The Gold-Stealers A Story of Waddy

ool of himself, and the thought that possibly that girl of Shine's was now laughing with the rest rankled like a burn and impelled many of t

rey-eyed, low-voiced girl under the gaze of the whole congregation! It would not bear thinking of, so he thought of it for hours, and swung his whip-las

ch they had always associated, so they were miners and stockmen with the rest. But the young men, even as boys, noticed in their mother a refinement and a clearness of intellect that were not characteristic of the women of Waddy; and out of the love and veneration they bore her grew a sort of family pride-a respect for their name that was quite a touch of old-worldly conceit in this new land of devi

ties that had since occurred to him. Here Dick Haddon discovered him at about four o'clock. Dick was leading a select party at the time, with the intention of reconnoitring old Jock Summers's orchard in view of a possible invasion at an early date; but when he

you fellow

r goin'?' grun

rdy. He's down by t

is. I say,

ee 'bout them cherries. Harry

know he w

Me 'n him

This in

ivit to say to him-somethin

vincing, but it e

ribs?' quer

ou can be captain of the band if you like

s of everything but the parrots up aloft, and it was not till after he had had his shot that he returned the young man's salutation. Then he took a seat astride the log and offered some commonplace information about a nest

you goin' to la

nr

ne-this morni

boy's eye and lied, bu

ughter get on to him when Miss Shine ain't about. She's terri

had enjoyed a brief but brilliant career as barmaid at the Drovers' Arms. Harry h

ued Dick, with an eloque

ou got aga

e done outside? S'pose I float Tinribs's puddlin' tub down the creek by accident, with Doon's baby in it when I ain't thinkin', is it

who could so misuse his high

m on a Saturdee, he gammons t' catch me doin' somethin' in school on Sund

ho would take such unfair advantage of a poor boy might be capa

could get him any day on the flat, when he

d, and slowly pluck

n to touch h

s confidence had been violated in some measure.

go fer him 'cause of

ho d'yo

s Ch

in' to do

liberat

nt this mornin'. Saw her hidin' her fac

g his whole attention to the antics of a blue grub. Dick approa

hing 'bout

thing

er goin

t say,

you. Know what

ous? Wh

ous-Sleuth-

ooked p

One time a chap what was a mate of his got put in gaol for stealin' money from a bank where he worked, when it w

t for a moment following up the infere

dly, 'that's a better idea th

of romantic literature, but he was gratified by Harry's ready recognition of his talent, and proceeded to enlarge u

o the chapel. He knew his mother would hear of it, and though

f Shine's daughter

andsome girl; very different from the wild little thing y

r-saw her in the c

, turning upon him with surprise

d rather sh

ook my whip with me. I meant to scruff Shine bef

shameful

I sneaked out as if I'd been licked myself. I couldn

almost make me despair. Have you no more r

it. You've heard

bred, and narrow-minded. He is doing right according to his own poor, dim light, and could not be convinced otherwise by any word or ac

your way through a difficulty, and I always w

law with every little trouble, whilst inviting his neighbours to carry all theirs to the Lord. Had you beaten him he wo

this. An', look here, I've got an idea. I'm going to Pete Holden to-morrow to as

brother of t

brick. Besides, d'you know what the men are saying? That the gold-stealing is still going on. I'

de him. I wonder we did

t me up to it, with some ya

nique-the worst and the

, how d

an hour. The old man, finding himself ignored, had smartly conveyed a large spoonful of jam from t

a nut,' he s

. Ah, I see; as I suspected. You did not shave this morning. Go straight to b

, but would put off shaving longer than Mrs. Hardy thought consistent with perfect neatness. T

ted for neglecting to shave or sent supperless to bed for similar sins of omission or commission. To Mrs. Hardy also it was a simple serious business of domestic government. Ever since she was ten years old Uncle John, who was many y

d friend of your fath

were mates at Buninyong and Ben

his office at the Silver Stream when

d miner; 'but I'll put in a word for

the Stream-want it for

d kick up, after the other affair. I'd be glad

young man, 'do you beli

et his eager

ys found Frank straight, an' he looked like an hones

he gold-stealin

r looked u

know a

othing more. If they could spea

truth, Hardy, I believe w

people; it's what we ought to expect, I s'pose.' Harry's hands were clenched hard-it was a sore subject. 'We don't, Mr. Holden; we believe his story,

you a better chance of moving round; and good luck, my boy! But take a hint tha

ght of tha

amongst the miners; but he heard none of it. Shine was in the searching-shed when he came up at mid

tom had made him exceedingly cautious, for it was the delight of the men to play tricks upon him, usually of an exceedingly p

ry Hardy's togs yer pa

rom one form to another, but were raised no

Mr. Superintendent, to send innocent men to gaol? Quod's good fer morals, ain't it? A gran' place to cultivate the spirit o' b

turned to the form, spitting venomous oaths like an angry cat. Shine, kneeling on the floor, had