The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. 221 Some of the men had gathered round the wounded bushranger and notic- ing that he still breathed, one of them called out: ‘‘'There’s time to hang him yet.’’ The suggestion was a little too brutal for the majority and a babel of pro- tests arose. ‘Remember Doolan,’’*the man who had spoken cried fiercely. ‘The wounded man opened his eyes, and in a weak voice said:— ‘*Doolan was one of us.’’ Had a blight of dumbness fallen upon the band they could not have been more silenced than they were at the remark of the dying outlaw. Wilton, who had been leaning against Farrell, started forward as he heard the sound of the man’s voice. It was the voice he had heard, when he crouched among his woolbales, saying that they would treat him as they had treated Doolan. ‘‘T reckon that’s news,’’ the outlaw said, a wan smile flitting over his face. ‘Tell us more!’’ a man exclaimed, starting forward; but Wilton was before him. Facing the outlaw, he said: ‘“‘Doolan was speared because he “when I was on the dray be The man looked at him, and into his eyes there came a gleam of anger. ‘‘ You were on the dray? he said with an oath. ‘Yes, the night you came with the blacks.”’ ‘“That’s all right, sonny,’’ the man went on witha grim smile. ‘‘ You’re marked, you are. Doolan was marked, too, and what was done to him will be done to you. Midnight’s not the man to forget who killed Sam Plover.’’ ‘*Are you Sam Plover?’’ Farrell cried. ‘You'd like to know, wouldn’t you?’’ the man replied with another oath. ‘* Before it is too late, answer me one question, Farrell went on excitedly. ‘“ As you hope for mercy in Heaven, show mercy to the parents whose hearts you broke when you stole their child, and say now is she alive or dead ?”’ The man looked steadily at Farrell for a moment. ‘“What do you know about it ?’’ he said. ‘Man, do not trifle. You are on the brink of eternity ; in another min- ute you may have gone. Right that one sin before you go. ‘They never did you harm.,’’ A spasm of pain contracted the dying man’s face. ‘Harm? (Ste never did meharm? WhatamI now? What was I once? Go and ask her, and ask her who changed me.’’ ‘But the father. He helped you, and you told him ”? ‘Who are you that knows all about this?’’ the outlaw asked, his eyes gleaming horribly as they looked at Farrell. ‘You have not forgotten what he saved you from once?’’ Farrell went on, speaking quietly. ‘Who are you?’’ the man asked again, with less anger in his voice than he had before. ‘“ You swore then that when the time came be ‘Who are you?’’ the man repeated, his voice weaker and softer than it had yet been. I heard you say that much before CoORmmieaoolks 3