Stingaree
from the store; the jackeroo was called from a stable which had become Augean during the week, and the three were still mildly tippling when the store-keeper came to his feet.
"Good Lord!" cried he. "I thought we'd seen the last of the plucky police!"
"You don't mean to say they're coming back?"
"I do, worse luck! Cameron, Tyler, and some new joker in plain clothes."
Hardcastle finished his drink with a resigned smile, and stood on the veranda to receive the intruders.
"After all, it will stave off the reaction I began to feel the moment they had turned their backs," said he. "Well, well, well! I thought I'd just got rid of you fellows, and back you come like base coin!"
"You mustn't blame us," said the sergeant, first to dismount. "We couldn't know that Superintendent Cairns had been sent up from Sydney, much less that we should ride right into him in your horse-paddock!"
The squatter had stepped down from the veranda with polite alacrity.
"Glad to see you, Mr. Cairns," said he. "I only wish you had come before."
The creature in the plain clothes looked about
152
