The Odds | Page 7

think it had some black marking on its back. I'm not sure. I didn't stop
to see. I--oh, Jack!" She broke off in swift consternation. "There is a
dead lamb!"
"Ah!" said Jack, and strode across to the barn where it lay, stark and
lifeless in the shade in which it had taken refuge from the afternoon
heat.
"Oh, Jack!" cried Dot, in distress. "What can have happened to it?
Not--not that hateful snake?"

"Not much doubt as to that," said Jack, grimly. "No, don't look too
close! It's not a pretty sight. And don't cry, child! What's the good?"
He drew her away, his arm around her, holding her closely, comforting
her. "It might have been you," he said.
She lifted her wet face from his shoulder. "It was--it would have
been--but for--"
"All right," he interrupted. "Don't say any more!"
* * * * *
He left her to recover herself and went back to Fletcher Hill,
sardonically awaiting him.
"On a wrong scent this time," he said. "She's lost one of the lambs from
snake-bite, and it's upset her. She's a 'new chum,' you know."
"I know," said Inspector Hill.
Jack Burton leaned upon the table and looked him in the eyes. "My
sister is not a detective," he said, warningly. "Buckskin Bill has been
one too many for us this time. The odds were dead against him, but he's
slipped through. And I've a pretty firm notion he won't come back."
"So have I," said Inspector Hill, unmoved.
"And a blasted good job too!" said Jack Burton, forcibly.
A gleam of humour crossed the Inspector's face. He pulled out his pipe
with a gesture that made for peace.
"If I were in your place," he said, "I daresay I'd say the same."

* * * * *

Without Prejudice
CHAPTER I
SILLY SENTIMENT
"It's time I set about making my own living," said Dot Burton.
She spoke resolutely, and her face was resolute also; its young lines
were for the moment almost grim. She stood in the doorway of the
stable, watching her brother rub down the animal he had just been
riding. Behind her the rays of the Australian sun smote almost level,
making of her fair hair a dazzling aureole of gold. The lashes of her
blue eyes were tipped with gold also, but the brows above them were
delicately dark. They were slightly drawn just then, as if she were
considering a problem of considerable difficulty.
Jack Burton was frankly frowning over his task. It was quite evident
that his sister's announcement was not a welcome one.
She continued after a moment, as he did not respond in words: "I am
sure I could make a living, Jack. I'm not the 'new chum' I used to be,
thanks to you. You've taught me a whole heap of things."
Jack glanced up for a second. "Aren't you happy here?" he said.
She eluded the question. "You've been awfully good to me, dear old
boy. But really, you know, I think you've got burdens enough without
me. In any case, it isn't fair that I should add to them."
Jack grunted. "It isn't fair that you should do more than half the work
on the place and not be paid for it, you mean. You're quite right, it
isn't."
"No, I don't mean that, Jack." Quite decidedly she contradicted him. "I
don't mind work. I like to have my time filled. I love being useful. It
isn't that at all. But all the same, you and Adela are quite complete
without me. Before you were married it was different. I was necessary

to you then. But I'm not now. And so--"
"Has Adela been saying that to you?"
Jack Burton straightened himself abruptly. His expression was almost
fierce.
Dot laughed at sight of it. "No, Jack, no! Don't be so jumpy! Of course
she hasn't. As if she would! She hasn't said a thing. But I know how she
feels, and I should feel exactly the same in her place. Now do be
sensible! You must see my point. I'm getting on, you know, Jack. I'm
twenty-five. Just fancy! You've sheltered me quite long enough--too
long, really. You must--you really must--let me go."
He was looking at her squarely. "I can't prevent your going," he said,
gruffly. "But it won't be with my consent--ever--or my approval. You'll
go against my will--dead against it."
"Jack--darling!" She went to him impulsively and took him by the
shoulders. "Now that isn't reasonable of you. It really isn't. You've got
to take that back."
He looked at her moodily. "I shan't take it back. I can't. I am dead
against your going. I know this country. It's not a place for lone women.
And you're not much more than a child,