The Second String

s Craig Bellshaw. He lives at Mintaro, a big homestead

ed. She smiled. No, she did not kn

someone like him

head. She di

Soo's shop. He came out again in about a quarter o

n would have expected to see him in. He told Bill what had happened.

ddenly and returned to Mintaro, where he arrived unexpectedly. He found everything going on as usual. Garry Backham

u went into his place the day he left, and handed it

is a shifty customer. If I'd left him in charge he mig

urprised when I told him I didn

y gr

didn't know.

looked hard

r's dead,"

haw s

he exc

Shot throug

did

s buried, and so far as that goes it's done with, but he was

What's the good of kicking

cleared out fr

are t

gh and Ji

hem. They were rott

He's been one too many

e that broke the fencing down. He complained that I ought to have them

eggars," replied Garry. "I fancy Glen Leigh and Ji

at's why they ha

Don'

g to do with it; I wi

two back it was best l

I'd like to put a halt

you any str

be told him a good many things about Mintaro. Ca

Abe wouldn't spar

He'd tell a lot of infernal l

you send men away. You were not

e it. He robbed m

e did. I told yo

de an impat

sorry when you're gone, Garry. You've be

orry to get away from Mintaro. There

laughed

were soft, or chicke

o know what became of th

e I was tired of her, and that she was goi

o to Sydne

es

e's the

es

er, I suppose,

she's with. Sh

you took her to S

w glare

d I take her?" h

whe

you mean

bout here. One woman

the arm in a fierce g

ll make it hot for

nched him

, if other people are," he cried. "You lent me the money to buy Bill

lshaw sta

and he pointed to the wide ve

inking he must have been doing it heavy in

ying to laugh it off. "So you say I ha

d not take her to Sydn

e," roared

d you know it. W

s my a

few hundreds. I'll bet them you

What the deuce have yo

now you travelled to Sydn

l, do you expect I'd travel i

o glad to have gone anywhere with her a

d of my company. She behaved badly.

I don't think she ever forgave, or forgot, how she

t tr

rugged, or something, when she came. Why it was more than a week before she found out wh

s safe enough now. Don't b

uld have done so if I'd had the pluck, but you bought me

N

ou like it or not-I think

up to him in a th

s revolver. "I found this near the big w

ief and a piece of ri

Bellsh

ved her in. She'd starve, die of thirst, go mad wandering about. It would have been more merciful to strangle her. I saw her tracks for some distance

I'd be mighty glad, for I feel as though I had a hand in it. When I saw her drive away with you something told me you meant mischief,

Bellshaw quietly. His

gh, and you know the

ense for all I have done for you. However, I bear

it?" as

you know I'm not a man to be cowed, that I do not fear you, or any other man, nor what you say, or do. Listen to me, Garry Backham. There are men round Mintaro who will do my bidding for money, no matter what it is I

t he had the men to do what he willed. He believed the accusat

t that money, Mr.

ing it you, n

es

on yourself,"