Settling Day. Gould Nat

I can't read or write.'

      The judge put on his spectacles, which had been reposing on his notebook, and said, as he eyed the Crown prosecutor with severity, —

      'I understood this man was charged with forgery.'

      The Crown prosecutor blinked, and eventually Samuel Potter was discharged.

      Although it was perfectly true that Potter could neither read or write, he was a shrewd man, and his shanty had been the scene of many an illegal transaction.

      Swamp Creek folk had a wholesome dread of Potter's, and the solitary mounted constable in the place knew it was wise for him to 'keep in' with old Sam.

      The police magistrate for the district was also aware that Potter's Shanty was a house of ill repute, but what could he do, he was one against many?

      The incident alluded to by Dr Tom was exciting enough in its way.

      Ned Glenn, the driver of the coach, pulled up as usual at Potter's to refresh his horses, five of them, fairly good animals. The passengers also endeavoured to cool their parched throats, but old Sam was one too many for them. His liquors were strong and 'home made,' and so the passengers discovered.

      It so happened that on this journey the young manager of the Swamp Creek branch of the Nation's Bank was on his way to the headquarters for the Western District at Bourke. He carried with him a considerable sum of money, much in gold, more in notes.

      It was his way of doing it. He thought that by not giving notice of the fact, publicity would be avoided, and that he might escape observation. Thirty or forty years ago things were very different in Australia to what they are now, and coaches were run in districts where the trains may now be seen daily.

      Jim Dennis was at Potter's Shanty the night the coach stopped and the manager of the Nation's Bank was robbed.

      A month after the robbery he cashed a note for five pounds in the Swamp Creek Hotel, and this same note was proved to have been in the possession of the manager of the Nation's Bank on the day of the robbery at Potter's. There was no direct evidence to prove Jim Dennis had any hand in the business, but in those days suspicion once fastened on to a man was difficult to get rid of. The majority of the people in the district believed Jim Dennis had a hand in the robbery, in fact was the instigator of it, and Sam Potter encouraged the impression.

      Between Potter and Jim Dennis a continual war had been waged ever since, and, what made matters worse, Ned Glenn, the coach driver, sided with the owner of Wanabeen. Ned Glenn was no fool. He had driven the coach between Swamp Creek and Bourke for several years. He knew every inch of the road, or, to be more correct, the track, and no man could frighten a box-seat passenger out of his senses better than Ned. He was a weather-beaten old fellow, with a face like cracked parchment, merry little twinkling eyes that were suggestive of unlimited fun and roguery.

      Ned Glenn was a character. He had figured, even in those early days, as a prominent man – a full page all to himself – in the Sydney Lantern. In this remarkable sheet Ned Glenn was depicted as a kind of Claude Duval on the box seat of his coach. Passengers were notified to 'beware of the driver,' and Ned's pockets were bulging out with stolen notes and various articles of attire alleged to have been the property of his passengers.

      Ned was advised by the local lawyer at Swamp Creek that he had a good action against the paper and would recover heavy damages.

      'And who'll get 'em?' said Ned.

      'You will,' replied the lawyer.

      'And what about your share?' asked Ned.

      'I shall expect some recompense,' said the legal luminary.

      Ned winked his near side eye and thought they had better let the matter slide. To tell the honest truth, Ned Glenn was rather proud of figuring in the Lantern. He had seen the Premier occupying the front page, also the Governor, and even if reflections were cast upon his character by the sketch, it was good to be in such company.

      'And the hartist's signed his name to it,' said Ned, proudly, as he produced the crumpled up journal for the benefit of the 'bagman,' who occupied the box seat. Ned Glenn was a thick-and-thin supporter of Jim Dennis and Dr Tom, not to mention the little chap, and Sal. If the whole of the members of the ministry had been on his coach, Ned would have pulled up at Wanabeen.

      It so came about that the night Dr Tom was to leave Wanabeen Ned's coach was due.

      The doctor and Jim Dennis were standing on the verandah, and saw him tooling his team along at a shambling gallop.

      'Funny thing we should be talking about that affair at Potter's,' said the doctor. 'Here's Ned's coach.'

      'He'll pull up here, he always does,' said Jim. 'I'll go and get him a drink ready. I feel quite light-hearted now the little chap is better – thanks to you, doc.'

      Jim Dennis passed inside, and before he came out again Ned Glenn had pulled up his horses in front of the homestead.

      There were no passengers; he merely had the mail and some luggage.

      'Hullo, doctor, what are you doing here?' sang out Ned in his cheery voice.

      'Jim's youngster has been very ill. I've been here these three days.'

      'Eh, Gad! What! the little chap?' exclaimed Ned, as he scrambled down.

      'Yes, the little chap; but he's out of danger now,' said the doctor.

      'Where's Jim?'

      'Gone inside to get you a drink.'

      Ned Glenn left the mails, the coach and the horses to look after themselves. His old-fashioned figure glided round the side of the homestead, and when he saw Jim Dennis he said, —

      'He's all right, eh, Jim? We can't afford to lose him. There never was such a child.'

      'Yes, Ned, he's safe, thanks to Dr Tom; but he's had a tough time of it.'

      'And pulled through,' said Ned. 'I hope I'll live to see him on the back of a cup winner for his dad before I peg out.'

      CHAPTER IV

      JIM'S TROUBLE

      Left alone with his son, Jim Dennis watched him tenderly, and Sal looked keenly at him, with dog-like devotion gleaming out of her deep, dull, liquid eyes.

      She understood what the life of this child meant to the man who had been kind to her when all others had deserted her. Her heart bled for him in his trouble, and she would willingly have given her life to spare him pain.

      Jim Dennis gazed long at the child's now peaceful face. As his little head lay pillowed in peaceful slumber on one arm, the features of the sleeping boy recalled many memories.

      It brought back thoughts of a woman he had loved and married, and who left him when Willie Dennis was but an infant. It was a cruel, heartless blow she struck him, and he meant some day to 'settle' an account with the man who had robbed him.

      It was the old story. The life at Wanabeen was lonely and Maud Dennis was city bred. Jim Dennis had deceived her in nothing when he married her. He told her of the solitary life he led, and painted his home in anything but glowing colours. He would rather have risked losing her than deceive her.

      Maud fancied she loved him, probably she did then, and said life with him would be worth living anywhere. Jim Dennis believed her, married her and took her home to Wanabeen.

      For a time all went well. Then the loneliness commenced to tell upon her somewhat frivolous nature. She pined for the city, the pleasures of Sydney life, the shops, the gaiety, the dances and picnics, the admiration of men and the thousand and one other attractions that are all in all to some women. Jim Dennis saw she felt lonely and it troubled him. He was absent on the station the greater part of the day, it could not be otherwise in his life. He thought when the child was born it would cheer her and render her life more tolerable.

      He was grievously mistaken. Maud was not a woman to make a devoted mother. She was too selfish, and little Willie was rather a 'bore' to her.

      With a great trouble at his heart, Jim Dennis saw this, and he felt he must do something to relieve the strain. He asked her if she