what absurd and trivial things are apt to impress themselves upon one's mind. Here was a 事例／患者 in point. I wasn't a bit 利益／興味d in this man. Yet I subconsciously noticed everything about him, and as he raised his arm to 取って代わる the cigarette in his mouth, I even noticed that the 権利 sleeve of his coat had a neat but still 目だつ patch in it just 権利 近づく the end, as if it had recently been burnt.

Also, I noticed he was wearing his wrist watch on his 権利 wrist, and that his companion had the disagreeable habit of spitting whilst he smoked.

I drew my hundred and twenty-three 続けざまに猛撃するs all 権利, and 押し進めるing the 公式文書，認めるs 井戸／弁護士席 負かす／撃墜する in my breast pocket, buttoned up my coat tightly, and mingled again with the （人が）群がる.

There was no 調印する of the girl anywhere, and I watched the next two races without making any 投資.

It was a good thing for me, too, because they were both won by animals I had never heard of and I should have had nothing to guide me in my choice. The last race of the day was a mile Welter and as no favourite had so far won a race that afternoon, I 決定するd to give my 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるing good fortune another run and have a good 火刑／賭ける on the best-favoured horse in the betting. Nothing ever 支払う／賃金s better than to follow up one's luck when it is in a winning vein.

It was again a good betting race, with fourteen 走者s, and three horses were 存在 almost 平等に favoured.

Indeed, I had to wait almost to the last moment to know which was going to be the favourite, and then I took ten five-続けざまに猛撃する tickets almost just before the 'off' was shouted.

The favourite won easily, and returned a （株主への）配当 of &続けざまに猛撃する;3 15s., bringing me the nice 利益（をあげる） of &続けざまに猛撃する;137 on the race.

I had won two hundred and sixty 続けざまに猛撃するs on the afternoon, but as I walked off the course, with my shabby 着せる／賦与するs and the burst in my boot looking more horrible and more 目だつ than ever, I 疑問d if anyone would have dreamed from my 外見 that I had even a 独房監禁 続けざまに猛撃する in my 所有／入手.

CHAPTER II. — BETWEEN HENLEY AND GLENELG

I WENT 支援する to the 宿泊するing house to get my tea, and as I sat on the 明らかにする form at the 明らかにする （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, along with the other out-at-肘 chaps who were たびたび（訪れる）ing the place, I chuckled 概して to myself to think how amazed they would have been if they had only known how much money I had under my dirty coat. How their 注目する，もくろむs would have opened in amazement if I had pulled out the 公式文書，認めるs before them. Handfuls and handfuls of fivers, and not a few tens 同様に. I am sure every man jack of them would have been 用意が出来ている to take his dying 誓い that I had stolen them. If anyone there ever became suddenly 所有するd of money, even in the small way of a 続けざまに猛撃する or two, it was always surmised at once that it had been acquired dishonestly.

We were certainly a queer lot there, and most of us were known by 指名するs never given to us by our parents in baptism.

I was 略奪する Turner, and I was supposed to have あられ／賞賛するd from Brisbane. We were all very reticent about our 事件／事情／状勢s. Folks without a shilling upon them, I have 設立する, are always やめる as distrustful of one another as rich men with big balances at their banks.

But we were not a glum lot all the same, and joked and laughed together いつかs as if we hadn't a care in the world. One man in particular was always merry—old Nat Saunders, who made a scanty living by selling papers or carrying 捕らえる、獲得するs for folks arriving at the 鉄道 駅／配置する.

He was a rare old gossip, and somehow always seemed to gather all the news of the under-world of the city. It was やめる uncanny いつかs how he would regale us 夜通し with bits of news that would next morning appear in the newspapers.

That evening he was very excited.

Something was doing in Adelaide, he said; something was going on. He had recognised Arnold Kitson, the famous Melbourne 探偵，刑事, that morning coming out of the 駅／配置する carrying a 捕らえる、獲得する and a rug, and he followed him up to the police （警察，軍隊などの）本部, and from the way the man on 義務 at the door received him, he was やめる sure the visit was not 予期しない; and so on, and so on.

He wondered if it had anything to do with the 開始する Gambier 殺人s, and of course that 始める，決める them all talking. The 開始する Gambier mystery was then about a fortnight old. A man and his wife, on a small 辺ぴな farm, had been 残酷に 殺人d and the two 暗殺者s, after ransacking the house, had got （疑いを）晴らす away. It had been at first thought there was no chance at all of 跡をつけるing them 負かす／撃墜する, but a week after the 殺人 a little girl had come 今後 with important （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）. She had been going to the house the day the poor 犠牲者s were killed, but 審理，公聴会 dreadful shrieks as she got 近づく the door, she had hidden in the woodstack, and subsequently had seen the two 殺害者s ride away. She had given the best description of the men she could, and all Australia was now on their 跡をつける.

But Australia is a wide place, and the 跡をつける was no longer fresh; so very little hope was entertained now of catching the men. Everyone was, of course, 非難するing the police.

I slipped out 静かに when I had finished my tea. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get away somewhere by myself and think. The money I had so fortunately acquired would give me another chance in life, and I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 地図／計画する out my 計画（する）s.

I took the train to Glenelg, meaning to walk from there along the sands the five miles to Henley. It was still pretty warm when I arrived on the sands about half-past six, and there were lots of people about. But a couple of miles away I was, as I 推定する／予想するd, やめる by myself.

It is always a lonely walk from Glenelg to Henley along the foot of the sandhills, and one 一般に has only the seagulls for company the middle part of the way.

I lay 負かす／撃墜する between two sandhills and gave myself up to my thoughts.

Here was I, やめる a 失敗 in life at twenty-six, and I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to understand to myself why.

I was an only son. My mother had died many years before; indeed, I hardly remembered her. My father had been one of the 主要な doctors in Melbourne, and two years before the war, he had sent me to England to walk the London hospitals and in 予定 time take my degree. When the war had broken out, I had joined up at once, but I had been 不正に 負傷させるd on the Somme with a fractured thigh, and had been many months in hospital. When I 再結合させるd my 連隊 I had come in for some hot times, but in いっそう少なく than a year I had risen to the 階級 of captain, and, indeed, when the Armistice was 調印するd, was on the point of going up a step higher. So I hadn't done 不正に there. Just after the war had ended my poor old dad died suddenly, and I had returned to Melbourne to settle up his 事件／事情／状勢s.

Unhappily for me there had not been much to settle up, and a 明らかにする two hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs was all that （機の）カム to me when the 広い地所 was の近くにd. I didn't know what to do with myself. It was, of course, やめる impossible for me to continue my 医療の 熟考する／考慮するs, and for a time I couldn't settle 負かす／撃墜する to anything.

I messed about Melbourne for a while, stopping at good hotels and going about, and my money soon began to dwindle 負かす／撃墜する and get beautifully いっそう少なく and いっそう少なく.

Then one day I suddenly woke to the fact that I had いっそう少なく than a ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める between myself and actual want. I pulled myself together at once, and, like every true Australian, turned to the land for succour.

I got work on a sheep 駅／配置する out Broken Hill way, and for about eighteen months stuck like a limpet to my 職業. It was lonely, hard, and monotonous, but it ふさわしい my despondent 明言する／公表する of mind for a time.

When I finally decided that I had had enough of it, the old man was very angry at my going, and did his best to 説得する me to remain, but I had 固執するd in my 解決する, and through my stupidity had 最終的に arrived at Adelaide almost penniless, as I have explained.

My meditations were interrupted by the 外見 of a man coming along the sands from the direction of Glenelg. I 推定する／予想するd he would pass by without noticing me, as he was walking about a hundred yards away の近くに to the sea. But getting level, he noticed me at once and, to my annoyance, turned in に向かって me. He walked very slowly, with his 権利 手渡す tucked away in the breast of his coat.

As he got 近づく me he called out and asked me the time. Without getting up, I told him 突然の I hadn't got a watch and didn't know, but he still （機の）カム on に向かって me very deliberately. I thought he must be deaf, and so I raised my 発言する／表明する loudly this time and told him again I had no watch.

I didn't want his company, and was in no mood to talk to anyone.

He had almost reached me, and indeed could not have been more than a couple of yards away, when a 広大な／多数の／重要な shouting （機の）カム up almost と一緒に of us, and three young fellows in bathing dresses dashed 負かす／撃墜する from behind one of the 隣接するing sandhills and raced each other laughing to the sea.

The man just in 前線 of me evidently was not deaf, for he stopped 即時に and took his 手渡す out of his coat with a 脅すd startled gesture, as if he was 推定する／予想するing someone to strike him from behind.

He seemed dazed for a moment, and stood hesitating, 星／主役にするing 支援する at the three boys running 負かす／撃墜する the sands. Then he muttered huskily something about his watch having stopped, and moved off as 突然の as he （機の）カム.

But he left me thinking hard. As he had turned away I had noticed a watch on his 権利 wrist and just above a patch on the coat sleeve.

It was the same man who had stood 近づく me in Victoria Park when I had drawn the money over Rose of 夜明け. The 悪意のある significance of it （機の）カム home to me at once. He had undoubtedly been に引き続いて me all the way from the races, and but for the 予期しない 外見 of these three lads, had meant to do me mischief.

Now I （機の）カム to think of it, the peculiar 審議する／熟考する way in which he had approached me with one 手渡す hidden in the breast of his coat, could only have meant that he was 持つ／拘留するing some 肉親，親類d of 武器 there, and for my 利益 evidently.

I wasn't a bit 脅すd and indeed once the flash of my 承認 was over, felt rather amused.

I had been in too much 手渡す-to-手渡す fighting in フラン to be afraid of any one man, and a rough-and-宙返り／暴落する 捨てる would have been just to my liking, 供給するd, of course, that the 事件／事情／状勢 had started on equal 条件.

All this flashed through my mind before the fellow had got twenty yards away, and I jumped up to go after him. Then I thought I was a fool. It might have been only a coincidence after all, and what an ass I should look if he were only a 害のない individual like myself, just after fresh 空気／公表する from the heat and 急ぐ of the city.

I dropped 負かす／撃墜する again on the sands, meaning to forget the interruption and go on with my meditation. But somehow I couldn't shake off the idea that the fellow had meant mischief. At any 率, I wouldn't take any more 危険s, I thought.

I had a little revolver in my hip pocket, and I took it out. It was やめる a toy 事件／事情／状勢—a little .22 Yankee one. It was no good for any 正確な 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing, except at point blank 範囲, and then it was as deadly as any revolver of much larger calibre, as I had fortunately 設立する once when 取引，協定ing with a savage dog up country.

It had no value, or I should have sold it long ago. I carried it, always wrapped up in a little bit of linen, along with about a dozen of its little cartridges in a 捨てる of oiled paper. I 負担d it in its seven 議会s, and slipped it loosely into my jacket pocket.

I lay watching the boys enjoying themselves in the water for about a ４半期/4分の1 of an hour, and then moved off again on my way に向かって Henley.

There was no 調印する anywhere of the man who had 乱すd me, unless it was a little 人物／姿／数字 now hardly discernible in the distance.

It was a lovely evening, and when I was いっそう少なく than a couple of miles off Henley, I thought I would have another 残り／休憩（する） and watch the sunset over the sea.

I lay at the foot of the sandhills and idly drew in the 平和的な beauty of the scene. It was warm and still under the dying sun, and my thoughts went irresistibly to the girl in the car. I wondered if I should ever see her again. My whole life seemed to have altered since the morning. I had 設立する the 動機 of my life at last. For her sake I would work, I would 努力する／競う, and I would 耐える.

About a dozen seagulls suddenly made their 外見 upon the sands in 前線 of me, just 負かす／撃墜する by the 利ざや of the waves. They were 利益／興味d in a small 反対する lying there, and started squabbling and ぱたぱたするing about.

Although やめる の近くに, they didn't notice me, and I lay 支援する with half shut 注目する，もくろむs dreamily watching the quarrel. They seemed so much like human 存在s, fighting の中で themselves.

All at once they all rose up together and started 飛行機で行くing out to sea. I wondered lazily what had 乱すd them, and then suddenly I thought of my racecourse friend.

I jumped up in a flash and turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. Only just in time. There was my gentleman not five yards from me, creeping shoeless 負かす／撃墜する the sandhill with a 広大な／多数の／重要な ragged paling in his 手渡す.

His footfalls had made no sound on the sand, but his mouth was wide open and I could hear him panting with his exertions. I saw that his white evil 直面する had 殺人 on it, but I smiled grimly to myself to think what he had taken on.

Stick or no stick, I felt I was more than a match for him, and could have knocked him out easily in a 手渡す-to-手渡す struggle, but I didn't know whether he was carrying an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃, and my 決定／判定勝ち（する） was made 即時に.

I whipped out my little revolver and gave him three 弾丸s, one after another, as quick as I could, 権利 bang in the middle of his 直面する. One at any 率 攻撃する，衝突する him, for he lurched 今後 in the sand, and 落ちるing on his 味方する, lay moaning at my feet.

I had my 手渡す on his neck in a trice, ready to squeeze the breath out of him, if necessary. But there was no need. I had killed men in フラン before in many a midnight ざん壕 （警察の）手入れ，急襲, and I knew the feeling about a man's neck when he's finished with.

I stood up and turned the 団体／死体 over with my foot. It was still quivering convulsively, and I saw I had made a 恐ろしい mess of his 直面する. Two 弾丸s had entered his forehead almost in the same 穴を開ける, and the third had ploughed a 深い furrow along his cheek. The 血 and sand together やめる obliterated his features and made him unrecognisable.

The blade of a large bowie knife was protruding from the 開始 of his jacket. It looked sharp as a かみそり, and I thought unpleasantly of what he had ーするつもりであるd for me.

I was not at all excited and felt no compunctions at having killed him. He had richly earned his 血まみれの end. But I was sorry and anxious for myself.

Here was I, just on the start of a new life, just when I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to break away from all the old unhappy surroundings, 伴う／関わるd in the 殺人，大当り of this man, and when it became known, in the horrible publicity of police 法廷，裁判所 訴訟／進行s and the whole 連邦／共和国 圧力（をかける）.

Besides, was it 確かな they would believe my 見解／翻訳／版 of the 事件／事情／状勢? The dead man was 井戸／弁護士席 dressed and I was shabby and poor-looking, but in the 所有／入手 of a large sum of money, the source of which it would be difficult to explain.

Again I made up my mind quickly.

I walked casually 負かす／撃墜する upon the sands. No one was in sight in either direction. The sun was 負かす／撃墜する below the sea. It was 速く getting dusk. I climbed a tall sandhill and 慎重に looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. There was no one to be seen anywhere.

I went quickly 支援する to the 団体／死体, and dragging it along by the heels made my way 深い の中で the sandhills behind where I had been lying 負かす／撃墜する. In one of the small sandy gullies there I scooped a long 不景気 with my 武器.

The light was failing 速く, and I dared not stop to make the 穴を開ける as 深い as I would have wished.

Before ダンピング the 団体／死体 in, it struck me I had better search it.

Notwithstanding the possible danger …に出席するing any 延期する, I was intensely curious to find out something about my would-be 殺害者.

What manner of man he was, who went about in good 着せる／賦与するs, wearing an expensive gold wrist watch, and yet who had all the cunning and methods of the habitual 暗殺者.

My experiences in フラン had taken away all repugnance in 扱うing the dead, and in a few seconds I had methodically gone through all his 所持品.

There was a thickish wallet in the vest pocket under his waistcoat, and I 敏速に appropriated it for later 調査. His money and a silver cigarette 事例／患者 I left with him; also a hefty looking (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 that he had in his hip pocket. It would have been too dangerous, I thought, to have it about me. Fortunately for me, it was 荷を降ろすd, and there were no cartridges in his pockets. I ran 支援する and 選ぶd up his hat, which had fallen off when I 発射 him. Then with his own knife, which I buried with him, I made it possible for the gases to escape from his 団体／死体 when decomposition 始める，決める in. The 乾燥した，日照りの sand over his remains was so loose that it would be only too easily 乱すd by putrefaction.

I looked around hurriedly for his shoes but could not find them. He had taken them off somewhere to make his approach upon me やめる noiseless.

I covered the place 井戸／弁護士席 over with a large 量 of sand by rolling it 負かす／撃墜する off the 隣接するing sandhill.

I obliterated as best I could the 跡をつける I had made in dragging up the 団体／死体, and then, 保証するing myself that there were no late roamers on the sands, made off confidently in the direction of Henley.

As I walked along in the 不明瞭 I went over everything carefully, to be sure I had left no 手がかり（を与える）s behind me.

By hiding the 団体／死体 as I had I knew that if anything were discovered I had laid myself open to a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 殺人. But there was only the pocket-調書をとる／予約する, I argued, to connect me in any way with the dead man, and that I would soon get rid of when I had 診察するd the contents.

Then, suddenly, it （機の）カム upon me with a sort of shock that I had still my revolver upon me, with its three spent 議会s.

I was just passing the first of the 非常に／多数の 木造の bathing huts that stretch in line upon the sands for nearly a mile from the Henley jetty when the fact occurred to me; but I thought at once of a 安全な place to hide it.

I groped my way in the 不明瞭 to behind one of the huts, and, thrusting my arm 深い 負かす／撃墜する in the sand と一緒に one of the big square supports, consigned the revolver and remaining cartridges to what, I hoped, was an eternal oblivion.

The 禁止（する）d was in 十分な swing when I finally reached Henley, and I sat 負かす／撃墜する for awhile to 残り／休憩（する） and listen. They were playing a 選択 from 'Il Trovatore.' I had seen the オペラ when on leave in London, and when they （機の）カム to that part where the 修道士s …を伴って the 棺 to the 丸天井, the haunting melody of their dirge やめる got on my 神経s.

I thought of that wretched man out there under the sandhills, with his white, 血まみれの 直面する, with the 穴を開けるs in his forehead, and with the gashes I had made in his 団体／死体, so that he might rot 静かな and still.

The excitement of the day was beginning to tell on me, and so, leaving the （人が）群がるs on the beach, I took the tram to return to the city.

When we reached the turn of the road at South Henley there was やめる a long 延期する. The trolley arm must have slipped off the 総計費 wire I thought. At any 率, we were held up for やめる three minutes, and it afforded an 適切な時期 for a little, inquisitive, parchment-直面するd looking man to poke his 直面する in every department of the car and have a good 星／主役にする at all of us.

Sitting in a corner, I deliberately turned my 長，率いる the other way; but he wasn't to be baulked, and （機の）カム 権利 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the other 味方する of the car to 星／主役にする me straight in the 直面する.

The 出来事/事件 rather annoyed me at the time. It could be only idle curiosity I knew, but still, when one has just killed and buried a man, it is not pleasant to be the 反対する of anyone's attention at all.

CHAPTER III. — THE DRAG-NET OF THE POLICE

I SLEPT 不正に that night, and the man who 株d my room for a long time complained 激しく of the sleepless time I was giving him. The cheap bed squeaked and 動揺させるd every time I turned, and it was 井戸／弁護士席 に向かって morning before I was 静かな and 解放する／自由な from my own thoughts.

Notwithstanding my good luck at the races, I felt I had now got 伴う／関わるd in a horrible whirlpool of misfortune.

I was furious to think that when everything was going so 井戸／弁護士席 I should have been dragged into this wretched 商売／仕事.

I had no 適切な時期 夜通し to 診察する the dead man's wallet. There was no privacy in the 宿泊するing house where we lived, and I was fearful of exciting the curiosity and gossip of any of the other inmates. Experience had taught me that we all watched each other like cats.

After the meal next morning that we called breakfast, I 発表するd my 意向 of going for a long walk. I said I had got a bad 頭痛, and there were at once さまざまな surmises as to the way I had managed to 安全な・保証する 十分な money to get drunk on.

I walked やめる a long way up into the hills, and there, sitting secluded in the lonely 農園, opened the dead man's wallet.

There was not much in it, but what there was was very 重要な.

There were eleven five-続けざまに猛撃する bank 公式文書，認めるs, all perfectly clean and of 連続した numbers, neatly 倍のd in a blank envelope, also six one-続けざまに猛撃する 財務省 公式文書，認めるs that had evidently been in 循環／発行部数 some time, for they were ordinarily dirty.

Then there was another envelope, 含む／封じ込めるing, of all things, about an ounce or so of red pepper.

In the other 味方する of the wallet, wrapped in brown paper, was a length of thin 黒人／ボイコット crepe, which, 存在 opened out, became a serviceable sort of 黒人／ボイコット mask, with 穴を開けるs 削減（する） for the 注目する，もくろむs, and with 略章s already sewn on for tying 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 長，率いる.

Then there was a card:—

Lastly, there was the racing programme of the previous day.

I was on the point of throwing this latter away when I remembered I had seen him 令状ing something on it when I was waiting at the 支払う／賃金 window to receive my （株主への）配当. I turned over the pages curiously. Yes, there it was on the 利ざや opposite the 3.40 race. Two words written unevenly in pencil, "襲う，襲って強奪する—地雷."

I frowned disgustedly to myself. So I had looked a 襲う，襲って強奪する, had I, and a soft 職業 for a blackguard like him to 略奪する and 殺人 at his 緩和する? He had seen I was shabby and in low water, and then 製図／抽選 a nice wad of 公式文書，認めるs, as I was, over Rose of 夜明け, he had no 疑問 surmised the first thing I should do would be to go and get drunk.

Then he would have robbed me in the best way he could, and evidently, his general habit was not to be too particular as to the way he did it.

The red pepper and the crepe mask he was carrying 示すd him indisputably as an old 手渡す at the game, and I wondered grimly to myself what his 所有／入手 of those eleven five-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認めるs meant to some poor wretch whose ill-luck it had been to 落ちる across his way.

井戸／弁護士席, he had met his 砂漠s, anyhow. The 襲う，襲って強奪する had not turned out such a soft touch as he had thought, and all he had got for his 苦痛s was a 血まみれの 穴を開ける in his forehead and a shallow 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な in the sandhills by the sea.

I buried everything except the 公式文書，認めるs, and took my way slowly and thoughtfully 支援する to the City.

I had no inclination to keep the money, and for a long time was puzzled how to get rid of it. It would have been idiotic to destroy, it, and yet as long as I had it about me I felt there was something to connect me with the dead man. It was the last link that bound me to the man I had killed.

Then it struck me as a good idea to send the money to the hospital. At any 率, it would not be wasted by sending it there, and どれでも its source, some good 原因（となる） would be 利益ing in the end.

I pulled up at a little 道端 refreshment place, and ordering a 冷静な／正味の drink, sat 負かす／撃墜する at a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する by myself to direct the envelope.

I was 猛烈に anxious to leave no 影をつくる／尾行する of a 手がかり（を与える） behind me, and so, before 演説（する）／住所ing the envelope to the Adelaide Hospital, I carefully printed out the two words in my own ordinary handwriting upon the 利ざや of a piece of newspaper that I 設立する handy. Then with my own handwriting before me as a guide, I made every letter on the envelope やめる different. I printed the letters in a different 形態／調整—sloped them a different way and even made the spaces between them of a different length to my own.

Then I got the woman in the shop to 強いる me with a stamp, and not until I had 安全に deposited the letter in a 中心存在 box did I feel 安全な・保証する and 解放する／自由な from any 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 the 未来 might bring.

I 決定するd to wipe the whole 事柄 out of my mind, and not let it bother me any more.

The next morning I was up 早期に, and 始める，決める out to make my outward 外見 a little bit more respectable.

I had no 意向 of blossoming out suddenly as a smart, 井戸／弁護士席-dressed young fellow until I had definitely made up my mind 正確に／まさに what I was going to do.

As long as I was patronising the cheap 宿泊するing house, any sudden change in my 外見 would have 急落（する），激減（する）d me at once into a 正規の／正選手 hornet's nest of 調査s as to how I had got the money, and the last thing I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to do was to attract attention.

I bought a good second-手渡す pair of boots, however, from a shop 近づく the market, and chucked my old ones away behind some 盗品故買者ing in Wakefield Street.

Then, as I was passing the 地位，任命する office, I thought I might as 井戸／弁護士席 just go and collect the postcard I had written to myself on Saturday.

I went up to the 反対する and asked for any letters for Stratton. To my surprise, there were two men with unfamiliar 直面するs in 出席 there, and it seemed to me they took an unconscionably long time in looking through the mail. One of them at length （機の）カム to me to ask for my 初期の, and then to my astonishment, 手渡すd me a letter, 同様に as the postcard in my own handwriting.

I thought at first it must be a mistake, but I saw the Pimba postmark at once, and realised, in a dazed sort of way, that it was my cousin who had written to me.

What on earth, I thought, could he have to 令状 to me about. We had had such a furious quarrel when I last saw him that I had certainly never 推定する／予想するd to hear from him again, and how he had happened to 令状 to the G.P.O., Adelaide, also puzzled me.

From the postmark, the letter was only three days old, and most curious, I sat 負かす／撃墜する at once to master its contents.

It was やめる a nice letter, written the previous week from his sheep 駅／配置する beyond Pimba. He had been very ill, he said, and the doctors had told him he could never get very much better. He was lonely out there with only 雇うd people about him, and 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see someone of his own 血. He was sorry we had quarrelled, and was anxious to be friends again. If this letter reached me, and I had nothing better to do, would I come up and see him? He was やめる 井戸／弁護士席-to-do, and would 取引，協定 generously by me. If I 手配中の，お尋ね者 money to come up, would I send him a wire?

I walked out of the 地位，任命する office with my 長，率いる in the 空気／公表する. Here was the very thing I 手配中の，お尋ね者—something 限定された to do. I would certainly go up to my cousin, and go up to him, too, 井戸／弁護士席 dressed, and as a 繁栄する man. I wouldn't let him imagine I had come to be patronised, or 手配中の，お尋ね者 anything out of him.

With all the niceness of his letter, I knew he was one of those sneering men who would give you nothing if you really 手配中の，お尋ね者 it, but if you didn't want it, 井戸／弁護士席, then, everything was yours for the asking. I knew him so 井戸／弁護士席, and the 原因（となる） of our quarrel in years gone by had been on account of this very meanness.

I decided I would go up to Pimba on the Thursday, and at once started to get some things together. I bought a good second-手渡す portmanteau, and going from shop to shop, 供給するd myself with a 完全にする 装備する-out of everything I was likely to 要求する.

I spent all the morning making my 購入（する）s, and it was a source of 広大な／多数の／重要な amusement to me the whole time, thinking how astonished anyone from the 宿泊するing-house would have been had they been only に引き続いて me about.

When I had got all I thought I should 要求する, I went 負かす／撃墜する to the 鉄道 駅／配置する and left the portmanteau in the cloak room. It would never have done to have taken it to the place I was then calling 'home.'

After dinner, I went and had a good sleep under the trees in the Botanical Gardens. に向かって evening, when it was beginning to get 冷静な／正味の, I thought I would go for a walk, and in passing, just have a look at number 203, Hutt Street, the house where my dead 加害者 had evidently been staying.

It was やめる a small house, and looking up at the windows, I idly 推測するd which room had been 占領するd by the dead man, and what the landlady had done when he didn't come 支援する home.

Just when I was 現実に passing the 前線 door, it opened, and two men stepped out into the porch. It gave me something of a shock to recognise one of them as the parchment-直面するd little man who had 星／主役にするd at me so inquisitively in the tram car at Henley Beach on the Saturday night.

I recognised him a fraction of a second before he saw me, and I flattered myself there was no look of 利益／興味 or 承認 on my 直面する as I slowly lounged past the door.

I could see he remembered me, however, for his eyebrows seemed to come together with a click, but he only ちらりと見ることd casually over me, and went on talking to his companion in the porch.

I went slowly up the street, looking idly from 味方する to 味方する, but with my heart 強くたたくing much quicker than I could have wished.

It was rotten luck to knock up against the man like this, for instinctively now, I associated him in some way or other with the blackguard I had killed.

What was the line between them? I asked myself. Surely it was more than a coincidence, I argued, that he should have been looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Henley on the Saturday, 明白に, now, I could see, with some 限定された 目的 in his mind, and then, within a few hours almost, be 設立する coming out of the very rooms of the man whose 団体／死体 had lain so 近づく him at the exact time he was 診察するing the occupants of the tram car.

Suddenly it struck me he must have been looking for the very man I had killed, and that if I hadn't killed him he would have 設立する him going 支援する in the car. And if anyone was looking for a 犯罪の like that, who would be wanting him but the police? I got hot all over.

Of course, it was all （疑いを）晴らす to me at once. The little man was a 探偵，刑事, and I 悪口を言う／悪態d the foolish curiosity that had brought me, for the second time, under his notice.

自然に, seeing me at Henley and then 会合 me by the dead man's rooms, he would put two and two together and divine 即時に there was some 関係 between us.

Now, I knew I should be followed and watched, and the slightest 誤った step on my part would land me in the police 法廷，裁判所 with some ぎこちない questions to answer.

There was one good thing, however, I consoled myself. I was 用意が出来ている now, and should not be taken by surprise, whatever happened. If anyone tapped me on the shoulder and told me to 'come along,' I would be ready for them, and give nothing away in surprise.

Besides, I argued, what could they ever have against me? The 団体／死体 was 安全に hidden, and ありそうもない, in those lonely sandhills, to be 乱すd again for years and years, until, indeed, in the far 未来, they might start building there.

Besides again, if they did find the 団体／死体, what was it to do with me? They might 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う anything, but where was the proof?

All this flashed through my mind as I slowly walked 支援する to the city. I took it for 認めるd I was 存在 followed, and time after time I resisted the 誘惑 to look 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. I knew it would only precipitate 事柄s if I tried to throw them off the scent, so I just dawdled 支援する home and arrived at the 宿泊するing-house about eight o'clock, in a tired and rather exhausted 条件.

The realisation that the parchment-直面するd little man was a 探偵，刑事 had indeed been a bit of a shock for me, but I 設立する soon, there was a worse shock to come.

I had had my supper, and was trying to read the evening paper when old Nat Saunders （機の）カム in. He was 十分な of news as usual.

They had been trapping モーターs in King William Street, he said, and there would be a 罰金 刈る of drivers up before the 治安判事s next morning. A woman had been knocked 負かす／撃墜する in Victoria Square, and it was believed that both her 脚s were broken. Then （機の）カム a piece of news that landed me in a muck sweat, and froze my tongue to the roof of my mouth. A man had committed 自殺, he said, on the sandhills 近づく Glenelg. Two little boys and a dog had come across a good pair of shoes that afternoon on the beach, and the dog had 匂いをかぐd so much at the sand の近くに by that the boys had 捨てるd it away and come across a man's 脚. He was supposed to have 発射 himself, and then the 勝利，勝つd had covered him over with drifting sand. The 団体／死体 had been brought to the city in a covered cart.

I heard no more. A fearful drumming （機の）カム into my ears, and I could feel my forehead grow 冷淡な with sweat.

So the blow had fallen. The 明らかに impossible had happened, and all my (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する 警戒s made useless, by two wretched boys and a mongrel cur.

井戸／弁護士席, I should be 逮捕（する）d for sure now, and the sooner the better, to get the wretched 商売／仕事 over. But then I thought, how could they bring anything home to me? What was there, even now, to connect me with the dead man? Under 疑惑 I might be, but search as they might, surely they could never 証明する that it was I who had killed him.

I grew calmer at once, and went over everything carefully in my mind.

No; I had destroyed every 手がかり（を与える） behind me, and if only I kept my 長，率いる and 否定するd everything, there was no 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 they could かもしれない 証明する against me.

I went off to bed almost 平易な in my mind, and, strange to say, had a 特に good night's 残り／休憩（する）.

The next day was Tuesday, and keeping to my 解決する, I went about just as ordinary, as if I were perfectly 解放する／自由な from care.

I went to the newspaper offices and scanned the 宣伝s; I walked up and 負かす／撃墜する King William Street; I lounged in the park lands in the afternoon; took a trip by the tram-car to Henley, and sat for a couple of hours having a smoke on the jetty.

And all the time I felt, rather than saw, that I was 存在 followed.

It was not that anyone hustled me, or got in my way, or that I noticed the same people about me at different times of the day.

I seemed やめる 解放する／自由な and unattended, and nobody 星／主役にするd at me wherever I went. Yet somehow or other, I never 設立する myself やめる alone at any time all day, and I could have sworn coming 支援する in the car from Henley, that at least four of the other 乗客s were connected with the police. They didn't appear to take any notice of each other, but they were all strong, beefy-looking fellows, and all wore big, stout boots.

I fully 推定する／予想するd to find trouble brewing when I got 支援する home, but except that I imagined the 宿泊するing-house proprietor 許すd his ちらりと見ること to 逸脱する に向かって me rather more often than usual, nothing at all happened, and I went to bed as usual just before ten.

Next morning I was out 早期に after breakfast, and I blessed my 星／主役にするs it was to be my last day in Adelaide. The train beyond Pimba only went on Mondays and Thursdays, or I think I should have （疑いを）晴らすd out of the city straight away.

There was nothing in the newspapers about any 団体／死体 存在 設立する at Glenelg, and I was almost beginning to 扱う／治療する all my 恐れるs as imaginary.

But I held myself ready for anything, and was 用意が出来ている any moment to be held up in the street.

It was a good thing I did so, for the end （機の）カム very much as I had 用意が出来ている myself to think it would.

I was looking idly in a shop window in the Arcade off Rundle Street when two men suddenly の近くにd up to me, one on either 味方する, and a 厳しい 発言する／表明する （機の）カム はっきりと from behind.

"Stand still; don't move, keep your 手渡すs 負かす／撃墜する and out of your pockets. We're police officers, and the 長，指導者 wants a word with you."

At the same time, 手渡すs were deftly and unobtrusively passed up and 負かす／撃墜する over my 団体／死体.

"All 権利, no 武器. Now, are you coming 静かに?"

I turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する やめる slowly and looked the （衆議院の）議長 squarely in the 直面する.

"What the devil do the police want me for?" I asked brusquely.

"You come along and you'll see. Now, are you going to make a fuss?"

I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at my captors. There were four of them, and they all looked so eager and ready for me to give them the chance of a scuffle that the 状況／情勢, perhaps from sheer nervousness on my part, struck me as having やめる a humorous 味方する.

I relaxed my 直面する into a smile and replied やめる pleasantly.

"Of course I'll come without a fuss. I've nothing better to do, worse luck."

And off we started for the Police （警察，軍隊などの）本部. Outwardly, I was proud to think I appeared 静める and self-所有するd, but inwardly, I was in a seething 騒動 of suspense, and manfully trying to pull myself together for the dangers and 落し穴s of the coming ordeal.

CHAPTER IV. — BEFORE THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER

IT was only a few hundred yards to the Police （警察，軍隊などの）本部 in Victoria Square, and in my numbed 明言する／公表する of mind the 旅行 seemed very short. But it gave me time to pull myself together, and when I was finally 勧めるd into the presence of the 長，指導者 I had myself perfectly under 支配（する）／統制する, and was able to look at him with 注目する，もくろむs 始める，決める in a 直面する of 石／投石する.

I knew the 長，指導者 井戸／弁護士席 by 評判. He was やめる a young man, not more than thirty-five, and one of those who had made good in the 広大な／多数の／重要な War. He had been one of the heroes of Bullecourt, and had been twice 促進するd for gallantry on the field. When the Armistice was 調印するd he was 持つ／拘留するing the 階級 of 准將. He had only held his position in Adelaide for about six months, but had already 証明するd himself a shrewd and 有能な officer.

He had a few detractors, and all they could say against him was that, if anything, he was a little bit too theatrical and rather too 極度の慎重さを要する to public opinion.

Now, as I stood straight before him, with a 探偵，刑事 on either 味方する, I thought what a 罰金 soldierly-looking man he was, with his strong 直面する and shrewd grey 注目する，もくろむs.

He was sitting 負かす／撃墜する with a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する between us, and he 注目する，もくろむd me up and 負かす／撃墜する very 厳しく.

A little behind him, and on his left-手渡す 味方する, sat my parchment-直面するd little friend of Hutt Street and the Henley Beach car. He was screwing up his 直面する and watching me like a cat 注目する，もくろむing a mouse.

"No gun?" at length asked the 長，指導者, without taking his 注目する，もくろむs off my 直面する. One of my captors shook his 長，率いる; and there was again a long silence.

Then the 長，指導者 rapped out his first question, and, ready and 用意が出来ている as I was, I had the greatest difficulty in 妨げるing a start.

"John Stratton," he said quickly, "why did you shoot Tod McSwiney? Why did you kill the 開始する Gambier 殺害者?"

I was too dumbfounded to make any reply. So, in spite of all my fancied 安全, they knew my 指名する, and, more astonishing still, the man I killed was one of the 開始する Gambier 殺害者s. I stood rigid in real surprise and just 星／主役にするd fixedly at my interrogator.

"井戸／弁護士席 taken, sir," he sneered, after a few seconds; "but another time don't clench your 手渡すs so tightly. It rather gives the show away." Then, leaning 今後, "I ask you again, sir, why did you 殺人 McSwiney?"

I 設立する my tongue at last, and answered him slowly and as insolently as I could.

"For the same 推論する／理由 that you 殺人d Queen Ann—because I didn't do it."

"Look here, my friend," he said menacingly, "realise at once that it will 支払う／賃金 you best to 収容する／認める the truth. We know all about you—everything.''

"Oh you do, do you?" I replied, now sneering in return. "Then why is it you want to question me at all?"

He glared 怒って at me, but at once lowered his 発言する／表明する.

"Stratton, if you think you can bluff here you make a 広大な／多数の／重要な mistake. Let me tell you straight, you've been a 示すd man in Adelaide for much longer than you dream of. We have had an 注目する，もくろむ on you, my lad, for a long while, and your doings are an open 調書をとる／予約する to us."

I shrugged my shoulders contemptuously, and he went on 速く.

"We have traced all your movements from the first day you arrived in Adelaide 負かす／撃墜する to these few minutes ago, when you entered this room. Listen!" and he 解除するd a sheaf of papers from his desk. "On October 12th you arrived here in the city. You put up at Fenney's 宿泊するing-house, and have lived there ever since. On the 14th you got 雇用 at Hanson's 支持を得ようと努めるd 作品. Three weeks later you were 発射する／解雇するd from there for insolence to one of the foremen. Then you worked for a fortnight with 徴収する, the 運送／保菌者; then for three days at Bulow's. After that, up to Friday last, you only did 時折の work and 半端物 職業s." (Impressively) "Last Friday you had only one meal; you were 負かす／撃墜する so low as that. Last Saturday you went with Tod McSwiney to Glenelg. You quarrelled on the beach and you 発射 him. You then buried him ineffectually on the sands. Returning to the city, you were in 基金s again.

"On Monday you collected a mail from the General 地位，任命する Office, and at once started making 準備s to やめる. You bought a second-手渡す portmanteau in Hindley Street, two 控訴s of 着せる／賦与するs from James in Rundle Street, socks, shirts, 関係, and underclothes from Applin & Thomas in King William Street, three pairs of boots at the True Leather Company, and so on all the morning. Stratton," he continued, and his 発言する／表明する became slow and 審議する／熟考する. "On Saturday you hadn't, so to speak, a penny to your 指名する, and on Monday," shaking his finger slowly in my 直面する, "you spent over &続けざまに猛撃する;43 before 12 o'clock. Now" (triumphantly) "do you still 否定する you didn't 殺人 McSwiney?"

I could have laughed in his 直面する in my 救済. This long-winded account of my unimportant movements and the dwelling on the minute 詳細（に述べる）s of the 衣料品s I had 購入（する）d showed up unmistakedly the poorness of the 証拠 they could produce against me. There were gaps and hesitations in his narrative, and of what happened between the Friday and the Monday they were 完全に ignorant and could only guess. But they had evidently been に引き続いて me from the time I went for my letters, and I could see now how they had got 持つ／拘留する of my 指名する.

My spirits rose at once, and shrugging my shoulders I said indifferently:—

"Most certainly I do 否定する it. I have never 殺人d anyone in my life, and as for the late Mr. Tod McSwiney, I hadn't even the 楽しみ of his acquaintanceship."

The 長，指導者 glared at me 怒って.

"You went with McSwiney to Glenelg," he 主張するd.

"嘘（をつく） number one," I replied; "I did not. I never even knew him and as far as I know of, have never spoken to him in my life."

"You 殺人d him on the sands," he re-iterated.

"嘘（をつく） number two," I said calmly. "Again I did not." The 長，指導者 brought his 手渡す 負かす／撃墜する with a 強くたたく on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"You see 視察官 Kitson here," pointing to the little man beside him. "Now do you 否定する having seen him before? On the tram car at Henley last Saturday, and on Monday morning in Hutt Street. Do you 否定する that?"

"No, I don't that," I said coolly, "I noticed him both times;" and then, remembering old Nat Saunders' yarn, I 追加するd 意味ありげに, "and also on Friday when he got off the Melbourne 表明する, carrying a 捕らえる、獲得する and with his rug on his arm, and （機の）カム straight up here."

The 長，指導者's 直面する clouded with annoyance, and I thought also that the little man too looked a bit 非，不，無-plussed.

"So 売春婦," sneered the 長，指導者, "then you know the 視察官, do you? That's やめる 利益／興味ing; and pray how do you come to know him?"

"井戸／弁護士席," I 再結合させるd, "I lived for over twenty years in Melbourne, and," 屈服するing to the little man, "who doesn't know the 広大な／多数の／重要な 視察官 Kitson there!"

The 長，指導者 made a 動議 to the two men behind me. "Turn out his pockets," he said curtly. "Search him 井戸／弁護士席, every rag he's got on him."

In half a minute my pockets were empty, and all my 所有／入手s, 含むing my packet of banknotes, neatly tied up in brown paper, were piled in a little heap on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"Let me see his hip pocket," ordered 視察官 Kitson, breaking silence for the first time. "Turn him 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and pull out the lining."

"Yes, 正確に／まさに," he continued, bending 負かす／撃墜する and 診察するing the turned-out pocket. "Plenty of grease 示すs here, and from the bulge of the lining it's やめる recently carried a little ピストル. Certainly a .22. This is our man 権利 enough." And he 再開するd his seat as if he were やめる 満足させるd and that nothing その上の would have to be done.

But the 長，指導者 was busy 診察するing my 所持品. There was not much however to 利益／興味 him at first. My clasp knife he just opened and held up to the light. My タバコ pouch, he passed his fingers through carefully, and my postcard to myself (which I had foolishly 保持するd for the memory of the girl), and my cousin's letter from Pimba 原因（となる）d him to screw his eyebrows together a little.

But he 設立する nothing 罪を負わせるing in all these, and it was not until he （機の）カム to the brown paper packet of banknotes that there was any 勝利 at all in his 直面する.

直接／まっすぐに he took the packet in his 手渡す I saw at once that he thought he had at last nosed something, and when he had slipped off the covering and more than &続けざまに猛撃する;200 in good 連邦／共和国 通貨 had become exposed to 見解（をとる）, a pleased and happy smile broke over his 直面する.

He held out the 公式文書，認めるs 意味ありげに, for 視察官 Kitson to see, and the 乾燥した，日照りのd-up features of the little man relaxed, and he looked as happy as a little child.

"Whew," whistled the 長，指導者 in 本物の astonishment. "Ten, twenty, thirty, forty! More than two hundred here. By Jove! a 正規の／正選手 Rothschild our friend, and yet 現実に living at Finney's 宿泊するing-house and going about in shabby old 着せる／賦与するs. Now let us look at the numbers of some of these precious 公式文書，認めるs."

The two men with their 長，率いるs bent の近くに together over the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 診察するd the numbers of my 公式文書，認めるs, one by one; at first with きびきびした expectant 直面するs, then with rather puzzled looks, and finally with undisguised 失望 in both their 表現s.

But the 長，指導者 was not beaten yet, by any means. "Now, Stratton," he said brusquely, "you've got a lot to explain. Where did you get this money from—there's &続けざまに猛撃する;225 here?"

My spirits had risen higher still at their obvious discomfiture, and with every minute now I was beginning to feel that it was I who held the best cards.

"Oh," I replied, smilingly, "I won it at the races on Saturday; I 支援するd Rose of 夜明け."

"You won it at the races," he said incredulously; "and from where, pray, did you get any money to go to the races with? Remember, you hadn't a shilling on Saturday morning."

"やめる true, but I had ten 続けざまに猛撃するs given me."

"Whom by?" he sneered; "some unknown benefactor, I 推定する／予想する, who gave it you for the sake of your beautiful 注目する，もくろむs."

"No!" I replied 静かに, "the ten 続けざまに猛撃するs were given me by Sir Henry 先頭."

"Sir Henry 先頭," he snapped, "what did he give you ten 続けざまに猛撃するs for?"

"For 選ぶing up his pocket-調書をとる／予約する in King William Street, outside the G.P.O."

"When was this?" he asked はっきりと.

"On Saturday morning, just before one."

"And you went to Victoria Park and 支援するd Rose of 夜明け?"

"Yes, and after that Rattler's Pride."

"井戸／弁護士席, tell us how much you had on Rose of 夜明け; quickly now, and we'll soon see if your tale 持つ／拘留するs water. Don't stop to invent, but just give me the 人物／姿／数字s."

"I had &続けざまに猛撃する;2 on Rose of 夜明け," I said calmly, "and that brought me &続けざまに猛撃する;123. Then, in the last race, I had &続けざまに猛撃する;50 on Rattler's Pride and got 支援する &続けざまに猛撃する;137, making &続けざまに猛撃する;260 in all."

"Do you really 推定する／予想する us to believe all this?" said the 長，指導者 after a short silence, and knitting his brows.

"I don't care whether you believe it or not," I replied, "but it's やめる true all the same. Besides, you can easily 証明する that I had &続けざまに猛撃する;50 on Rattler's Pride. I took ten five-続けざまに猛撃する tickets just before the window went 負かす／撃墜する. I was the last one to take any tickets, and the 操作者 発言／述べるd that he wished me good luck for my courage."

"What （株主への）配当 do you say Rattler's Pride returned?" 発言／述べるd the 長，指導者 musingly after a short silence.

"It returned &続けざまに猛撃する;3 15s.," I replied. "I won &続けざまに猛撃する;260 altogether, making, with the General's ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める, &続けざまに猛撃する;270 that I received on Saturday. によれば you—and thank you for keeping my accounts so nicely, I spent &続けざまに猛撃する;43 on Monday. That and the &続けざまに猛撃する;225 on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する nearly makes up the 十分な &続けざまに猛撃する;270. The 残り／休憩（する） has gone in expenses. Now you know everything."

"Where did you change the first ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める?" broke in 視察官 Kitson 静かに.

"At the G.P.O.," I told him. "I looked too shabby to change it anywhere else. So I bought a postcard and for a joke wrote it to myself."

"That's it in my own handwriting there before you."

The 長，指導者 seemed to remember something and 手渡すd me a pencil.

"Just 令状 your 指名する please on this piece of paper, and now 令状 the two words 'Adelaide Hospital.' No, print the letters this time and do them quickly in your ordinary way."

Now I blessed my foresight in the care I had taken in the disguising of my envelope to the Adelaide Hospital. It was standing me in good stead now. I printed the letters as quickly as anyone could wish.

The 長，指導者 took an envelope out of the drawer and carefully compared the two handwritings, with the Melbourne 探偵，刑事 looking over his shoulder.

I could see they were puzzled. They whispered for some time together.

"I shall 拘留する you," at length said the 長，指導者 in no good humour. "Take him away;" and I was led from the room.

I was kept waiting for more than four hours, locked away in a little room by myself, and all the time I could see I was an 反対する of かなりの curiosity to the さまざまな policemen and others at （警察，軍隊などの）本部.

さまざまな 制服を着た and un-制服を着た men kept coming in on one 事柄 or another, during the whole morning, and they all gave me a long and 利益／興味d 星／主役にする. I thought 自然に they would be 利益／興味d in the personality of a probable 殺害者, and was rather amused than さもなければ at their 執拗な scrutiny.

に向かって noon a fat, jolly-looking policeman brought me in a nice plate of hot roast beef and a couple of minutes after, to my greater astonishment, a long glass of 冷静な／正味の beer.

"I thought that would 控訴 you," he said, and he winked knowingly at the beer. "It's the 権利 stuff, that I can tell you. And the beef too's all 権利—just the same as the 長，指導者 has. Oh, I'm looking after you," and off he hopped out of the room.

I smelt a ネズミ at once. They were going to try and 賄賂 me now, and the plate of beef and the beer would, of course, be only a beginning. The policeman （機の）カム 支援する in a few minutes, and seeing I had finished, asked interestedly how I had enjoyed my meal.

"Oh," I said distantly, "やめる all 権利 thank you," and I relapsed into silence, hoping he would go away.

But he had evidently a 使節団 to 成し遂げる, and fidgetted about, 明らかに not knowing 正確に／まさに how to begin to 始める，決める about it.

Finally he sidled up の近くに to me, and putting a fat finger mysteriously on his lips, whispered hoarsely.

"Do you happen to know anything good for Gawler on Saturday?"

So much for my foolish 疑惑s. They were not 利益／興味d in me because I was a possible 破壊者 of another man's life, but 簡単に because I had 支援するd a good 勝利者 at the races.

I smilingly told my fat friend that I didn't know anything in particular for Gawler, but I advised him all the same to follow the 地元の trainers, as they 一般に managed to 重さを計る in there with something good.

About three o'clock, I was taken into the 長，指導者 again and I saw at once that something had happened. The whole atmosphere of the room seemed different.

The 長，指導者 himself no longer regarded me with hard 厳しい 注目する，もくろむs, but instead, met me with やめる a pleasant smile, and even the dour-looking 視察官 Kitson seemed to have a more agreeable 表現 on his 直面する.

The 長，指導者 解任するd my attendant with a nod and then bade me politely, to sit 負かす／撃墜する. "選ぶ up your 所持品, Mr. Stratton," he said, pointing to my little heap of 価値のあるs on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "Yes, the 公式文書，認めるs 同様に, but later on," he continued smiling, "if I were you I should buy a nice pocket-調書をとる／予約する. Brown paper is hardly a suitable covering for riches such as yours."

"Now, Mr. Stratton," he went on, and his 発言する／表明する took on a きびきびした and 商売／仕事-like トン, "we are not going to 拘留する you; you are going out of this room in a few minutes, a perfectly 解放する／自由な man. No," he 追加するd, as he saw me smile, "please don't think you 持つ／拘留する all the trumps in your 手渡す. There are 疑惑s about you—very 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 疑惑s, and I should be やめる 正当化するd, whatever might afterwards eventuate, in bringing you before the 法廷，裁判所 to-morrow and asking for a 再拘留（者） until such time as we could make その上の 調査s. Some parts of the story you gave us this morning are undoubtedly perfectly true, as our 調査s have shown us. But your story is an incomplete one, and there are the damning 平行のs of Henley Beach and Hutt Street still against you." Impressively, and bending に向かって me, "Was it only a coincidence that you were on Henley Beach the very hour the man was 発射 on Saturday night, and at the rooms where the dead man had lived on Monday morning? Mr. Stratton, I am 納得させるd Tod McSwiney was killed by a 兵士 and buried by a 兵士. The way his 着せる／賦与するs had been ライフル銃／探して盗むd, the way the 団体／死体 had been tucked in its shallow 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, the gashes in its abdomen—all point to the 活動／戦闘s of a man who has seen active service and done these things before. Then again—whoever killed McSwiney was a 冷静な／正味の and self-所有するd man. He had 企て，努力，提案d his time and put all his 弾丸s の近くに together. Moreover, he was not a poor man in need of money, for he left the gold wrist watch and the cigarette 事例／患者 behind him, 同様に as the loose change. Now, Mr. Stratton, you answer to all these descriptions. You are a 兵士, you are a self-所有するd man, as 証言，証人／目撃する your replies here this morning, and, moreover, you are not in any need of money. Now, will you still say we have no 事例／患者 against you?"

He paused for me to say something, but I only looked at him and remained silent.

"Mind you," he continued, after a moment. "The man who killed McSwiney committed a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な error of judgment in trying to hide the 団体／死体. McSwiney's 記録，記録的な／記録する was so 黒人／ボイコット, that if anyone had come 今後 with a decent character, such as yours for instance—and I am bound to say as far as we can trace your character, it is やめる above reproach—if anyone such as you, had come 今後 with any sort of story, however plausible, he would have been believed. Not only that, but he would almost have been 公然と thanked for ridding the world of such a monster. But, as I say, we are not going to harp on that any more. So far as we are 関心d, we are not going to make any その上の 成果／努力s to bring home the 商売／仕事 to you, and, therefore, unless our 手渡すs are 軍隊d by some outside 証拠 we really can't overlook—you have heard the last of it from us."

"Now, in return for this consideration of ours—and remember, Mr. Stratton, it is a consideration—we want you to help us."

"Help you?" I asked, still on my guard; "how can I help you?"

"Now listen to me, and please follow what I say very carefully. You, of course, know about the 開始する Gambier 殺人s. Three weeks ago last Thursday a 農業者 and his wife were 残酷に done to death by two men. Tod McSwiney was one of them, that we know for 確かな . Tod has lived by 罪，犯罪 for years, but a clever, 有能な brute, we have never been able to bring his 罪，犯罪s home to him."

"The Melbourne garrotting 事例／患者 last year we knew was his. The wiping out of a whole family 近づく Pinaru was another 罪，犯罪 he was 責任がある. The Tarcoola strangling 事例／患者, where the 犠牲者 was first blinded with red pepper and then despatched with his own scarf, was another masterpiece of the same man. Tod was a devil—a heartless, 残虐な scoundrel in all his 罪，犯罪s. 井戸／弁護士席, of late Master Tod has not been working alone. He has drifted across another man, of an even more horrible brutality than his own. A man who, apart from what it brought him, loved 罪，犯罪 for its own sake, and who would go out of his way to （打撃，刑罰などを）与える unnecessary 苦しむing on his 犠牲者s. We believe it was this man who, after 殺人ing a woman in Kalgoorlie in 1914, threw her three months baby into a 巡査 of boiling water. We 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う him of a 一連の undiscovered 罪，犯罪s in 1915, 1916, and 1917, but the unhappy part of it is we have never been able to get even a good description of the man or find out who he is. He has passed like a sombre 影をつくる／尾行する across the 連邦／共和国, unrecorded and unknown, but leaving always behind him his 追跡する of 黒人／ボイコット and dreadful 罪，犯罪.

"井戸／弁護士席, we are 確かな he was the companion of McSwiney in the 開始する Gambier 事例／患者, and we should have had them both for sure this time, for they had made their one mistake. Not only were they seen by that little 脅すd girl in the 支持を得ようと努めるd stack, and their description afterwards given, but what is so far only known to my friend here and me, they left behind them a spirit flask with two 際立った 始める，決めるs of 血まみれの finger 示すs on the 味方する.

"井戸／弁護士席, Tod and this other beauty （機の）カム to Adelaide last week, and, as was their invariable 支配する, they separated at once upon arriving at a city.

"But they were traced by my friend here, and Tod was 示すd 負かす／撃墜する going to Glenelg on Saturday. Unhappily, word reached us too late to catch him stepping off the train at Glenelg, but we arranged for all possible ways of his coming home, and then—then, Mr. Stratton, he disappeared utterly from our ken."

The 長，指導者 paused in his recital and, shrugging his shoulders, leant 支援する despondently in his 議長，司会を務める.

I 自白する I was moved by what he was telling me. With a strong 劇の instinct, he was a born artist in telling a story, and the earnestness and 誠実 of the man stood out in every word he had spoken.

I felt instinctively somehow I could 信用 him, and something of my changed 態度 of mind must have been 反映するd in my 直面する, for when he broke silence again he spoke to me as one friend speaking to another.

"Now, Mr. Stratton, this is where you come in. McSwiney is dead, and in some ways we are sorry. McSwiney alive was the connecting link with the other man, and with him once in 保護／拘留 we might have got at his companion that way. But McSwiney dead, and his companion stalks 安全に through the city as a 法律-がまんするing, 害のない man. If we only had someone to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う, the finger prints would clinch the 事柄 at once, and we might too be able to bring it home to him in other ways.

"The man is sure to be remaining in Adelaide, for he is in the dark now about McSwiney. Nothing has got in the papers yet about what happened on the beach last Saturday, and blackguard number two will be chary of making any fresh move in 事例／患者 he puts his foot in it. But we are やめる at a 行き詰まり too, and can do nothing. We are helpless, as you see.

"Now, Mr. Stratton, for your part in this. You went to Victoria Park and made a nice sum of money. Suppose, for the sake of argument, McSwiney saw you draw this money, and suppose he followed you and tried to 略奪する you, and you killed him in self-defence.

"Just suppose that. Now, if he saw you, there is a chance that you saw him, and if you saw him you might also by chance have noticed he was with a companion. Perhaps then, you might remember what the companion was like. Mind you, you are not committing yourself, for on my honour you go 解放する／自由な when we have finished this conversation, whatever you decide."

I hesitated, and looked thoughtfully from the 長，指導者 to his companion. I knew I should be taking on something if I once 認める I had even seen McSwiney. It was breaking 負かす／撃墜する all my defence and leaving me 事実上 at the mercy of these two men. Then I thought of all the 長，指導者 had told me, and a 広大な／多数の／重要な wave of 怒り／怒る swept through me, at the idea that this other wretch should go 解放する／自由な. I would help them if I could, and chance the 危険. But did I remember the man? I shut my 注目する，もくろむs and tried to visualise the scene at the 支払う／賃金-window at Victoria Park.

McSwiney, I could remember 井戸／弁護士席, but the other man was not so （疑いを）晴らす at first. Then I remembered him as spitting while he smoked, and his 直面する and 着せる／賦与するs （機の）カム up at once to my mind. A medium-sized, ありふれた-looking man in blue 着せる／賦与するs. Nothing particular about him but dark 注目する，もくろむs and a rather flat 幅の広い nose. I could remember nothing more.

I opened my 注目する，もくろむs and smiled at the anxious way I was 存在 regarded by the 長，指導者 and his companion.

"Did the little girl in the woodstack," I asked, breaking into the silence at last, "give any sort of description of this second man?"

"Yes," said the 長，指導者, "but not a very good one."

"Would she know him again?"

"Yes, she said she would."

"井戸／弁護士席, did she say he was a dark man, or medium-sized, or had a 厚い-始める，決める nose?"

"That's all 権利," cried the 長，指導者 exultingly; "you know him. She 述べるd him as dark and ugly and not big. I thought the course we decided to take with you was the best one. Now, can you help us on any more?"

"No," I replied, "I don't think I can. I told you the exact truth this morning. I never knew the man at all."

"If we had searched him, Mr. Stratton, do you think," asked the 視察官, breaking in 静かに, "we should have 設立する anything more to help us—on the 団体／死体?"

"No," I said, shaking my 長，率いる; "nothing more than you already know."

"His pocket-調書をとる／予約する, for instance," gently 示唆するd the 長，指導者 with an insinuating smile, "he must have had a pocket-調書をとる／予約する surely?"

"A crepe mask, a packet of red pepper, the landlady's card of his apartments, and the 残り／休憩（する）—you have already," I replied calmly.

The 長，指導者 and the 視察官 交流d meaning ちらりと見ることs. "Yes, those 公式文書，認めるs," said the former, turning to me again, "were a part of the money taken at 開始する Gambier. The poor man who was killed had sold some beasts only the previous day, and had been paid direct in new 公式文書，認めるs from the bank. No 疑問 our friend 設立する the racecourse the most 安全な way of 徐々に 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせるing of them. 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Stratton, the chances of catching the gentleman are not 特に rosy, but still it's more than possible that our good luck may be in.

"As I said before, Tod's friend does not know what's become of Tod, but he must be getting now mighty anxious to know. I am 納得させるd he won't make any 調査s at Tod's rooms, because, in towns and cities these two men, although undoubtedly working together, always kept themselves 厳しく apart so far as their sleeping places were 関心d. What this man will do will be to look out for Tod at the places he would be most likely to knock up against him. Hotel 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s, for example, and かもしれない the races at Gawler on Saturday. Don't you agree, 視察官 Kitson?"

The little man made a 調印する of assent, and then asked me, "Have you seen the man several times?"

"No, only once."

"And then not for long, I suppose?"

"No. Barely a couple of minutes I should think, at Victoria Park."

"井戸／弁護士席," said the 長，指導者 after a moment's hesitation, "I think we know now all that there is to be got out of you, Mr. Stratton, and this is what I 提案する you should do.

"I'll send 負かす／撃墜する to the 駅／配置する for your 捕らえる、獲得する, and you can just get into one of these nice new 控訴s you have bought. Then we'll alter your 外見 a little bit and turn you loose in the city. You know Adelaide probably 同様に as I do, and I'll leave it to your own 差別 where to go. But I would 示唆する that in particular you 支払う／賃金 attention to the medium class of hotel 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s; that's where our friend is most likely to turn up. Now, you will never be alone. You will be 影をつくる／尾行するd wherever you go, by some of my best men. Mind you, you will never see them and you will never know that they are standing by, but——" and here his 発言する／表明する took on an impressive トン of 警告, "if you should ever by chance 位置／汚点／見つけ出す our man, be careful—be very careful not to 誘発する his 疑惑s. He is of the type of man that stops at nothing, and of the type too that is seldom taken alive. If you should 会合，会う him, fumble with your coat collar at the 支援する. That shall be your signal and wherever you are and at whatever time, you shall find ample help about you. Now, this is all for the 現在の. I feel sure you'll do your best for us."

He 解任するd me with a pleasant smile, and …を伴ってd by the 広大な／多数の／重要な Melbourne 探偵，刑事, I left the room to get ready for my new 役割.

CHAPTER V. — THE ARREST AT GAWLER

THE next two days were の中で the most worrying that I ever remember. I had entered heart and soul into the 発見 of McSwiney's companion, and when the first day had drawn 完全に blank, and that night I crept footsore and utterly tired out into my comfortable bed at the Central Hotel, I don't think there could have been a more despondent man in all Adelaide.

The 長，指導者 and old 視察官 Kitson looked pretty 負かす／撃墜する in the mouth too. As we had arranged, they （機の）カム late to my bedroom at night, and I recounted to them all I had done during the day. I had been on my feet before eight in the morning. I had tramped up and 負かす／撃墜する all the streets of the City. I had visited, in turn, almost every 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 in the square mile, and my inside was 完全に upset and 不快d with the innumerable soft drinks I had had to 吸収する in my 巡礼の旅.

But no 調印する of our man had I seen; nothing in any way answering to the picture of him I had conjured up, and it was rather beginning to 支配する upon me that I should not perhaps recognise him if indeed, we both （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する.

One adventure, however, I had had. Nat Saunders had recognised me, and I had had to stop and have a 雑談（する）. His 注目する，もくろむs had bulged at my new 着せる／賦与するs and altered 外見, but I had explained things to him with a yarn about a rich cousin who had 突然に run up against me and 行為／法令／行動するd the fairy prince. I told him we were now stopping at Glenelg, and I had 繁栄するd a little wad of 公式文書，認めるs in his 直面する to impress him with the truth of my tale. I had also given him a ten-shilling 公式文書，認める for himself, and 約束d him another in a day or two if he held his tongue about me in the 宿泊するing-house.

I said my cousin was a very proud man, and 井戸／弁護士席 in with some of the richest toffs in Adelaide, and if he 設立する out that it was getting about amongst his pals that I had lived at the 宿泊するing-house, he might just turn me 負かす／撃墜する as quickly as he had 選ぶd me up.

Old Nat had taken several strong 誓いs that he would not breathe a word to anyone, and would not について言及する anything to the other lodgers.

Then he had told me the passing news of the City, but it had not 利益／興味d me, except in one item. The old gossip was 肯定的な the "'tecs were after some bird in the City." The plainclothes men were all over the place, he had said, and they had even got them in the ticket offices and behind the 調書をとる／予約する-立ち往生させる at North Road 駅／配置する.

All this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） I somewhat maliciously passed on to the 長，指導者 as he sat that night on the 辛勝する／優位 of my bed drinking a late whisky and soda but he only shrugged his shoulders and said, sarcastically, it was unfortunately やめる impossible for all his men to change their 直面するs.

"I understand," he 追加するd, "that your friend, Nat, has been gaoled so often as a 'drunk,' that he now calls every man jack of the City police by their christian 指名するs."

Then he gave me a piece of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that, in turn, made me sit up.

"Our chap's in the City 権利 enough," he said, "and I should think not over 紅潮／摘発する with money. He passed one of the stolen fivers at Bewlay's the tobacconist, on Monday, but unhappily, they can't 述べる the man. Now, I argue he wouldn't take that 危険, although a comparatively small one, if he were 井戸／弁護士席 in 基金s. Undoubtedly, he'll be looking about now to 補充する his purse, and if we don't get him in a day or two, we shall probably hear of him in a way we don't like. Don't you think so, 視察官?"

"He's a man of 広大な／多数の／重要な 資源," 慎重に 認める the 視察官, "and I don't think he'll let the grass grow under his feet. When he gets the slightest inkling that all's not 井戸／弁護士席 with McSwiney, you'll see, he'll 追跡する off from here like a puff of smoke. I've had some before."

"Oh, but, 視察官," bantered the 長，指導者 smiling, "Adelaide's not Melbourne. Here in Adelaide, in this beautiful 乾燥した，日照りの atmosphere of ours, we never get the 霧 into our brains. If this much-手配中の，お尋ね者 gentleman 追跡するs off from South Australia, it will only be in a nice, tight-fitting pair of 手錠s, in the interstate 表明する, with his dear friend, Arnold Kitson, sitting by his 味方する. But come, it's always 井戸／弁護士席 to be cheerful, and we're not going to 自白する ourselves beaten yet. We'll see what to-morrow brings. Good night, Mr. Stratton, 見本 plenty more soft drinks to-morrow again," and off the two men went, leaving me to my dreams.

The next day seemed likely to be as unfortunate as the first. All the morning I was tramping over the same streets and spending fourpences and sixpences galore on a nauseating variety of fizzy drinks.

It was one of Adelaide's really hot days, and the 気温 was dancing merrily up to about 105 deg. in the shade. に向かって noon, I was just longing for a good 残り／休憩（する）, but in spite of the heat I stuck grimly to my 仕事, for, as the 長，指導者 had impressed upon me, about 中央の-day would probably be the very time when our bird would come off his nest for a nice 冷静な／正味の drink.

But no. Lunch time （機の）カム and went, and the afternoon began to 病弱な, finding me tired and disspirited at 欠如（する） of success.

Just after four, however, something happened that for the time, at least, made me forget all my 苦悩s.

I met the girl 直面する to 直面する. It was in King William Street, 近づく the Bank of Adelaide, and she was walking with another girl, some few years older than herself.

She saw me at once, and looked at me in a half-puzzled sort of way, but with やめる a frank, 利益／興味d 表現 upon her pretty 直面する. I returned her ちらりと見ること with 利益／興味, and she reddened just a little, and turned away her 注目する，もくろむs. It was only for the seconds in passing that our 注目する，もくろむs had met, but I was in the seventh heaven to think she had noticed me at all.

Almost 直接／まっすぐに we had passed, I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and saw them both going into a cafe.

My mind was made up at once, and turning quickly 支援する, I followed them inside. The 内部の of the cafe was deliciously dark and 冷静な／正味の, and 公正に／かなり （人が）群がるd with people.

I saw the two girls just sitting 負かす／撃墜する at the far end of the room, and I made my way 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to get as 近づく as possible to them without 存在 seen.

As luck would have it, there was a 空いている （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する just behind them, and I 敏速に seated myself there, effectually 審査するd from 観察 by the leaves of a large palm 正確に／まさに in 前線 of me.

By 慎重に leaning 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, however, I could get a good 見解（をとる） sideways of 行方不明になる 先頭, and what a charming profile I thought she had!

Now that I could 観察する her carefully, I saw she was even younger than I had thought. Barely out of her teens she appeared to me, only just in the first bloom of womanhood. The gentle 輪郭（を描く）s of her 直面する, and the soft, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する curves of her 団体／死体, 示唆するd to me the very 早期に morning of a woman's life. There was something so dainty and so virginal about her whole 外見 that it seemed to me a sacrilege she should be ever 運命にあるd to be touched and goaded by the rough 手渡す of passion. And yet, as I watched her, I could see the loving woman there, and once awakened, I was sure she would 温かく glow and answer to the caresses of the man she loved.

All my boldness, however, seemed to have dropped away from me, and I felt ashamed that I had followed her in. It was not a nice thing to do, I told myself, and worse still, when they 開始するd to talk, I 設立する I could plainly hear everything they said.

They had ordered ices, and for a while both were busy; then the other girl spoke.

"You are very 静かな, Mary, what's the 事柄 with you? Has anyone been walking over your 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な?"

"Oh, no," laughed 行方不明になる 先頭. "I was thinking of something not at all unpleasant, only rather curious."

"井戸／弁護士席, come on, let's hear what it is."

"It's nothing particular, dear, but I was just thinking how strange life is."

"Nonsense; it's not all strange. If we only knew, almost the same things happen to every one of us. What is it strange that has happened to you?"

"Only coincidences, but they 始める，決める me wondering. I'll tell you about it. You remember last week we went to Lady Buzby's, and they had that fortune-teller there. 井戸／弁護士席, she told everyone the usual jargon, but with me, she just let herself go, probably, because I think Percy Thornton had put her up to it. She said I was heart-whole at 現在の, which was やめる true, but soon, very soon, some one was coming into my life who would quickly alter all that. Now, you know, Mr. Thornton has been up to our house a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 lately, and I should be very dull if I didn't see he was coming after me. The dear old dad is always chaffing me about it, and would, I think, be やめる pleased to see a match.

"I like Percy Thornton 井戸／弁護士席 enough, but I'm sure I could never marry him. I couldn't ever dream of myself as putting my 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck or letting him kiss me as long as he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to, without turning my 直面する away."

"Oh, Mary, you sound like a young woman of experience. I shall be getting shocked."

"No, dear, you needn't begin to get shocked. I've never had a sweetheart myself, yet, but I've stayed in plenty of houses where 法廷，裁判所ing was going on, and so know 正確に／まさに how ordinary lovers behave. 井戸／弁護士席, I tell you honestly, I have never been 利益／興味d in boys until last week, and then, for a few minutes, I saw a boy that I thought any girl might get rather fond of. He looked such a nice boy, and as if he'd been an officer, but he was, evidently, from his 外見, very hard up. He looked so unhappy and despondent that I couldn't help pitying him, and I have thought a lot about him since. 井戸／弁護士席, that was only last Saturday, and the coincidence is, I've just seen him again before we （機の）カム in here. But he looked, oh, so different to-day. He was やめる smart and 井戸／弁護士席-dressed, and I'm wondering what's happened."

"And did this beautiful boy see you just now, pray?"

"Of course he saw me; we both caught sight of each other together."

"And both blushed together, too, no 疑問. 井戸／弁護士席, perhaps it's the first love for you both. You 広大な／多数の／重要な goose! What's the 事柄 with you is you want a proper boy of your own, now. Someone to take care of you, and make a fuss of you, and keep you from thinking of every handsome 直面する you see anywhere. I know what it was myself before my Charlie （機の）カム along. But if you are 決定するd not to have Mr. Thornton, I'll look out and find someone else for you at once. See if I don't."

"No, Netta, without joking, I've made up my mind not to have anything to do with anyone, anyhow, until I'm over twenty-one, and that's not until eleven months' time. I'm 脅すd."

"Fiddle-de-dee. You're in just the 明言する／公表する of mind to give yourself to the first nice boy who comes along. Of course you're 脅すd. That's the 原始の woman, my dear, just realising for the first time that someone's going to be her master. 井戸／弁護士席, come on, Mary, we mustn't stop here all day. I've a lot more shopping to do, and besides, if we go out now, we may find that handsome boy of yours waiting for us outside."

And the two girls got up and went out of the cafe.

I sat on for やめる ten minutes thinking. It was very hard for me 正確に／まさに to analyse my feelings. I felt ashamed with myself for に引き続いて them, and yet much more ashamed still, that I had afterwards sat there listening. But the conversation had come upon me やめる 突然に and taken on the personal nature it had, so suddenly, that I had not really had a proper chance of getting away. If I had left the cafe before them they would surely have seen me, and things would have been a hundred times worse.

But if I was angry with myself for the part I had played in に引き続いて and listening, I was 十分な of 勝利 in 審理，公聴会 from the girl's own lips that she was remembering me. Put it from me as I tried, the presentiment was stronger in me than ever, that the threads of 運命／宿命 were 集会 to link her life with 地雷.

How long I should have gone on dreaming I do not know, if I had not suddenly remembered the real 商売／仕事 I was on. I paid my 法案 quickly and went out again into the glare of the street.

Almost the first person I ran up against was old Nat Saunders, with a bundle of papers under his arm. He would not have noticed me, but this time I stopped him for an evening paper.

His 直面する beamed when he saw me, and then he beckoned me mysteriously out of the way of the traffic to the comparative quietness of a shop window. I saw he had something to tell me.

"There was another friend of yours asking after you yesterday," he said, "a darkish looking man with a small moustache. He must have seen you talking to me when you gave me the ten-shilling 公式文書，認める, for 直接／まっすぐに you had left me, he （機の）カム up and asked me about you.

"First he bought a Sport and gave me sixpence, telling me to keep the change. Then he said, just off-手渡す like, 'By the bye, wasn't that young fellow you were just talking to, young Mr. Wheatley?' I remembered what I 約束d you, and told him I didn't know who you were. 'But you were talking as if you knew him,' he said, and I said 'Oh, yes, he's a 正規の／正選手 顧客 of 地雷, and often buys papers off me, but that's all I know about him.' '井戸／弁護士席,' he said, 'he looked like a man I used to know a long time ago up in Kalgoorlie. But it doesn't 事柄.' And off he went."

I thanked the old man for 持つ／拘留するing his tongue, and went off at once to （犯罪の）一味 up the 長，指導者.

The （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） Nat Saunders had given me was very important, for the inquirer could only have been the man we 手配中の，お尋ね者, although 明らかに, he was now wearing a moustache. He would, of course, be 利益／興味d in me, recognising in me the '襲う，襲って強奪する' Tod McSwiney had 始める，決める out to stalk, and no 疑問, he was 極端に curious to learn how I had got on, and how it was I was now walking about the City and McSwiney was—he knew not where.

The 長，指導者 whistled cheerfully when I gave him my news over the 'phone. "Good, good, very good," he said. "Our friend is undoubtedly still with us, and as he bought Sport, it's twenty to one he's going to the races at Gawler to-morrow. He'll go a bit disguised, I 推定する／予想する, and so, now, must you. Go 権利 off the City at once. Go 支援する to the Central, and don't, for worlds, move out again to-night.

"You shall be モーターd into Gawler to-morrow, and at ten o'clock sharp I'll send a man up to your room to disguise you. You can 信用 this man 完全に; he's a perfect artist, and when he's done with you your best girl even wouldn't recognise you if she stood three feet from you in the street. What's your size in boots? Ah, all 権利, good-bye, and be careful."

I went to bed very 早期に, and spent most of the night dreaming of Mary 先頭.

Next morning, によれば 指示／教授／教育s, I had breakfast in my room, and by 9.30 was ready for the man who was coming to tog me up.

He turned up punctually on the 一打／打撃 of ten, and I was surprised to find he was 明白に an American. He was a little, smart dapper man, with bushy eyebrows and the usual goatte 耐えるd. He was not at all communicative, but when he did speak, it was with a soft nasal twang. He had brought やめる a large 捕らえる、獲得する with him, and rather to my disgust, 供給するd me with a pair of ugly boots and an entire 控訴 of 着せる／賦与するs of a most horrible 形態／調整 and 削減（する）. When my dressing was 完全にするd, he sat me 負かす／撃墜する before the window, and for fully half an hour worked on me with the 器具s of his （手先の）技術.

Scissors, 小衝突, pencil, 砕く, paint, and small tufts of 誤った hair, were all in turn called into requisition, and when I at last rose from my 議長，司会を務める and looked into the mirror, it was a very strange 直面する that looked me 支援する. From a beauty point of 見解（をとる）, I did not admire my 外見, but the man was certainly, as the 長，指導者 had said, an artist, and my nearest friend would not have recognised me then.

"What am I supposed to be?" I 不平（をいう）d rather ungraciously, after all the trouble he had taken.

"井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Stratton," he drawled 静かに, "you're just a young pastoralist, and you've come off some farm to lose all your 給料 at the races; there's always plenty such as you at Gawler, and we'll see your twin brother on every part of the course."

"Oh," I asked in surprise, "so you're coming with me, are you? 井戸／弁護士席, if so," I went on, as he nodded his 長，率いる in assent, "what, please, am I to call you? You seem to have got 持つ／拘留する of my 指名する 権利 enough."

"井戸／弁護士席," he replied, looking rather amused, "you can call me what you like. You see, you hardly know me 井戸／弁護士席 enough yet to call me 'Arnold,' so perhaps you'd better call me 視察官, or if you prefer it, Mr. Kitson."

I 公正に／かなり gasped in mingled astonishment and annoyance. This artist, then, was the little Melbourne 探偵，刑事 all the time, and for over half an hour he had turned and 扱うd me, with his 直面する only a few インチs off my own, and I hadn't seen through his make-up, or even 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that he was disguised.

Then my better nature overcame my annoyance at 存在 had so easily, and I held out my 手渡す admiringly to the little man. "視察官, you're a marvel. Even now, I can almost 疑問 it's you."

"The better for me," he chuckled, "and the better, too, for you, lad," he went on, dropping into a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な トン. "You know it isn't a picnic we're going to, Mr. Stratton. It's no 安全な 商売／仕事 to-day. The man we want, if he's the party I think he is, won't be caught like friend Tod with an empty gun; and what's more, he'll shoot all over the place before he's taken, if he's got the fraction of a second to get his 手渡す 支援する to his hip. I tell you, we must give away no chances to-day."

"Then you do think you'll know the man, 視察官?" I asked. "Do you think you'll know him if you see him?"

"Not by his 直面する," （機の）カム the instant reply, "for I've never seen his 直面する; but by his 活動／戦闘s. If he's my man, he's a left-手渡すd man, and he can shoot the pips off a card at ten paces every time. 支援する twelve months ago I almost had him in Castlemain one evening. Four of my best men pounced on him in the street, but he put a 弾丸 in them all and got away. Two were killed 完全な, and both of the others 不正に 攻撃する，衝突する. Oh, he's a masterpiece, this chap. But come on, we've twenty-five miles to go in the car, and we せねばならない be at Gawler by twelve."

It was やめる a pleasant 運動 in the car, and I 設立する the 視察官 a most entertaining companion. Beneath his crabbed exterior there was a genial, happy little man who could give and take a joke with anyone. I 設立する out later, however, that he was never happier or brighter than when engaged upon a dangerous 企業, and if that were so, I always think now, some of us must have been in very 広大な／多数の／重要な danger that afternoon.

Half a mile from Gawler, I was dropped by 協定, to 完全にする the 旅行 on foot along the dusty road.

We had carefully thought out all our 計画（する）s, and upon reaching the racecourse, I 機動力のある at once to the north 味方する of the grandstand. We had agreed that it was best I should not hang about the 入り口 gate, for if our man had any thought at all that we were trying to corner him, his 疑惑s would 自然に be most on the 警報 upon first entering the enclosure.

Once, however, he 設立する nothing to attract his notice there, we argued, his 疑惑s, if he had any, would die 負かす／撃墜する, and as the afternoon wore on, if I did see him, he would be the easier to approach and apprehend.

We 推定する／予想するd him to come made up, which would 追加する something to the difficulty of my recognising him, but we all had agreed our 広大な／多数の／重要な trump card lay in the fact that he would be out there at Gawler to make money.

He might indeed, be coming to change one or two of the dangerous five-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認めるs he was 持つ／拘留するing, but in the main, he would be watching for someone 製図／抽選 a nice 勝利，勝つ at the totalisator, as in my 事例／患者 at Victoria Park. That would be the time I should be most likely to see him.

The 長，指導者 had 主張するd I must keep some way away from the 支払う／賃金 windows, and only approach 近づく if I thought I saw my man. Therefore, I 任命する／導入するd myself straight away, for the time, at the 味方する of the grandstand. I could 観察する the 支払う／賃金 windows 井戸／弁護士席 from there, and with a pair of good binoculars that the 長，指導者 had lent me, could keep a sure 注目する，もくろむ on anyone lounging 近づく. If I should 位置／汚点／見つけ出す the gentleman, I was to get 一連の会議、交渉／完成する behind him and give the signal by fumbling with my collar at the 支援する. I understood there was to be a small army of plainclothes men ready to support me.

The course filled up with the （人が）群がる one sees usually at the Gawler 会合s. Plenty of people from the City, and a fair ぱらぱら雨ing of the 地元の country folk.

It is やめる a pretty little compact course is Gawler, and everything is 井戸／弁護士席 managed, and if it had not been for my 苦悩, I should have 完全に enjoyed the racing 供給するd.

The first race was won by the favourite, and as the （株主への）配当 returned was not two to one, I didn't 推定する／予想する our bird would find much to 利益／興味 him 近づく the 支払う／賃金 windows. So I got up to stretch my 脚s a bit, and walked の中で the （人が）群がる in 前線 of the 禁止（する）d.

I kept a 用心深い 注目する，もくろむ on all dark men of medium 高さ, but nothing （機の）カム my way, and the (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手s having 重さを計るd out for the second race, I returned to my former place on the grandstand.

Short-定価つきの favourites won the second and third races, too, and there was nothing 希望に満ちた yet. In vain in the intervals between the races did I perambulate the course. I went up and 負かす／撃墜する the paddock, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the refreshment booths, and left no part of the enclosure unvisited many times.

The fourth event was a five furlong 緊急発進する, and I thought for this race I would change my 策略. So just before the 'off' was shouted, I took up my position with my 支援する to the 裁判官's box and raked every occupant of the whole grandstand carefully with my binoculars.

But no, there was nothing doing. Not a 直面する struck any 公式文書，認める of 承認 in me, excepting one that reminded me of the fat policeman who had brought in my dinner when I was 存在 拘留するd at the police （警察，軍隊などの）本部 three days before.

I had just lowered my glasses despondently when a 広大な／多数の／重要な roar went up, telling me that the horses were on their way. I couldn't, of course, see much of the race from where I was standing, but as everyone started shouting the favourite's 指名する as they （機の）カム 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the bend for home, I 結論するd that, for the fourth time in succession, the （株主への）配当 was going to be a poor one.

Just before the horses reached the winning 地位，任命する, however, a 広大な／多数の／重要な groan went up from the （人が）群がる. The favourite was seen to be 井戸／弁護士席 beaten, and a few seconds later the numbers hoisted in the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる showed that he was only third.

"Just fancy Ibex winning," said a man standing next to me, "and the stable, I know, hadn't got a penny on him. Hardly anyone 支援するd him. He'll 支払う／賃金 at least forty to one, you see if he doesn't."

Now, I thought, was our chance. If there was anything in our theory, in a few minutes the man of 罪，犯罪 would be の近くに to the 支払う／賃金 windows, and 井戸／弁護士席 on the 警戒／見張り.

I had plenty of time to get 支援する to my old seat in the grandstand, for it was fully twenty minutes before the （株主への）配当 was 宣言するd, &続けざまに猛撃する;22 10s. for each ten shillings 投資するd.

I glued the glasses to my 注目する，もくろむs and breathlessly regarded everyone who （機の）カム 近づく the 支払う／賃金 window of the winning horse.

One, two, three, four, five, six I counted there at once, but no one bore the very slightest resemblance to the man I 手配中の，お尋ね者. Then the usual little （人が）群がる of curious 観客s appeared and started joking and congratulating the lucky 勝利者s upon their success. I ran my glasses over them carefully, but 設立する nothing to raise any hopes. I really began to feel やめる sick with 失望 when suddenly I caught sight of a stoutish-looking man lounging on one of the seats の近くに beside the palings. He was not at all like the man I was looking for, 存在 shorter and much too stout, but when the glasses 残り／休憩（する）d on him, my 利益／興味 was at once 誘発するd by something 半端物 about his 直面する. He was やめる の近くに, only about ten yards from me, and about 中途の between the 支払う／賃金 window and where I sat.

It struck me 即時に in what a good position he was to 観察する all that was going on at the window, and yet, not to appear too 利益／興味d in the people とじ込み／提出するing up.

As I say, he was so の近くに that I put 負かす／撃墜する the glasses and had a good 星／主役にする at him without them.

My hopes fell to 無; he was やめる ordinary, and there was nothing peculiar about him.

I was 場内取引員／株価 him finally off the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） when re-adjusting the binoculars, I happened to 焦点（を合わせる） them for a second on his 直面する again.

Certainly there was something peculiar about him I saw, but it evidently only showed up when I had got the glasses on him.

Then it （機の）カム to me all in a flash—he was 'made up.' My heart 強くたたくd like a 大打撃を与える, and I had to lean hard against the 塀で囲む to keep the glasses 安定した. Yes, the lines and 影をつくる／尾行するs on both 味方するs of his 直面する did not correspond, and one eyebrow was distinctly out of keeping with the other.

I snapped the glasses はっきりと in their 事例／患者 and moved 負かす／撃墜する off the grandstand as quickly as I could.

The man was still watching the 支払う／賃金 window, and I got の近くに up to him, without his turning his 長，率いる.

He was like the man we 手配中の，お尋ね者 and yet he wasn't. The dark 注目する，もくろむs and squat 幅の広い nose were there, but this chap was shorter, stouter, and much broader. I was in despair.

If I gave the signal and it 証明するd not to be the man, I should irretrievably spoil all chance of success. If Tod's companion were indeed in the enclosure, the commotion of any 逮捕（する） would put him on his guard at once, and all our chances would be gone.

I didn't know what to do.

I retired 支援する の中で the （人が）群がる by the grandstand, and keeping my 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on the man I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd, tried calmly to 重さを計る up all the chances of プロの／賛成の and 反対／詐欺.

Would nothing help me to a 決定／判定勝ち（する）, I thought, and then something suddenly did.

The man lighted a cigarette, and between the puffs, began to spit.

My tongue （機の）カム 乾燥した，日照りの in my mouth, and I held my breath in a （軽い）地震 of excitement. Whom had I seen spit like that before? Whom but McSwiney's friend as they stood 近づく me, 味方する by 味方する, just a week ago in Victoria Park.

I was やめる 確かな now, but I stood still as it were carefully to consider my cards before I 宣言するd trumps.

Sure of success, I became now at once perfectly 静める and collected. I sent my mind travelling 支援する to those 血まみれの days in フラン, and tried hard to think 正確に／まさに what we should have done there, under 類似の circumstances.

Surely, I told myself, several 井戸／弁護士席-用意が出来ている men could 急ぐ one 選び出す／独身, unprepared man before he'd time to reach for his gun from his hip pocket.

We couldn't get behind him, because the seat he was on was bang up against the palings; and we couldn't 井戸／弁護士席 急ぐ him in 前線, because he was away from the （人が）群がる, with a good （疑いを）晴らす space before him. So the best thing to do, I argued, was to wait until he got up, and then take him from behind. But I would give the signal anyhow, 権利 away, for everyone to be 用意が出来ている.

Now, I didn't in the least know how the 長，指導者 and 視察官 Kitson had arranged for their men, but they had told me 前向きに／確かに I should be followed everywhere, and could take it for 認めるd that ample help would be at 手渡す whenever I should need it.

I therefore looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する meaningly on all 味方するs into the （人が）群がる, and then deliberately began fumbling with my coat collar at the 支援する. Then, still standing where I was, I started a cigarette, to let them know there was no 即座の hurry.

It was a good five minutes before my gentleman moved; then he got up leisurely from the seat and sauntered slowly に向かって the rails.

The horses for the next race had gone 負かす／撃墜する to the 地位，任命する, and there was the usual last minute 急ぐing about to get on at the こども.

Our friend slowly threaded his way through the （人が）群がる, evidently from the changing direction of his steps, に引き続いて someone just in 前線 of him. I の近くにd in on him behind, devoutly hoping all the time that when I did strike there would be 適する help at 手渡す.

Suddenly, the man seemed to take 疑惑 at something, for he turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する はっきりと with big, gaping 注目する，もくろむs, and his left 手渡す went in a flash to his hip. But I was on him in a trice, and before he could get his 手渡す （疑いを）晴らす, had pinioned both his 武器 to his 味方する. He struggled 猛烈に, and getting his 権利 arm 解放する／自由な, landed me two vicious blows in the 直面する. Then it seemed to me there were a whole （人が）群がる of people on him, and a man dressed as a clergyman produced a stout pair of 手錠s and deftly locked them on his wrists. It was all over in a few seconds, and he was carried away, 悪口を言う／悪態ing and struggling, through the （人が）群がる. They took him to a place behind the 重さを計るing-room, and for twenty minutes or so I was left wondering as to whether, after all, we had got the 権利 man.

Then the 長，指導者 （機の）カム out radiant and shook me 温かく by the 手渡す.

"Keep （疑いを）晴らす of Kitson, my friend," he said, all smiles, "for I think he's going to 抱擁する you presently. You've done splendidly. It's the man we 手配中の，お尋ね者, and there's heaps of 証拠 on him. We've 設立する nearly all the other half of the 公式文書，認めるs taken at 開始する Gambier, and everything's as （疑いを）晴らす as day. His finger prints presently will clinch the whole thing. No wonder he looked stout; he was padded all over. But by Jove some of us had a 狭くする escape. If you hadn't held, he'd have played hell with that (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 of his. It seems he recognised two of Kitson's Melbourne men, and that's what made him so quick to 扱う his gun. He's given you a 汚い 削減（する）, anyhow."

"Oh, that's nothing," I replied. "I don't think I've ever felt やめる so happy before."

"Yes, and you've made a lot of people happy too, to-day, my boy," he went on. "I've just heard Smithers had eleven 続けざまに猛撃するs of the 駅／配置する money on Ibex—完全に on your 推薦. He says you told him to go nap on a 地元で trained one, and our men clubbed together and sent him 負かす／撃墜する here.

"井戸／弁護士席, come on; let's go and have a drink. I'll stand you anything you like to-day."

CHAPTER VI. — UP PIMBA WAY

THE newspapers were good reading during the next few days. The 長，指導者, perhaps to 補償する himself a little for all the 苦悩s he had undergone, was most generous in his 発覚s and 許すd a good 取引，協定 of most 利益／興味ing （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to filter through into the 圧力（をかける）. And the 圧力（をかける） made the most of their 適切な時期.

The Advertiser on the Tuesday had やめる a long leader on 'The 開始する Gambier 事例／患者,' and worked in a 罰金 劇の story of all that happened in the 事件／事情／状勢. In impressive language it pictured up for its readers the story of the 罪，犯罪. The lonely homestead, and the two poor 犠牲者s done to death; the hurried flight of the 殺害者s, quick upon their dreadful 行為; the little 脅すd 直面する peering at them from the woodstack; the stealthy crossing to the Garden 明言する／公表する; the coming of the wretches to Adelaide, and their undoubted 期待 of 残り／休憩（する）ing 安全な・保証する in the beautiful city of the plains. Their 広大な／多数の／重要な mistake. The sleuth hounds of the 法律 upon their 跡をつける; the 手がかり（を与える） of the passed banknotes; the 殺害者s quarrelling between themselves; the 狙撃 on the sandhills at Glenelg; the police silently 製図／抽選 their 逮捕するs through the city, and at last, the flash-light 逮捕（する） on the Gawler racecourse. Finally, it spoke impassionately of the lesson all 法律-breakers would now learn. In other 明言する／公表するs they might, indeed, carry on their perilous careers 無期限に／不明確に; どこかよそで they might 侮辱する／軽蔑する insolently the 後見人s of 法律 and order, and jeer mockingly at all 成果／努力s to apprehend them. But here in South Australia, here in this beautiful city of culture and refinement, they would find they were in a very different position.

Once let them cross the 国境, once let them 始める，決める their defiling feet on any part of this most favoured 明言する／公表する and their days, nay, their very hours, were numbered. The police service of South Australia was the best in the world, and in Adelaide, above all, there would be short 転換 always for the breakers of the 法律.

The 登録（する） also made a 独特の feature of the 事例／患者, and congratulated the City of Adelaide upon the superb services （判決などを）下すd to 法律 and order by its police. But it also pointed out how such 罪，犯罪s as these were fostered and encouraged by the 悪口を言う／悪態 of political 不安. If only, it 主張するd, we had amongst us statesmen instead of 政治家，政治屋s and if only the people would 投票（する） solidly against all demagogues and agitators, then in a land of happiness and contentment what chance would there be, it finally asked its readers, for any 罪，犯罪 of 暴力／激しさ such as this to 解除する up its 長，率いる.

I wired to my cousin beyond Pimba that I should be coming up by the Thursday morning train.

The 長，指導者, によれば his 約束, told me I was perfectly 解放する／自由な to go where and when I liked now. They had all the 証拠 they 要求するd to hang the man a dozen times over, and nothing of my 参加 in any part of the 事件／事情／状勢 need come out. The 殺害者 was to be 手渡すd over to the Victorian 当局, for although the 罪，犯罪 would always be referred to as the 開始する Gambier 殺人, 現実に it had taken place about three miles over the 国境, in the 明言する／公表する of Victoria itself.

Both the 長，指導者 and 視察官 Kitson did their best to be exceedingly nice to me. The three of us had a little parting dinner at the South Australian Hotel, and in 説 a final good-bye afterwards the 長，指導者 圧力（をかける）d a little packet in my 手渡すs.

"A little 現在の for you, my boy," he said smilingly, "a 共同の 現在の from us both. The 視察官 chose it this morning, and we're both sure you'll like it. It's what you've been accustomed to probably, and our only hope is that you'll find this one as useful in the 未来 as maybe you have 設立する others like it in the past. Don't open it until you get home."

When I undid the packet that night in my bedroom I 設立する it 含む／封じ込めるd a beautiful little .22 revolver.

I duly reached Pimba in the 早期に hours of Friday and had a wearisome 旅行 to my cousin's 駅／配置する at Velvet Hills.

He had sent a two-horse buggy to 会合，会う me, and for five blistering hours we toiled through the bush, blessing the 飛行機で行くs that buzzed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in millions. The driver was a taciturn, uncommunicative sort of fellow, and when I 問い合わせd after my cousin would only keep on telling me "the boss was bad." He was so short in his answers that I gave up talking to him at last and for the most part the 運動 was 行為／行うd in silence.

But my own thoughts were entertaining enough. I wondered what good I was going to get by coming up all this way. It would be idle to pretend that I wasn't hoping to 利益 by my cousin's position. He was, I knew, and on his own admission, too, a rich man. If I pleased him and we got on together it might alter my whole life again and bring Mary 先頭 nearer to me.

I realised fully the 広大な／多数の／重要な 湾 that lay between me and the girl who was always in my thoughts. I knew they were very rich people, and the 始める，決める she moved in was the most reserved in South Australia. There was nothing of the snob about Sir Henry 先頭, however. He was too 罰金 a 兵士 for one thing, and of too virile a character, for another. But he belonged to a class that kept always very much to themselves. 知識s I knew he had without number, but friends, intimate friends, very few. He had come from the old country to settle in South Australia at the 結論 of the war, for the sake of the warmer 気候, and lived in a beautiful place on the slope of the hills の近くに to 開始する Lofty.

Mary was his only daughter, and やめる apart from her father's position, her beauty would, I knew, bring her many suitors.

What chance did I have then, I thought to myself? I, unknown, friendless, and with only just over &続けざまに猛撃する;200 in all the world! I laughed at my own presumption, and yet at the same time, somehow, I was やめる 確かな it would all come 権利 in the end, and one day I should have her for my own.

It was 井戸／弁護士席 into the afternoon when we arrived at Velvet Hills. My cousin was lying 負かす／撃墜する, I was told, and I was led to the door of a darkened room.

"Come in, John, come in," called out a 発言する／表明する that struck me at once as not 存在 over friendly, and I 押し進めるd 支援する the wire door and entered quickly to keep out the 飛行機で行くs.

For a moment or two, after the glare of the 有望な sun, I could see nothing, and then the form of my cousin ぼんやり現れるd up on a couch.

"So you've come, John," he said querulously, in weak, 不安定な トンs, "but I don't know what you've come for. I really don't know, either, why I asked you. I'm not a rich man, and it's only ordinary 給料 I can 申し込む／申し出 you, just ordinary 給料, mind. If the truth were known I've done very 不正に lately. I tell you I'm really a poor man; I've always got an overdraft at the bank; and I'm a very sick man, too, John, and not likely to get better, so the doctors say."

I was too surprised to speak for a minute. His words fell like a 爆破 of icy 空気／公表する upon all my hopes. What a welcome, I thought, and it was for this I had come all these 疲れた／うんざりした miles. I had so ブイ，浮標d myself up with the rosy prospect that I thought lay before me, that it was almost with a sob of 失望 I 軍隊d myself to reply.

"Why, cousin; what on earth's the 事柄 with you?"

"I was thrown from a horse over a year ago, and it's 負傷させるd my spine. 'Caries of the vertebrae' the doctors call it, and they say there's no cure."

"Oh, but there must be," I said incredulously; "港／避難所't you been to a specialist?"

"Four of them," he almost wailed; "in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. They all took their 料金s and told me the same tale: too 近づく the spinal cord to operate. I must just 嘘（をつく） and 苦しむ till I 'croak.' But I suppose," he 追加するd suspiciously, "you 設立する out I was very bad before you troubled to come up here, didn't you?"

"No," I replied indignantly. "I never heard anything at all of you until I got your letter last week!"

"And then you （機の）カム up at once, like one of the vultures," he went on sneeringly. "Of course, you're awfully hard up."

I felt my temper rising, and with vexation and 失望, was just in the mood to give him a good 予定するing and tell him what I thought of him, but my 注目する，もくろむs by now getting accustomed to the 不明瞭 of the room, I saw how 猛烈に ill the man looked, and a 広大な／多数の／重要な wave of pity drove all my 怒り／怒る from me. My cousin was not yet forty, I knew, and yet lying there on the couch he looked older even than sixty. His hair was almost white; his 直面する was drawn and shrunken, and his 注目する，もくろむs were 深く，強烈に gone into his 長，率いる. He was thin almost to emaciation, and the fingers of a bony 手渡す that lay across the coverlet were almost like claws. He looked already like a dying man to me.

"No, Sidney," I said やめる gently in answer to his question, "I am not in any way hard up; I have more than two hundred 続けざまに猛撃するs in my pocket now. I just （機の）カム up because you asked me and if you don't want me, I'm やめる ready to go 支援する to-morrow."

"I'm sorry, John, I was so rude to you," he replied at once, in quieter and more even トンs, "but I'm not myself to-day. It's one of my bad days, and my 長，率いる's terrible. I'm glad you've come, and I've looked 今後 to seeing you. But I'm no company for anyone to-day. Go out to my 経営者／支配人, Stevenson, he'll show you 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and I'll be better, maybe, to-morrow and can talk."

I 設立する the 経営者／支配人 outside, and introduced myself to him. He was a pleasant-直面するd and slow speaking Yorkshireman, but I soon 設立する after a few minutes' conversation that with all his slowness he was a most 有能な man, and had all the 商売／仕事 of the 駅／配置する at his fingers' ends.

Before the evening meal he showed me 一連の会議、交渉／完成する part of the 駅／配置する, and I was agreeably surprised to find no trace of the poverty my cousin had wailed about so recently.

I knew something about sheep 駅／配置するs, and as far as I could see everything looked 繁栄する and 井戸／弁護士席. All the buildings were 大幅に built and the 盗品故買者ing was in an excellent 明言する／公表する of 修理. It 要求するd only half an 注目する，もくろむ to see that everything was 井戸／弁護士席 looked after.

Not far from home we （機の）カム across a 暴徒 of 罰金 sheep, and in reply to the question put me by the 経営者／支配人, I 示唆するd there were about seven hundred there.

"井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席," he said approvingly, "I see you've seen a sheep 駅／配置する before. You're nearly 権利, there should be seven hundred and twenty there."

"And in splendid 条件, too," I went on enthusiastically. "It must be very gratifying to my cousin, for I understand he's been in for a very unsatisfactory time lately."

"How do you mean?" asked the 経営者／支配人, looking rather puzzled.

"井戸／弁護士席, he told me this afternoon things were not going 井戸／弁護士席 with him up here."

"Mr. Stratton," said the Yorkshireman deliberately after a pause, "your cousin is a very sick man, and it is one of the peculiarities of his sickness that he often imagines things are very bad when they are 正確に／まさに the opposite. Do you know," he went on proudly, "we have over twenty-six thousand sheep on this 駅／配置する, and this year, for the third year in succession, everything has gone 井戸／弁護士席 with us. It couldn't be better."

My spirits began to rise. My cousin's poverty and ill-luck were evidently only 段階s of his illness, but I felt 猛烈に sorry for him and questioned the 経営者／支配人 as to the life he led.

He told me my cousin was a very lonely man, no one coming to visit him except occasionally his brother-in-法律, who lived on another sheep 駅／配置する about twenty miles north, and I gathered from the トン of his 発言する／表明する as he referred to the brother-in-法律 that he didn't think much of him.

"I'm very glad you've come up, Mr. Stratton," he 結論するd; "it's no good shutting our 注目する，もくろむs to the fact that the master will never get about much again, and there are those who would be pleased to walk behind his 棺 to-morrow. It's not for me to put you against anyone, but you'll soon find out for yourself, and from the look of you I should think you'll be able to 持つ／拘留する your own."

I did not see my cousin again that night, but next morning he was out in the 日光 and hobbling about with the 援助（する） of a stick.

He looked dreadfully ill, but he said he felt better, and hoped Stevenson had shown me 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 適切に.

明らかに he had forgotten he had told me the previous evening that he was in bad circumstances, for now he was proud of his 所有／入手s and anxious for me to be impressed with the number of his sheep and the extent of his 駅／配置する.

The 経営者／支配人 took me out all day and we 棒 a long way up the 駅／配置する. As I had surmised the previous afternoon, everything was in apple-pie order and I realised my cousin must be a very rich man.

Coming 支援する 近づく home we （機の）カム upon a beautiful roan gelding, standing 井戸／弁護士席 over sixteen 手渡すs, in a little paddock by himself. I reined up to have a good look at him.

"What a magnificent animal," I ejaculated. "What a glorious 長，率いる and what magnificent hindquarters. What a leaper he'd make."

"What a leaper he'd make?" grunted my guide, "what a leaper he is, more likely. You wait a moment and you shall see. That's Rataplan."

He dismounted, and going to the paddock 味方する called to the animal. It trotted up at once and rubbed its nose against his 手渡す.

"Now help me off with my saddle," he said, "and Rataplan shall show you what sort of leaper he is without waiting for any making at all."

He got over the 盗品故買者 and in a couple of minutes had transferred the saddle and bridle from his 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス to the beautiful looking beast I had stopped to admire.

"Now you watch," he called out as happy as a boy in his excitement. "I'll put him to that 盗品故買者 over there—it's six foot good and there's not much run and the take-off's bad."

He wheeled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する はっきりと, and put the gelding straight at a high 盗品故買者 about five and twenty yards away. The animal rose like a bird and there was plenty of daylight under him as he skimmed over the 盗品故買者. 一連の会議、交渉／完成する they both （機の）カム again and the 盗品故買者 was a second time taken, with the same 明らかに effortless 緩和する.

"Let me have a go," I said, slipping off my own beast and 準備するing to climb over into the paddock.

"No, Mr. John," said the 経営者／支配人 shaking his 長，率いる, "I'm very sorry, but I mustn't. The master would never 許す me if I did. It was Rataplan that gave him his 負傷させるd spine, and he 公約するd no one shall ever ride him again except me. If the master dies Rataplan is to be 発射. I've sworn to do it myself, and although I'd hate doing it, I'll keep my 誓い."

"How did he come to throw him?" I asked.

"It wasn't Rataplan's fault. A wild cat dashed up under his very nose. He 後部d up, and your cousin was thrown."

"But what a sin," I 勧めるd, "to shoot a beast like that. He looks beautifully bred."

"Aye, for sure he is. His 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandsire was Marvel who once （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the mighty Carbine. He's only six years old, and we bred him ourselves. He's by Inverary out of Maid of the もや."

"Never been raced?" I asked.

"No, the more's the pity. He would have been if the master had been all 権利. I tell you, Mr. John, put a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of 障害物s or a few 盗品故買者s before Rataplan and I don't think, at two miles and 上向きs, there would be a horse in all Australia to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 him. He can stay for ever, and even after a good three miles hard spin he has always a terrific spurt up his sleeve. The only thing against him is he's a slow beginner and takes a long time to get into his stride. But come, we mustn't be late. The master's awfully particular."

My cousin was やめる pleasant to me that evening, but every now and then he kept harping 支援する to the question of his money.

"I tell you plainly I've nothing much to leave, John," he said. "Only a few 続けざまに猛撃するs, and when everything is settled up and a little bequest to the Adelaide Hospital and a little 現在の to my brother-in-法律, there will be precious little else to go to anyone."

I told him bluntly two or three times that I could do without his money, and in any 事例／患者 he shouldn't talk about dying. He might take a good turn for the better any time, I said, and, as for doctors, I knew something about them, and the best of them were often wrong.

He seemed to think there was something in what I said, but he 転換d the conversation and went on to something else.

"By the way, John," he said presently in a rather hesitating sort of way, "when you see （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson, my brother-in-法律, you needn't について言及する I wrote you to come up here. You'll probably see him on Sunday, and just let him you think you （機の）カム up on the chance. He's a very good fellow, is （頭が）ひょいと動く, but thinks I せねばならない have no company and be kept very 静かな."

I could see from the hesitating way in which he spoke that he was keeping 支援する something, and not telling all the truth, but I pretended to notice nothing and just nodded my 長，率いる, 決定するing, however, to keep a sharp 注目する，もくろむ on the gentleman when he should 最終的に appear.

On Sunday, sure enough, he turned up. I was out when he arrived, but, coming home just after noon and pausing on the verandah to flick some of the dust off my boots, I heard a strange 発言する／表明する coming from the direction of my cousin's room.

"A 血 sucker," it was 説, "a 血 sucker, Sid, as sure as you're lying there. Depend upon it, he's heard 負かす／撃墜する Adelaide that you're sick and he's come up here on the chance of getting a poke in it if you don't get better. I know his sort 井戸／弁護士席 enough."

"No, （頭が）ひょいと動く," replied my cousin, I thought rather weakly, "it's not all that. He's got some money, I know, and he's only come for a very short stay."

"井戸／弁護士席, mind he doesn't upset you," went on the other blusteringly; "you know you can't stand any excitement."

I turned 支援する off the verandah and did a little walk 一連の会議、交渉／完成する before appearing again at the house. This time I （機の）カム in whistling loudly, so that there could be no mistake about their 審理，公聴会 my approach.

My cousin nervously introduced me to his brother-in-法律, and even if I hadn't heard what I had I should have instinctively taken a dislike to the man.

He was a big, 幅の広い, dark man with big shaggy eyebrows and a 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd. He looked a 正規の／正選手 いじめ（る）, and I don't wonder my poor cousin, in his bad 明言する／公表する of health, was afraid of him. I guessed his age about forty, and he scowled unpleasantly as we shook 手渡すs.

"I'm sure it's very good of you to come up all this way," he said in a half sneering トン, "it must have taken a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 to 涙／ほころび you up from city life."

Now I had made up my mind what to do. In the few minutes 占領するd by my walk 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house after I had first heard his evil suggestion to my cousin I had 選ぶd up my cue.

He would evidently try to 選ぶ a quarrel with me, I thought, and get me out away from Velvet Hills. And the 推論する／理由 was not difficult to find. He 明確に regarded himself as my cousin's 相続人 and looked upon me now as an 予期しない but probable 競争相手. I understood also now why my cousin had asked me not to について言及する anything of the letter he had written to me at Adelaide. He was undoubtedly afraid of his brother-in-法律, and, as I say, I didn't wonder why. To a weak and 病んでいる 無効の this big, blustering, 強健な type of individual must have seemed a veritable tower of strength.

I 決定するd I wouldn't quarrel and if this big brute of a man was thinking he would 伸び（る） his ends by cunning, 井戸／弁護士席, I would 会合，会う cunning with cunning and we would see which was the better man.

So, when he coarsely 示唆するd I must have had a very special 推論する／理由 for coming up I just smiled at him as amiably as I could, and said, やめる friendly: "Oh, no, I don't like cities at all. Besides I'm やめる at home out 支援する."

"Ever seen sheep before?" he asked sarcastically.

"Rather," I replied; "I was 境界 rider for over eighteen months where they had nearly as many sheep as here."

My answers seemed to 二塁打 his 逮捕 and he screwed up his 激しい, swarthy 直面する in a most disagreeable manner. Evidently he thought if I understood sheep as I had just said I had, I should be not only a companion, but a help also to my cousin.

All that afternoon he tried his very 最大の to put me in a temper, and at times was 前向きに／確かに rude to me, 率直に to my 直面する. But all along I pretended not to notice anything, and answered his sarcastic questions in the frankest and nicest way possible.

At first my poor cousin was 明白に 苦しめるd at the rudeness of his brother-in-法律, and evidently 推定する／予想するd a burst of angry temper at any moment on my part. But after a while, seeing I was 決定するd not to quarrel at any cost, he began, I thought, rather to enjoy the 戦う／戦い of words and in a timid sort of way was maliciously amused at his brother-in-法律's discomfiture.

At last the man took himself off, giving me the surliest of nods by way of a good-bye.

My cousin made no 発言／述べる about anything that had happened that afternoon until just before going to bed, and then he said apologetically to me: "You mustn't mind （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson; he's got a funny way with him, but he's very 大（公）使館員d to me and 自然に is rather jealous."

I only replied, "Oh, it was rather funny, wasn't it?"

I quickly fell into my place at Velvet Hills and very soon day upon day and week upon week 後継するd one another in monotonous regularity.

My position with my cousin was hard to explain. For a long time he was very 怪しげな of me, and whenever he had one of his bad days on him kept harping to me about money 事柄s. He kept on telling me how poor he was and over and over again kept rubbing it in that there would be no money at all he could leave me.

After about three months, however, his 疑惑s seemed to take a 残り／休憩（する）, and except for the Sunday afternoons when his brother-in-法律 invariably （機の）カム over, I got やめる to love the busy life at the 駅／配置する. I must have been a 慰安, too, to my cousin, 同様に as a help, for after the evening meal was over we used いつかs to smoke and yarn together hour by hour.

But all the while his malady grew 刻々と worse, and there was no disguising the fact that he was 徐々に 'going west.' He 苦しむd 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦痛 at times and it made him intensely irritable and very hard to 耐える with. When these attacks were on him he couldn't sleep without opiates, and yet the 麻薬s made him so bad next day that we tried to keep them from him as much as possible.

The 経営者／支配人 and I had often to sit up with him into the small hours of the morning, chatting and trying to make him keep his mind off his 苦痛. Help （機の）カム to us, however, in this direction in an 予期しない manner.

One day, rummaging for something in the 板材 room, I （機の）カム across a really 罰金 violin in a 乱打するd old shabby 事例／患者 that had not been unstrapped for years.

Now I am not by any means a bad musician, and up to the time of joining the colours the violin had been one of my pet hobbies.

In 新規加入 to a natural aptitude, in my poor father's time, I had been taught by some of the best masters, and, at one time, had 本気で thought of taking up music as a profession.

I took the violin in to my cousin, and asked him if I might try it. He was 大いに surprised.

"You don't play, do you?" he asked incredulously.

"Why not?" I said, laughing.

"井戸／弁護士席, I don't see why you shouldn't, but you have never について言及するd it to me. That violin 事例／患者 has not been opened for more than twenty years; it belonged to my brother, who died when I was やめる a boy. Let's hear what you can do. I like soft pieces."

I gave him Gounod's Serenade, and after watching me intently for the first few 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s, he lay 支援する and の近くにd his 注目する，もくろむs. As I say, I am not a bad musician, and the 器具 in my 手渡すs was of as beautiful a トン as one could wish. I have a good memory, and although 自然に very much out of practice, I could feel I was bringing out something of the imperishable beauty of a melody that can never die. When I had finished he didn't speak, and I went on to Rubinstein in F, and then to Barcarolle.

It really touched me to see how he enjoyed it, and when I finally stopped for a 残り／休憩（する） and put 負かす／撃墜する my 屈服する, it was with a sob in my own throat that I realised he was crying.

We neither spoke for a few minutes, and then he said to me very 厳粛に, "John, you've given me the greatest 扱う／治療する I've had for many a long day, and now," smiling, "you shall play to me every night."

After that night things seemed much easier with him, and whenever he was in 苦痛 I would play to him, いつかs for hours. However bad he was at first, it nearly always ended in his dropping off 静かに to sleep.

I 設立する heaps and heaps of old pieces of music, tied up in the 板材 room, and there was no 欠如（する） of variety in what I was able to play.

自然に, under these circumstances, a kindlier feeling grew up between us, and I began to notice in many ways that my cousin's manner was changing に向かって me. He stopped sneering at me, and even on his bad days, which unhappily became more and more たびたび（訪れる）, 中止するd to keep on reminding me about his money.

One thing seemed to me rather funny. By unspoken and undiscussed 協定, we neither of us by any chance ever referred to my violin-playing when （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson was 現在の. My cousin was silent because he was afraid, and I was silent because it was part of my 計画（する） to 妨害する a man I had come to loathe and detest.

In these months I had 完全に got to the 底（に届く） of （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson. He hadn't the very slightest affection for my cousin, and was just waiting for him to die. He had some 持つ／拘留する on him somehow and I always 恐れるd he was in the 所有／入手 of a will made out in his favour.

I was no hypocrite, and never pretended to myself that I wasn't 利益／興味d as to how my cousin would leave his money. It was 特許 to everyone he couldn't live long, and whether I got a penny or not I would have just loved to see his brother-in-法律, the big, stout, blustering いじめ（る）, left in the cart.

Every Sunday 定期的に he （機の）カム over, and every Sunday 定期的に he looked me up and 負かす／撃墜する contemptuously, and, I had no 疑問 whatever, 悪口を言う／悪態d me in his own mind for 存在 such a silly fool.

It was my 計画（する） always to efface myself when he （機の）カム over, and never to give him the very slightest 推論する／理由 to believe I was やめる as anxious as to the 未来 as he was. And in the light of after events, I am sure he took it all in.

One night, after I had been playing the favourite pieces that he liked best, my cousin said suddenly:—

"John, would you like to have Rataplan?"

I was too astonished for a moment to reply, but he saw the delight in my 直面する, and went on, "井戸／弁護士席, you can have him if you like. I never really ーするつもりであるd any one should ever have him again, but it seems to me childish now, and so I'll give him to you. I'll 令状 you a letter to-morrow, 説 he's yours, so that if anything happens to me suddenly, you'll know where you are."

I thanked him gratefully, and he was genuinely pleased at my obvious delight.

Mr. Stevenson whistled when I told him the news next morning. "Good 商売／仕事, Mr. John," he said, "the master's coming to a better mind, and there's no one I'd rather see across Rataplan than you."

I lost no time in visiting the gelding. Friends we already were, and I had no difficulty at all in 説得するing him to let me put on saddle and bridle and get astride.

Oh, what a ride I had that morning! It ぐずぐず残るs even now in my memory after many years, like the fragrance of some beautiful flower.

The gelding was a beautiful mover, and took everything in a gloriously long, even stride. At whatever pace he was going he always gave one the impression of a tremendous 未使用の 力／強力にする in reserve. Even when I was putting him at the stiffest 盗品故買者s, it always seemed to me he had a few インチs to spare; and as for his 速度(を上げる）—井戸／弁護士席, once he was got 井戸／弁護士席 going, it was more of the five or six furlong variety than the 安定した two miles and a half.

When I got home my cousin was most 利益／興味d to know how I had got on. I told him what I thought of the gelding and of the 可能性s that in my estimation, at all events, lay before him. I said he was in my opinion good enough to run on any racecourse in the 連邦／共和国, even の中で the best of company.

My cousin only sighed 深く，強烈に, and 発言／述べるd that it would be strange if an animal that had brought bad 災害 to one Stratton, should by any means be 運命にあるd to bring good fortune to another.

CHAPTER VII. — THE NEW MASTER OF VELVET HILLS

WHEN I had been at Velvet Hills just over six months, （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson 棒 in one weekday to have what he was pleased to call a serious talk with my cousin.

They were closeted together for more than an hour, and from the pitch of their 発言する／表明するs, I thought his brother-in-法律 was trying to 説得する him to do something he didn't 特に want to do.

I heard all about it the same evening after Master （頭が）ひょいと動く had gone.

It appeared he was 勧めるing my cousin to go 負かす／撃墜する to Adelaide to be 診察するd by another practitioner. He had heard of a herbalist, he told him, who had newly come to the City, and who was 成し遂げるing wonderful cures upon 患者s who had been hopelessly given up by the 正規の／正選手 医療の men of North Terrace.

My cousin didn't want to go. He said he realised to the 十分な that his 事例／患者 was hopeless, and he was tired of 存在 pulled about. Besides, he dreaded the thought of the long, 疲れた／うんざりした 旅行 負かす／撃墜する the 明言する／公表する, and the 揺さぶるing and knocking about. He asked me what I thought about it.

Now, in my own mind, I knew やめる 井戸／弁護士席 what I thought about it. （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get him 負かす／撃墜する to Adelaide for some 目的 of his own, and didn't care anything about my cousin's health. It was やめる possible some new quack had come to the City, but that was not the 推論する／理由, I felt sure, for getting him away from Velvet Hills.

I 自然に did not について言及する my surmise, and only 示唆するd that whether he went or not, he せねばならない give the 事柄 very careful consideration.

（頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson returned to the attack on Sunday, and from that day 今後, never left the 支配する alone. He badgered my cousin every time he saw him, and preyed on his 神経s by telling him everyone could see he was getting worse and worse every week.

At last my cousin began to show 調印するs of giving way, and taking the bull by the horns one Sunday about six weeks after he had first broached the 事柄, his brother-in-法律 発表するd 前向きに／確かに that he should call for him in the waggon on the に引き続いて Wednesday at noon.

My cousin tried all he could to get out of it, and struggled weakly to be left alone, but in the end, the weak nature gave way before the strong, and he finally unwillingly 同意d to go.

I at once 申し込む／申し出d to …を伴って him, but his brother-in-法律 again put in his word so 堅固に that, after hesitating a long while, he said there was no need, and I had better remain on the 駅／配置する.

They went off on the Wednesday, and the poor 無効の looked so tired and 病んでいる as they helped him into the waggon that we all やめる thought we had seen the last of him, and that he was going to his death. But we were mistaken. They were away six days, returning on the Tuesday.

My cousin was in the last 行う／開催する／段階 of exhaustion when he arrived home. If he had looked bad in starting, he looked ten times worse when he returned. He was so weak that he could hardly speak, and he had to be carried bodily to his bed.

For three days he seemed やめる dazed, and we hardly got a word out of him. It 要求するd no very experienced 注目する，もくろむ to see that he had been drenched with opiates; indeed, he told us afterwards that he remembered nothing at all of the 旅行 home.

For nearly a week both the 経営者／支配人 and I thought he would never get off his bed again; but left 静かに undisturbed, he slowly shook off the 影響s of the 旅行, and in about a fortnight was more like his old self again, only decidedly 女性 and more frail.

徐々に, piece by piece, something of the happenings at Adelaide （機の）カム out.

He had visited the herbalist, a Dr. Rutter, and the latter had turned out to be just as I thought—only an ordinary commonplace quack.

He had pulled him about a lot and sent him away with a 抱擁する packet of pills that （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson said would, for 確かな , 減ずる all the inflammation in a few weeks.

I asked my cousin what sort of man Dr. Rutter was, and what he was like to look at.

He didn't answer for やめる a long time, and then, bending に向かって me, said almost in a whisper:—

"That's the curious part of it I don't understand. I have no recollection at all of what the doctor was like. The person I seem to have had most to do with in Adelaide was a very tall, clean-shaven man, who seemed, as far as I hazily remember, to be always 圧力（をかける）ing a bell. I tell you, John," he went on presently, "I am very puzzled, and I don't like it. All the time I was in Adelaide I seemed like a man who was getting drunk."

I could see plainly the 事柄 was upsetting him by the way he was beginning to tremble, so I at once turned the conversation and 申し込む／申し出d to play to him.

But he waved my suggestion aside, and in a minute or two again referred to the herbalist.

"I tell you what, John," he said, "I have a 推論する／理由 for 存在 very curious, and yet I don't like to 傷つける （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson's feelings. He is always so very anxious about me. But still, I want to find out about this man Rutter, and I mean to, too. So next time you see （頭が）ひょいと動く, just bring up Dr. Rutter casually, and ask my brother-in-法律 in 前線 of me what he's like to look at. You can easily pretend you think you know him, see?"

I 約束d, and 権利 enough the に引き続いて Sunday, when Henderson appeared as usual, I 発言／述べるd casually to him during the course of the 中央の-day meal.

"By the bye, I think I must have met that Dr. Rutter of yours in Adelaide, about a week before I （機の）カム up. Isn't he a rather tall man, clean-shaven, with 赤みを帯びた hair?"

"No he just isn't," snapped Henderson rudely. "As a 事柄 of fact, he's 正確に／まさに the opposite. He's やめる a little dark man, with a pointed 耐えるd, and in 新規加入 to that, he's only been in the City a few weeks. So you're やめる mistaken this time, Master John."

I just shrugged my shoulders and said nothing.

My cousin made no 発言／述べる either, but I could see he was taking it all in, for he didn't speak again during the meal.

He and his brother-in-法律 hadn't seemed to 攻撃する，衝突する it off やめる so 井戸／弁護士席, lately. There was a sort of 緊張するd 関係 between them, but wholly on my cousin's 味方する. Ever since the return from Adelaide he had seemed to me rather resentful with （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson for taking him 負かす／撃墜する to the City and putting him to all the 疲労，（軍の）雑役 and 苦悩 for nothing.

I don't think Henderson noticed it at all, for he 扱う／治療するd everyone at Velvet Hills with a more 確信して and more bossy 空気／公表する of proprietorship than ever.

Stevenson, the 経営者／支配人, 前向きに／確かに hated him, but like me, he took care never to cross him. The only satisfaction he ever 許すd himself in the way of 表明するing his feelings was when Henderson took himself off, as he did 定期的に, about four o'clock.

Then he used to stand on the verandah watching him go off, and when he was once 公正に／かなり out of sight over the hill, he used to spit vigorously on the ground. It became やめる a 儀式 with him, and he always seemed to derive the greatest satisfaction from its 業績／成果.

The evening of the day I had questioned （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson about Dr. Rutter it 始める，決める in wet, and by eight o'clock the rain was descending in 激流s over the 駅／配置する.

My cousin, 異常に for him, was not inclined for any music that evening, and we sat talking instead. He asked me a lot about my service in フラン, and the conversation 徐々に drifted on to my life in Adelaide, just before I had come up to him.

Now, I had never について言及するd a word to him of my adventures with Tod McSwiney, but something 誘発するd me that night to try 特に to 利益／興味 him. He seemed to be so very despondent and 負かす／撃墜する in the mouth, and it struck me suddenly to make a nice little 利益／興味ing story for him of the eventful happenings of that week. So I told him all.

I told him of the ten 続けざまに猛撃するs I had had given me, of my luck at the races, of my 存在 followed, of my 殺人，大当り Tod McSwiney, of my 存在 逮捕（する）d by the police, and of the その後の 援助 I had been enabled to give them in catching the other 殺害者. I left very little out. I even について言及するd Mary 先頭, ぐずぐず残る perhaps a little bit unduly on what a pretty girl she was.

He listened, at first, with rather 穏やかな curiosity, and then with greater 利益／興味 as the story was 徐々に 広げるd.

When I had finished, and it took a long time to tell him everything 適切に, he had やめる lost his 不景気 and exclaimed enthusiastically:—

"Why, John, you're やめる a hero. So you killed the man without speaking a word to him, without any 警告."

"Oh, yes, Sidney," I replied. "Why, bless your heart, he was nearer to me with his 広大な／多数の／重要な 激しい paling than I am to you now. If I hadn't pipped him 即時に, I should 即時に myself have had his stick about my 長，率いる and his knife in my throat afterwards. I hadn't time to tell him to go away and be a better boy, even if I had 手配中の，お尋ね者 to."

"井戸／弁護士席, John, I'm glad you killed him and got the other wretch, too. But what about the girl? I suppose you fell in love with her, didn't you?"

"She's an ideal, Sidney, but her people are very high up in the world."

"But not higher than the Strattons," he burst out 温かく. "Not higher than our family, John. Australia's a mixed country, I know, but your father and 地雷, my boy, were the finest 血 in the Empire. Not only was their family の中で the best in the old country, but they had the courage and the spirit to leave the safety and softness there and come out here to 直面する dangers and privations and end in making this 抱擁する land 広大な／多数の／重要な, as it is now.

"I tell you, John, again, the very finest 血 in the world runs to-day in the veins of young Australia if they only knew it, for they all had sires or grandsires who, in courage and 企業, were the very cream, the very 最高の，を越す-notch of the countries they （機の）カム from, overseas. And don't you forget it."

I had never seen my cousin enthusiastic before. He was やめる transfigured. The 冷淡な, calculating, 怪しげな nature was, for the moment, at any 率, 完全に wiped away, and I could see the 輪郭（を描く）s of a disposition that, under happier circumstances, might have blossomed in the breast of a warmhearted, generous man.

But the 成果／努力 of his enthusiasm was too much for him, and he sank 支援する exhausted upon the couch.

A little later he bade me rather 概略で go to bed, for he himself 手配中の，お尋ね者 to sleep.

July and August passed away, and the first week in September the 経営者／支配人 went off the 駅／配置する for a few days on some 私的な 商売／仕事, and I was left in 単独の 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.

My cousin's health was still about the same. He was 苦しむing perhaps a little いっそう少なく 苦痛, but he was 明白に 女性 than he was, even two months ago.

（頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson （機の）カム up as usual on the Sunday and was, I thought, more detestable than ever. I was beginning, however, at last to find my place more 安全な・保証する at Velvet Hills, and その結果, I did not 許す Master （頭が）ひょいと動く やめる so much rope as heretofore; indeed, upon several occasions, I carried the plain speaking into his own country, 大いに to his surprise.

That afternoon, he was silly enough to repeat the old fable that we never went into the fighting line in フラン unless we were half drunk, and 表明するd the opinion that he didn't think I, myself, would ever have the pluck, sober, to shoot anyone in 冷淡な 血.

"Look here, Mr. Henderson," I said to him grimly, looking him straight in the 直面する, and ーするつもりであるing to put it in hot and strong. "I've 発射 as many men in my time as perhaps you've 発射 rabbits, and it's nothing to me to kill a man, don't you make any mistake. If it were necessary, I could shoot you now without a （軽い）地震, and drag your 団体／死体 out and bury you, and come 支援する into tea here without turning a hair. That's what active service teaches us."

The big brute didn't like the way I spoke, and, I thought, looked a little white about the gills, but he 召喚するd up the usual sneer he assumed when speaking to me, and 発言／述べるd sarcastically:—

"Dear me, dear me, what a bloodthirsty fellow we've been entertaining all these months unawares! And I suppose, sir, you always carry a 負担d (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 with you."

"No," I replied casually, "an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 takes up too much room; but I've always got some sort of 武器 on me." And reaching 支援する to my hip pocket, I produced the pretty little .22 that the 長，指導者 and 視察官 had given me.

Mr. Robert Henderson looked rather as if he had trodden on a centipede, but he only scowled darkly at me, and turning to my cousin, pretended to ignore my presence for the 残り／休憩（する） of his stay.

When he finally （疑いを）晴らすd off a couple of hours later, he didn't even give me his usual rude good-bye, but went off in a clumsy 試みる／企てる at a contemptuous and dignified 出発.

My cousin was very tired that evening, and we made him comfortable and left him to go to sleep at a much earlier hour than usual.

The next morning I was up at daybreak, and my 義務s on the 駅／配置する kept me away until nearly 中央の-day.

When I returned home, the old housekeeper ran out to me with a 脅すd, 脅すd 直面する.

"Mr. John, Mr. John," she exclaimed breathlessly, "something's happened to the master. I can't wake him, and he's snoring horribly."

I ran in quickly. My poor cousin was やめる unconscious, and breathing stertorously. He had had a 一打／打撃, and I saw the end could not be far off.

I knew nothing possible could be done, but at the same time thought it only 権利 to send for a doctor.

One of the 駅／配置する 手渡すs 棒 off 地位，任命する haste to get a wire through from Pimba to Port Augusta. If we were lucky, I thought, it might be possible to get the doctor out by the evening of the next day.

It was a 恐ろしい 徹夜 I kept that night by the 病人の枕元 of the dying man, but 血 is indeed 厚い than water, and all my heart went out to the poor 苦しんでいる人 struggling there for breath.

Hour by hour his breathing became harder and more 労働d, and when the 夜明け broke softly over the hills, I waited, watching for the frail 誘発する of life to pass away with the 影をつくる／尾行するs.

But no; he ぐずぐず残るd on during the day and was still breathing when dusk was の近くにing 負かす／撃墜する again and the doctor from Port Augusta appeared.

Dr. Rooke was a kindly old man, and shook his 長，率いる sadly when I took him in to the 患者.

"No hope," he said at once. "It's only a 事柄 of hours; but you did 権利 to call me, for I can 緩和する the 苦しむing."

The end （機の）カム almost on the 一打／打撃 of midnight, but so softly and so gently that we hardly knew. One moment he was breathing faintly and the next he had passed without struggle, and without 成果／努力, to the 広大な／多数の／重要な Beyond.

I slept ひどく that night. I was so tired that I dropped off at once, 直接／まっすぐに my 長，率いる touched the pillow, but there was neither 残り／休憩（する） nor refreshment in my sleep, and I woke up tired and dispirited as could be.

The news had filtered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する quickly, and 早期に in the afternoon （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson 棒 負かす／撃墜する over the hill.

He was not alone, but had brought two of his men with him, evidently remembering the conversation of the previous Sunday.

Seeing him in sight, I purposely left the house to 避ける 会合 him. I could not 信用 myself to speak nicely to him, but in the presence of the dead I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 避ける all chance of a quarrel.

I heard later that he dismounted in a tremendous hurry and asked breathlessly of one of the 手渡すs standing by "if the old man were dead yet."

But I was saved from the angry words I should have given him by my going from the house.

I went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the home paddock and sat 負かす／撃墜する under a clump of trees.

Now that the first shock had passed I wondered what was going to become of me. Had my cousin made a will I wondered, and if so, how did I come in.

The thought of a possible will had been upmost in my mind ever since their return from Adelaide. I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson of some underhand 商売／仕事, and looking 支援する, his 平易な 確信して 空気／公表する of the last few weeks filled me with a sort of uneasy 逮捕.

Even while I was thinking of him, I saw Master （頭が）ひょいと動く, with his two companions の近くに behind him, walking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, evidently looking for me.

They caught sight of me at last, and Henderson said something over his shoulder to the two men that made them laugh.

The three approached me, and the big いじめ（る） looked at me contemptuously, with an evil grin on his dark 直面する.

"Look here, Mr. John Stratton," he said brusquely, "you've got to （疑いを）晴らす out of this; the place is 地雷 now."

"What do you mean?" I asked scornfully, but at the same time with a 冷淡な shiver running 負かす／撃墜する my spine.

"Mean," he snapped viciously, "what do I mean? Why, I mean that my late lamented brother-in-法律, Mr. Sidney Stratton, has left me 単独の 相続人 to everything he'd got. Lock, 在庫／株 and バーレル／樽, everything is 地雷."

"Oh," I replied calmly, "you're やめる 確かな ?"

"やめる 確かな ," he went on, "and you please take notice you've got to （疑いを）晴らす out before this week's up, you, and that damned Stevenson too, when he comes 支援する. I've put up with enough from you both in the last six months, but only to keep in with the old man. I don't mind telling you that now."

"Oh," I said calmly again, "you're やめる 確かな , are you?"

"Yes, やめる 確かな . It's all 負かす／撃墜する in 黒人／ボイコット and white, in 合法的な 手渡すs."

"No tricks, Mr. Henderson," I went on, delighting to irritate him. "No tricks. Everything above board, I suppose. No drugging my poor cousin, no making him silly, no visits to strange lawyers, nothing hanky panky? Come, come, you don't look やめる so 確信して now, Mr. Henderson, do you?

"悪口を言う／悪態 you," he called out savagely, "if you're not careful what you say, you'll not only go out from here without a penny, but I'll have the 法律 on you too."

"Don't get excited, Mr. Henderson," I said calmly, "don't get excited. Where's your precious will?"

"My lawyer's got it, and you'll see it, in good time."

"Your lawyer—so 売春婦! Not my cousin's lawyer; but your lawyer! Doesn't that look rather fishy, Mr. Henderson? Surely if everything were all 権利, my cousin would have given any will to the care of his own lawyer and not to yours, 特に, too, as his own lawyer lives in Adelaide."

"Oh, chuck all this," he cried 怒って. "削減（する） it out. I'm not going to argue with you. I just tell you, I'm coming over here on Friday with my lawyer to take 所有／入手, and you'll please be off the 駅／配置する then before sundown. Understand!"

I looked him squarely in the 直面する and laughed. He turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する with an 誓い and went off with his two companions; but he'd lost something of his swagger, I thought.

I sat on for a long time after they had left me feeling as despondent as any man could be. Before the 広大な／多数の／重要な brute I had put a good 直面する on the 事柄, but underneath I felt anything but 確信して, I can tell you.

So it was turning out 正確に／まさに as I had thought. He had got my cousin 負かす／撃墜する to Adelaide under the pretence of 協議するing some doctor, and once there had plied him so 堅固に with opiates that he 事実上 knew nothing of what he was doing. In that 明言する／公表する he had got him to some shady lawyer, and between them both my cousin had no 疑問 put his 署名 to a will, of the contents of which he most probably knew nothing.

There could be no 疑問 I was 権利 I thought, but how on earth could I 証明する it? Everything was after all only surmise, and any 法廷，裁判所 of 法律 would 自然に 持つ／拘留する it just as probable a brother-in-法律 should be 単独の legattee as a cousin, 特に so as the brother-in-法律 had been the dead man's 隣人 and companion for many years.

I knew I had 脅すd （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson, but I felt that was about all I should be able to do.

We buried my cousin next day; （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson not troubling to put in an 外見 or send anyone to 代表する him.

That afternoon a wire arrived from the 経営者／支配人 説 he was returning the に引き続いて Friday, and giving me his 演説（する）／住所. I すぐに sent a wire to him.

"Cousin—died—yesterday—Henderson—相続人—am—leaving—here—Friday."

Barely twenty-four hours later and I got a wire in return:—

"Sincerest—sympathy—on—no—account—やめる—agreeable—surprise—for—you."

My spirits rose at once with a bound. Stevenson was a most 用心深い man in all he said and did, and his wire in answer to 地雷 could only mean, I thought, that the surprise had something to do with the 相続物件 of my cousin's 広い地所.

What else could it mean? Perhaps he had つまずくd upon some 証拠 that would profoundly shake （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson's （人命などを）奪う，主張する to all that my cousin had left.

I waited with worrying impatience until Friday should arrive, and a dozen times that afternoon after the 中央の-day meal, went up to the brow of the hill to see if I could perceive anything of his coming.

I had sent two of the fastest horses on the 駅／配置する to 会合，会う him, and was only 妨げるd from going myself by the thought that if I did, （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson himself would probably arrive in my absence, and 任命する／導入する himself in 所有／入手.

At last, however, the 経営者／支配人 arrived. He threw the reins over the steaming animals, and jumping 負かす／撃墜する out of the buggy ran quickly up to me.

Shaking 手渡すs, he exclaimed breathlessly, "（頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson's not half a mile behind me. He's come straight from Pimba too. He's got three men with him, and one looks like a lawyer chap. This Johnny's been in the same carriage with me nearly all the way from Adelaide. But let's go inside. I want to talk to you."

I told him all that had happened about my cousin's death, ending up with a recital of the conversation that had passed between （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson and myself.

He heard me through without interrupting with any question or 発言／述べる, then he said slowly:—

"井戸／弁護士席, Mr. John, I was very much 大（公）使館員d, as you know, to your cousin, but it's no good making out that his death is anything but a happy 解放（する） to the poor man. I thought a year ago he would never get 井戸／弁護士席, and it was because of that that I first 示唆するd he should 令状 to you. I have something to tell you, but it will wait now for five minutes." Then he 追加するd grimly: "I think Mr. （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson is going to have the surprise of his life. Ah, here they are!"

（頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson had 押し進めるd open the door and was looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the room with an 空気／公表する of 確信して swagger. の近くに behind him were the three other men, of whom Mr. Stevenson had spoken.

"Come in," said the latter in a 静かな 商売／仕事-like トン. "Come in, Mr. Henderson, and bring your friends in too." Then, turning to me, he said apologetically, "Excuse me, Mr. Stratton, playing the host for a minute or two, but I was always your cousin's 商売／仕事 man, and in consequence know something of his 私的な 事件／事情／状勢s. Now, Mr. Henderson, I understand from Mr. Stratton here, that you've come to take 所有／入手."

"Who the devil are you?" said （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson insolently, "and what the hell has it anything to do with you? Still, if you want to know, I have come to take 所有／入手, and off you and young Stratton go packing, straight away."

"Wait a moment, Mr. Henderson," continued the 経営者／支配人, "please. Who says the place is yours?"

"I do," said the tall, cadaverous-looking man standing at （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson's 味方する, "I'm Mr. Matthew Pellew, of the 会社／堅い of Pellew & Barley, Solicitors, of King William Street, Adelaide. I have here a copy of the last will and testament of the late Sidney Stratton, of this place, Velvet Hills. In this will he bequeaths everything to my （弁護士の）依頼人 here, Mr. Robert Henderson, of Vixen's Plain."

"Where was this will 遂行する／発効させるd, please, Mr. Pellew?" asked the 経営者／支配人, very meekly.

"In my office in King William Street, on Friday, the 27th of July last."

"Who drew up the will?" went on the 経営者／支配人.

"We drew it up—our 会社／堅い," was the answer.

"And who, please," continued the 経営者／支配人 suavely, "教えるd you to draw up this will?"

For the first time I noticed a slight hesitation in the 合法的な gentleman's manner; he hesitated a moment and then replied はっきりと.

"Oh, come, come, sir, you're cross-診察するing me. I'm not in the 証言，証人／目撃する-box to-day, and it isn't the custom of our profession to 公表する／暴露する all the secrets of their （弁護士の）依頼人s. The will is 権利 enough and you'll have to がまんする by it."

"What date did you say?" asked the 経営者／支配人, again in the meekest possible manner.

"Friday the 27th of July last," replied the lawyer.

"Then," 雷鳴d Mr. Stevenson, in a 発言する／表明する that was in startling contrast to that he had hitherto assumed, "then, Mr. Lawyer, just look at this!" and he thrust a paper that he had suddenly whipped out of his breast pocket, 権利 under the startled lawyer's 注目する，もくろむs. "Look at this," he shouted, mimicking the latter's monotonous トンs.

"A copy of the last will and testament of Mr. Sidney Stratton, 取り消すing all other previous wills and leaving everything to his cousin, Mr. John Stratton, 任命するing him 単独の executor, and 時代遅れの, Mr. Lawyer; 時代遅れの, Mr. Robert Henderson, Wednesday the 22nd of August last. Now what do you say to that?"

I have often thought later, in thinking things over, what a splendid picture a 広大な／多数の／重要な artist could have made of the 直面するs of us all standing there. What different and what 変化させるing emotions he would have been able to portray.

There was the 経営者／支配人, 紅潮／摘発するd and excited, triumphantly throwing 負かす／撃墜する his trump cards, one by one. There was the lean-直面するd lawyer, with his thin lips pursed closely together, 明白に staggering under the blow of a discomfiture he could not wholly hide. There was （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson, with his white pasty 直面する, dripping with the sweat of a 全く 予期しない 恐れる and 狼狽. There were the two other men, who looked as if they had been 招待するd to a picnic and then had suddenly 設立する themselves 伴う／関わるd in a rough-and-宙返り／暴落する prize fight, where they were getting the worst of it. And lastly, there was myself, puzzled and half incredulous, and yet with the 夜明け of a 広大な／多数の／重要な joy breaking over my 直面する.

I tell you, for a few moments the room was packed with a 緊張した 利益／興味, so 深い that it might have been 削減（する）.

Then （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson broke the silence with an 誓い. "Damn you; it's a 偽造. It's a put-up 職業. I say, it's been done since the man died."

"Done since Mr. Stratton died," shouted the 経営者／支配人. "I tell you I landed that will in Adelaide ten days ago, with my late master's solicitors—Gorham & Davis, of Nestor 議会s, Waymouth Street, and not only the will, but a covering letter also in the dead man's own handwriting, setting 負かす／撃墜する all the circumstances he could remember of that last visit to the city; and I tell you also, Mr. Matthew Pellew, the letter wasn't pleasant reading. The Master of the Rolls is having a copy 今後d to him, and it is possible—it is just possible, Mr. Pellew, you may be asked to explain how it comes you happened to 証言，証人／目撃する the 署名 of an 明白に drugged man."

"Bosh!" said the lawyer, but I could see he was shaking all over, "we don't even know if this assumed second will, even if it 存在するs, were 適切に 遂行する／発効させるd によれば 法律."

"So 所有物／資産／財産 遂行する／発効させるd," retorted my 支持する／優勝者, "that Gorham & Davis told me on Wednesday the whole （法廷の）裁判 of 裁判官s couldn't upset it if they tried for twenty years. So there!"

The lawyer muttered something about making 調査s, and whispering ひどく to （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson, half dragged the latter from the room, the two other men に引き続いて, 明白に with their tails very much 負かす／撃墜する.

We watched the four discomfited adventurers 開始する 支援する into their conveyance and 運動 away slowly over the hill.

For the last time, Mr. Stevenson spat vigorously as the buggy disappeared from 見解（をとる）.

"Yes, Mr. John," said the 経営者／支配人, as we sat late over our 麻薬を吸うs that night, "I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd something of the 肉親，親類d, the very moment your cousin returned from Adelaide. I 取り組むd him about it when he felt better, and it made him 誘発する you to find out from （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson what this blooming herbalist was like. That put the hat on your cousin's 信用／信任 in his brother-in-法律. Then, you unconsciously brought the whole 事柄 to a 危機 yourself, by taking your cousin into your 信用／信任 about the 事柄 of that Tod McSwiney and also by telling him about your love 事件／事情／状勢. It rankled his pride that you should be thinking you weren't good family enough for her. The next morning, when you were out, he sent for me, and there and then we drew up his second will. To make no mistake, it was 証言，証人／目撃するd by four people—myself, the housekeeper, and the two overseers. Then, last week, when I was going to the city, I took it, at your cousin's request, direct to his own solicitors, to make sure it was all 権利; together with that damning covering letter I spoke about. Oh, but they were a couple of beauties—that other lawyer and Mr. （頭が）ひょいと動く. Why, they even had your poor cousin so drugged that he had 絶対 to be carried up to the lawyer's room to 調印する that will. I traced their movements all over the place in Adelaide, and even 設立する the man who drove them in his car. 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. John, I congratulate you. It's a 罰金 相続物件 you'll have—much greater than you 推定する／予想する."

I thanked my friend from the 底（に届く） of my heart, but he pooh-poohed all his part in the 事柄, averring he was amply repaid by the discomfiture of his dear friend, （頭が）ひょいと動く Henderson.

I paid a hurried visit to Adelaide the に引き続いて week, and was most politely received by my cousin's solicitors. The 上級の partner, Mr. Gorham, made me a long prosy speech; the gist of it was that I was now a man of 広大な／多数の／重要な 所有／入手s, and it would be a かなりの time before they would be able to 決定する 正確に／まさに how really endowed I was.

To my 広大な／多数の／重要な astonishment I learned that in 新規加入 to Velvet Hills, I was the landlord of 所有物／資産／財産s all over the place. Shops in Rundle Street and Hindley Street, 私的な 所有物／資産／財産s in Lower Mitcham and Toorak, two large 倉庫／問屋s in Port Adelaide, and several farms in 辺ぴな 地区s in the 明言する／公表する. Also there was a very かなりの sum 投資するd in War 貸付金s and 株 in 私的な companies.

"Your cousin," 結論するd Mr. Gorham, "was in many 尊敬（する）・点s a very fortunate man. He bought when values were low, and for many years had resolutely 拒絶する／低下するd to realise on any of his 所有／入手s. その結果, you will now 得る the 利益 of his tenacity. Altogether, Mr. Stratton," he said, with his first and only 試みる／企てる at humour, "I'm afraid you will have to 支払う／賃金 succession 義務 on の近くに on two hundred thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs."

I went out stunned and sobered by all that he had told me. It was strange to think I was a rich man, but it would be fascinating now to brood over what the 未来 might have in 蓄える／店 for me.

One thing I realised. I was nearer Mary now. Poor, and I should have had no 適切な時期 to approach her, but 井戸／弁護士席-to-do—however little she might be 影響（力）d by wealth she did not need—I should at least be in a position to 会合，会う her on equal 条件.

I made 控えめの 調査s about the 先頭s, and 設立する they were away in Sydney and would not be 支援する for about three months.

Mary was still 行方不明になる 先頭.

CHAPTER VIII. — THE GREAT RATAPLAN

FOR more than a month, I remained on at Velvet Hills, and then, leaving the 駅／配置する to the 有能な care of the 経営者／支配人, （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to Adelaide to make the city my 永久の （警察，軍隊などの）本部.

I took 所有／入手 of one of the places that had come to me 近づく Mitcham. It had such 罰金 surroundings.

It was as beautiful a home as one could wish, 権利 at the very foot of the hills, with a glorious old world garden 十分な of lovely flowers, with fruit trees and vines, with gently playing fountains, and with in fact everything that would speak always to the mind of 青年 and tell of love, peace and happiness.

I furnished it with the best that money could buy, having Mary always in my mind, and making sure all the time, that it was there I should be bringing her when our honeymoon had 病弱なd.

I called on the 長，指導者 within a few days of coming 負かす／撃墜する. Candidly I 手配中の，お尋ね者 his advice, and he was the only friend I had in the city.

He was genuinely pleased to see me, and met me with a hearty shake of the 手渡す.

"井戸／弁護士席, my boy," he exclaimed genially, "so you've come this time without 存在 fetched. Any more trouble on the board—have you got the 解雇（する）?"

"No 長，指導者," I answered cheerfully, "but it's a very different person that stands before you now. I mean very different to the poor 追跡（する）d wretch who stood here last time."

"Dear me, if my memory serves me 権利, it was a very insolent young man that stood before me once, with very little of the 追跡（する）d wretch about his 直面する. But, I see you're togged up a bit now—やめる like an English swell. What horse have you been 支援 lately?"

"長，指導者," I said 本気で, "I've come into money. I'm a very rich man."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I've come to tell you about it and get your advice too, on another 事柄."

The 長，指導者 listened most interestedly, and it やめる warmed my heart to see the 本物の 楽しみ he took in my good fortune.

When I had finished and he had congratulated me many times over, he asked me kindly how he could help me.

"Look here," I said bluntly, "I want to get to know Sir Henry 先頭."

"But don't you know him already—didn't he give you that tenner in King William Street once?"

"Yes, but I don't mean that way at all. I want to know him socially. I want to know the family."

The 長，指導者 星／主役にするd for a moment, and then a 幅の広い grin broke over his 直面する. "So 売春婦! my lad," he exclaimed all smiles. "It isn't Sir Henry you want to know, it's 行方不明になる Mary you're 利益／興味d about. Now I come to think of it, you once wasted three-４半期/4分の1s of an hour of the 価値のある time of four of my best men, by going into a cafe and sitting there to gaze at 行方不明になる 先頭. Oh yes, I remember all about it now, and so that's the 職業 you're on, is it?"

"Look here again, 長，指導者," I said solemnly, "It's my 意向 to marry 行方不明になる 先頭."

"Oh, is it? 井戸／弁護士席, good luck to you, my boy; but let me tell you straight—権利 at the beginning; you're taking on something ジュースd stiff in setting your cap there."

"I know that perfectly 井戸／弁護士席," I replied, "and I've come to you because I know for 確かな that if anyone can help me, you can. You know Sir Henry, don't you?"

"Yes, John, I know him."

"井戸／弁護士席, couldn't you put me in the way of getting to know him?"

"Look here, lad, I'll tell you all about Sir Henry and his family, and you can then 裁判官 for yourself. You know where they live; up at Aviemore, on 開始する Lofty. He and his sister, who keeps house for him, and 行方不明になる Mary. Now, to begin with, they're very rich. Your money will be of no use to you. I mean, if you were as rich as Croesus and Sir Henry didn't like you—he'd just turn you 負かす／撃墜する as soon as look at you—if you went 近づく. Last 落ちる, there were two fellows after 行方不明になる Mary, besides Percy Thornton, who's always on the 職業. One was young Felders of Sydney—マリファナs of money and all that, but devilish 急速な／放蕩な with the girls. He made a dead 始める，決める on Mary 直接／まっすぐに he saw her, but he never got the ghost of a look in. Sir Henry told him きっぱりと he didn't wish him to know her. Then, there was the Tavish man. No スキャンダル about girls there, but rumours of shady 財政上の ways that had made him rich. Just the same 'keep off the grass, please,' straight to his 直面する. I must say 行方不明になる 先頭 was not 明らかに taken with either of these gentlemen, for she plainly 行為／法令／行動するd with her father in choking them off. So you see, my boy, money's nothing to them. Now about their social life. There's no more 排除的 始める，決める in all Australia—they're most deucedly particular whom they 収容する／認める to 条件 of friendship. No, they're not a bit snobby. They have 知識s everywhere in all walks of life; rich and poor, it doesn't make any difference.

"Plenty of 知識s I say, but friends—ah! that's the difficulty. They keep themselves very much to themselves. It takes a long while before any one can say they're friends of the family. It's a ジュースd hard 始める，決める to get into. Before you're ever 招待するd up to dinner, or indeed into the house, you've first got to be 完全に 認可するd of by Sir Henry. He's a man of the world. He's やめる a 民主主義者 in his way, and 解放する／自由な and 平易な, and あられ／賞賛する-fellow-井戸／弁護士席-met with, as I say, all sorts of people here. But behind it all, he's still got the prejudices of the class in which he was born. He's an aristocrat at heart, and keeps his family proudly to himself. You can get to know Sir Henry himself easily, in a way. He races, and if you race, as I 推定する／予想する you will, you'll soon have a speaking acquaintanceship with him. If you go straight and don't have your horses pulled, and don't let the poor public be done in too often by too 明白に in and out running, then Sir Henry will be always pleasant to you and give you a friendly nod when he sees you. But wait; that won't mean he's going to let you get behind him to his womenfolk—see? He'll be やめる nice to you, but it will probably end there. He won't introduce you やむを得ず to 行方不明になる Mary. In a word John—you've got to make good yourself to get behind the 冷淡な reserve. No 押し進めるing from anyone outside will help you with this 肉親，親類d of people. It's up to you to work it yourself. One thing, however, I will say—once they really take to you and 収容する／認める you as one of themselves—they're the nicest people in the world to get on with. They 信用 you in everything. Now, do you understand?"

"Perfectly," I said, "it's very nice of you to be so frank about it."

"Of course, however," he went on smiling, "if 行方不明になる Mary should happen to take a fancy to that nice brown 直面する of yours—井戸／弁護士席 anything might happen, for she's one of those girls who've got a lot of character behind her pretty 粘着するing ways."

"You know the family 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席 then, 長，指導者?"

"Yes, I do. You see, Sir Henry and I went （選挙などの）運動をするing together. I am やめる a friend of theirs, and that is why I can tell you everything so plainly. And now look here, John. I shall keep a fatherly 注目する，もくろむ on you and your romance, and if ever I see a chance where I can 半導体素子 in and help you—you can depend on me."

I left the 長，指導者, at first feeling rather dis-spirited and 負かす／撃墜する at the mouth, but I soon began to 推論する／理由 myself into a better でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind.

After all, I thought, I was in an infinitely better position than I was a year ago. Then, I seemed to have no chance whatever, but now, at all events as far as worldly goods were 関心d, I could at least 会合，会う Sir Henry on equal 条件.

I やめる realised as the 長，指導者 had 主張するd in rubbing home, that everything now depended upon my own 成果／努力s. 井戸／弁護士席, I thought again, in getting to know Mary and her family I would leave nothing to chance. I would make the chance myself.

直接／まっすぐに they returned to Adelaide I 決定するd I would lay energetic 包囲 to the 城 that held my lady love.

In the 合間 I busied myself with Rataplan. I had bought a good stretch of land 隣接するing a farm of 地雷 近づく Roseworthy and under the care of one of the 駅／配置する overseers, who in his time had worked in a large racing stable 近づく Melbourne, had put Rataplan into strict training.

It was not that he was 要求するing much training. He was 自然に a born leaper, and the work I had given him at Velvet Hills had brought him to the pink of 条件.

He had always given us little trouble, but in one way I was very anxious about him.

I knew he was a very good animal, and I myself had never been astride of anything within two 石／投石する of him, but still I had never yet had the 適切な時期 of trying him with any known good class public performer.

We had clocked him many times. He was always handicapped by a terribly slow beginning, but he had done two and a ４半期/4分の1 miles, with me on his 支援する, in under four minutes and a ４半期/4分の1 and with a 飛行機で行くing start I had known him to cover seven furlongs in one twenty-five.

So I knew he must be pretty smart, but before racing him in public, I 決定するd to get a line to see how he compared with the general run of South Australian horses.

I 始める，決める my fancy on a rather smart performer, Lad of 地雷, an 老年の hurdler, about ten years old, that had been doing very 井戸／弁護士席 lately, and was 一般に about the eleven 石／投石する 示す.

His running was a little bit of the in and out variety, but with a good (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 up, he was always to be reckoned with, even in the best of company.

I approached the owner and 示唆するd a 取引，協定. After a little 取引ing we （機の）カム to 条件.

Then, I sought out the (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 who usually 棒 him and made it 価値（がある） his while to come up to Roseworthy for a 裁判，公判.

重要なs was the (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手's 指名する, and I took him over the course I had arranged, and gave him every 適切な時期 of 観察するing its peculiarities.

He could 重さを計る in comfortably at nine 石／投石する, but I went to 規模 at eleven 石／投石する six.

I didn't let him know what 負わせる he was carrying, but I put him up on Lad of 地雷 with twenty-one 続けざまに猛撃するs of lead under his saddle—myself, I 機動力のある Rataplan as I was.

The 裁判，公判 was to be two miles and a ４半期/4分の1, over eight flights of 障害物s, and my man sent us off to a good start.

As usual, Rataplan was dreadfully slow in getting off, and Lad of 地雷's (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 looked 支援する and grinned sympathetically when he was fully twenty yards ahead. But he didn't grin long.

I tried to ride Rataplan 正確に／まさに as if we were riding in a public race. I didn't hurry or bustle him in any way at first, but just let him find, in his own time, that wonderful devouring stride of his.

He was soon 伸び（る）ing on Lad of 地雷 but 重要なs, good (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 that he was, made no 成果／努力 to 押し進める his 開始する.

He was reckoning, I guessed, to 利益（をあげる） later by the exertion of the extra work Rataplan was now putting in.

But he was reckoning I knew, without his host. At a mile Rataplan had drawn level, and for another mile the two animals raced even, 味方する by 味方する.

Lad of 地雷 was a good jumper, and it would have rejoiced any experienced racing （人が）群がる to 示す the perfect way both beasts took their 障害物s together.

Just when we had passed the two-mile 地位，任命する, I thought it about time to see what Rataplan could do. There was one more 障害物 to jump, and I put him to it at a suddenly 増加するd pace.

Lad of 地雷 （機の）カム over faultlessly a length behind us and then, with about three hundred yards to go, I touched Rataplan わずかに with the whip and let him out.

It filled me with delight to feel him 即時に draw away. Lad of 地雷 made a game 成果／努力 to come after him, but he might have been fetlock 深い in mud, for all the 影響 it had, and Rataplan passed the winning 地位，任命する fully ten lengths ahead.

"What were we giving you?" called out 重要なs when he （機の）カム up.

"I was giving you thirteen 続けざまに猛撃するs," I replied smiling.

"My word, but he's a corker then. He went that last furlong like he was in a sprint. Why don't you put him on the flat, sir?"

"Because for one thing, he's a terribly slow beginner, and for another I don't think he'll be handy enough at the turns. He loses 不正に at the corners."

We gave both horses a good 残り／休憩（する）, and then changed 開始するs. I 約束d 重要なs a box of cigars if he caught me before we reached the first mile 地位，任命する.

I slipped Lad of 地雷 away はっきりと, and was quickly many lengths ahead of Rataplan, but 重要なs no 疑問 thinking of the cigars, shook the latter up a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 more than I had seen fit to, and easily caught me before the mile was reached.

He was most enthusiastic about Rataplan, and echoed almost word for word what the 経営者／支配人 had told me the first time I was introduced to the gelding.

"I don't think, Mr. Stratton," he 結論するd, "we shall find a horse in the 明言する／公表する able to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 him at level 負わせるs."

Rataplan gave his first 屈服する to the public at a Balaklava 会合, and with nine 石／投石する up, made a small field of seven look exceedingly silly.

Then he went on next to Gawler, and with nine 石／投石する seven this time, gave the good people there a 広大な／多数の／重要な, if not 正確に／まさに profitable, 扱う／治療する, by the 平易な way he trounced thirteen others. He started a little over eight to one.

Then I entered him for a 障害（者） 障害物 at Victoria Park, and this time he was allotted ten 石／投石する seven.

The handicappers were evidently waking up to the gelding's 可能性s, I thought, and I was looking 今後 to the time when the 負わせる allotted would 許す of my taking the 開始する myself.

Several smart performers were entered at Victoria Park, and Rataplan would now be running against some やめる respectable animals.

I was 早期に in the paddock that afternoon, and had a good look over the other competitors. Sunrise in particular took my fancy. He was a handsome chestnut—an old Oakbank hero, and was carrying 最高の，を越す 負わせる—eleven 石／投石する ten.

Then there were two others on the eleven 石／投石する three 示す. Podger and the Wizard, both very good looking animals, and not to be despised.

Very much lower in the 障害（者） there was Kilkenny, nine 石／投石する seven, a very useful-looking little beast, just beginning to make some 指名する for himself in 穏健な company.

Altogether there were fifteen horses ready to run. Rataplan had a lot of admirers, and most people stopped to have a look at him as they passed his 立ち往生させる. It was not often a hurdler was put up fourteen 続けざまに猛撃するs so quickly.

I gave 重要なs very particular 指示／教授／教育s about the race. Rataplan was drawn number one against the rails, but I knew from his slow beginning, the position would be of no use to him. So I told 重要なs that if he were tailed off as usual, to bring him 権利 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on the outside, and when he made up ground, to keep him 井戸／弁護士席 behind the leaders until he entered the straight. The only thing I had 設立する that really annoyed the gelding was the dust.

I finally told 重要なs that once in the straight he was to 勝利，勝つ as he liked, for I 手配中の，お尋ね者 the 負わせる raised so that I could take the next 開始する myself. 重要なs grinned at this part of the 指示／教授／教育s, and 発言／述べるd that in fifteen years' racing he'd never been told such a thing before. The invariable 命令（する） he received was to keep the 勝利，勝つ 負かす／撃墜する if possible to half a length.

I was just giving him a 脚 up before he went on to the course when happening to look up, I suddenly saw Mary and her father の中で the （人が）群がる against the palings.

The girl noticed me at the same moment, and in a flash, I saw the changing 表現 on her 直面する. The eyebrows 契約d はっきりと and sweetly curved lips parted just a little. She 星／主役にするd hard at me for a moment and then, evidently taking in the number on Rataplan's saddle-cloth, quickly dropped her 注目する，もくろむs and began turning over the pages of the programme she was 持つ／拘留するing in her 手渡す.

"Good," I thought delightfully, "now she will at least know my 指名する."

But Rataplan had got a little excited with the の近くに proximity of the （人が）群がる and I had for a moment to 移転 all my attention to getting his (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 安全に into the saddle. When I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, about half a minute later, the girl and her father had disappeared.

I went up into the owner's stand with a 広大な／多数の／重要な happiness in my heart. Now at last the waiting was all over and I was, for good or evil, for good luck or bad luck, 直面する to 直面する with the difficulties of winning the 手渡す of the girl I loved.

It was only for a very short time, however, that I could give way to my thoughts.

The usual shout went up that the horses had started on their way.

The start was only about two hundred yards off the grandstand, and as they （機の）カム before us and over the first flight of 障害物s Rataplan was, as I 推定する／予想するd, やめる ten lengths behind the 残り／休憩（する） of the field, but I noticed with satisfaction, that 重要なs had brought him 井戸／弁護士席 away from the rails and pretty 井戸／弁護士席 （疑いを）晴らす of the dust of the other horses.

He took the first 障害物 in faultless style, and the （人が）群がる knowing something now of his peculiarly slow beginnings, 元気づけるd ironically as he passed before them.

重要なs seemed to take the 元気づけるs to his own account, and turning に向かって the stands, grinned appreciatively at the noise they were making.

The field was soon 井戸／弁護士席 away from us, but Rataplan had 設立する his stride, and was quickly 精密検査するing them.

When they were opposite the grand stand on the far 味方する of the course, he had worked his way 井戸／弁護士席 up into the bunch of the middle horses. Only Sunrise and Kilkenny were then 井戸／弁護士席 in 前線, with perhaps three lengths between them and the others.

Just before coming to the turn 主要な into the straight run for home, I saw 重要なs begin to get busy on Rataplan, and before any one could almost take it in, the gelding had flashed up level with Sunrise and Kilkenny.

Both Sunrise and Kilkenny had got something in 手渡す, and the three （機の）カム away together, almost in line. Then Rataplan lost わずかに at the turn and （機の）カム into the straight, a good length behind the other two.

The （人が）群がる shouted "Sunrise, Sunrise 勝利，勝つs easily—no Kilkenny," but Rataplan was now putting in his 罰金 burst of 速度(を上げる）, and there was at once no question about the 問題／発行する.

Kilkenny crumpled up すぐに, but Sunrise, perhaps remembering his old sprinting days, for a moment held Rataplan in check. Only for a moment, however, and the latter （機の）カム away from his now 独房監禁 対抗者, length upon length. When they passed opposite the Derby stand Rataplan was a good five lengths in 前線, and 重要なs (enjoying himself immensely), turned his grinning 直面する に向かって the （人が）群がる and waved his 手渡す.

Rataplan ran home easily a 勝利者 by seven lengths, and returned &続けざまに猛撃する;3 15s. （株主への）配当—存在 almost co-favourite with Sunrise.

I met the gelding as he （機の）カム in, and it was a proud moment for me as he affectionately nosed up to my 手渡す. The public were very much taken with his 業績／成果, and 殺到するd up to the palings to get a good look at us both.

I had been introduced to the 広大な／多数の／重要な Percy Thornton earlier in the day, and he was の中で the first to congratulate me.

"You have a magnificent animal there," he said, "and anything is possible with him, but why on earth, man, don't you run him on the flat?"

Sir Henry 先頭 （機の）カム up as we were talking, and young Thornton at once introduced us.

"A new 征服する／打ち勝つing hero, Sir Henry," he said, "a gentleman who has come from up country to teach us poor city chaps how to run our horses."

Sir Henry smiled pleasantly, but not 申し込む／申し出ing to shake 手渡すs gave me a little 屈服する.

Half mechanically I saluted him in return, and his 罰金 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd up with 楽しみ.

"軍隊 of habit I 推定する／予想する Mr. Stratton," he said genially. "井戸／弁護士席 all the same it's いつかs very pleasing to an old 選挙運動者. It takes us 支援する to those happy days when we all had hard work to do."

"Yes, Sir Henry," I returned, smiling easily. "I remember you at Bullecourt and later on before Amiens."

"Ah, we lived then, Mr. Stratton, didn't we? It was 危険 and danger all the time, but it was the シャンペン酒 of life all the same."

We chatted lightly for a few minutes, and in parting I could see I had made a good impression on him, for he shook 手渡すs cordially before moving away.

All the while out of the tail of my 注目する，もくろむ I could see 行方不明になる Mary up on one of the stands. She was interestedly watching my conversation with her father, and I took care, every now and then, to let her know I had got my 注目する，もくろむ on her too.

Internally, I was 大いに excited at speaking to her father, but outwardly at least, I prided myself there was no trace of the 明言する／公表する of my feelings within.

I had held myself upright and straight as became a 兵士, and the whole time had talked easily and without 当惑 of my service in フラン. Remembering the part I ーするつもりであるd him to play in my 未来 life, I was anxious to make good at once that I was no ignorant and uncultivated hobble-de-hoy.

Waiting for the starting of the next race, I stood by the palings 近づく the 重さを計るing-in room, thinking that by remaining there I could get a nice half 見解（をとる） of 行方不明になる Mary's 直面する all the time. She soon became aware that I was watching her, and at once very obligingly made a half turn 一連の会議、交渉／完成する so that I could see her 十分な 直面する. "You 甘い little minx," I thought, "you've got some pluck in you besides your pretty ways. You know I want to look at you and you're purposely giving me the chance."

I 完全に enjoyed myself that afternoon. Everything, I thought, was going on 井戸／弁護士席. Rataplan had covered me with honour and glory—lots of nice people had been brought up and introduced to me; I was on good speaking 条件 with Mary's father, and last but not least—Mary had herself 示唆するd to me in a deliciously 刺激するing way, that it was just possible the longing and the hunger in my heart might be having all the time its exact 相当するもの in the soft and gentle breast of the 甘い girl only a few yards away.

Things, however, didn't move as quickly as I had hoped, for after that day, try as I might, I didn't seem to be able to get any closer to the 先頭 family. I joined everything and went everywhere where I thought Mary would be likely to go, but without any real success.

I saw her every now and then at public 機能（する）／行事s, and we always 交流d ちらりと見ることs in a 率直に 相互に 利益／興味d way.

I felt I had told her many times in an unspoken way that I admired her, and in return, I always thought the sweetest look in the world （機の）カム over her 直面する when her 注目する，もくろむs purposely met 地雷.

Of one thing, I became very 確かな . 直接／まっすぐに I did get to know the girl, the 予選s to our 甘い-hearting should be of very 簡潔な／要約する duration.

I would go straight to the point, I thought, and tell her at once that I loved her. I believed too she would want me to be 簡潔な／要約する, for I knew やめる 井戸／弁護士席 we had told each other many times with our 注目する，もくろむs of the mysterious 願望（する） that was 影を投げかけるing us both.

I called on the 長，指導者 one day and complained of my slow 進歩. He seemed very much amused.

"井戸／弁護士席, as I told you," he laughed, "you're not going to get Mary without a fight. She's a charming girl, and if I were heart-whole I should sigh like you. One thing, however, I can let you know, to 元気づける you up. She's 利益／興味d in you—やめる 利益／興味d, and very frank about it too. I was dining there last week and something brought up your 指名する. I was sitting opposite 行方不明になる Mary, and, my dear John, I saw the prettiest blush imaginable, as she dropped her 注目する，もくろむs upon the plate. A little later, however, she joined in the conversation herself and asked me where you lived. I said, I 保証する you, all the nice things I could about you, and pictured you as the very ideal of a young man."

"井戸／弁護士席, 長，指導者," I said disappointedly as I took up my hat to go, "I wish Sir Henry were inclined to be a bit more friendly—he's always very nice when I 会合，会う him, but as you see, it all ends there. However, I'm on the look out and you see if I don't do something desperate soon."

Two days after my conversation with the 長，指導者, what I thought was an 適切な時期 現在のd itself.

I heard Sir Henry was selling a couple of his two-year-old fillies, Pearly 涙／ほころびs and Melinda. They were good little fillies, and I had seen them both in running at さまざまな times.

I thought I would （犯罪の）一味 him up—tell him I would like to buy them, and ask him if he could see me, if I （機の）カム up at twelve o'clock straight away.

Twelve was very 近づく one, I argued, and it was やめる possible that if Sir Henry had made a good 取引 with me over the fillies, what would be more natural than that he should ask me to lunch.

At any 率 I thought I would try it. My 手渡す was trembling when I took up the receiver, but 存在 put through to Aviemore I said who I was, and asked to speak to Sir Henry. Sir Henry （機の）カム at once to the 'phone, and 審理，公聴会 what I 手配中の，お尋ね者, after a moment's hesitation, said twelve o'clock would do very nicely for him.

I was in the 厚い of it now with a vengeance.

CHAPTER IX. — "THE RED, RED WINE OF YOUTH"

AVIEMORE, where the 先頭s lived, was barely four miles from my own place, and I had at first ーするつもりであるd to 運動 myself over in the nice new car I had recently bought, but upon second thoughts I 決定するd it should be Rataplan who should carry me on this 広大な／多数の／重要な adventure.

I was racing Rataplan on the Saturday at the Port 会合, and had got him stabled 負かす／撃墜する at Mitcham to be handy for the course. The ride to Aviemore would be a little gentle 演習 for him, and apart from that his 外見 at Aviemore was bound to be of some 利益／興味 to Sir Henry, who was himself a most enthusiastic horse lover.

I had thought out all 詳細（に述べる）s of my visit most carefully, and planned everything just like a general setting on a 広大な／多数の／重要な （選挙などの）運動をする.

I dressed myself carefully, and with a pink carnation in my buttonhole and …を伴ってd by one of my men on a 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス, at half-past eleven 始める，決める out from my gates.

It was with mingled feelings that I 棒 up the gentle slopes on the mountain 味方する. I was just a little nervous, but it was not the nervousness of 恐れる. It was just that trembling that comes to most people when they are 乗る，着手するing upon some 活動／戦闘 upon which 広大な／多数の／重要な 問題／発行するs depend.

I had felt the same sickly feeling in フラン just before going over the 最高の，を越す.

But if in one way I felt nervous, in another way I felt bold as a lion. A sure instinct told me I should see and perhaps speak to Mary, and every shred of pride in me called to my manhood to 主張する itself and show to the girl I loved that I was strong enough and 勇敢に立ち向かう enough to 打ち勝つ any 抵抗 that might be 申し込む／申し出d to my 支持を得ようと努めるing.

Fortune was a tricky jade I knew, but I would smile on her in spite of all 始める，決める-支援するs she might be going to 申し込む／申し出 me.

Arriving at Aviemore in good time for my 任命, I 棒 confidently up the avenue, and giving Rataplan over to the care of my man, with 指示／教授／教育s to keep him 井戸／弁護士席 under the 影をつくる／尾行する of the trees, boldly approached the house.

I was received by a staid, 年輩の butler, unmistakably English, and at once 勧めるd into the library, where Sir Henry was sitting at his desk.

He was やめる cordial to me, and we soon arranged the 事柄 of the fillies. I, of course, agreed to what he asked at once, and we then passed on, as nearly all old 兵士s do, to discussing the old days in フラン.

My last C.O. had been, it appeared, a 広大な／多数の／重要な friend of his, and he was most 利益／興味d to hear from one who had been 現実に 現在の the story of his death. He had been killed by a 爆撃する only about three days before the 結論 of the Armistice.

We chatted most interestedly for やめる half an hour; but, to my 失望, Sir Henry said nothing about stopping to lunch, and at last, thinking I couldn't 井戸／弁護士席 make my stay any longer, I reluctantly rose to go.

Sir Henry rose too and moved に向かって the bell. He stopped, however, with his finger on the 押し進める, and 発言／述べるd:—

"I see you're riding, Mr. Stratton."

"Yes, I （機の）カム up here on Rataplan," I replied calmly.

"Oh!" he said briskly, "I must come and see Rataplan. I should like to have a good look at him. I'll just put on my hat."

We passed out through the hall on to the neatly gravelled path in 前線 of the house, and my heart began to quicken.

A small group of people were standing by Rataplan, and in a flash I saw Mary was の中で them there.

Now for it, I thought. Sir Henry would be bound to introduce me at last.

There were four others besides Mary standing there, but their 支援するs were turned and they didn't notice us until the noise of our footsteps on the gravel made them all turn their 長，率いるs.

Mary's 直面する was a delicious picture of perfect self-支配（する）／統制する. She must have been waiting for me to come out I thought, and 準備するing herself for the moment when I should 現実に appear.

Her 甘い oval 直面する was delicately 紅潮／摘発するd, and her lovely 注目する，もくろむs showed what I knew 井戸／弁護士席 enough was only prettily assumed surprise.

Sir Henry introduced us.

"My daughter, Mr. Stratton. 海軍大将 James, Mr. and Mrs. Ronaldson, my sister, Mrs. Townley."

They all 屈服するd 正式に except Mary, and she （機の）カム 今後 at once with a little shy smile and gave me her 手渡す.

"I hope you won't mind, Mr. Stratton," she said prettily, with just the faintest trembling in her 発言する／表明する, "but I've been giving Rataplan some sugar—your man says he loves it."

"It's やめる all 権利, 行方不明になる 先頭," I replied, "he'll eat as much sugar as he can get any time."

"Oh, but isn't he a beauty?" she went on. "I thought he looked lovely with you in the paddock the other day."

I thought how lovely she looked. Pretty as I had thought her at a distance, I had never imagined the 追加するd beauty there would come into her 直面する when she was animated. She smiled so happily with her 注目する，もくろむs, and her cupid's 屈服する of a mouth broke into such pretty curves when she spoke.

"Oh, you angel," I said to myself, "I'll find another use for those pretty lips of yours some day, and soon too; see if I don't."

They all stood 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the gelding admiring him.

"Yes, he's perfectly magnificent," Sir Henry said. "I never saw finer shoulders in my life. He's running at the Port 会合, isn't he?"

"Yes," I replied; "next Saturday."

"I for one shall 支援する him again," broke in the jolly-looking old 海軍大将. "I had a 続けざまに猛撃する on him last time he ran, but on Saturday I'll have to sport a fiver. I hope you'll have a good (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 up."

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席, I hope so too," I said smiling; "I'm going to ride him myself."

"You are, are you?" 発言／述べるd the old man at once in a most unmistakable change of トン. "井戸／弁護士席, I'll have a 続けざまに猛撃する on, anyway."

Everyone burst out laughing, and Sir Henry said genially:—

"That's a 汚い one, Mr. Stratton, isn't it? I hope you're not unduly 極度の慎重さを要する."

"Oh," apologised the 海軍大将 quickly, "I 保証する I didn't mean anything at all. I was only thinking that these rough professional (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手s understand the racecourses over here better than amateurs, however good. I'm sure from the look of you, you're a devilish good rider; now, aren't you?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I don't know about that," I replied, laughing, "but Rataplan here and I have gone many hundreds of miles together and no one gets more out of him than I do."

"I really think," said Sir Henry in a 厳しい トン of mock solemnity, "that the very least 海軍大将 James can do is to apologise to Mr. Stratton. I must say that in spite of the 海軍大将's explanation it seems to me a 広大な／多数の／重要な reflection on Mr. Stratton's horsemanship that the 海軍大将 should be 減ずるing his 投資 on Rataplan from five 続けざまに猛撃するs to one so quickly."

"Yes, Sir Henry," I said, joining in the fun, "no one can 非難する me now if on Saturday I 'pull' Rataplan out of pique."

Just then a gong sounded in the distance, and I got ready 敏速に to say my good-byes.

But Mary, 勇敢な little darling that she was, （機の）カム to my 救助（する） at once before I could say anything.

"Perhaps Mr. Stratton will stay to 昼食, father," she said, 会合 my 注目する，もくろむs boldly, with the frankest 表現 of friendliness.

Sir Henry hesitated for perhaps the slightest fraction of a second, but then joined in heartily with the 招待.

"We shall be delighted if Mr. Stratton will," he said, and then, perhaps to （不足などを）補う, I thought, for not having been the first to 申し込む／申し出 me his 歓待, he went on genially, "and Mary, as Mr. Stratton has just agreed to take over those two dreadful fillies of 地雷 we'll have a magnum of シャンペン酒 to wish him luck. Tell Bunting some of the Heidsieck, 1906. You'll stay, of course, Mr. Stratton?"

"With 楽しみ," I returned, with my 注目する，もくろむs 十分な on Mary. "I'm sure, it's very good of you to ask me."

"I'm very glad you've bought the fillies," now joined in the 海軍大将. "That idea of the シャンペン酒 too is an excellent one, Sir Henry. I always think that when a man's bought anything from anybody there's nothing like a シャンペン酒 to 調印（する） the 取引 with. At any 率 the 買い手 then gets something for his money."

"Really, 海軍大将, we shall have to put you in Coventry," frowned Sir Henry. "You first 侮辱 Mr. Stratton here about his riding ability, and now you insinuate that all the good he is going to get from buying these fillies of 地雷 will be a few glasses of 哀れな シャンペン酒."

"哀れな シャンペン酒, be hanged. Why, that 1906 is the best stuff you've got in your cellar. But come on, Sir Henry. Let's 落ちる in. There's Mary beckoning to us."

It was indeed a merry party at 昼食. We all sat together at one big 一連の会議、交渉／完成する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and the シャンペン酒 soon put us all on good 条件 with one another.

本人自身で, I 手配中の，お尋ね者 that touch of シャンペン酒. It just took away the slight feeling of nervousness I was experiencing, and gave me 信用／信任 to be natural and like myself.

In a few minutes I 設立する myself talking easily and without 当惑, as if I had known them all my life.

Mary sat nearly opposite me, and many times during the meal, whilst the others were talking, our 注目する，もくろむs met and held each other in the friendliest way possible. When it happened that she caught me looking at her, as she often did, she made no pretence at all of turning her 注目する，もくろむs away, but looked 支援する at me with such a 甘い 刺激するing look upon her 直面する that it was I who had to 減少（する） my 注目する，もくろむs lest the others should see there the 賞賛 in them.

Everybody was very nice to me, and, of course, 存在 the greatest stranger at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, I was 一般に the centre of their conversation.

I soon 設立する they all 明らかに knew something about me, for they asked me a lot of questions about bush life. Then Mrs. Townley said, "You're 利益／興味d in sheep, aren't you, Mr. Stratton?" and when I replied "Rather," she asked me interestedly if I had many.

"井戸／弁護士席," I said 慎重に, "probably, what you would call many; I have about twenty-eight thousand at Velvet Hills."

"Good gracious," she exclaimed, "I should think I should call it many; and who looks after them when you're away?"

"Oh," I replied, "I have a splendid 経営者／支配人 and he has overseers under him, who in turn look after the 駅／配置する 手渡すs."

"Did you say Velvet Hills?" interrupted Mr. Ronaldson, who hitherto hadn't spoken much.

"Yes, Velvet Hills, beyond Pimba."

"Then you must be a relation of the Mr. Sidney Stratton who died about three months ago."

"Yes, he was my cousin, and the 駅／配置する （機の）カム to me through him. Did you know him?"

"I knew him very 井戸／弁護士席 years ago. I am a member of the 合法的な profession, Mr. Stratton, and at one time did a lot of conveyancing for your cousin. Besides the sheep 駅／配置する he had a 広大な／多数の／重要な many 利益／興味s in the city, hadn't he?"

"Yes," I replied; "so many that when he died I really don't think he knew how many he did have."

"And did he—did he?" he went on, and then hesitated, 明らかに not wishing to be too inquisitive.

"Oh, yes," I said, guessing the drift of his question. "He left everything to me. I was his 単独の 相続人."

"Then you're a lucky man, Mr. Stratton, and you must be a very rich one, too."

Everyone had been listening with 利益／興味 to our 発言／述べるs, but a silence fell over the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する after Mr. Ronaldson had finished speaking.

It was an 適切な時期 I had been waiting for, and turning に向かって Sir Henry I said impressively:—

"And do you know, Sir Henry, everything I have to-day I 借りがある to you."

Sir Henry looked at me very puzzled, and I went on.

"Yes, sheep 駅／配置する, lands, houses—everything. Every brick I own, every yard of land, indeed, every penny I 所有する, （機の）カム to me in the first instance through you."

"井戸／弁護士席, I'm very pleased, indeed, Mr. Stratton, very pleased, but," smiling and shrugging his shoulders, "I'm やめる in the dark."

"Oh, do tell us, Mr. Stratton," said Mrs. Townley; "I'm sure it'll be a nice story."

They all looked at me interestedly, but Mary, I noticed, seemed rather embarrassed. She dropped her 注目する，もくろむs on her plate and nervously 崩壊するd a piece of bread between her pretty white fingers.

"井戸／弁護士席, it was like this," I began. "One Saturday a little over a year ago, I had no money at all. I had never had much at any time, but the little I did have had been stolen from me, and I was very hard up. You dropped your pocket 調書をとる／予約する, Sir Henry, in King William Street, by the G.P.O. I 選ぶd it up and returned it to you, and you gave me a ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める. At first I didn't want to take it, but," and here I flashed a look at Mary, who looked up and smiled encouragingly, "I did. 井戸／弁護士席, I was so shabby that I thought the only place to change the ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める was at the 地位，任命する office, where they wouldn't ask me any questions. So I bought a 地位，任命する card to get change, and I was so pleased and excited at having so much money that in fun I sat 負かす／撃墜する, there and then, and wrote myself a 地位，任命する card. I remember, I congratulated myself upon the good luck that had come, and told myself everything would now be all 権利. I 演説（する）／住所d the 地位，任命する card to myself, care of the G.P.O., and slipped it in the box.

"Then I went to the races and turned that ten 続けざまに猛撃するs into nearly three hundred in the afternoon."

"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott!" ejaculated the 海軍大将, "what did you 支援する?"

"Be 静かな at once, 海軍大将," remonstrated Mrs. Townley, "don't interrupt, or you shan't have any port."

The 海軍大将 made a wry 直面する at me and 沈下するd. I went on: "井戸／弁護士席, on the Monday I was passing the 地位，任命する office, and I happened to remember やめる casually about the 地位，任命する card. I went in for it, and 設立する there was a letter waiting for me as 井戸／弁護士席—a letter from my cousin at Velvet Hills. I had never dreamed of him 令状ing to me, for we had quarrelled, and he was the last person in the world I should have 推定する／予想するd a letter from. 井戸／弁護士席, I went up to Pimba, as my cousin begged me to in his letter, and made it up with him. I was with him for nine months, and when he died he left me all he had. The point is, Sir Henry, that if you hadn't given me that ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める, I should never have bought a 地位，任命する card, and should never have called for any more letters at all. I should never have gone 近づく my cousin, and he would have left everything to his brother-in-法律, already a rich man, who was a hot favourite, and lived on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. So, that is why I 借りがある everything to you."

"井戸／弁護士席, sir," said Sir Henry, after a moment's silence, "I'm sure I'm very glad to have been the unwitting means of helping you. I remember the circumstances very 井戸／弁護士席. There was over &続けざまに猛撃する;200 in that pocket 調書をとる／予約する, and it was a shock to me when you brought it to the car. I didn't know I had dropped it. And you went and 現実に made nearly &続けざまに猛撃する;300 at the races?"

"Yes, I had &続けざまに猛撃する;2 on Rose of 夜明け at sixty-one and a half to one, and afterwards &続けざまに猛撃する;50 on the favourite in the last race, Rattler's Pride."

"井戸／弁護士席," broke in the 海軍大将, "you deserve to 勝利，勝つ. Anyone who had the pluck to put fifty quid on Rattler's Pride せねばならない get everything he wants in this world. The rotten beast belongs to a friend of 地雷, and he'd never won a race before nor has done since. Confound him."

"Take no notice of 海軍大将 James, Mr. Stratton," said Mrs. Townley, "he's a terrible gambler and a shocking 裁判官 of form. How he ever （機の）カム to put a 続けざまに猛撃する on Rataplan the other day puzzles me. But what a wonderful romance yours is; and it's all happened in such a short space of time, too!"

We went into the 製図／抽選-room after 昼食, and seeing a violin on the piano, I guessed at once it was Mary's, and 選ぶd it up.

"Do you play, Mr. Stratton?" asked Mary in a 発言する／表明する that to me had become the sweetest sound in all the world.

"Yes, a bit," I replied, in a 非，不，無-commital way.

"Oh! then you must try my violin and tell me what you think of it. Father gave it to me only the other day."

The others chimed in with their requests, and I was 招待するd to choose what piece of music I liked from a heap on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Mary said she would …を伴って me.

I turned over the pieces of music, and almost at once （機の）カム upon "Love's Old 甘い Song."

Could anything be more appropriate I thought, as I placed it before Mary on the piano.

Mary got a little red and gave me a quick look, half shy and half amused I thought, but I didn't care. There was going to be nothing of the timid I-don't-know-my-own mind sort of 商売／仕事 about my 支持を得ようと努めるing.

I snuggled the violin up closely to my chin, thinking happily all the while that it was Mary's and that many a time she must have put her own dear little chin where I was now 残り／休憩（する）ing 地雷. I even thought I could smell a delicious scent about it, a perfume that could have only come direct from her.

Mary 開始するd playing at once to cover her 当惑, and in a few seconds the violin joined in.

Now I flattered myself I was in good form, and just in the very mood to do 司法（官） to the piece I had selected.

With all its sweetness, it is a sad, haunting melody, and I tried to bring out something of the unsatisfied and hungry yearning that runs like a crimson thread through the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s. I tried to portray, not only the rapture and the longing of passion, but also the sighs and the 涙／ほころびs that must so often follow it to its end.

There was an appreciative silence for a few seconds when I had finished, and then they all broke into a chorus of thanks.

I played several pieces more, and it was nearly four o'clock when Rataplan was finally brought 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the door for my return home.

Then I asked Sir Henry if he would like to try the gelding's paces, and he trotted unsuspiciously up and 負かす／撃墜する the avenue, whilst I talked to Mary.

It was the first time I had been alone with her. She was now やめる at her 緩和する, and took 所有／入手 of me in a charming way.

"I remember you so 井戸／弁護士席," she said with a smile that showed up a perfect 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of little even white teeth; "that day at the 地位，任命する office I mean, and I saw you again a few days after, but you were 異なって dressed then."

I stood opposite to her watching the pretty 上昇傾向d 直面する with calculating and devouring 注目する，もくろむs. Now that I could take her in calmly, I noticed a difference in her from a year ago. She was a little more of a woman now, a little いっそう少なく of a girl. Her 人物／姿／数字 was a little fuller and the soft curves of her 団体／死体 spoke now of a beauty ripening quickly to its most bewitching days.

"行方不明になる 先頭," I replied as impressively as I could, "I never forgot you, and whenever I have seen you since I have always remembered what you told me when Sir Henry 手配中の，お尋ね者 me to take the ten-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める. You said then it would bring me luck."

"And so it has; but I suppose, manlike, you're not content," she went on laughing.

"No, there are other things I want 不正に, but I'm going to get those too now," and I smiled 支援する at her in the same laughing way.

She reddened up a little and seemed about to say something, when Sir Henry pulled up and dismounted from Rataplan.

"Mr. Stratton," he exclaimed enthusiastically, "you've given me a 広大な／多数の／重要な 扱う／治療する. I'm sure I've never had my 脚s over anything finer in my life."

A little later and I 棒 home slowly in a delicious reverie.

I loved Mary with the strongest passion of my life, and a sure instinct told me that when I asked her she would come 喜んで to my 武器. How 甘い and dainty she had looked, I thought, and what pretty, 粘着するing ways she had. But with all her gentleness, what courage there was there! She had looked straight 支援する at me I remembered, with those 静める, （疑いを）晴らす 注目する，もくろむs of hers, and told me instinctively, without 恐れる or shame, that one day at the propitious hour, the making or the marring of her happiness would pass to me and all she could 申し込む／申し出 would be 地雷.

Two days after the 昼食 at Aviemore I met the 長，指導者 in his car on North Terrace. Seeing me, he pulled up at once.

"By Jove, young man, you've got a 神経," he said. "You'll get on all 権利. 事実上 招待するing yourself to lunch, playing 'Love's Old 甘い Song' to 行方不明になる Mary, and looking at her all the time as if she already belonged to you. No, you needn't get indignant. No one told me that. I only heard what happened, and I guessed at once you'd planned and 計画／陰謀d it all. Buying those two fillies to get Sir Henry in a good humour, you young dog! 井戸／弁護士席, good luck to you, my boy, I won't give you away."

And he tootled off before I could get in a reply.

The に引き続いて Saturday at Cheltenham it seemed all Adelaide was there. There was a good programme 供給するd, and Rataplan was in the Steeplechase in the fourth race.

He was in with eleven 石／投石する two, and to my disgust I 設立する I should have to 宣言する five 続けざまに猛撃するs over-負わせる.

I spoke to Mary and Sir Henry in the paddock, and they both wished me good luck; Sir Henry with a 警告 that he wouldn't answer for my safety if the 海軍大将 lost his 続けざまに猛撃する, and Mary with a gentle 圧力 of the dear little 手渡す that for a moment I held happily in 地雷.

"Now, Mr. Stratton," said Sir Henry, in トンs of mock entreaty, "don't go and let us all 負かす／撃墜する. The 海軍大将 has 設立する a bookmaker who's given him twelve to one against Rataplan on the strength of your riding, and my daughter, I believe, is going to take a five-shilling ticket for Mrs. Townley in the ladies' こども. We shall all be on the stand, and if you don't hear us shout as you go by, it won't be because we don't want you to 勝利，勝つ."

重要なs （機の）カム up to me just as I had got into my colours, lilac and old gold. He was grinning, as usual.

"Good luck to you, sir," he said heartily. "The boys are all friendly and most of them hope you'll 勝利，勝つ. I'm on Braintree—not a ghost of a chance unless all the others 落ちる. Red Pottage will be the favourite with Spiffins up. You look out for Red Pottage, Mr. Stratton. They're a rum lot. If the stable means 商売／仕事 to-day, and Spiffins is really out for 血, he'll 嘘（をつく） handy with Red Pottage, see if he doesn't, until just before he reaches the Derby Stand, and then he'll come on with a spurt that will shake up even Rataplan. Don't forget sir, Red Pottage was a （短距離で）速く走る人 once."

I thanked 重要なs gratefully for his （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about Red Pottage, but I was やめる aware already that to-day at least I could play no tricks with Rataplan. We were up against some of the best fencers in South Australia, and an amateur (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 riding against professionals is always at a disadvantage to the extent of やめる seven 続けざまに猛撃するs.

I should be the only amateur riding, and although I had done a かなりの 量 of steeplechasing behind the lines in フラン, experience is a thing that counts more than anything in racing, and I knew I should be miles behind some of my 現在の 対抗者s in general （手先の）技術 and 地元の knowledge of the course.

My 広大な／多数の／重要な hope was that Rataplan 存在 so extraordinarily good, his 質 would （不足などを）補う for any 欠陥／不足s I might have.

It was a 広大な／多数の／重要な moment however for me when I 棒 out on to the course in all the glory of lilac and old gold.

Rataplan was perfect in his 活動／戦闘, and a buzz of 賞賛 （機の）カム up as I cantered out before the stand.

Then a section of the （人が）群がる began to 元気づける and laugh ironically. "Owner up and five 続けざまに猛撃する over-負わせる 宣言するd," seemed to most of them to （一定の）期間 災害 at once, besides 存在 rather cocksure and cheeky 同様に.

I knew there was a lot of 敵意 to us at the こども, and, 裁判官ing by the 量 存在 投資するd, public 信用／信任 was at a very low ebb.

But I wasn't in the least nettled by the 活動／戦闘 of the （人が）群がる; instead, I nodded 支援する smilingly to them, as if I 手配中の，お尋ね者 them to understand I wasn't worrying at all, and was only out just for a bit of fun.

Their 元気づけるs seemed to change a little at that, and one man called out encouragingly, "井戸／弁護士席, he's a 井戸／弁護士席 plucked 'un, anyhow."

Turning 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, I put the gelding to a 罰金 sharp gallop 支援する to the starting 地位，任命する.

The （人が）群がる might sneer, I thought, but, at any 率, they should see I could ride, and was master, too, of the 罰金 animal I was 扱うing.

Rataplan stretched himself out and gave them a most perfect 展示 of a thoroughbred in 活動／戦闘.

I heard afterwards that in that half-minute we made plenty of friends, and in the last few minutes for 投資 the totalisator was busier on our に代わって than at any time 以前.

The start took place 権利 on the other 味方する of the course, with the 鉄道 line not a hundred yards distant.

Rataplan never liked trains, and I was hoping 非，不，無 would come by when we were getting ready. Just at the last moment, however, one pulled up noisily, and the gelding began to fidget and turn and try to break away.

I was drawn number twelve out of the fifteen, and was 権利 away from the rails, and その結果 やめる 近づく to the beastly engine that had come up.

Rataplan gave me a lot of trouble, and I knew the people on the stands would be 悪口を言う／悪態ing the rotten amateur who was 延期するing the start.

The start, however, was a good one at last, and we all got off in a straight line.

Rataplan was 準備するing to 扱う／治療する himself to his usual generous allowance of time in getting 公正に／かなり going, but the engine-driver made his engine shriek suddenly just as we started, and the 影響 on the gelding was 電気の.

He burst away at a tremendous bat, and fifty yards from the start I was （疑いを）晴らす ahead of all the others by at least three lengths.

"Good," I said to myself. "Now, my beauty, you shall just stop here. I ask for nothing better."

It was just what I 手配中の，お尋ね者. I was out 井戸／弁護士席 by myself and （疑いを）晴らす from all the bustle and dangers that would …に出席する the jumps.

Coming past the stands I was on excellent 条件 with myself, and didn't mind who saw it.

We were 主要な by about five lengths, and Rataplan was going in faultless style. He was setting the field a 罰金 pace, and already there was a good tail behind us. Coming to the stand 盗品故買者 he skimmed over it like a bird, and I heard afterwards it was then that it began to 夜明け for the first time upon some of the doubters in the stands that there might be some good after all in the riding of the presumptuous amateur before them.

At any 率, it was then that the (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手s behind me began to get uneasy. Up to now they had evidently thought the pace too hot to last, and that Rataplan would soon come 支援する to the other horses. But more than a third of the distance had now been 遂行するd, and I was still slowly but surely 製図／抽選 away.

I could feel rather than see them get busy on their 開始するs, and the noise and shouting of them behind me became 徐々に clearer.

I quickened up Rataplan ever so little however, and kept still just in 前線 until we （機の）カム opposite the stands on the other 味方する of the course.

Then out of the tail of my 注目する，もくろむ I took 在庫／株 of my 対抗者s.

There were evidently only four of us to be reckoned with. Save for a 落ちる the 残り／休憩（する） were too far behind me now to be dangerous.

嵐／襲撃する King was nearest to me, but Vexatious and the redoubtable Red Pottage were running barely half a length behind him. All the three of them seemed 十分な of running, and only 企て，努力，提案ing their time.

非，不，無 of us yet were fully 延長するd.

At the six-furlong 地位，任命する Vexatious was の近くにing on 嵐／襲撃する King, with the two now about a length behind me.

Red Pottage was going easily, level with their 側面に位置するs. I was not hurrying my 開始する in the least, but was waiting for the final 急ぐ, 決定するd however, to get 地雷 in first.

There would be some heart-breaking for the moment on the stands, I thought, for to those watching there it must have seemed as if Rataplan had almost 発射 his bolt, and was now first only on sufferance.

About half a mile from home, however, I suddenly 勧めるd the gelding almost to 最高の，を越す pace, and he put daylight at once between us and his three 対抗者s.

My manoeuvre seemed rather to upset the others. Again I guessed they evidently thought the pace too hot to last, but not knowing how much I had in 手渡す, and the winning 地位，任命する 存在 now so much nearer, this time they couldn't afford to take any 危険s.

So after me they all （機の）カム 十分な pelt, and a nice pace I led them.

Vexatious 割れ目d up in いっそう少なく than fifty yards, but Red Pottage and 嵐／襲撃する King （機の）カム on in good fighting style, and, running 井戸／弁護士席 together, again got to within a length of me.

We took the last 盗品故買者 正確に／まさに in this order, and one hundred yards from home our positions were 不変の.

A mighty roar （機の）カム up from the stands, and a wave of terrible but delicious excitement thrilled through me.

I kept my 長，率いる, however, and 安定したing the gelding for one final 急ぐ, brought my whip 負かす／撃墜する once はっきりと on his 側面に位置する.

The pace 即時に became terrific, but I felt my 負わせる was telling, and that Rataplan was now all out.

嵐／襲撃する King dropped away to nothingness, but, to my 狼狽, the outstretched 長，率いる of Red Pottage ぼんやり現れるd slowly up と一緒に and drew level with my girths. A terrible 疑問 抑圧するd me.

Rataplan could go no faster, I knew. Could he, indeed, keep up any longer the 猛烈な／残忍な pace he was now going?

Could Red Pottage go any faster either, or had the long run-in I had 供給するd for him taken it all out of him in his turn.

I 棒 as in a dream with the 広大な／多数の／重要な quivering 長，率いる 近づく beside me, and then, as in a dream too, the 長，率いる jerked quickly 今後, stopped, drew 支援する and faded 権利 away.

Red Pottage had 発射 his bolt, but Rataplan was stopping quickly too, and it was by one length only that we ran in first past the 地位，任命する.

I received a 広大な／多数の／重要な ovation from the （人が）群がる. Most of them were losers over my success—Rataplan returned &続けざまに猛撃する;11 5s.—but they were good sports and pleased to see an amateur 勝利，勝つ.

They やめる 襲う the gelding in the paddock, and everyone I knew （人が）群がるd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to congratulate me.

Mary looked happy as a queen, and awarded me a warm shake of her dear little 手渡す.

"You 棒 splendidly, Mr. Stratton," she said. "I never saw a horse and rider so fitted for each other; we were thrilled all the way through."

The old 海軍大将 was 十分な of glee. "By gad, my boy," he 前向きに／確かに shouted 直接／まっすぐに he （機の）カム 近づく, "but it was a の近くに thing. I thought my quid had gone west over yonder. I was nearly selling it to 行方不明になる 先頭; she 申し込む／申し出d me ten shillings for it, but fortunately I didn't take it."

Sir Henry, too, was all smiles. He had had a tenner on me.

"You 攻撃する，衝突する the Red Pottage lot, all 権利, young man," he said. "They'd almost put the stable door on, so much so that if they'd won they would only have got 'five to four on' for their money at the こども. But I understand they had 支援するd it ひどく at twos before the race. You upset Master Spiffins by coming away so soon; he said if you hadn't he'd have had you 権利 enough."

Before the 先頭 party left the course that afternoon, Mrs. Townley asked me to come up to dinner the に引き続いて Wednesday. I was indeed getting on, I thought.

CHAPTER X. — THE MAGIC OF LOVE

THE stream of life began to flow very happily for me then.

They say money isn't everything, but I was soon finding that if you have it, most things come your way.

I got to know all the nicest people in Adelaide, and as a 豊富な young unmarried man was quickly 認める everywhere.

Percy Thornton and I became 広大な／多数の／重要な friends. We had so many tastes in ありふれた and we went out a lot together.

We 自然に talked of almost everything under the sun, but by tacit 同意 we never について言及するd Mary.

I knew he had been for a long time 甘い in that ４半期/4分の1, and he must have somehow guessed how my feelings were in that direction too.

I met Mary やめる often now, but could not somehow manage ever to get her alone to myself.

I had been twice to dinner at Aviemore, and once to a dance there. It was always heaven to me to be where Mary was, but outwardly at all events, my 法廷，裁判所ing had not 進歩d nearly as 速く as I had hoped.

I knew for 確かな , however, there was a sure understanding between us, and when, in 説 good-bye I used to 持つ／拘留する her 手渡す rather longer than necessary, she used to answer me 支援する with such a 静める challenging look in her pretty 注目する，もくろむs that I always went away in a terrible hunger of longing until I should see her again.

We were both of us only just waiting for our happiness, I knew.

Commonsense, however, told me not precipitately to hurry 事柄s. Sir Henry was, I knew やめる 井戸／弁護士席, most punctilious and rather old fashioned in all social and family 事柄s, and he would have considered it, I was sure, a 広大な／多数の／重要な piece of impudence if I had too 率直に shown my 手渡す upon so short an acquaintanceship.

So the weeks rolled on.

I had made one enemy, however, Leonard Hounsell, the owner of Red Pottage. He had never forgiven me for Rataplan （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing his animal at the Port 会合. Rumour had it that he had lost two thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs by my success.

One afternoon Percy Thornton 発言／述べるd to me, "I say, Stratton, that man Hounsell is always grousing everywhere about Rataplan. He says, old man, that you're a damn bad rider, and only won by a fluke."

"Oh, he does, does he," I replied. "井戸／弁護士席 I'll just get Master Hounsell on toast."

I looked for an 適切な時期, but didn't get it for some days. Then one afternoon I met the owner of Red Pottage in the lounge of Tattersall's Club.

He gave me a curt nod, which I 定評のある with an even curter one. I made as if to move away, and then stopped as I suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, by the bye, Mr. Hounsell," I said loudly so as to attract every one's attention, "I understand you rather think Rataplan's （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing of Red Pottage at Cheltenham the other day a little bit of a fluke, don't you?"

Hounsell hesitated a moment, and seemed わずかに uncomfortable, but he couldn't 井戸／弁護士席 get out of replying to so direct a question.

"井戸／弁護士席, if you ask me—率直に I do," he replied. "My opinion is that Red Pottage would （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 your animal three times out of four."

"All 権利," I replied, "then let's run it over again. I'm やめる willing. Let's make a match of it, same 負わせるs, same distance, same riders, and &続けざまに猛撃する;500 a 味方する—whenever you like."

He seemed taken aback at my bringing the 事柄 to a 長，率いる so quickly, and hummed and hawed a long while before replying. Then he said slowly:—

"井戸／弁護士席, I'll consider it. I would run it off to-morrow, but Red Pottage has been coughing, and is no good for awhile. I'll let you know later."

I knew it was a 嘘（をつく）, and so did every one else there. But I let it go at that, and moved off contemptuously.

One day about a week after the 会合 at the club, I thought I noticed a slight change in Sir Henry. I met him at lunch at a 相互の friend's, and to my astonishment he seemed very short in his answers when I spoke, and very disinclined to talk to me at all.

I thought perhaps he wasn't feeling very 井戸／弁護士席, and その結果 didn't take much notice of it. But 会合 him about a week later in the street, he was going to pass me by if I hadn't stopped him, with just a half smiling little nod, and I knew at once that something was wrong.

We 交流d just a few commonplace 発言／述べるs and then, apologising he was in a hurry, he went off 突然の, leaving me with a very unpleasant feeling in my mind.

What on earth had I done, I thought? I had put my foot in it somehow, I was 肯定的な, but the difficulty I knew, would be to find out 正確に／まさに what fault I had committed.

I 推定する／予想するd, however, to 会合，会う both Sir Henry and Mary at Morphettville the に引き続いて Saturday, and might, I thought, find out something then. Sir Henry was running a two-year-old there. But to my disgust 非，不，無 of the 先頭 family put in an 外見, and it was left to Percy Thornton to tell me that they had gone モーターing for the day.

I began to get anxious, for I knew it was not like Sir Henry to run any of his horses and not be 現在の to see them run.

A fortnight went by and I had not got even so much as a glimpse of either Mary or her father. They seemed to have suddenly dropped out of my life.

They were at Aviemore I knew, and all やめる 井戸／弁護士席, for Percy Thornton had been playing billiards up there several nights.

I didn't know at all what to do. I kept a stiff upper lip and went about smiling, but to myself I was 哀れな, and, 兵士 as I had been, 涙／ほころびs were always 近づく my 注目する，もくろむs.

When things were blackest, however, the sun （機の）カム out in all its glory. I met Mary in King William Street.

She was walking with another girl I knew わずかに, and we all stopped at once when we met.

Mary had blushed to a most lovely colour on seeing me, but she was やめる composed, and gave me her 手渡す in her usual pretty way.

"Oh, Mr. Stratton, how fortunate," she said, "you know 行方不明になる North, don't you? I 手配中の，お尋ね者 特に to see you. I have something to tell you. Clara," she went on, turning to her friend, "you want to do some more shopping dear, don't you? 井戸／弁護士席, Mr. Stratton 約束d the other day to give me the best ice cream in Adelaide, and I'll 持つ／拘留する him to his word now. It's half-past eleven, and you've got just half an hour. 会合，会う me at twelve 正確に／まさに, just in 前線 of the Bank of Adelaide."

Her friend bustled off in a most tactful way, and Mary turned to me with a little catch in her 発言する／表明する.

"Now, Mr. Stratton—take me somewhere—I really want an ice, and it's the very least you can give me for the fib I've just been telling for you." Then she 追加するd with a little smile, "I don't know what poor father would say. I believe it's most 妥当でない for me to come alone with you, but I shall have to 危険 it. So come along quickly."

Everything had happened so suddenly that I had hardly managed to get in a word, but it was all 耐えるing out what I had always thought. 甘い and 粘着するing as Mary always looked, there was nothing undetermined about her character, and behind all those pretty gentle ways there was a courage and 資源 that would be used unsparingly in the service of the man she loved.

I led her 負かす／撃墜する some stairs into a cafe, and choosing a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in a 静かな corner of the room, we sat 負かす／撃墜する in the 冷静な／正味の 半分-不明瞭 to enjoy our first conversation alone together.

The cafe was almost empty, and we had our part of the room 完全に to ourselves.

I was in the seventh heaven to think of the 信用／信任 she had in me, but at the same time knowing more of the world than she did, I was feeling rather nervous lest any one who knew her should see us there. Her father would be so annoyed, I thought.

She sat opposite to me with only a little 狭くする （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する between us, and she looked so 甘い and pretty. Her 直面する was gently 紅潮／摘発するd with the excitement, and her large blue 注目する，もくろむs sparkled with 利益／興味 and 活気／アニメーション.

"It's awfully 甘い of you to come 負かす／撃墜する here, 行方不明になる Mary," I said, "but I really don't think I せねばならない have brought you. Sir Henry's very particular I know, about this sort of thing."

"Oh, never mind my father, Mr. Stratton, I'll make it all 権利 with him if he ever hears about it. I had to come to speak to you."

"I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to speak to you 不正に," I replied tenderly, "do you know I 港／避難所't seen you now for over three weeks?"

"What a dreadful time! I wonder you've 存在するd."

"井戸／弁護士席, I've been very unhappy about it, and very worried to know why it was—I couldn't believe it was only 事故."

"No, it wasn't 事故. Some one's been putting father against you, Mr. Stratton, and that's why you have not been asked up."

"What on earth have I done? Have I been looking at you too much?"

She turned her 注目する，もくろむs away for a moment, and then gave me a deliciously arch look.

"I didn't say I had complained, did I?" she said demurely, "perhaps I 港／避難所't noticed it."

"井戸／弁護士席, I meant you to notice it, anyhow," I went on, "but what have I done to upset Sir Henry?"

"I don't やめる know, Mr. Stratton, and it's because I want you to put yourself 権利 that I'm telling you now."

"You 港／避難所't the least idea, 行方不明になる Mary?"

"Yes," hesitating, "it's something about you and the police."

"Oh, that's nothing," I cried in 広大な／多数の／重要な 救済. "I can soon explain that. I know what they mean 権利 enough."

"They told father you'd been 逮捕（する）d once."

"井戸／弁護士席—so I have been—but it was all a mistake, and afterwards I was able to do the 長，指導者 Commissioner what he always considers a very 広大な／多数の／重要な service."

"You're やめる friends with General Edis, aren't you? I mean with the 長，指導者."

"Yes, certainly I am; he's the best friend I have in Adelaide."

"That's what I told father. I knew from the way the 長，指導者 spoke of you one day at our house that you must be good friends. But you see, Mr. Stratton, father is one of the old sort, and fearfully 極度の慎重さを要する about anyone who comes to our house."

"And やめる 権利, too, but I wonder now who's been trying to make mischief."

Mary was silent for a moment, and then said rather reluctantly, "I don't know for 確かな , but I think it was that horrid Mr. Hounsell. Father met him the other day with 海軍大将 James."

"やめる probably," I said grimly, "he hates me like 毒（薬） after the Red Pottage 商売／仕事. But how do you think now I can best put myself 権利?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I think I can tell you. You're going to the James' to dinner next Wednesday, aren't you? We're all going. Mr. Hounsell will be there too, and also the 長，指導者. Mr. Hounsell doesn't dream you're friends with the 長，指導者, for he told a friend of father's that it would be a sight to see your 直面する when you met the 長，指導者. Ask the 長，指導者 to bring up the whole thing casually in the course of conversation at dinner. The 准將's got plenty of tact, and is just the man to do it nicely. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, I do, and he's the very man to love taking a rise out of a mischief 製造者! I'll go and see him before Wednesday. But now what about you—you're sure you're coming, aren't you?"

"やめる sure. Father's a dear old thing, and didn't want to take me at first, but I made him 約束. You know, Mr. Stratton, he やめる liked you before this happened."

"Of course he did," I said stoutly, "I 手配中の，お尋ね者 him to. I liked coming up to your place. There are attractions there."

Mary smiled roguishly, and I asked her if she'd like some 甘いs. She thanked me, but said no.

"I suppose you think you're 甘い enough yourself without them," I said smiling 支援する at her.

"I didn't say so," she replied in the same vein.

"井戸／弁護士席, some people might say you wouldn't be far wrong if you did. But don't put on your gloves yet."

"Oh, but I must, Mr. Stratton—we've been here やめる long enough."

"One moment, just let me look at your 手渡す; did you know I can tell fortunes?" She obediently passed over a pretty little 手渡す, and I held it tightly and pretended to look at the lines.

"Hum," I said meditatively, "you've got an admirer, and he's eating his heart out for you. I see he's going to 提案する to you soon."

She pulled her 手渡す away at once, but smiled happily at me with 高くする，増すd colour.

"Probably I shan't 受託する him," she said, "you men are always so 確かな , aren't you?"

"Oh, no," I replied 真面目に, "when a man's really in love he's awfully humble. He knows he's not half nice enough for the girl he loves. But look here, 行方不明になる Mary—if I send you up some flowers for Wednesday, will you wear them?"

"Certainly not; why, poor father would have a fit if any strange flowers （機の）カム to the house. He'd shut me up for a week. But what sort of flowers would you have liked to have sent me?"

"Pink and white roses for preference—but you've 非，不，無 罰金 enough at Aviemore."

"非，不，無 罰金 enough," she said indignantly, "why you know roses are one of father's hobbies, and we've the very finest ones in the 明言する／公表する in our garden."

"But 非，不，無 罰金 enough," I replied stubbornly shaking my 長，率いる.

Mary laughed prettily and got up to go. "Good-bye, Mr. Stratton, if you don't mind I'll go out alone. I'm sorry I can't take your flowers for Wednesday, but if I'm in a good humour that night I'll wear some pink and white roses that I shall have 選ぶd for myself, and if you should see me wearing them—you can be thinking you gave them to me yourself. Good-bye, Mr. John."

And off she tripped before I could fully take in the 甘い 自白 wrapped in her good-bye.

Waking and sleeping, I was for ever thinking of Mary in the 続いて起こるing days.

I had now 事実上 told her 率直に that I was going to ask her to marry me, and she in return, had let me know almost as 率直に that when I did, she would not be sending me away.

I 悪口を言う／悪態d that wretched Hounsell for his mischief making, and 決定するd to leave no steps unturned to 始める，決める myself 権利 with Sir Henry at once.

On the Monday I called on the 長，指導者, but 設立する to my 狼狽 he was away in Melbourne, and would not be 支援する until the Wednesday morning. I left a 公式文書，認める for him, however, where he would be sure to get it the moment he returned. I didn't 令状 much, I only just said:—

Dear 長，指導者,

I am under a little bit of a cloud in a 確かな ４半期/4分の1 because of my one time 協会 with your department. Would you very nicely put things 権利 casually at dinner on Wednesday evening? Let me 負かす／撃墜する lightly, but you needn't keep much 支援する.

In grief and 悲しみ,

心から yours,

John Stratton.

P.S.—Mary's all 権利.

I felt very anxious until the Wednesday evening arrived, but 直接／まっすぐに I got up to the house I took my courage in my 手渡すs and 決定するd whether the 長，指導者 （機の）カム to my help or not to give myself a good run for my money.

I was a little late in arriving, and most of the company were already 組み立てる／集結するd in the 製図／抽選-room when I was 勧めるd in.

Mary and her father were there, also Leonard Hounsell, and to my 広大な／多数の／重要な joy, the 長，指導者.

They were all talking together, and save for Mary, who gave me a little encouraging smile, my 入り口 at first was almost unnoticed.

I shook 手渡すs with Mrs. James and the 海軍大将, and then passing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する said "How-do-you-do," to Mary and Sir Henry. Sir Henry was やめる nice, but only smiled a little 厳粛に.

It was やめる a big 集会 in honour of the 海軍大将's birthday, and there were lots of people there that I had got to know.

We chatted 一般に together for a few minutes, and then the 長，指導者 turning 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 明らかに noticed me for the first time.

"Hello, John," he exclaimed so loudly that everyone's attention was attracted at once, "where have you been hiding? You're getting so proud now with all your racing successes that you won't even notice some of your old friends."

Dear old 長，指導者, I thought. You are a good pal. You're losing no time, but mean to get in a good blow at once.

I shook 手渡すs cordially with him, and he drew me partly on one 味方する with the 海軍大将 and 小売d to us one of the 最新の jokes going about the city.

Everybody was looking at us. Sir Henry puckered up his eyebrows evidently very puzzled, and as for Mr. Leonard Hounsell, he looked as spitefully sick as his worst enemy could wish.

Dinner was duly 発表するd, and to my surprise and joy, Mary was given me to take in. Evidently the 海軍大将, I thought, knew nothing of the cloud I was under.

I have often in later years looked 支援する in memory to that dinner party, and always with such happy feelings of remembrance.

There were twenty-four of us, and we all sat at one very long （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. There was not too much room, and I was sitting so の近くに to Mary that I was conscious all the time of the warmth of her dear 団体／死体 next to 地雷. Then, too, when the 海軍大将's シャンペン酒 began to 循環させる, conversation was so insistent and so fluent all the way 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, that any couple if they so wished, could talk together in the hubbub almost as unnoticed as if they were alone.

At any 率, I know Mary and I did.

She was wearing, as I knew she would, the pink and white roses of her 約束, and I duly 知らせるd her 静かに how pretty she was looking.

She gave me a delicious 味方する-look with her 注目する，もくろむs, but only replied by telling me with mock 悲しみ, she was afraid I was a most fraudulent fortune teller, for so far, no one had come 今後 as I had confidently 予報するd, to （人命などを）奪う，主張する her 手渡す in marriage from her father.

I didn't dare then to give her 支援する the answer I should have liked.

Presently some one at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する について言及するd something about racing, and すぐに the 長，指導者's 発言する／表明する rose above all the others.

"All we've got to do now," he exclaimed loudly, "is just to wait until Rataplan runs again, and then 支援する him. We shall 勝利，勝つ マリファナs of money that way as easily as 爆撃する peas. If we should ever lose, we'll just get our knife into Mr. Stratton here. Speaking for myself, if I'm ever out of pocket, as 長，指導者 Commissioner of the Police, I shall 逮捕（する） him at once."

The company laughed and 一般に stopped talking to listen to the 長，指導者's 爆発.

"Oh, yes," he went on with his audience now waiting on his words, "it wouldn't be the first time I've had you 逮捕（する）d, would it, Mr. Stratton?"

I pretended to be very 脅すd, and said fearfully, "Here, 長，指導者, you mustn't give me away."

"Come, John," he 再結合させるd heartily, "you wouldn't spoil a good story, would you? You know, ladies and gentlemen, in some ways Mr. Stratton is やめる a hero of romance, and I know he won't mind my 利益／興味ing you with what happened to him a little over a year ago. You don't mind, John, do you?"

"No, I don't mind," I said resignedly, "only don't pitch it too strong."

"井戸／弁護士席, here goes," said the 長，指導者, delighted to have an audience breathlessly hanging on his words. "Now, I'm going to 利益／興味 you. You all remember the 開始する Gambier 殺人 事例／患者 something over a year ago. 井戸／弁護士席, it was not so much a 選び出す／独身 罪，犯罪, as the 最高潮に達するing 罪，犯罪 of a good many other 罪，犯罪s. It was one of a series done by the same individuals. We were 猛烈に anxious to get these gentlemen, and the very best talent of the 連邦／共和国 was arrayed against them. We 跡をつけるd them here to Adelaide, and then we lost them.

"Mind you, we only had a description of one of them, McSwiney, Tod McSwiney. Of the other one we knew nothing, except that he was the most damnable rascal unhung.

"井戸／弁護士席, we knew they were here in Adelaide, and we put 負かす／撃墜する our 逮捕する and dragged for them.

"We made a wide cast and were やめる sure we'd got at least, one of them. We opened the two ends of the 逮捕する at Henley and out flapped Mr. John Stratton here.

"Now we didn't know anything of our friend then. We had never seen him—never even heard of him. We were disgusted, and of course let him go. 井戸／弁護士席, two days later we cast out our 逮捕する again, and this time we dragged the City, 開始 the two ends in Hutt Street.

"Out popped our friend John, again. This was more than we could stand. It couldn't be 単に a coincidence, we thought. There must be some 関係, of course, between Stratton and McSwiney. So we 影をつくる／尾行するd John hoping その為に to come upon McSwiney.

"For two days we 影をつくる／尾行するd him with four of my best men, but he somehow 設立する it out, and a nice dance he gave them.

"He took them all over the place. He took them up and 負かす／撃墜する almost every street in the city, he took them to the Art Gallery; to the Botanical Gardens; he took them to the Zoo.

"They had two hours with him on Henley Jetty while he sat looking over the 味方する at the fishes in the sea. He walked around Grange, and I don't know where he didn't go.

"All the time they had to follow him closely. If he went into a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業, some of them had to go in too. If he stopped to look at a pretty girl—and Mr. John, let me tell you, has got a good 注目する，もくろむ for beauty—they had to stop too, and so on and so on.

"井戸／弁護士席, this couldn't go on for ever. Apart from the 疲労，（軍の）雑役 and the expense of drinks, everybody's boots were getting worn out, so on the third day I had him tapped on the shoulder, and he was told to come along.

"He （機の）カム やめる easily, and the 広大な／多数の／重要な 視察官 Kitson and I then proceeded to ask him questions.

"I must say he wasn't 正確に／まさに polite. Of course he was aggrieved at 存在 pulled up and his dignity was 傷つける and all that, but as I always say, there was no need for him to be rude to us and to ask me の中で other things, if I happened to be the historic personage who had killed Queen Anne.

"井戸／弁護士席 we made him turn out his pockets and we 設立する a large sum of money on him in 公式文書，認めるs, nearly &続けざまに猛撃する;300. It looked 怪しげな, so I 拘留するd him while we made 調査s.

"To our 失望 we 設立する out in a few hours that all he had told us was true. We traced his 活動／戦闘s for almost every day of the previous three months, and 設立する him やめる an 模範的な Y.M.C.A. sort of young man.

"We searched his war 記録，記録的な／記録するs and there again everything was creditable and very meritorious—I'm 存在 very nice to you John.

"井戸／弁護士席, the 視察官 and I talked it over and I said, 'It's no good 視察官, it's another dud stunt, we must let him go, there's no 関係 between them.'

"Then an inspiration （機の）カム to me and I blurted it out. 'By Jove, I see it all,' I said excitedly, 'there is a 関係 between them. Why we always find Stratton when we follow Tod is because Tod himself is after Stratton, and they're both の近くに together all the while.' And that turned out to be the exact truth, ladies and gentlemen. The two scoundrels had seen Mr. John here 選ぶ up &続けざまに猛撃する;300 on the racecourse, and had been 跡をつけるing him 負かす／撃墜する to get 持つ／拘留する of it.

"I had Mr. Stratton 支援する before me and explained everything to him.

"Now I flatter myself that that afternoon I carried through one of the very finest pieces of 外交 I have ever 扱うd.

"When the 記録，記録的な／記録するing angel finally settles up my account, he'll put up a good big credit for the way I soothed 負かす／撃墜する Master John and turned him from an angry enemy into a の近くに 同盟（する）.

"I must remind you now that McSwiney had 一方／合間 met his death by the sandhills on the beach. How, it has never been 正確に／まさに 証明するd, but it is 一般に believed that he and his companion quarrelled and the other daisy 扱う／治療するd him to a dose of lead.

"We were very delighted he was killed, but at the same time ジュースd sorry we had not had a 手渡す in it ourselves.

"The disappointing part of it was, however, we had no means now of 跡をつけるing the 開始する Gambier 殺害者 number two. 非，不，無 of us knew what he was like; not even the famous 視察官 Kitson, from whose 明言する／公表する I am glad to say he （機の）カム.

"Now that is where Mr. John here, would come in, I thought.

"If he had seen McSwiney 星／主役にするing at him when he drew his &続けざまに猛撃する;300 at the totalisator window, why shouldn't he have noticed his companion too?

"I was 権利. Mr. Stratton remembered them both.

"I then spoke to Mr. Stratton as one man speaking to another. I told him we were very sorry we had had to take him up, but we had held it to be our 義務 to do so in the 利益／興味s of the 明言する／公表する. He was, however, perfectly 解放する／自由な to go away now. I told him why we had had 推論する／理由 to be 怪しげな and I explained the 直す／買収する，八百長をする we were then in. In fact, I took him into our 信用／信任, and ladies and gentlemen, for the time he became one of us.

"For three days he 追跡（する）d up and 負かす／撃墜する the city streets, and for three days a 暴徒 of disguised service men in all sorts of get-up followed him about.

"But it was no good—there was nothing doing. Then （機の）カム the 最高潮. On the Saturday we all went to Gawler races. Almost に向かって the end of the afternoon, Mr. Stratton spotted his man. He 用意が出来ている to give the signal, but the 殺害者 suddenly took fright, and reached for his (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 at his hip before we were all ready.

"Mind you, he was a desperate man, and would have spat out death 権利 and left の中で the （人が）群がる if he'd only got that gun out of his pocket.

"But Mr. John—our Mr. John here, of course, hopped into the limelight again.

"He の近くにd in with the rascal at 広大な／多数の／重要な 危険 to himself, and 妨げるd him getting that left 手渡す of his out of his pocket. What happened afterwards you all know.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, isn't it やめる an 利益／興味ing story I've told you? You've heard things to-night that have never come out before."

There was an instant buzz of conversation when the 長，指導者 had finished, but the 海軍大将 rapped on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for silence and in mock solemn トンs called upon "Mr. John Stratton for a speech."

"Yes," said the 長，指導者 laughing, "and make him apologise to me about Queen Anne. I've got other grievances against him too."

"What have I done now?" I asked rather embarrassed by the attention I was receiving, "I'm sure I'm やめる innocent this time again."

"Who, pray, 運動s 負かす／撃墜する King William Street about twenty-five miles an hour because he knows there's not a policeman in the city who'll give 証拠 against him? Why, pray?"

"Not me," I replied shaking my 長，率いる, "I never put my car out of a trot."

"Yes you do, John," 主張するd the 長，指導者, "you saved some of our men's lives that afternoon at Gawler, I 収容する／認める, but by Jove you'll be 殺人，大当り some one else in the city before you've done."

And then the conversation drifted off again into a general トン. I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at Sir Henry, and he half winked his 注目する，もくろむ at me and 解除するd his glass.

"Good health, Mr. John. Look after Mary there, and see she doesn't have too much port."

"Oh, father, you are horrid," remonstrated Mary blushing, "why, I 港／避難所't had any yet."

Everybody laughed, and I gave Sir Henry a 感謝する look. I guessed what he ーするつもりであるd by his 発言／述べる. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to make it up by 存在 extra 肉親，親類d, and so for the first time he used my Christian 指名する and spoke of his daughter to me as "Mary."

I got no chance much of speaking to Mary in the 製図／抽選-room, but Mrs. Townley talked to me for やめる a long time. She seemed curious about what she was pleased to call my bachelor ４半期/4分の1s in Mitcham, and I 敏速に 招待するd her to come over one afternoon to tea.

"All of you come," I said hospitably. "I am sure Sir Henry and 行方不明になる 先頭 would be 利益／興味d, and I believe you'll 収容する／認める then that I've got better roses than even at Aviemore."

"I don't think Sir Henry will come," she replied with a curious sort of smile, "but Mary might be 利益／興味d. I'll see next week."

Up to then I had 完全に enjoyed the evening, but the best part I 設立する was yet to come.

I had at last got 持つ／拘留する of Mary for a moment, and was talking to her, when old Mrs. James （機の）カム up and asked us if we would like to see her canaries.

Of course we had to say 'yes,' and she proceeded to lead us through the long verandah to where she kept her blessed birds.

It was やめる in the 影をつくる／尾行する there, and I felt I had better guide Mary along 安全に by gently squeezing her arm.

When we got to the end of the verandah, the old lady asked us to wait a moment until she went on and switched on the light.

For half a minute perhaps we were left together in 不明瞭. I quickly put my arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Mary's neck, and 製図／抽選 her の近くに to me, kissed her 公正に／かなり on the lips. And it wasn't a short kiss either.

When the light went up there was no particular 表現 on her 直面する. It was as sweetly saint-like and composed as if she were in a church.

Later in the evening, the old 海軍大将 and I saw the 先頭 party to their car.

The old boy with a fat cigar in his mouth, grunted something to Mary about it 存在 "a ジュースd 罰金 moon to-night."

Mary assented sweetly, but 追加するd as an after-thought that she imagined it was いつかs nicer when it was いっそう少なく glaring and gave the 星／主役にするs and other things a chance.

I was just behind her and could have kissed the ground she walked on.

SOMETHING after the nature of the に引き続いて conversation took place one morning at the breakfast （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at Aviemore about three weeks later, but I didn't hear of it until long after.

Sir Henry and Mrs. Townley were by themselves, and the former was interestedly reading the morning paper.

Suddenly Mrs. Townley 発言／述べるd:—

"So we're going to lose Mary soon, Henry."

Sir Henry looked up over his newspaper and 星／主役にするd hard at his sister for a few moments. Then he said testily:—

"What on earth do you mean, Jane?"

"What I say, we're going to lose Mary, soon."

Sir Henry 再開するd the perusal of his paper. "Rubbish," he said turning over the pages, "she's never been better in her life. I happened to 発言／述べる only yesterday, that I've never seen her look better, brighter and happier than she's looking just now."

"正確に／まさに. Because she's in love."

"Oh, she is, is she, and with whom, pray?"

"Henry—you really are blind. With young Stratton, of course."

Sir Henry methodically put 負かす／撃墜する the newspaper and looked his sister straight in the 直面する.

"What makes you think that, Jane?"

"Why, everything, of course. Look how 静かな she is when he's here. Look at the way she looks at him. Look at the way she dresses. She always has her best frocks on when she knows he's coming up now."

"Oh, that's nothing, young girls always like to look their best before the other sex."

"Yes—but 港／避難所't you noticed her new hat?"

"No, what about it?"

"The colours, I mean—lilac and old gold. Mr. Stratton's racing colours. Now do you believe me?"

Sir Henry was thoughtful for a few moments.

"And do you think, Jane, that young Stratton is coming up here deliberately after Mary?"

"Do I think so? I'm 確かな of it. I've 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd it from the first. I believe he only （機の）カム up here the first time and bought those two fillies of yours so that he might get to know her. I'm sure they'll never 勝利，勝つ a race."

Sir Henry's puzzled 直面する after a moment's thought broke into a rather amused smile.

"井戸／弁護士席, he's a most 企業ing young man if he did. But," frowning, "Mary's much too young for that sort of thing, anyhow."

"I thought her mother was only just eighteen when you married her."

Sir Henry shook his 長，率いる testily.

"What's that to do with it? Things were やめる different in those days. But it's very annoying, this 商売／仕事, if there's anything in it, as you say. I'll buy her a new car to take her mind away from it."

Mrs. Townley laughed sarcastically.

"That won't be any good, Henry. A car won't tell her what lovely 注目する，もくろむs she's got, and how soft her lips are, like young Stratton will."

"Jane, I'm ashamed of you. You've been reading some of those horrid 調書をとる／予約するs written by a woman. I'm sure of it."

"No Henry, I 港／避難所't. I'm only remembering my own days. I know how I was at Mary's age."

"Do you think it's really got to a serious 行う／開催する／段階, then?"

"I do. I shouldn't wonder if he's not already kissed her."

"No, Jane. You're mistaken there, I'm 確かな . Mary's a lady and wouldn't put up with any of that sort of thing."

"Oh, Henry, what an old goose you're getting as you grow old. Just as if 存在 a lady makes any difference at all when a girl's in love. The silk frock can be just as passionately inclined as the cotton gown, let me tell you."

"There you are again Jane. What on earth are the 肉親，親類d of 調書をとる／予約するs you have been reading lately?"

"Henry, you don't want to read any 調書をとる／予約するs to know that sort of thing. You know it yourself 同様に as I do. Men and women are just the very same everywhere. Why, it was only the other day I heard you yourself 説 to that nice young Henley doctor, what pretty ankles one of the dancing girls had got, at the 祝日，祝う."

"やめる true Jane—やめる true—but only from an art point of 見解（をとる）. That young doctor's a very clever fellow, and a very 罰金 anatomist too, I am given to understand—and as I say, I was only referring to the 事柄 in a 純粋に 科学の way."

"Oh, Henry, how can you? But talking about reading, 港／避難所't you noticed that Mary reads all the 冒険的な news now. I 現実に 設立する Sport and the 索引 in her bedroom the other day. You'll have young Stratton coming up here in a week or two—in his best 着せる／賦与するs and a buttonhole, and with his pass 調書をとる／予約する in his breast pocket, see if he doesn't. Oh, I know the 調印するs 権利 enough."

"井戸／弁護士席, I can't 井戸／弁護士席 now forbid young Stratton the house, can I?"

"Of course you can't, and what's more, you won't be able to forbid him Mary either. You like him, don't you?"

"Certainly—he's a nice enough boy, but I don't want to lose Mary yet. What are we to do?"

"Just think what wedding 現在の we are going to give them. That's all."

CHAPTER XI. — "AN EARTHLY PARADISE"

THE next week Mrs. Townley drove over to Mitcham as she had 約束d. She brought Mary with her, and I showed them all over the place.

They could not but admire all the nice things I had gathered together, and Mrs. Townley 発言／述べるd many times upon the beauty of my home and its surroundings.

Mary, however, said very little, but I could see 井戸／弁護士席 enough that she was 静かに taking it all in. It thrilled me with a delicious joy to see her walking through the rooms that I knew she would one day call her own.

I felt sure she knew it too, for there was a gentle shyness over her the whole time, and she hardly looked at me when we were in the house.

When we （機の）カム to my room—'our room' as I always loved to call it in my mind—Mrs. Townley was やめる enthusiastic.

"Good gracious," she ejaculated. "Everything in pink. What a luxurious apartment for a bachelor! Much too good for you! My word, how you have the impudence to tuck yourself in here every night passes my comprehension. I thought, young man, that life in the ざん壕s had sickened you all of 高級な. I 推定する／予想するd to find you sleeping almost on 明らかにする boards, at any 率, nothing at all like this."

"井戸／弁護士席, Mrs. Townley," I replied, rather embarrassed, "as a 事柄 of fact I do 一般に sleep outside, but still," I 追加するd lamely, "it's always nice to have a room like this in a house, now, isn't it?"

Mrs. Townley snorted. "Why, all the rooms are got up far more beautifully than you'll ever need them, but, there, I suppose, you've got so much money that you really don't know what to do with it!"

We had tea out on the verandah, and two or three times I caught Mrs. Townley taking me in very intently when Mary and I were talking together.

I thought it was perhaps striking her then for the first time that I was more than casually 利益／興味d in her niece. At any 率 she 中止するd harping on the unnecessary extravagance of everything she saw, and when we at last said good-bye and the car moved off 負かす／撃墜する the 運動, she turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する behind Mary and gave me what I thought was ーするつもりであるd to be a very knowing and crafty nodding of her 長，率いる.

Things went on much the same with us all for about a month, and then I thought it was high time 事柄s （機の）カム to a 危機.

Surely Mary and I had known each other long enough now, I thought, for me to go boldly to her father and tell him plainly what I meant.

At the same time I felt I would like to speak to Mary herself first. The ぎこちない part of it was I could never somehow seem to catch her alone. There was always someone else buzzing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する when I went up, and although Mary herself upon several occasions had seemed to me to be trying to manage it on her own account, in the end nothing had come off.

One Saturday afternoon when I was 運動ing alone in my car に向かって the 底（に届く） of King William Street I saw the Aviemore car flash by in 前線 of me and go 負かす／撃墜する に向かって the Port Road. Only Sir Henry and Mrs. Townley were inside.

Then I remembered suddenly that I had heard Mrs. Townley was going to spend the week end with some friends of hers at Henley Beach, and it flashed upon me quickly that no 疑問 Sir Henry was then 運動ing her over.

What an 適切な時期 I thought to catch Mary alone. Sir Henry had not seen me, I was sure, and I could easily （不足などを）補う some excuse for calling 突然に at Aviemore.

I would ask, of course, for Sir Henry, and 信用 to luck for finding Mary up there on her own.

I turned the car 一連の会議、交渉／完成する at once, and twenty minutes later, at most, was passing up the 運動 at Aviemore.

"No, Sir Henry wasn't in; only 行方不明になる 先頭, and she was somewhere in the rose garden."

I pretended to hesitate for a moment, and then told Bunting 行方不明になる 先頭 would do, but he needn't trouble, I would find her myself.

Bunting only replied "Very good, sir." He had had many nice tips from me, and if he did think anything in his 冷淡な placid way, he at any 率 許すd 非，不，無 of his thoughts to filter through to his 直面する.

I walked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the rose garden, and there, sure enough, I 設立する Mary alone. She was cutting roses and putting them in a basket. At the sound of my footsteps on the gravel she looked up quickly.

She blushed crimson when she saw I was alone, and a pathetic helpless look （機の）カム into her pretty 注目する，もくろむs.

To my 苦しめる she looked really 脅すd—like some gentle 追跡（する）d creature at last brought to bay.

A 広大な／多数の／重要な pity 即時に （機の）カム to me, and all the 勝利 of my 前進する was checked by the 尋問 look of 恐れる upon her 直面する.

Perhaps for the first time I realised what a big thing it was I should be asking her—to become my wife.

All my sure 信用／信任 left me in a flash, and I felt as humble and uncertain as before I had been 確信して and proud.

After all, what 権利 had I, I thought, to break so 概略で into the 静める and 平和的な happenings of her maiden ways. Would all that I could 申し込む／申し出 her outweigh what she would lose?

Would love and passion, with their attendant fuller life and 重荷（を負わせる）s （不足などを）補う to her for the for-ever の近くにing of the 一時期／支部 of girlhood's untroubled days?

Would the red roses atone for the white?

I tell you, I felt pretty small as I stood there before her, and it was in a very humble トン of 発言する／表明する that I explained how I （機の）カム to be there.

"I do hope I don't 乱す you, 行方不明になる Mary?" I said, looking everywhere but at her, "I （機の）カム up to see Sir Henry, and Bunting told me they were all out except you, so I thought perhaps you'd not mind my leaving the message with you. But what lovely white roses you're 集会."

"Yes," replied Mary, quickly 回復するing herself and hiding her nervousness with a little laugh, "and a 確かな gentleman was good enough to tell me once that he didn't think much of the roses here—now, didn't he?"

"No, no, 行方不明になる Mary!" I 否定するd 堅固に. "I didn't for a moment say that. I only said there were no roses here good enough for the 目的 you ーするつもりであるd for them, and I still 固執する to it. As a 事柄 of fact, there are no flowers good enough anywhere."

She made me a little mock 屈服する, and, to my 救済, I saw the happy, roguish look steal 支援する into her 注目する，もくろむs.

"Dear me, Mr. Stratton," she said ironically, "I suppose you learnt to make those pretty speeches in フラン. The French girls are so dainty, aren't they?"

"Yes, some of them are awfully dainty; but, all the same, I still prefer the English and the Australian varieties."

"I'm sure it's very nice of you to say so, but, 本気で, talking of roses, I'll show you some glorious ones 一連の会議、交渉／完成する here. So please carry my basket for me."

I followed obediently behind her to another part of the garden, and in the その後の half hour I noticed with grim humour how 完全に our 親族 positions had changed.

I had not yet got over the shock of seeing how 脅すd she undoubtedly had been at first at finding herself so 突然に alone with me. I knew she would be remembering the only other time we had been 現実に alone—those few seconds on the verandah when I had 強制的に kissed her in the dark, and I was dreadfully afraid she would be thinking that, willing or unwilling, she was now helpless in my 力／強力にする.

So I kept away from her as far as possible, and as we passed up and 負かす／撃墜する along the old-fashioned 狭くする paths between the roses, I took care to walk 井戸／弁護士席 behind her, with the big basket in my 武器 always 井戸／弁護士席 between me and the dainty little 人物／姿／数字 that trotted on in 前線.

For the time 存在 at all events, I had やめる given up all idea of telling her what I had purposely come up there that afternoon to say.

But if I was glum and timid, she was やめる the 逆転する. She kept hanging 支援する so that I should come up nearer to her, and every now and then she 主張するd upon my bending 負かす／撃墜する to 吸い込む the perfume of some particular bloom which she obligingly held up to me in the prettiest of little white 手渡すs imaginable.

Then, too, she 明らかに had no longer any 恐れる of 存在 alone with me in secluded parts of the garden. She didn't keep by any means to the main paths that were in 十分な 見解（をとる） of the windows of the house, but led me 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in out-of-the-way places where we were やめる 安全な from the 調査するing 注目する，もくろむs of anyone who might be 利益／興味d in watching us.

Presently we （機の）カム to a secluded seat, arched over with a trellis of climbing roses.

Mary appeared to hesitate for a moment, and then 発表するd that she was tired and going to sit 負かす／撃墜する for a little 残り／休憩（する）. I, of course, at once sat 負かす／撃墜する too but with the big basket of roses still between us.

We chatted on for a few minutes, and then Mary noticed I had not too much room at my end of the seat on account of the space 占領するd by the basket.

"It's all 権利, Mr. Stratton," she laughed, "you can put the basket 負かす／撃墜する on the ground. I see you're on your best behaviour to-day, and can be a good boy when you like."

I put the basket 負かす／撃墜する and sighed 深く，強烈に.

"井戸／弁護士席, you're not helping me much, 行方不明になる Mary," I said at last.

"What do you mean, I'm not helping you?" she said innocently.

"Why, you're not helping me to be good."

"井戸／弁護士席, I'm not 妨げるing you, am I?"

"I don't know so much about that—you're tempting me."

"Oh, and how am I tempting you, please?"

"You know やめる 井戸／弁護士席 enough—by coming so の近くに to me and bringing me those roses to smell. You know what I think of you, and what an 成果／努力 it is for me to be a good boy, as you call it."

I got up and walked a few paces from the seat, but Mary made no 試みる／企てる to get up.

She lay 支援する in her corner, watching me with a roguish, 刺激するing smile, in which, however, I fancied there was something now deeper than amusement.

I was watching her too and thinking, with a pulse that was 生き返らせる every moment now, how supremely pretty she was looking. Sitting there she was just the very perfection of daintiness, I thought.

A dream of sweetly 紅潮／摘発するd pink and white, with oh, such glorious 注目する，もくろむs, that laughed and mocked at the same time; rich coils of golden hair over the queenly 長，率いる and a 決定するd little white chin 残り／休憩（する）ing in its turn meditatively upon a pretty little white 手渡す.

She said nothing, but just watched me 辛うじて with a half wistful, half 尋問 look upon her 直面する.

All my good 決意／決議s flew to the four 勝利，勝つd.

"Mary," I said briskly, "I'm afraid you're a little minx—at any 率, you've asked me plainly for all you're now going to get."

I methodically sat 負かす／撃墜する again, but this time の近くに beside her.

For a moment we looked intently at each other without moving, and on my 直面する at any 率 there was not the ghost of a smile.

Then she crimsoned up all over, and turning her 長，率いる away looked straight before her with 注目する，もくろむs that were half の近くにd under the long 攻撃するs that made 影をつくる／尾行するs on her cheeks.

I could stand it no longer, I reached out, and 選ぶing her up without an 成果／努力, sat her on my 膝s. Then putting one arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck I tipped up her 直面する quickly, and with all the passion in me 解放する／自由な, gently brought her lips to 地雷.

She struggled for a moment, but then の近くにing her 注目する，もくろむs, lay limp and even responsive in my 武器. She trembled a little, but I put her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する my neck and she let them remain there.

It was a long while before either of us spoke, and much longer still before our thoughts （機の）カム 支援する to earth.

She let me take my fill of all I asked, and with her 長，率いる upon my shoulder made no secret that she was in the same happiness as I was.

At length, after a while—a really long while—she shook herself 解放する／自由な and started to put straight her disarranged hair.

"井戸／弁護士席, you're a nice boy, aren't you, to do all this? What do you think father will say?"

"Oh, your father will say I'm a very good 裁判官; I'm sure he will. You know, darling, yourself, that you're awfully 甘い. I really couldn't help it, now could I?"

"Of course you could. I didn't ask you to kiss me."

"No, but you 手配中の，お尋ね者 me to, didn't you?"

"What impudence! and another time, if you kiss me, John, please don't disarrange my hair so."

I at once 敏速に kissed her again, and this time as there was no struggling—I didn't upset her hair.

"Look here, darling," I said, after another long silence, "when can I see your father about you?"

She made a little wry 直面する, and considered for a moment. "You'd better stop to dinner to-night. Father won't be home until nearly seven."

"Yes, but what excuse can I give. I can't blurt out all at once, 'Oh, please Sir Henry, Mary loves me.'"

"You'd better not," she laughed; "father thinks a lot of me."

"Just as if I didn't know that. But, what sweetheart, shall I say?"

"井戸／弁護士席, give him the message you were going to leave with me when you （機の）カム up."

I grinned, and Mary shook her 長，率いる prettily and laughed.

"Oh, you fibber, I thought at the time you were not speaking the truth. I knew you had no message to leave."

"No," I said calmly, "I saw your father and your aunt going off in the car に向かって Henley—that's what made me come up here to catch you alone."

"井戸／弁護士席, I kept you at your distance, Mr. John, didn't I?" with a little mocking 屈服する, "until at any 率 I saw fit to let you—to let you come 近づく me."

"You did that, sweetheart." I replied 厳粛に, "in fact, I was almost going off without kissing you at all, if you hadn't suddenly encouraged me and egged me on."

"Oh, you are a fibber again; but, dear boy, I just loved you for it. I could see you were trying so hard to be good. Do you know," she went on laughing, "I think I shall get really fond of you?" and of her own （許可，名誉などを）与える she put up her 直面する for me to kiss.

"井戸／弁護士席, dear," I said presently, "what about that excuse? I must find something to say."

"Say then that you （機の）カム up to 問い合わせ how aunty was. Father will be rather amused, I'm sure; and then you can say I kept you to mend the chicken run. You told us the other day you could do any 肉親，親類d of carpentering. Yes, that's a splendid idea. The door of the chicken run was blown 負かす／撃墜する in the 強風 on Sunday, and there's no one to mend it as the gardener is away ill. It's worrying father a lot, for the fowls keep on getting out. But I hope, for goodness sake, you really do know something about carpentering, and it isn't another of your dreadful fibs."

"Mary," I replied solemnly, "I'm a dab at it."

An hour later, when Sir Henry （機の）カム into the paddock, he 設立する Mary and me with our 長，率いるs の近くに together, proudly 検査／視察するing a most workman-like 修理 of the wretched chicken door.

"Hello, Mr. Stratton," he called out genially. "Bunting told me what you were doing (the ジュース he did I thought). Why, you've made やめる a good 職業 of it! The least we can do is to ask you to dinner, isn't it, Mary?"

Mary went off to get ready for the meal, and I stood chatting to Sir Henry about the 本国送還 League—the first thing that （機の）カム into my mind.

Fortunately for me, he didn't seem curious about why I had come up, and the dinner gong sounded before he had つまずくd upon any ぎこちない questions.

Mary and I sat 負かす／撃墜する guiltily to dinner, and the meal opened in embarrassed silence. I felt nervous and uneasy, and Mary hardly 解除するd her 注目する，もくろむs from her plate.

Sir Henry too seemed rather thoughtful. When the fish was 除去するd he 突然の asked Bunting how many 瓶／封じ込めるs of old '47 port were left.

"Three, Sir Henry," laconically replied the butler, who never wasted breath upon unnecessary words.

"When did we first break into that last dozen?"

"The day 行方不明になる Mary was christened, sir."

"And when did I open the last one?"

"The night the Armistice was 調印するd, Sir Henry."

"You've a marvellous memory, Bunting. 井戸／弁護士席," after a long pause, "I think we'll have another 瓶／封じ込める to-night. There'll be two left then. One to console myself with when 行方不明になる Mary's married, and the other—we'll keep for a later occasion."

Mary 紅潮／摘発するd up crimson, and I felt myself trembling in my 議長，司会を務める.

Bunting glided silently from the room.

"Come, children," said Sir Henry kindly, after a moment's pause. "You're neither of you eating anything, and I'm not going to have this dinner spoiled for all the love-making in the world. Let's get it over now. I know what John's going to tell me, and as he's mended the chicken door so nicely, I suppose I shall have to say 'Yes.'"

Mary threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her father's neck, and I stood up with my heart too 十分な to speak, to shake his 手渡す.

"Sit 負かす／撃墜する, my boy," said Sir Henry bravely, but with moisture in his 罰金 grey 注目する，もくろむs. "I know it's only the way of the world, but it will be a bit hard on me to lose my Mary."

"Father, dear, you're やめる a wizard," said Mary between her blushes and her 涙／ほころびs, "how on earth did you know?"

"Oh, one hadn't need to be a wizard to find it out, dear," replied Sir Henry, 回復するing himself. "When I come suddenly upon a young man and a young woman together, and the young man looks as 有罪の as if he'd been stealing my pears, and the young woman has one 味方する of her red 直面する even redder than the other—井戸／弁護士席, one begins to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う something, 自然に."

I am やめる sure if Bunting had been いっそう少なく 冷淡な and fish-like in his temperament, he would have noticed the change in us all when he returned with the '47 port.

Mary was all smiles and blushing ちらりと見ることs at me across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する; I was supremely happy and mightily proud already that the pretty creature opposite to me was now 率直に to be my own; and Sir Henry, dear old, 罰金 Sir Henry, 勇敢に立ち向かう Sir Henry, was happy as us both, seeing how happy his beloved child was in the love of the man of her choice.

Yes, we were indeed a happy party that night.

The next few weeks were like a glorious dream to me.

I haunted Aviemore, much to the pleased amusement of everyone there. Even the fish-like Bunting quickly acquired the general habit of pretending to be amused, and 花冠d his lips into some sort of ghostly smile whenever I appeared.

Mary was a general favourite with all who knew her, and I had to run the gauntlet of a lot of searching 批評 before I was finally 認可するd of by her friends.

Everyone congratulated me in their own different ways. Mrs. Townley shook her finger at me when she met me. "Oh, you crafty one," she said reprovingly, "you laid your 計画（する）s a long way ahead, didn't you? But I wasn't taken in all the time; no not I. Let me tell you now, sir, that I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd you for a long time, and 直接／まっすぐに I went over to Mitcham I was 確かな at once. I knew for whom all those 罰金 pink furnishings were ーするつもりであるd and I'm very much mistaken if that sly little Mary didn't know it too. Oh, you young people, what duffers you think all we old people are."

The 長，指導者 was やめる merry when he called.

"井戸／弁護士席, John, you're over all the 盗品故買者s at last, and you've a （疑いを）晴らす run in now to the winning 地位，任命する. But, by Jove, lad, what about a brazen cheek? Just fancy taking a tenner from a man in the street and using that same tenner as a stepping-石／投石する to marrying his only daughter, and all within eighteen months, too! 井戸／弁護士席, boy, at any 率 I wish you every happiness. I shan't be here to see you married, because I'm going home to England on leave for six months, but, John, I'll send you the nicest wedding 現在の this expensive city of Adelaide can produce. Oh, by the bye, I met 視察官 Kitson in Ballarat last week, and he was most 利益／興味d to hear about you. Do you know, the old man's やめる fond of you. He reckons you saved his 評判 at Gawler that afternoon. He says if he'd gone 支援する empty 手渡すd to Melbourne, he'd have almost got the 解雇（する）. Oh, yes, I tell you he asked a lot about you. But good-bye, old man, my kindest regards to Mary. Tell her I had half a mind to send her a kiss."

It was arranged we should be married the first week in May, and for weeks before Mary's さまざまな relations had discussed where we should go for our honeymoon.

We let them talk about it as much as they liked, but 個人として we had arranged almost from the very first what we would do.

We were not going away at all. I was going to 運動 Mary straight from her father's house to the new home I had 用意が出来ている for her all along.

It was Mary's own wish that it should be so, and nothing fell in better with what I 手配中の，お尋ね者.

Why should we give, I thought, the happiest memories of our life to the 淡褐色 and （人が）群がるd rooms of some strange hotel! Far better to for ever hallow in our minds the 塀で囲むs and pathways of the home where I hoped we might live together for so long.

We said nothing about it to any of our friends, but I 静かに arranged that all my 世帯 should have a holiday and go away for the first three days after we were married.

Then Mary and I would keep house together by ourselves, and it would be so glorious to be all alone and have no one to consider but each other.

Percy Thornton was to be my best man, and there was nothing braver than the way he had choked 負かす／撃墜する his 失望 and 申し込む／申し出d his services to me.

One thing I have always noticed about lovers of the turf. Your true racing man, whatever may be his faults in other directions, is nearly always a man of stout and generous heart, who can take the worst buffetings of life with a smile, and a stiff upper lip.

井戸／弁護士席, one 有望な, crisp, autumn morning, when Adelaide was at its very best, we were married at the Cathedral, and because Mary was Mary all the world was there.

It was a 緊張した and solemn moment for me before the service, as I sat waiting for my bride.

All the rapture and sweetness of life called to me in the low, soft 組織／臓器 peels, but in the hushed and waiting silence of the place there was something that whispered also of the sacredness and the self-sacrifice of love.

I should have my 義務s, it told me, 同様に as my joys, and in the hollow of my 手渡す would 嘘（をつく） the happiness of this so-longed-for bride of 地雷, whose life I was now linking to my own.

Giving up all to me in the subtle and mysterious impulse of her love—for everything in the 未来 she would look to me.

In my 楽しみ or displeasure would be her laughter or her 涙／ほころびs, and as I so willed it would the sun or 影をつくる／尾行する 落ちる across her wedded days.

Queen of my kingdom she would be, but in my love or coldness I alone could endow her 主権，独立 with either a 花冠 of roses or a 栄冠を与える of thorns.

Mary （機の）カム up the aisle a 見通し of white 潔白, and as I stood up beside her, happy as I was, I had hard work to choke 支援する my 涙／ほころびs.

I was to 運動 her 支援する myself to Aviemore in my own car, and as I took my place at the steering wheel, the （人が）群がる outside the Cathedral 元気づけるd enthusiastically and someone called out "Good old Rataplan, you've got the finest （株主への）配当 now you'll ever get, my boy."

I remember very little of the wedding breakfast, except the continual clinking of シャンペン酒 glasses and old 海軍大将 James annoying me most intensely by clapping me on the 支援する and telling me boisterously in a very loud 発言する／表明する "to keep a tight rein on the filly from the start."

In the 早期に hours of that sunny afternoon we left Aviemore in a perfect fusilade of confetti and good-byes and drove straight home to Mitcham.

I put the car in the garage, and 打ち明けるing the 前線 door followed Mary shyly into the 砂漠d house.

Mary 敏速に sat 負かす／撃墜する on a sofa in the hall. "Oh, John, dear, I'm so tired," she said, "aren't you glad it's all over?"

"Yes, sweetheart," I replied, kissing her tenderly, "but it is 価値（がある） all the trouble and bother, isn't it, darling?"

"Of course it is, dear," and she turned away her 注目する，もくろむs.

We amused ourselves going 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house, and just as it got dark sat 負かす／撃墜する under the shaded lights to the 以前 用意が出来ている evening meal.

Everything had been got ready for us, and we had only to 解除する the covers and there we were.

Afterwards we sat out together upon the verandah, and I must 自白する I was terribly nervous.

For all these months I had so longed for this time when we should be alone together, and now that I had got my wish I was as timid and tongue-tied as any girl at her first ball.

The thoughts that had come to me as I sat waiting in the Cathedral 殺到するd 支援する with 追加するd 軍隊, and I could understand and was not ashamed of my timidity. I had taken Mary from an 極端に happy home, and could realise the sacrifice she was making for me. I was made silent, too, by the 広大な／多数の／重要な joy of now 現実に 所有するing her.

So, now that she was wholly 地雷, I was afraid almost to touch her, lest the roughness of my ways should jar upon the gentle, childlike nature, the sweetness of which was never more 明らかな to me than now when we were やめる alone.

Much as I loved her it sobered me and in part 脅すd me to see the depths of love she was 用意が出来ている to 申し込む／申し出 in return.

My 責任／義務 almost 抑圧するd me, and the passion in me was tied 負かす／撃墜する and brought to heel by remembering she was to be 地雷, not only in the joys and tenderness of 早期に wedded love, but 地雷 also to 心にいだく and to 慰安 in those dread hours that would one day surely come to a woman who so loved and was beloved.

But if I was timid and afraid, Mary was 正確に／まさに the 逆転する. She sat on my 膝s with her 武器 about my neck, in the perfect love and 信用／信任 of 甘い abandon and 降伏する. She kissed me 繰り返して, and confided in me prettily the secrets of her girlhood days.

"Do you know, dear, you're the only boy I've ever thought anything about, and you're the only one I've ever let kiss me. I never thought about boys at all until you （機の）カム into my life. Of course, I've liked men, as I like Percy Thornton, but I've never 手配中の，お尋ね者 them to kiss me, and they've never come into my dreams at all.

"But you （機の）カム in, John. I've often dreamed about you, long before I got to know you. いつかs I used to dream you were kissing me, and then I'd wake up and think for hours how lovely it would be to have my 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する your neck, just like I'm doing now. You worried me a lot once, dear; although of course you never knew it."

"井戸／弁護士席, I shan't worry you any more darling, shall I?"

"No, John, you're going to be 地雷 always now. Do you know, dear, I've 手配中の，お尋ね者 you for such a long time, long before I knew you to speak to. And that's why, when you looked at me, I used to look at you straight 支援する. I should have never dared to do it with anybody else. But I 手配中の，お尋ね者 you to come after me and not to be choked off because father was a baronet, and all that. And I knew you'd come some day, John, something always told me you would."

"I always meant to, sweetheart. I was always looking for an 適切な時期, little woman."

"Yes, and do you remember the first time you （機の）カム up to Aviemore about those horses of father's?"

"Of course, I do—it was the first time I really spoke to you. I shall never forget how adorable you looked then."

"Yes, John, and I managed about your stopping to lunch all 権利, didn't I? Do you know, father was awfully astonished at my daring to 示唆する you should stop. He laughed about it afterwards, and told aunty in fun there must be no mistletoe about the next time, if you （機の）カム up here. Dear old dad, he little knew how far things had gone, did he?"

"When did you first think I was 甘い on you Mary?"

"I don't やめる know, John, but I think it was as you were speaking to father when Rataplan won that first time at Victoria Park. You kept on looking for me in the （人が）群がる, and then when you 設立する me, you kept turning your 注目する，もくろむs a lot my way. I thought you rather liked me then, but I wasn't 確かな you did for some time afterwards."

"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott, and when did you think, 行方不明になる Blue 注目する，もくろむs, that I was really gone dead nuts on you—やめる 確かな ?"

"Oh, John, the day you had lunch with us. I began to be 確かな at lunch because you looked at me so much, but I was やめる 確かな when you played 'Love's Old 甘い Song' on my violin. I knew then you had come up purposely after me, and when you chose that piece to play I was 肯定的な you'd get me too."

"Why, sweetheart, why were you 肯定的な?" I asked, 大いに taken with all these naive 自白s.

"井戸／弁護士席, I thought if you were 勇敢に立ち向かう enough to play 'Love's Old 甘い Song' before us all, on my violin—on my violin, if you please, John! you would be 勇敢に立ち向かう enough also to get me somehow. After you had gone that afternoon, aunt said: 'Hum, that young man has got such a 神経 that I for one am sure he'll get anything he wants, in this world at all events.' That 慰安d me a lot too."

"井戸／弁護士席, darling," I said, kissing her, "I've got all I want now, 港／避難所't I, sweetheart?"

"Yes, dear, I know you love me ever so much, and O John, I've always thought such a lot about you. I had a dream about you once—the night after you first kissed me. Yes, you were a bad boy. I dreamed that I got married to you and we had a little son. It was such a little angel, and I saw it walking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the garden here 持つ／拘留するing on to you with its little pink fingers 一連の会議、交渉／完成する one of your long brown ones. O dear, I'm so happy now."

She lay for a long time silent in my 武器, and the moon （機の）カム up over the mountains and bathed us softly in its silver light. Presently she nestled closer to me and whispered very gently:—

"Perhaps one day I shall have a baby, dear, and if I do I should like it to have blue 注目する，もくろむs and fair hair like me, but I should like its 直面する to be like yours—very 厳しい and proud, just like you looked when you were riding Rataplan. But let's go in now, dear. I'm tired, and want to go to bed. Yes, you may carry me if you like."

I woke up several times during the night, but Mary was sleeping 静かに like a little child. I forbore to wake her, and did not even kiss her. My self-sacrifice had begun.

CHAPTER XII. — TOD MCSWINEY SLEEPS IN PEACE

WE had been married just three days, when Tod McSwiney for the second time rose from the dead to torment me.

It was like the awakening from some 入り口ing dream.

For three days Mary and I had been alone together, and for three days life had been to us as a garden 十分な of the most beautiful flowers.

With nothing in the world to 乱す us or break into our peace, we had been supremely happy, and both of us realised we could never have やめる such happy times again.

We had never once been outside our own gate, and myself I やめる dreaded the time when we should have to return to the every day life again.

I knew it was bound to 漏れる out soon that we had not gone away at all, and then would 徐々に 開始する again the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of social life and 商売／仕事 事件／事情／状勢s that would in a way so take us from each other.

But I certainly didn't 推定する／予想する the end to come so quickly, or in so disagreeable a manner as it did.

We had been married on the Thursday, and on the Sunday night about ten o'clock I was alone in the garden, having a last cigarette before turning in. Mary had just left me, and I was thinking for about the thousandth time that day what an angel she was, when a low whistle at the gates at the end of the 運動 逮捕（する）d my attention.

I walked slowly 負かす／撃墜する, wondering if my fancy had misled me, when suddenly I heard some one calling me 静かに by 指名する.

"Mr. Stratton. Mr. Stratton," the 発言する／表明する said, "can I speak to you a moment, please?"

Approaching の近くに to the locked gates I saw in the 影をつくる／尾行するs outside, a man with a bicycle.

"井戸／弁護士席, what is it?" I said rather crossly. "I'm Mr. Stratton, what do you want with me?"

"I'm Harker, sir; you remember me, one of the plainclothes men from （警察，軍隊などの）本部. I spoke to you once in the Arcade, and afterwards was at Gawler with you."

"Oh, yes," I laughed, "but you needn't be so soft about it. You mean you were one of the men who 逮捕（する）d me that day and took me to the 長，指導者. Now what do you want?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I've rather unpleasant news, sir. That McSwiney 事件／事情／状勢 has cropped up again."

"What the ジュース do you mean?" I asked quickly, a lump in my throat.

"井戸／弁護士席, sir, last Thursday a small revolver was brought to us. It had been 設立する on Henley Beach. They had been moving one of the bathing huts and it was 設立する behind one of the supports. The people brought it to us, because as they said, they thought perhaps it might have something to do with that 事件／事情／状勢 on the beach of over a year ago."

"But what's that to do with me?" I said, after a pause in which I had been thinking very hard.

The man moved out of the 影をつくる／尾行するs, and in the moonlight I could see every line of a 直面する which looked very 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な and uncomfortable.

He looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する stealthily, and didn't speak for a moment, then he said slowly and almost in a whisper:—

"The revolver had the 初期のs J.S. 削減（する） into the バーレル／樽, sir."

A feeling of horrible sickness （機の）カム over me—I knew, of course, the revolver must be 地雷. It was the one I had killed McSwiney with, and so foolishly, I now realised, buried 近づく the scene of the 狙撃. What idiocy I thought, had ever made me 削減（する） my 初期のs on the バーレル／樽. I remembered doing it one afternoon to while away a lazy hour, and that foolishness was 明らかに now to be my undoing and bring at best a horrible スキャンダル upon Mary and Sir Henry.

But I wasn't going to let the man see my 苦しめる and after a few moments' thought I said はっきりと:

"井戸／弁護士席, that won't 影響する／感情 me—I'm not the only J.S. in the world, and if I were, who is there to 証明する the revolver ever belonged to me?"

"But that isn't all, sir," went on the man, and he looked at me 辛うじて, "the revolver was shown 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Finney's 宿泊するing-house on Friday, and Nat Saunders 断言するs he remembers it as belonging to a man who stayed there once, called 略奪する Turner. He says he distinctly remembers him having it out to clean one day, and he 発言／述べるd then, he says, upon the difference in the 初期のs."

My feeling of sickness became worse. Nat Saunders was やめる 権利. I had cleaned it in 前線 of them all one day, but up to that very moment I had forgotten all about it. What on earth was going to happen now?

"But, look here," I said brusquely, "who's raking up all this, and why have you come up here to tell me? You've not been sent, have you?"

"Good Lord, no, sir," 否定するd the man 温かく, "I'm 危険ing everything in coming up to 警告する you. If it were known I was up here I should not only get 解任するd from the 軍隊, but probably get a 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 of 監禁，拘置 同様に. I've come up here because I reckoned you saved my life at Gawler that afternoon. I was 権利 in 前線 of Hunter, and should have been the first man 発射 for sure. Besides that—I think it's a dirty trick they're doing you. I was in the 信用／信任 of the 長，指導者 over that McSwiney 事件／事情／状勢, and know やめる 井戸／弁護士席 what he 約束d you. This would never have happened if he'd not been away."

"井戸／弁護士席, but who's stirring all this up?" I asked, impressed by the man's earnestness.

"It's the 事実上の／代理 副 長，指導者 視察官 Rubens, Mr. Stratton. He's doing it all. He's a very ambitious man, and thinks he's got 持つ／拘留する of a 事例／患者 to make a splash with, now the 長，指導者's away. Of course, he knows all about you, and he thinks what a 罰金 宣伝 it would be for him, to have a man in your position 逮捕（する）d, in the middle of his honeymoon. That's what it is, that's all."

"But he knows 井戸／弁護士席 enough," I argued, "that even if they brought it home to me—which I still 否定する—there would be no 罰 for me—McSwiney was at best a 殺害者 and an 無法者."

"Yes, Sir, that's やめる true, but it's the 検死 判決 he's going on, '殺人 against some person or persons unknown.' He knows やめる 井戸／弁護士席 all you did for us afterwards, and the 長，指導者's 約束 to you, too. I told him about it straight."

"What did he say?"

"Oh, he said the 長，指導者's 約束 wasn't binding on him."

There was a long pause, and I stood there 重さを計るing things up.

"井戸／弁護士席, what's he going to do?" I asked presently. "You know, Harker, 有罪の or not 有罪の, it would make a horrible スキャンダル for me. Look how terrible for my wife."

"Yes, I know that, sir, and I feel as wild about it as you do."

"井戸／弁護士席, what's he going to do—is he going to 逮捕（する） me?"

"No, I don't think he's going to do that yet. He's waiting now for 視察官 Kitson. He's written to the 視察官—I know that for 確かな , for I saw the letter—and until he gets an answer I'm sure he'll not move. He doesn't know you're here. I didn't know it myself. I only （機の）カム up on the chance to see if I could get your 演説（する）／住所 from any one who was looking after the house."

"井戸／弁護士席, Harker, I'm very much 強いるd to you. Be sure you let me know anything that happens. I'll see you don't lose by it."

"Very good, sir—look out for me any evening about this time. Good-night." And the man disappeared into the 不明瞭. I went slowly into the house with a 広大な／多数の／重要な 負担 of 苦悩 in my heart. It was not for myself I cared a 非難する. Even if I were 逮捕（する）d, I had only to tell my tale 率直に, and I knew perfectly 井戸／弁護士席 there would be no 刑罰，罰則 at all. But for Mary and poor Sir Henry the スキャンダル would be awful.

Pulling myself together I went into our room, and I always think 支援する now with pride that Mary all along never had the slightest inkling of any trouble 影響する／感情ing me.

I lay awake a lot that night, 計画／陰謀ing and thinking what I could かもしれない do. The 状況／情勢 was certainly rather an alarming one, but still at the same time I believed if it were 扱うd boldly I might yet escape, as I had done once before.

The next day the servants all （機の）カム 支援する, and Mary and I went shopping in the car, much to the 利益／興味 of all who saw us.

I felt so proud of my wife. The crisp autumn 空気／公表する gave a lovely colour to her 直面する, and she looked so radiantly happy as she sat by my 味方する. I didn't wonder at all that everyone had a good 星／主役にする at us wherever we went.

On the Tuesday night 近づく about ten o'clock I went 負かす／撃墜する again to the gates and almost すぐに Harker glided up like some ghostly 大臣 of 運命／宿命.

He had some news to tell me. 視察官 Kitson had written 支援する 敏速に to the 副 Commissioner, and によれば Harker had thrown a lot of 冷淡な water upon any idea of re-開始 the 事例／患者 of McSwiney. The 当局, he wrote had had all along a pretty shrewd idea as to how the man had met his death, and even were 十分な new 証拠 now 明らかにするd to unerringly bring home the 事件／事情／状勢 to me, nothing would in the end be 伸び（る）d. Nothing but a foolish error of judgment in hiding the 団体／死体 could at best be 証明するd against me, and in the light of my その後の services to the 明言する／公表する in the 事柄 of discovering the other man, in his opinion—it would be a piece of culpable bad taste to 干渉する with me again.

"At any 率," 結論するd Harker, "he's given 長，指導者 視察官 Rubens a 汚い 無視する，冷たく断わる, and as good as told him to shut up."

"But what does Rubens say now," I asked. "Is he going to 減少（する） it, do you think?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid not—in fact, I'm sure not. He's rather spiteful about it, and says for some 推論する／理由 視察官 Kitson is trying to 保護物，者 you. His opinion is, however, that the 所有／入手 of the revolver is a trump card, and there will be no getting away from the 判決 of the 検死官's 陪審／陪審員団."

"井戸／弁護士席, what's he going to do then?"

"Oh, he believes there's no 即座の hurry, and he's waiting now for the return from Perth of another plain 着せる／賦与するs man who worked on the 事例／患者 with me last year. This man, Clark, will be 支援する on Friday week, and I think, sir, he ーするつもりであるs to 逮捕（する） you the next day at the races at Morphettville."

"The damned blackguard," I swore.

"Yes, sir, he made 調査s to-day, and 設立する out you are running a horse in the Welter there on Saturday week, and he thinks it would be very 劇の to serve the 令状 on the course, perhaps just before the race. He says he ーするつもりであるs to make it as public as possible."

For a moment I was dumbfounded with the news. The man's 冷笑的な and 残虐な 無視（する） of all nice feeling and decency made me やめる speechless with 怒り／怒る.

I could picture it all in my mind—the 有望な afternoon at Morphettville—the happy （人が）群がるs at the 会合—my horse 存在 saddled for the race—Mary and I amongst all our friends and then—this brute having me 逮捕（する）d in so shameful and public a manner that whatever happened afterwards the shame and horror of it all would be for ever uppermost in men's minds when they either thought or spoke of me.

But the very vileness of the man's 意向 steeled me to a 決意／決議 that to carry through I might さもなければ have 欠如（する）d strength.

All my nervousness left me, and I became at once 冷淡な, calculating, and 十分な of 資源.

"Now, look here, Harker," I said bluntly, with no mincing of my words, "Money's no 反対する to me—I've got to get 持つ／拘留する of that revolver somehow. Can it be done? Think carefully. I don't mind what it costs."

The man was silent for やめる a 十分な minute, then he said, speaking very deliberately, "It might be done, Mr. Stratton, but it'll be a very difficult 商売／仕事. In any 事例／患者, I don't want any money from you. Anything I do will be just because you helped the 軍隊 so finely last year, besides saving me at Gawler. I'll help you all I can, but the worst of it is I don't see where to 開始する."

"井戸／弁護士席, to begin with," I asked quickly, "has the revolver been photographed?"

"No, 'I don't think so; in fact, I'm やめる sure it hasn't; I should know at once because"—with an amused smile—"I've 事実上 got 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 事例／患者."

"Where's it kept?"

"In the 安全な in the 長，指導者's room."

"And the 重要な of the 安全な?"

"On a bunch with other 重要なs at the end of a chain in 長，指導者 視察官 Rubens' pocket."

"Hum! Is the 安全な a good one?"

"Not 特に, but still I don't know of the man who could open it 静かに—without a 重要な?"

"井戸／弁護士席, who has 接近 to the 長，指導者's room?"

"Oh, plenty of us; the door's seldom kept locked. As you know, the room's 権利 in the middle of the building, and to get to it one has to go along a passage and through two other rooms, where there are always several men on 義務. I'm afraid it's a hard nut to 割れ目."

"井戸／弁護士席, Harker," I said after a long pause, "let's both think it over. At any 率, I take it I can depend on you to give me at least a little 警告 before I'm tapped on the shoulder again—that is so, isn't it?"

"For sure, Mr. Stratton, I can 約束 you faithfully nothing shall be sprung on you. You shall know beforehand, and in plenty of time too. But I'll come up and see you again on Friday."

The 続いて起こるing few days were ones of 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦悩 to me, but I never for a moment 許すd myself to lose heart.

One thing I was fully 解決するd on. If the worst （機の）カム to the worst, and I knew for 確かな my 逮捕（する） was 決定するd on, I would myself precipitate 事柄s and make public in my own way a 十分な account of my adventure with Tod McSwiney.

I would get in touch with the Adelaide 圧力（をかける）, and lay 明らかにする my whole part in that unfortunate 事件／事情／状勢.

It would, I knew, make good copy, for, as an owner of racehorses, I was, of course, a public man, and apart from that, Adelaide had a 確かな 手段 of pride in me because as an unknown Australian 兵士 I had 支持を得ようと努めるd and married one of the most beautiful and richest English girls in Australia.

The days rolled by.

Harker （機の）カム up によれば 約束 on the Friday, but he had no more news except to give me the 肯定的な 保証／確信 that the 令状 was not going to be 適用するd for until that day week, and that he himself then, …を伴ってd by two constables in uniform, would be 詳細（に述べる）d to 遂行する／発効させる it the に引き続いて day in the paddock at Morphettville just before the third race.

He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know if I had thought その上の of any 計画（する） of getting 持つ／拘留する of the revolver, but I put him off and told him I had decided nothing yet.

As a 事柄 of fact in the past few hours I had 事実上 arranged all the 詳細（に述べる）s of my ーするつもりであるd 計画（する） of （選挙などの）運動をする.

It had suddenly 夜明けd upon me what a suicidal 商売／仕事 it was to think of burgling the police 駅／配置する for the 罪を負わせるing 証拠 of my 犯罪.

Unless in every particular successful, it would only land me その上の in the mud, and even if I did manage to get 持つ／拘留する of the revolver there would still be always the 不確定 of something else turning up to bring me into the limelight again.

No, I would make a clean breast of it, I had 解決するd, and in so open a manner that the sting of anything anyone might do afterwards would be taken away from me for ever.

To begin with, I told Mary all about Tod McSwiney, just in a casual sort of way, as if I were thinking to 利益／興味 her. She shuddered prettily when I explained how I had buried him, and when I （機の）カム to my first interview with the 長，指導者, she clapped her 手渡すs at 審理，公聴会 how I had managed at first to outwit him, and after to earn his 継続している friendship and regard.

Then I brought up the 事柄 on the Sunday evening to Sir Henry. I told him how I had first come to know the 准將, and dotted the i's and crossed the t's of the narrative the 長，指導者 had once given them, the night of the dinner, at 海軍大将 James'. Of course, Sir Henry was most 利益／興味d, and for a long while we energetically discussed the プロの／賛成のs and 反対／詐欺s of what I had best have done after I had 発射 the would-be 暗殺者.

Then, I replied to an 招待 I had received two days before to …に出席する and speak at a public dinner to be given to the returned 兵士s of A.I.F. at the City Town Hall, on the に引き続いて Wednesday evening. I had been asked to reply for 'The Returned 兵士s of South Australia.'

Then, I got into communication with Harker at his 私的な 演説（する）／住所, and just told him I was going to leave things as they were, but at the same time I didn't really think now he'd ever have to 遂行する／発効させる the 令状 on me.

The eventful Wednesday evening arrived at last, and at half-past seven I was seated three 議長，司会を務めるs off the 知事 of the 明言する／公表する, who was himself 統括するing at the dinner.

地雷 was the most important toast of the evening, and it had only been given me, I knew, because of my 関係 now to Sir Henry.

All the big men and the little men of Adelaide were 現在の, and only a few 議長，司会を務めるs 負かす／撃墜する from me the spiteful 直面する of the 副 長，指導者 Commissioner of the Police was sourly taking in the happenings of the occasion.

He had nodded to me before dinner in the 歓迎会 room, and regarded me later, when he thought I wasn't looking, with an 酸性の and partly 勝利を得た smile.

But it was やめる impossible, however, to damp my spirits that evening. I felt I was in first-率 fighting 削減する, and was sure that the master trump was in my own 手渡す.

In 予定 time the 知事 rose to 提案する my toast. He spoke to some length of the part Australia had played in the 広大な／多数の／重要な War, and he referred in the warmest and most generous 条件 possible to the unfailing valour of the Australian 兵士. At the end of his speech he coupled with the 支配する of his toast "Captain John Stratton, not only an officer of distinguished career, but also a 国民 of sound judgment and good patriotism, a gentleman who when he sees anything good coming into the 明言する／公表する makes 確かな that it shall not go out again."

This delicate allusion to my marriage with Sir Henry's daughter was received with some laughter and 元気づけるs, and it was to a very 同情的な audience that I, in turn, rose to reply.

For a moment my 膝s shook under me, and I felt as horribly nervous as could be, but the sudden thought of Mary sitting up for me at home in her dressing gown, waiting to know how I had got on, and the sight of Sir Henry's anxious and rather white 直面する の近くに beside me, 安定したd me in a flash, and I opened my reply in トンs of perfect and 平易な 信用／信任.

Now, I am never at any time a bad （衆議院の）議長, and that night the 願望（する） to 妨害する the 計画（する） of the 長，指導者 視察官 近づく me, the 広大な／多数の／重要な importance of all my speech might mean to me, and the undoubted sympathy of the audience I was 控訴，上告ing to, all 神経d me to my 最大の, and I flatter myself I was never in better form or in a more fluent vein.

I 開始するd by thanking the 知事 for the very nice things he had said about us, and 保証するd him that every Australian 兵士, from the highest to the lowest, had always endeavoured not to be unworthy of the 広大な／多数の／重要な traditions 手渡すd 負かす／撃墜する along the ages by the Anglo-Saxon race.

I continued, I was glad to think that the high opinion he held of our fighting 質s, was now 株d with at least equal 軍隊 by the German people themselves.

I said wherever we had gone and on whatever field of 戦う／戦い we had fought, we had always surely left behind us the impression that in the defence of our beloved Motherland there were no sacrifices we were not 用意が出来ている to make.

I spoke すぐに of the 恐ろしい horrors of war, and then turning to the brighter 味方する, extolled the 教育の value of our times of （選挙などの）運動をするing. I said we must all of us have returned with wider sympathies, and broader 見解（をとる）s, and were, in fact, in almost every way more 有能な and more resourceful than when we had first joined up.

Speaking for myself, and I apologised for dropping into a personal vein, I should not indeed have been there amongst them that night, if it had not been for the 力／強力にするs of 観察 I had cultivated in the course of my 軍の career.

In support of this, I would tell them, I said, an 利益／興味ing little story about myself.

I told them how about eighteen months 以前, one day I had won a lot of money at the races. I told them how やめる unknown to myself, I had been 示すd 負かす／撃墜する by one of two men who were already 深い in 罪，犯罪 and 殺人 and 追跡（する）d by the police. I told them of the lonely beach 近づく Henley. I pictured to them the sandhills by the sea—the crimson setting sun and myself, as lying 傾向がある upon the sands watching the squabbling seagulls at the 利ざや of the waves.

Then I 述べるd how the seagulls had suddenly flown away, and how my war-trained brain had 即時に 始める，決める me asking myself why.

Then I told how I had sprung up in a flash, to find the shoeless white-直面するd 殺害者 権利 upon me with his paling and his knife.

I 述べるd how in a second I had saved myself and 発射 him, and yet how then foolishly—to save the annoyance of explaining everything—I had hidden away my revolver and covered the dead man over with sand.

I told them I had gone away, 確信して that I should never be 設立する out—that I had left no 手がかり（を与える） behind me, and that all trace of my 参加 in the man's death would be, I was sure, as much a thing unnoticed as a passing 影をつくる／尾行する on the shore or a ripple on the wave.

I went on—that, however, I had reckoned 完全に without my host and miscalculated the wonderful sagacity of 准將-General Edis and the long arm of the City of Adelaide Police.

"Within a few hours, gentlemen," I cried, "although no one had ever seen or heard of me before—with no 明らかな 手がかり（を与える） to guide them, I was yet standing before the 長，指導者 Commissioner of Police, and he was 雷鳴ing in my ears:—

"'John Stratton, why did you shoot Tod McSwiney—why did you kill the 開始する Gambier 殺害者?'"

When I had got as far as this—I paused in my recital and looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.

A 深遠な and startled 利益／興味 I could see was gripping every one in the room. Every 長，率いる was bent に向かって me, and every 注目する，もくろむ was fastened intently on my 直面する. I went on—but now smiling and in much はしけ トンs.

"井戸／弁護士席, gentlemen—the 長，指導者 Commissioner of Police and the 広大な／多数の／重要な Melbourne 探偵，刑事, 視察官 Kitson, who was also 現在の, didn't やめる know what to do with me at first.

"They weren't やめる decided as to whether I せねばならない be hanged straightway out of 手渡す, or failing that—be taken into the Adelaide Police 軍隊 as a 一時的な auxiliary to help 追跡（する） 負かす／撃墜する the other man.

"You see, they were in a bit of a 穴を開ける. The other much 手配中の，お尋ね者 開始する Gambier 殺害者 was 捕まらないで in the city here, and I was the only person who knew him by sight. I had seen him at the races with the man who tried afterwards to kill me.

"井戸／弁護士席, as I say, the police were perplexed. I was the only person who could be of use to them, and they couldn't very 井戸／弁護士席 hang their trump card. So 最終的に they made a 探偵，刑事 of me, and for three days I roamed the city here, followed everywhere by a bigger and, I am sure, a much better disguised 護衛する than is ever （許可，名誉などを）与えるd to any 統治するing 君主 or 総理大臣."

I paused here for a moment, really to take breath, but my audience thought I was stopping, and a lot of them called out, "Go on—go on John."

I went on with my adventure to the end, finishing up by 発言／述べるing that one of my most treasured 所有／入手s would always be, the revolver given me 共同で by 准將 General Edis and 長，指導者 視察官 Kitson to—in their own words—"取って代わる the old one I had unhappily mislaid."

I then 結論するd my speech with a carefully 用意が出来ている peroration, in which I 明言する／公表するd that always and under any circumstances the world would surely find, that any services we might be able to give, would always unreservedly be 申し込む／申し出d to the 広大な／多数の／重要な Motherland oversea, or to this fair land of ours, that here had given us birth.

I sat 負かす／撃墜する まっただ中に a perfect 嵐／襲撃する of clapping. Nearly everyone stood up and 元気づけるd. They enthusiastically gave me "For he's a jolly good fellow," and then some one called out vociferously for a tip.

Everyone laughing took it up at once, and the 塀で囲むs echoed with their cries. "Tip, Mr. Stratton—tip, John, tip."

An inspiration 掴むd me, and I jumped up smiling to my feet. 即時に the 広大な／多数の／重要な hall was hushed.

"Gentlemen," I said laughingly, "you ask me for a tip. 井戸／弁護士席, it has just been brought to my notice that the 副 Commissioner of Police is 現在の の中で us to-night (here every one looked at 長，指導者 視察官 Rubens), and it is possible that after, perhaps, my too 十分な 自白, I may be 逮捕（する）d to-morrow."

Everyone at once laughed in 広大な／多数の／重要な enjoyment and I went on, still smiling, "But if I'm not 逮捕（する）d, gentlemen, Oban's Pride is, as you know, running on Saturday. He's out to 勝利，勝つ, as my horses always are. If he doesn't 勝利，勝つ it'll be because he's not good enough. So, there you are, help yourselves," and I sat 負かす／撃墜する feeling I had played a good card.

The 直面する of 長，指導者 視察官 Rubens was a 熟考する／考慮する. It was 紅潮／摘発するd and angry looking. With all his self-支配（する）／統制する every one could see he was mightily put out. He frowned thoughtfully at his plate, and do as I would, I couldn't catch his 注目する，もくろむ. In a little while he got up without a word and left the hall.

Saturday was a 広大な／多数の／重要な day for me at Morphettville. Oban's Pride won in gallant fashion, to the delight of the 元気づける （人が）群がるs on the course and in the stands.

Everybody （人が）群がるd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to congratulate me, and it was やめる the standing joke of the afternoon, for people to come up and ask me if I had been 逮捕（する）d yet.

I saw Harker in the paddock, and was going to speak to him, but he 削減（する） me dead. I didn't understand why, until I saw the sour 直面する of the 副 Commissioner of Police just behind him.

During the afternoon my father-in-法律 put his arm affectionately in 地雷 and drew me わずかに on one 味方する, out of earshot of my friends.

"Do you know, John," he said smilingly, "I'm really very proud of you. I thought you were rather rambling in that 罰金 speech of yours the other night but I understand things now. A brother J.P. here has just told me that but for what you made public, Rubens was going to make a mess of you here this afternoon. The fellow was 現実に going to take you up.

"Now, my 同僚 says there's not a J.P. in the whole 明言する／公表する of South Australia who would dare put his 指名する to a 令状 for your 逮捕（する）. He's 肯定的な they'd lynch him if he did."

About three months later the dear old 長，指導者 returned. He （機の）カム up a lot to Mitcham, and was always just as nice as usual.

One day he 発言／述べるd to me やめる casually. "Yes, John, you're a smart fellow 権利 enough. You せねばならない go into 議会 or get made a bishop or something. I've been reading over that old speech of yours at the returned 兵士s' dinner. The idea was very clever, John, and it certainly got you out of an ぎこちない 状況／情勢. But you stretched things a little bit my boy, didn't you? However, I've forgiven you. I don't suppose we shall ever やめる find out how you got your （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about what my 副 was going to do. Myself, I 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う at least eleven of my men here. However, it's all over now, and you need never worry any more. The ghost of Tod is lain for ever." And the 長，指導者 swung off in his usual happy way.

ALL these things happened a little time ago, and I must finish my story now.

P.S.—Mary hasn't been to any races lately.

THE END

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