"COME"
Glen asked no questions. If Jim Benny had shot Calder he must have had
good reason for it. He waited to hear if he would say more.
"Do you want to know why?" asked Jim.
"Please yourself."
Jim pulled off his shirt, or tried to. It stuck.
"The water," he said faintly.
Glen gave him a damp cloth. Jim bathed the shirt, near his breast. For
the first time Glen noticed a deep red mark.
"That's better," said Jim, as he felt the shirt give, and pulled it off.
Then he went on, "He did that with his knife, and I shot him."
"It served him right," returned Glen.
"We quarrelled, not for the first time. He said brutal things to me,
and called me names no man would stand, so I struck him between the
eyes. He whipped out his knife, and I had it before I could think. I
pulled my revolver from my belt, and shot him through the heart. He fell
like a log. I left him there. I never even looked at him, but came on
here."
"Why did you come here?"
"Because I thought I could depend upon you, and you would give me good
advice. I didn't tell you at first, because of her. One thing at a
time's enough."
"You can depend upon me. I'll help you if there's trouble, but no one
knows you shot him, and there'll not be much fuss made over him,"
declared Glen.
The woman opened her eyes, and looked at them. Then a faint smile spread
over her face.
"Are you better?" asked Glen.
No answer.
"Do you feel stronger, my lass?"
She pressed her hand over her forehead feebly, and a vacant look came
into her eyes.
"She's weak. She's had no food. Warm some of that milk, Jim."
When it was ready Glen gave it to her with a spoon. She took it
greedily. In a few minutes she dozed again.
"Her head's sure to be bad for a time," said Glen.
There was a brief silence, then Jim said, "While you were away I did
something."
"What?"
"I kissed her on the lips. I couldn't help it. Something prompted me."
Glen started. For a moment he felt angry, then muttered, "When you were
outside I kissed her on the forehead."
These kisses were characteristic of the men and showed the difference
between them.
They said no more about it. Both thought it strange, and the subject
dropped.
The woman progressed slowly but surely. As she recovered some strength
they found her memory had gone; she did not know her name, or where she
came from. She appeared to imagine she had been there all her life.
Bill Bigs arrived in his buggy, and did not come empty-handed; there was
an ample supply stowed away in the back.
"That's her, eh?" he asked.
"Yes. Do you believe me now?" replied Glen smiling.
"I believed you before, but I wanted to see her. I say, Glen, she'll be
a grand-looking woman when she's picked up and filled out a bit. Where
the deuce did she come from? It's miles away from everywhere here," said
Bill.
"It'll be hard to find out. She's lost her memory; she fancies she's
been here all her days, but she's sane enough. She'll talk all right in
a bit," replied Glen.
"Jim Benny!" exclaimed Bill.
"He's been here ever since she came. It was funny he should turn up
almost at the same time."
Jim came into the hut and greeted Bill.
"I never expected to see you here," exclaimed the latter.
"He came to consult me. We're going to throw it up," Glen told him.
"Throw what up?"
"The fence. We've done with it; we're sick of the whole thing. It's too
much for flesh and blood to stand."
Bill stared.
"Going!" he cried. "Why you're the best man on the job."
"Am I?" answered Glen. "I'm glad to hear someone has a good opinion of
me."
"I always had," pursued Bill. "I'm not surprised. I've often wondered
why you came. I remember the first time I saw you in Boonara. I thought
you'd dropped from the clouds. Have you sent in your resignation?"
"No. What does it matter. Let 'em find out. You can drop a line to the
overseer when we're gone."
"And the fence?" asked Bill "We don't want those cursed rabbits to get
through to our side."
"There are plenty to look after it; men are always disappearing. There
are good and bad among us. Some fellows are there fighting down the
drink curse. I don't blame 'em; it's their only chance. I know two of
'em, good men in their way, but I can tell how it would be with them if
they went back to a town life. They'd go under quick. I've been in many
a jag myself, but that's not why I came out. I can stifle it; it's only
a matter of will," declared Glen.
"I don't know so much about that. I've had a lot of experience in that
line. Some of the poor beggars can't help themselves," said Bill, and
then added, "They've buried Calder. There'll be no inquiry. Most people
think he shot himself. Anyhow we've shovelled him away in Boonara. If
any trouble is made they can dig him up again and call him as witness.
He's the only one who could give evidence. All your fellows are glad
he's gone."
Jim listened in silence, with a feeling of relief; he did not in the
least regret what he had done. He regarded it as a righteous act.
The woman sat up. When she saw Bill she asked, "When did he come?"
This was almost the first sentence she had spoken correctly. Hitherto
her words had come disjointedly--in jerks.
"Me, my lass? I've just dropped in to see my friend, Glen. He told me
you were here."
"I've been here a long time. Oh, such a long time. I must have been
sleeping for weeks. I've forgotten which is Glen," she answered.
"I'm Glen--Glen Leigh," he said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"How silly of me that I didn't remember, but I shall not forget again.
You have been very good to me. Have I been very ill?"
"Yes, for a long time," replied Glen humouring her.
She looked at Jim, and Glen said, "He's Jim Benny, another good friend.
And that's Bill Bigs, one of the best of friends. We're all going to
look after you."
She smiled.
"Do I want looking after?"
"You'll not be too strong for a good while yet," replied Glen. "When
you are strong we're going away from here."
She looked at him wonderingly.
"Going away from home?" she asked.
"You'll want a change when you get stronger."
This put a different complexion on the matter, and she smiled again,
nodded, and lay down once more.
"That's the first attempt at conversation she's made," said Glen. "We're
getting on."
"You boys--where are you going when you leave here?" asked Bill
suddenly.
Glen did not hesitate.
"Sydney," he answered.
Bill remained silent a few minutes, then said slowly, as though still
thinking it out, "Sydney! I've a good mind to go with you, I'm sick of
Boonara. It's the last place that was ever put up on this earth."
Glen jumped up from his seat, so did Jim. They took a hand each and
almost pulled Bill's arms off.
"Do it!" cried Glen. "Do it! We want you. If the three can't make
headway in Sydney we're not the men I fancy we are."
"Yes, come with us," put in Jim heartily.
"Stop, you fellows, stop," said Bill. "It's easier said than done. I'll
tell you something. I've had an offer for my shanty, a damned good
offer, more than it's worth. I can't think why he's made it, or where
he's got the money from. I never knew Craig Bellshaw to give much money
away, and I don't see where else it could have come from."
"Craig Bellshaw!" exclaimed Glen in surprise, "has he made a bid for
it?"
"Not likely. What'd he want with a place like mine? It's Garry Backham,
Bellshaw's overseer. He came into my place and wanted to know if I'd
sell out. He said he wanted the place and was tired of Mintaro. I was
never more surprised in my life. You could have pushed me over with a
blade of grass."
"I met him several times. He seems a taciturn sort of man, sullen, bad
tempered--not one of my sort," said Glen.
"I fancy he's had a roughish time at Mintaro," Bill surmised, "but he
must have saved money. Bellshaw wouldn't lend it him in hundreds."
"He was a pal of Calder's; about the only one he had," Jim remarked.
"I never knew that," said Bill.
"They used to meet on the track, and talk and smoke. He bought Calder
drink at times," explained Jim.
"Birds of a feather," said Glen.
"He made no fuss about Calder being shot," Bill commented.
"It was no use. He's dead and gone, and there's no proof that he was
shot; he probably did it himself as you have said," decided Glen.
The woman stirred, murmuring some words in her sleep; with a start she
sat up, stared at the group, stretched out her arms, and in a pleading
voice uttered the one word, "Come."