IN SEARCH OF HORSES
"I think I'll risk a pound," said Glen laughing.
"A hundred thousand pound sweep is not bad, and the winner takes about a
fourth of it," Jerry answered.
"Twenty-five thousand. That would do me all right. No occasion for more
work. I'd buy a nice little property and be comfortable for the
remainder of my life," said Glen.
They parted in a very cordial manner. It was not often Glen let himself
go like this, but he liked Jerry, and when he was fond of a man he was
not slow to show it.
Glen went West next day and forgot all about the ticket, but there was
plenty of time as the sweep did not close for several weeks.
He went on a purchasing expedition, to buy horses for the show, while
Bill Bigs and Jim Benny were preparing the way in Sydney for an opening
in the exhibition building, which had already been secured. Jim had no
desire to go into the Boonara district again after what had happened.
There was no telling what rumours might be about. As a matter of fact
Garry Backham was sorry he had thrown out a hint to Craig Bellshaw. He
might be inclined to follow it up.
Garry was very much surprised one morning when Glen Leigh walked into
his place and bade him the time of day as though he had seen him a few
hours before. Leigh was a cool hand and never flustered, except on
special occasions, when he knew he had been put upon, or someone tried
to bounce him. When he flared up there were ructions, as more than one
man on the fence had found out during his time there.
"You're about the last man I expected to see in Boonara," said Garry.
"I daresay I am. I'm here on business. I can put some money in your way
if you'll help me. We were never very friendly, but that's all over. I
daresay you have no objections to earning money?"
"None at all. We're most of us that way inclined," replied Garry. "As to
being bad friends, don't you think that was mostly your fault?"
"No. There was a good bit of underhand work on the fence, sneaking, and
so on. Joe Calder and you were pretty thick. I fancy Bellshaw got some
hints, true or untrue, from the pair of you."
"He never got any from me, whatever he did from Joe."
"Are you quite sure?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'll try and believe it. Joe Calder paid for all the wrong he
did."
"Do you know what some folks say about here?"
"No."
"That either you, or Jim Benny, shot him, and that's why you both
cleared out."
"They say that, eh?"
"Yes."
"They're wide of the mark. Why didn't they say it before we left, not
when our backs were turned?" asked Glen.
Garry smiled.
"It wouldn't do for a man to accuse you to your face of murder," he
answered.
"Then you don't hold me responsible for Calder's death?" Glen queried.
"Not likely, is it?" answered Garry. "What's the business you're here
on?"
"I want a dozen of the worst bucking horses in the district. It swarms
with bad 'uns of all sorts," said Glen.
"You're right. I never saw such brutes in my life. Mintaro's overrun
with them, if one could only find them."
"Would Bellshaw sell some?" asked Glen.
"I should say he'd be only too glad to get rid of any you cared to
pick."
"You can manage it, can't you? You were always on good terms with him,"
said Glen.
"I'm not now," replied Garry.
Glen looked surprised. He thought Bellshaw found the money with which
Garry bought Bill Bigs out.
"You don't mind me saying it, but Bill fancied Bellshaw found you the
money for this place," he said.
"He did, but he only lent it me. It's since I bought it we quarrelled."
"Serious?"
"Rather, but we've agreed to drop it. Still, we're not on good terms."
"Then I'd better go and see him alone," said Glen.
Garry hesitated. There was no telling how Bellshaw might act, as Glen
ought to have sent in his notice to him before he left the fence. He
knew, however, that Glen Leigh was capable of taking care of himself,
and that he was more than a match for the squatter.
"Perhaps you had," he agreed. "I can tell you where the best horses for
your purpose are to be found. I never saw such beasts, regular savages,
half wild, unbroken, not even handled, and some of them six years old.
They're most of 'em by old Tear'em, as they call him. Perhaps you've
heard of him?"
"I've heard the name, but nothing much about him except that he's a
savage."
"So he is, and so are all his lot. Tear'em has accounted for more than
one man's life," said Garry.
"Why doesn't Bellshaw shoot him?"
"That's more than I can tell. It strikes me he rather likes the horse.
It suits his temperament."
"Where are these horses to be found?"
"At the Five Rocks most likely. Do you know where that is?"
"No."
"To the south of Mintaro, a good twenty miles."
"And how the deuce am I to get at 'em? I shall want assistance."
"If you get Bellshaw's permission to bag a dozen or two I'll go with you
to get 'em and take half a dozen men from here."
"That's a bargain," said Glen. "I expect it will be tough work getting
'em into the trucks when we have driven them as far as Bourke, if ever
we get 'em there."
"Never fear about that. I know how to handle them. What are you going to
do with 'em when they reach Sydney?"
Glen explained, and Garry thought the idea splendid. He was quite sure
it would pay. He said he'd like to be in it.
"So you shall, Garry," said Glen, who was one of the quick forgiving
kind. "How much?"
"A couple of hundred or so."
"It's as good as done. Of course, I must consult Bill. He's the prime
mover, the originator of the scheme."
"You'll stay the night?" Garry asked.
"I've no time to spare. I must return as soon as possible, so if you'll
let me have a fresh horse I'll ride on to Mintaro at once."
"You can have the best I've got. It'll be nothing very grand, but I'll
find one that will take you there."
He went out, leaving him in the bar.
Glen as he looked round vividly recalled the day he rode in from the hut
to see Bill on behalf of the woman. He wondered what she was doing. Was
Jim Benny with her? He did not like the idea of Jim seeing too much of
her. Yet it was foolish of him. Why should he not see her as often as he
wished? She was supposed to be his sister.
Garry returned and said the horse would be round in a few minutes.
"Don't ruffle Bellshaw," he counselled. "He's not been in the best of
tempers since he came home from Sydney."
"Bill had a talk with him in Pitt Street, and I saw him. Where do you
think he was going?"
"I don't know. He's a queer sort."
"Into a Chinaman's shop in Lower George Street. A fellow named Lin Soo.
A beastly-looking Johnnie. I wonder what he went there for?"
Garry was glad Glen was not looking at him or he might have seen his
agitation and wondered at it.
"He knows a lot of curious people," he answered. "Probably he went to
buy tea."
"It wasn't a tea shop, although that is what Lin Soo pretends it is. I
expect, from what Bill said, it's an opium den, or worse."
"There are lots of 'em in Sydney," said Garry with an assumption of
carelessness.
"Plenty in that quarter. They ought to root the whole lot out. It
wouldn't be a bad job if the places were burned down."
Glen went out, mounted, and had a parting word with Garry, who said,
"Remember what I told you about Bellshaw. There's something wrong with
him, I'm certain."
"In what way?"
"He talks a bit wild, and seems to have something on his mind; he sees
things," and he told Glen about the verandah incident. "I put it down to
the spree he'd probably been on in Sydney."
"I'll humour him," replied Glen laughing. "If he turns rusty I'll have
to try and get the horses elsewhere. There are plenty of 'em, I
expect."
"Heaps, but none half so good for your purpose as those at the Five
Rocks, by old Tear'em, or one of his sons," said Garry.
Glen waved his hand as he rode away. Garry watched him until horse and
man became specks in the distance. As he went inside he muttered, "I
think I can guess why Craig Bellshaw went into Lin Soo's shop."