The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. ence in his voice that jarred on the man, who was just beginning to realize that Mary Giles was worth very much more consideration than her father showed her. ‘It’s an awful drag to have women about you in the bush,’’ Giles went on. ‘‘It will be a relief to me to have her settled somewhere.’’ Wilton was about to say that perhaps there were some people who would be only too ready to undertake the responsibility, but before he could do so Giles continued : ‘‘ However, that has nothing to do with the situation. If I have to go, Johnson is not far off, and he’ll be better able to set you up with tools and all the rest of it than I shall.’’ “I fancy I will wait until Farrell gets up before I start a new hut. A tent will do for me in the mean time.”’ “Then Johnson is the man to see, for he has one or two, but mine went into holes a year back and I never replaced it yet.’’ The constant suggestion that Johnson was the best man to refer to gave Wilton a suspicion that Giles was not too anxious for him to stay longer at Billah than was absolutely necessary. : “Til ride over—but I forgot; my saddle and bridle were inside the hut and were burned along with the rest of my things. I’ll have to borrow a bridle from you, so that I can catch my horse.’’ “That will be all right. Ican let you have a mount, but you need not be starting at once. You'll want a rest after last night. Have a camp for a few hours.”’ ‘‘I don’t feel it yet, but I reckon I’ll have a spell in the afternoon. Ican get to Johnson’s by that time if I start soon,’’ Wilton said. ‘“‘ What’s the hurry ?’’ Gilesasked. ‘‘ There’s a lot to yarn about before you go.”’ ‘‘ I want to get the news round as soon as I can,’’ Wilton said. ‘What ! still bent on shooting that poor wretch? ’”’ ‘“There’s another reason why we should be out after him, if you are going to leave Billah unprotected during your absence,’’ Wilton replied. ~ We can, at all events, make the place too hot for him round about here, and then Miss Giles need not be afraid.’ Giles laughed. ‘‘She can take care of herself, never you fear. I believe she’d give a warmer reception to Midnight than you would! She’s no end of a shot with a rifle.”’ ‘* But it’s very risky,’’ Wilton continued. ‘‘If he’s kept on the move he would not be so likely to flourish as he does.’’ ‘Well, my lad, as I tell you, I can’t join in with you because I have to be over the ranges for two very important matters, one, the buying of stock, and the other, the bringing home of a mate for Mary.”’ ‘She is going to be married ?’’ Wilton exclaimed. “And why not? Surely she’s old enough; and I shall not be sorry to get the place free of petticoats ; they’re more than a nuisance in the bush.’’ ‘“Is it to a squatter?’’ Wilton asked. 3 ‘Well, I reckon so. There was one after her, but she scared him off and (E(0)