The Tale of Timber Town

uss

e Lucky Digger sat Benjamin

s teeth was the stem of his pipe, and in consequence his face

as full of uneasiness. His glass stood untouched, his half-finished pipe had gone o

beard. "I've quarrelled with the toffs of the town, and the best t

one in the eye. More power to you: it was immense! As for old Mr. Crewe and his crowd, they were on the make too; but they are out of court-there's no chance of them trying to renew your acquaintance. Now, what yo

st man I've met. True, I've give myself away a bit, but you're

e gold you like

y fist: you shal

solemnly s

," said Tresco. "I

rank, and re

there's men I like to put

e," said

onest by me, and I'll dea

ld expect,"

r want myself, if I lived a hundred years. I i

m o

prospecting, and see if I can better my claim. Then

st

' no man any the wiser. You can't tra

glass sto

, and rang the little hand-b

egal air common to bar-maids who

ame old tipple, I suppo

t it's out of the wood, the real

uietly till the b

air of fours. "No deception," he said.

the bar," repl

mon use for thro

for? D'you think I k

ays with me. When we ring again, just bring in the usual. Adieu.

mister, that I can set even money again that, you over-estimate my influence with my banker. A modest tenner or two is about my height. But who knows

it be?" aske

Tresco. "A pound a t

ble," said

irst 'go,'"

, took the dice,

wed with six, and s

beside Tresco's stake, and began to play. His highest thr

" said the goldsmith. "W

Tresco threw first. His highest throw was

ldsmith added, "We're quits, but should this sort of thing

tuations of luck which were u

on in the bar, and, lured by that illusive music,

aid the leader of the gan

, barely glancing at the newcome

under his left ear. The second was a neat, handsome man, with black, glittering eyes, over which the lids drooped shrewdly. The third was a young fellow with a weak face, a long, thin neck

to the man with t

n, looking at the keen-eyed man, who re

he stripling. "I never strike any luck

e table, on which he first placed some mone

, I suppose, to a st

at all," said the

the company generally-"all I've got to say is

, and the

supreme. She held a small tray in one hand, whilst the other, white and shapely, hung at her side. As the men named their liquors, she carefully repeated what they had ordered. When Carnac's

ed herself free, and was standing

th disgust, "I draw t

t's got money," retorted the owne

nity in her manner, "I have your orders." And she withdr

urn. She handed round glasses t

e's mine?

perfectly affable manner she took the money from the uncouth digger, and then, th

indled to a few paltry pounds. The digger looked hot and excited as he, too

seize Tresco as it had already seized his frie

n you, Bill?" he ask

arge quantity of gold and bank-notes. "I reckon I've enough to se

cribbled an IOU for the amount mentioned on the

on his neck had seated

two are pals, and me and Carnac's pals. Makes t

Make it ￡5 a corner-that'll form a Kitty worth w

ive?" Tre

ger. "It avoids a shindy, a

thus made up, and

am stood behind Tresco's chair and winked at Garstan

e hideous neck, who held the dice box. "Think of your wife an' ki

the passage." Dolphin made his t

een. The digger's and Carn

box with a slightly trembling hand and rattled the dice. His first throw

worthy. "What yer givin' u

, and his score

to Carnac, "you'd like to take me

enerous, sir," said the gentlemanly Carnac. "Your score is hard t

two to one," s

ll accommodate you." He placed his pound u

liam. "I back you. No deception, gentl

ler's next thr

ose, mister," said W

e Prospector. "P

id, "The little lady's

oung William who, crumpling his money in his palm, said, "Oyster

co's borrowed money had dwindled to but five pounds,

h the money he had staked, and side bets on individu

me," he said, "but I'd be oblige

and said, "I was beginning

lack hair carefully and limped with one leg, appeare

you?" ask

man, twirling the japanned tray in his hand

nky rouseabout," said Dolp

tant youth. "To tell the truth, she's a bit huffed w

s mouth, when Young William rushed hi

one came to the door till Yo

ammed 'im inter a cupboard under the stairs, along with the brooms a

vely bar-maid?"

red mustache," replied William, "that she's got no time fer this cr

ung William, taking three shillings

arked, "You've been deuced slow over it-you'll have to be sharper

room, you're no class-you're not in it w

lly placed each individual's glass

rnac, and all Tresc

his glass to Dolphin; and when he had drunk

lo!" he said. "Kitty is short by

" said Tresco. "I'm cleaned

? Well, there ain't nothing mean about me-here y'are." He roughly

ried Carnac, cl

eet William. "Very 'an'

ney, and in so doing overturned his glas

ted the money and drew another IOU for the

," said Dolphin, as he drank to Tr

yes were wild, his face was hot; he drained his glass

a corner, and let's blanky well bust or win. Win, I say

n withdraw as soon as you win your money back. It's a free country: you can have on

putting his ten p

's chair, holding his sides to suppress his laughter, and making pantomimi

heir throws, and C

-let me have another shy. Game to the finish." He rose to his feet, threw his

ew pounds remained in front of him. "One more Kitty, and tha

al, he

ried. "Even money all round, and

-a paltry seven. Dolphin followed with five. It wa

his seat and, swaying, caught at the suave gambler's arm for support. With a rattle the

oat. Carnac struggled, the table with all its money fell with a crash, but the sinister Gars

tang hoarsely. "Loose

man, but Garstang still co

rusty comrades filled their pockets with gold and bank-notes, Carnac slunk from the room. W

Garstang to the goldsmith, "or you'll l

an, walked slowly backward to the door. He made a sudden step and was gone; the door shut with a bang; the

d the goldsmith. "Fleeced a