The Childerbridge Mystery

ife. His whole appearance gave one this impression; the bold unflinching eyes, the square, resolute chin, the well

in fifty years' time, he found himself worth upwards of half-a-million pounds sterling, he was able to tell himself that he owed his good fortune not only to his own industry, but also to his shrewd business capabilities. It is true that he had had the advanta

ilt him in this respect. No genuine case of necessity ever appealed to him in vain

had been essentially an active one, and up to that time he had not been brought very much into contact with the opposite sex. When, however, he fell i

ed man. After her death the years passed slowly by with almost monotonous sameness. The boy James, and the girl Alice, in due course commenced their education, and in so doing left their childhood behind them. The

of twenty, that he arrived at the conclusion that his affairs no longer needed his personal supervision, and t

aid, addressing his son and daughter; "but I shall be like a fish out of wate

ife. "You shall take us about and show us everything; the little village in which you were born, the river in which you used to fish, and the wood in which

en, on the crest of a slight eminence. He remembered that the woman lying there had more than once expressed a hope that,

at is if you are a very dutiful daughter, another in London. It is just possible that there may be one or two people living who may remember William Standerton, and, for that reason, be kind to his son and daughter. But I fear it will be rather a wrench for me to le

were engaged, and the valuable properties, which had contributed so larg

he became aware of a man seated beneath a giant gum tree near the water's edge. From the fact that the individual in question had kindled a fire and was boiling his billy, he felt justified in assuming that he was preparing his camp for the night. He accordingly rode up and accosted him. The man was a Foot Traveller, or Swagman, and presented a somewhat singular appearance. Though he was seated, Jim could see that he was tall, though sparsely built. His age must have be

the Head Station?" the man

les," Jim replied. "Are y

the owner is leaving for England, and I am desiro

now hi

ne the opposite. Standerton was always one of Life's lucky ones; I am one of Her failures. Anything he puts his hand to prosp

took stock of the young

im intently for some seconds, "you're not unlike Standerton yourse

his son," Jim replied. "What i

that Richard Murbridge is on his way up the river to call upon him, and that he will try to put in an appearance at the Station early to-morrow morning. I don'

"If you are as well acquainted with him as you pretend to be, y

other long before you were born. If it's only the distance you say to the Head Station, you can tell him I'll be there by breakfast

Jim replied. "Do yo

I should eventually become a Darling Whaler, I'd have knocked, what I should have thought then to be the lie, down their throats. But what I am you can see. Fate again, I suppose? However, I was always of a ho

ondered upon his curious interview with the stranger he had just left, and

to himself, "and, having failed, is now on his beam ends and wants assistance. Poor old Gov

. He respected him above all living men, and woe betide the individua

urrendered his horse to a black boy in the stable yard. With a varied collection of dogs at his heels he made his way up the garde

seen Riddington, and have bade him good-bye. It's my opinion he will miss you

"He wishes he were coming with us. Poor chap, he

cup of tea she was pour

ympathetically. "Nobody knows quite why he left England. He is always very reticent

y no longer. By the way, father, as I was coming home, I came across a fellow camped up the river. He asked me what

work, I

es replied. "He said that he wanted to

important private business with me is a rara avis

cup on the floor as he spoke. "His name i

the elder man

cried. "Camped on the

r father gave way to so much emotion. At last with an effort he recovered himself, and, remarking that Murbridge was

y were alone together. "I didn't like the look of him, and if I were the

r. He was some time over it, and when he emerged, he was informed that his presence was required at the Store. Thither he repaired to arbitrate in the quarrel of tw

en father?"

red. "Isn't he

led to me not to keep dinner for him, as he did not know how long it might be before he would b

rother answered. "Father is qui

not satisfied. He remembered that it had been his impression that t

er for some time, "I've a good mind to go back along the trac

ty if you would," the girl replied. "I don't

banks of which could be seen, standing out like a black line against the starlit sky. He let himself out of the Home Paddock, passed the Woolshed, and eventually found himself approaching the spot where Murbridge had made his camp. Then the twinkle of the fire came into view, and a few seconds later he was able to distinguish his father standing beside his grey horse,

this?" his father cried. "Wha

carcely knew what reply

ety, father. Alice told me you had g

Murbridge. "You are to be co

ith astonishment. What right had such a man

at I said to you just now, and you are also aware that I never break my wor

en I shall be able to be even with you. To think that I am tramping this infernal country, like a dead beat Sundowner, without a cent in my po

whence you came; also bear in mind the fact that if you endeavour to molest me, or to communicate with me, or

ed his horse, and tur

. It is getting late, and

ance the two men rode in silence. Jim could see that his father was much agitated, and for that reason he forbore to put any question to him concerning the ind

ersation with that m

mes replied. "I should not have come near you had I not heard

I was on friendly terms many years ago, but he has now got into disgrace, and, I fear has sank very

e himself. He went out to his last day's work in the bush as cheerfully as he had ever done. But had any one followed him, he, or she, would have discovered that the first thing he did was to ride to the spo

le to assure myself that I have seen the last of him. Next week, however, we shall put the High Se

peaking, was tramping along the dusty t

of the world, and I'll follow him and be at his elbow, just to remind him who I am, and of the claims I have upon him.