PREPARATIONS.
When Wyck, or Fred Philamore, left Sydney, he did so without leaving a
trace behind him, for Joe Brown had returned to Queensland, after
sending a detailed account of how the boys had been caught, and had
received a tremendous thrashing. Wyck was overjoyed, and had sent him
his other tenner. Now his intention was to get to England without delay,
but as no boat was starting for a week, and feeling secure in his
disguise, he gave himself up to enjoyment in Melbourne, and, becoming
bolder every day, allowed the boat to start without him. The boys had
visited Adelaide and Melbourne, and scoured the county, but could find
no trace of the fugitive, and as Mr. and Mrs. Whyte had now arrived,
they had gone to Tasmania with them and the girls for a short stay at
Goodchilds'. They had only been there two days when Hal received the
following telegram:
"Melbourne, Come over. Quick.--Terence O'Flynn."
They at once started for Melbourne, where Terence met them and gave them
an account of his proceedings.
"You see, gents, ever since I last saw you I have been keeping a sharp
look-out on both Dick and the 'Gaiety,' but I never see any one at all
like our man. On Tuesday I was on my cab as usual and Dick was in the
same rank, when I see an elderly gent, clean-shaved, and with rather
grey hair, wearing a bell-topper--a regular howling toff he
looked--stroll along the rank, 'Cab, sir,' says I, but he shook his head
and walked on. Seemed as if he was in thought, for when he came to the
end of the street he came back again, and beckoning to Dick, got in his
cab, and drove off. I didn't take much notice of that, but I did notice
that Dick didn't come back until nearly twelve, and when he did he
seemed pleased with hisself. Next day morning I was passing the
'Gaiety,' when I'm blowed if I didn't see Dick's cab a-waiting outside,
so I drives down a lane a bit and watches, and sure that elderly gent
comes out again with one of the young ladies, and drives away. When Dick
comes back to the stand that night, I says to him--'Got another soft
line, Dick'--'Yes,' he says, 'but he's going away soon!' Well, I tried
all I knew, but Dick he was fly, and as this chap seemed to carry on
just like Wyck, I thought it would do no harm to send for you."
"He's got grey hair you say, Terence?" asked Hal.
"Yes, but he don't look old, and I know he's a toff, too."
"It's worth risking, Reg. Let's make all preparations in case it is, for
we do not intend to let him slip again."
"What shall we do first?"
"We want a furnished house, Terence."
"Sure you can get hundreds of 'em, sir."
"Do you know of one close handy?"
"I saw one in Nicholson Street only yesterday, for I drove a gent to
look at it, but he said the rent was too much."
"How much was it, Terence?"
"Two pounds ten a week."
"Let's go and have a look at it."
Calling a cab they drove up Collins Street to Nicholson Street, and
half-an-hour later they had the receipt for two weeks' rent of an
eight-roomed house.
"The next thing for you to do, Terence, is to swell up a bit," said Hal.
"What do you mean--put my Sunday togs on?"
"Yes, that's the idea. How long will it take you?"
"About an hour, sir."
"Then go and do it, and meet me at 'Menzie's,' in an hour's time. Here's
a sovereign to go on with."
The boys then drove to "Menzie's," engaged a room and locked themselves
in.
"The only way we can satisfy ourselves as to his identity is by means of
that stick."
"The stick! How are you going to do it? I cannot part with it on any
account," said Reg, grasping it firmly, as if in fear that it would
vanish altogether; he had had it made so that it could be put together
in one, or taken apart.
"My idea is to send Terence to the 'Gaiety' at a time when this man is
there, and carry the stick openly in his hand."
"What then?"
"Why, if he really is Wyck, he is almost certain to shew some interest
in the stick."
"Yes?"
"Well, that will put Terence on his guard, and he can tell him some yarn
about it, and make an appointment with him at our house."
"What then?"
"Then you can make use of your die, my boy."
"It's a glorious idea, but I don't like parting with the stick. Having
it by me is a great source of satisfaction to me."
"We can trust Terence. He's no fool, and knows well enough what success
will mean to him."
"How about the doctor?"
"I wired young Aveling to come over with Goody and the girls. The boat's
due at mid-day to-morrow. Come on down now, Terence ought to be here."
"Then I am to bring the stick with me?"
"Yes, certainly, old chap. It's our only chance."
They found Terence below, rigged out in his Sunday best, and looking
very smart. The stick was handed to him, with full instructions how to
act, and what to say, should the gentleman recognise the stick.
"You can depend on me, gentlemen," said Terence.
"Be off now, Terence, and don't drink anything strong. Stick to light
stuff, and report to us directly you have seen him."
"Right you are, your honour, and be jabers, if he's the man, we'll see
him at 345, Nicholson Street," said Terence as he left.
About nine o'clock Terence called at their hotel, in a very excited
state, and quite out of breath.
"It's Wyck, it's Wyck," he said, sinking down on a chair and wiping his
forehead. They gave him time to recover his breath, and then he told
them his story.
"When I left your honour," he said, "I went to the 'Gaiety,' but he was
not there, so I waited on the other side of the road, as I didn't want
Dick to see me togged up. Just about seven, I see Dick's cab drive up,
and out jumps the old gentleman. When Dick had driven off again, I
followed him into the saloon. There he was, larking with Miss Harris,
but I took no notice of him at all. 'A glass of lager,' says I,
throwing down a sovereign carelessly, like as if I was a toff, and as I
counted the change I put the stick on the counter. The old gent he gives
a start directly he sees it, and he looks quite hard at me, but I took
no notice and called for a smoke. Well, I lights up, says good-night,
and was just off, when he calls out--'Have another drink with me?'
"'I don't mind,' says I.
"'That's a curious sort of stick,' says he, pointing to it.
"'Yes,' says I.
"'Had it long,' says he.
"'Some months now,' says I.
"'What's them notches on it for?' says he.
"'I don't know. It don't belong to me.'
"'Whose is it then?' asks he, getting interested.
"'Oh,' says I, 'there's quite a history belonging to that stick.'
"'What sort of a history?'
"'Well,' says I, 'it's like this. My sister, she was staying at
Toowoomba up Queeensland way; she's the sister of the landlady at the
'Royal.' Well, one day a new chum named Wyckliffe came there to stop.
She told me he seemed a decent sort, but he left early for out West the
next morning, and he never came back, poor fellow! for he was
drowned--so the papers say. Any rate, he left some old clothes at the
'Royal,' and this stick was found amongst them, and she keeps it, for
she said he was such a nice fellow.'
"'But it's yours now,' says he.
"'No such luck,' says I. 'She don't know I have it out, else there'd be
a row.'
"'I'll tell you what I'll do,' he says, 'I knew the chap as owned this
stick, and I'll give you ten bob for it.'
"'You won't,' says I, 'nor ten pound neither.'
"'Why?' says he, surprised.
"'I'm living in her house,' says I, 'and if she knew I was taking
liberties with her goods I'd get the run.'
"'Would she sell it?' he asks.
"'There'd be no harm in asking her,' I says, 'if it's worth anything to
you.'
"'It is for old acquaintance sake. Where does she live?'
"'At 345 Nicholson Street,' says I.
"'What time is best to see her?' says he.
"'About four in the afternoon.'
"'Tell your sister I'll call at four to-morrow,' says he.
"We had another drink and he wished me good afternoon, and I ran all the
way down here," said Terence, evidently immensely pleased with himself.
"You have done well, Terence," said Hal, and Reg shook him warmly by the
hand.
"Look here, Terence, we shall want a lady to take the part of your
sister to-morrow and receive him. Do you know of a respectable girl who
would do it?"
"Well, that all depends. What would she have to do?"
"Nothing more than to receive him."
"Well, I think I know of a lady that will suit. She _is_ my sister. She
is a nurse, but is not doing anything now."
"A nurse. That's the very person we want," said Hal, quite pleased at
the way things were going.
"She'll come, I suppose, Terence?" asked Reg.
"Yes, sir. She'll do anything I tell her," answered Terence, proudly.
"Then you can tell your sister to call at the house at ten to-morrow,
and we'll meet you there to arrange matters," said Hal.
"Right you are, your honours. I reckon he won't get away this time,"
said Terence, leaving them together.
The following morning the boys took possession of their house and
planned out details. Terence duly brought his sister, who, they were
surprised to find, was an extremely good-looking Irish girl, quite ready
to do all she was told, without asking any questions.
Hal drilled her instructions into her thoroughly, and then they both set
out for the wharf, and met the _Pateena_, which arrived with all their
friends on board, including Dr. Aveling, a friend of Goodchild's.
Hil was briefly informed of all that had been done, and the boys hurried
back to Nicholson Street, taking the doctor with them.
"Now, doctor," said Reg, "just look at this die and see if it is fit for
the job."
"Yes, it will do very well," he replied, examining the edges.
"We want you to have all your tools ready, for though Reg will do the
deed, you will see that the wounds are properly dressed, won't you?"
"Certainly, I have brought all that is necessary, and, provided you are
sure of your man, I am ready to help you."
"Rest assured we won't brand the wrong man," said Hal, who was as cool
as a cucumber.
"There's a cab pulling up at the door," said Reg, excitedly. He had
scarcely spoken when there was a loud knock at the door.
Miss O'Flynn opened the door, and the visitor entered.