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vay “ “We.
} : * Jt was’a long ride for the pair, for in a short time they passed
bo beyond the line of human habitation and found themselves in an
H : open country under the broad expanse of the starlit heavens.
: Midnight overtook-them in the same desolate land, but all at
once the scene changed.
eb and pasture lands appeared on either side.
They had reached a grazing district, and the long wire fences —
C met them as they rode along.
Presently the barking of dogs was heard, and in a few moments
the riders threw their lines over the steeds’ necks and dismounted.
he ’ A light appeared in’ the courtyard of a large ranch house in
- . front of them, and the voice of a woman was heard.
ne “Back again!” exclaimed the woman, who stood in the court
with a light in her hand. :
“Yes,” cried Merle Macray, as he sprang forward and pressed
-’ something into her hand.
She looked at it and smiled. : oe .
She was a person of five-and-twenty, regal in appearance and
’ splendidly handsome.
Her figure was commanding, and her face, a little dark like
the face of Stareyes, was strikingly beautiful.
Merle left his companion to'take care of the horses and entered
the house with the woman.
Inside everything was in keeping with wealth.
‘On every side was to be seen. rich hangings and articles of wirtt.
Rich carpets that yielded to the feet covered the floors and the
walls were adorned with the costliest pictures.
It was a typical sheep king’s home in West Australia, the
poreacen s+ palace-of wealth in that quarter of the globe.
_ Beyond it lay the bush. . .
Not: far away began the Desert of Death, and among its sand
agen -yalleys‘lurked the lizard and the sun snake, whose bite, is certain
“". | destruction. :
“Merl Macray strode into the house and stopped in the large
parlor to the right of the hall.
--t=--—"* His“companion took-a: seat on a sofa and regarded him with
‘ eyes which seemed capiable of devouring him.
_ “Tell me. Did you make sure of the tracker?” she asked.
. “Didn’t 1?” .
He laughed. :
“Of course you did not see him.” :
“No. How can I see a man who is at the bottom of Old
Danny’s pit?” : :
“But you did not sce him there.” a
“T know he’s there, for Old Danny never lies, and he saw him
in the pit and then flooded it with water. But I’ve assured you
Vr: _ of this before.” :
i ~ “I know that, but you know how we women are. We get our
‘ spells of doubt sometimes, and——”
“Don't let them spoil your sleep now. It’s all right. The man
who played shadower is dead, and sleeps to-night where he should
slecp—at.the bottom of the pit!” . - a
She crossed the room and opened a sideboard ingeniously set
in the wall. :
filled.the latter with red wine. uo . .
“Drink with me, then. I feel like a mew woman. It is accom-
lished! I told him that he should feel my hand, no matter where
e went, and my threat has been fulfilled. You did it well, Merle.
S I am proud of you.” . ‘
Merle Macray, looking over. the brim of his goblet, saw her
eyes get a merry, triumphant light, and then he downed his wine
: and set the glass on the onyx-topped table. .
t _ -“T have secured the additional hands you need,” said he. “I
* had some little trouble in picking them up in Perth and they will
be here in a day or two. . :
~ “You got good men?”
“Yes, I left it to Jot and he will send those I did not get to
see. How are the natives?” “ ‘
“A little troublesome, but with the force I sent for we'll meet
them triumphantly. It’s not to be that I have to succumb to a lot
of brigands and I will-not pay tribute to their chief.”
, “That’s right—not a pound!” cried Merle. “We will take the
initiative as soon as the men arrive, and we'll show them that they
can't levy tribute on Round Robin Ranch.”
“Indeed we will. I am Belle Demona, or Belle, the Demon, as
scoundrels that we are not.to be bled.” : :
9 OLD BROADBRIM WEEKLY. .. =
The country began to grow diversified with grass and timber,
: : . 2, . :
-In another. moment she came back with-bottle and goblets and
they shall Iearn, and when our men come we will show these
we ~e?
Loe bd
oe 6 adits f
an
It
Merle drank
him alone. .
Round Robin Ranch was the largest and richest sheep ranch
in the district. . ,
It belonged to the woman who was known as Belle Demona
and whose wealth was said to be almost marvelous.
She had come out some years before the opening of our story
and had made money hand-over-fist in the new lands of Australia,
and her. sheep were to be seen by thousands on the grazing lands
of Round Robin Ranch.
Her overseer and general agent was Merle Macray, who had
come out with her and who had just come back after an absence
of over six months. 7
No one knew where he had been, though it was said that he
was in London -investing some of the ranch queen’s: savings
and attending to other business for his mistress.
There were rumors that at one time the ranch queen had led a
wild life in the capitals of Europe, and even in far-off America,
but no one cared to make a public declaration of this sort. .
The woman would not have submitted to such reports, and she’
was known everywhere as a perfect shot and a creature who
feared nothing, not even the plundering bands that now and then
raided the rich ranches and levied tribute on their owners.
b But there was one person who knew where Merle Macray had
een.
Old Broadbrim carried the true secret of his long absence’in
his bosom, and he had followed him to the island, tracking him
from the scene of crime in New York to cling for life in the pit
trap of Old Danny in Melbourne,
CHAPTER IX.
OLD BROADERIM ONCE MORE.
Two days later a little party consisting of ten men came to the
gate of the ranch home, and were received by Merle Macray and
the Ranch Queen herself. : ’
They were, for the most part, desperate, sunbrowned-looking
fellows who sat their horses like Centaurs, and were received
with demonstrations of delight at the ranch.
They were led by a youthful-looking man named Jot, who in-
troduced them severally to both Merle and Belle Demona, say-
ing that they had accepted her terms, and had come out from
Perth to take service under her, and were ready to stand by her
against all the brigands of the country. '
They dismounted and were invited into the house, where they
were regaled with a splendid repast interspersed with wine and
toasts.- . : “ ”
The beautiful woman of Round Robin Ranch was in her ele-
ment, and: the glow of pleasure came to her checks while she
talked and laughed with her new adherents. , Ct
After the meal, Merle, well mounted-and with Belle Demona at
his side, took the men over the ranch, showing them the sheep.
and other stock, and telling them how they were expected to.”
serve their new mistress. . : se
“The ranch was to be guarded at night, and certain signals had
been studied out which would warn the people in the house at the
first breath of danger. : : o
_ The shades of this eventful day were deepening, when there
galloped to the door of the ranch a single horseman, who dis-.
mounted and who was received with an exclamation of surprise
by Merle, who came out to greet him. : oa .
“Jem!” he cried. “The last man I was looking for, but you're
none the less welcome.” , .
“The newcomer was escorted into the house where the lights ‘
-were lit, and where Belle Demona awaited him in the parlor. —
“You came.in a little behind him?” said Merle, looking at Jem
“Yes, curse it all!” was the answer. “I did the best I could,
but I didn’t think of the Maybloom till it was too late. I never
thought of Lord Harway coming to this part of the world Po
Here a swift glance from Merle to Belle stopped him, but the’
ranch queen bade him proceed. > : .
“You have kept something back from me!” she cried sternly, :
giving Merle a hard look. “You were followed. And all the
way from England, too!” ' “
“Yes; I told you about the man who fell into Danny’s trap.”
“T know it; but not that he started from London so.soon after
”
you.
Merle frowned a little but said nothing. .
Y . , . ve
»
off another glass of wine, and the woman left
‘