Settling Day

Jim Dennis laughed.

'I have no quarrel with you, Ben,' he said, 'but I must see him. If the shock of my presence kills him, well, so much the better, it will save me doing it.'

'You don't mean to harm him?' said Nix, alarmed.

'That's precisely what I do mean,' said Jim.

'Then you must be prevented from doing so,' said Nix.

Jim Dennis knew there were several people about the place, and he did not wish to be hindered in his work, so he tried to propitiate Ben Nix. 'I shall not be long with him,' he said; 'and when I have done with him, and you know all, you will side with me.'

'I always do that,' said Ben. 'You and I have never been bad friends.'

'But we shall fall out if I do not see him quietly,' said Jim. 'I mean to do so, and you had better let me pass.'

Benjamin Nix saw he meant it, and stood on one side.

He argued that a disturbance would probably be as dangerous to Rodney Shaw, or more so, as an interview with Dennis.

'Which room is he in?' asked Jim.

Ben pointed it out to him, and he went to the door.

He knocked, and Rodney Shaw said angrily, —

'Come in. There is no occasion for you to knock, Nix. I have not had a wink of sleep for hours.'

'You will have plenty of sleep shortly,' said Jim Dennis, entering the room.

Rodney Shaw lay on his bed and stared with glassy eyes at the speaker. He felt as though his last hour was at hand, and he wished he could rise and fight for his life. He could not move without causing intense pain, and there he lay, helpless, at the mercy of his bitterest enemy.

Jim Dennis strode up to the bedside and shook him roughly.

'Get up and answer for your sins, you black-hearted scoundrel!' he said in a voice of suppressed passion. 'No shamming sick with me, remember. Stand up and fight for your life like a man – Heaven forgive me for calling you one!'

Rodney Shaw groaned.

'I am wounded,' he said. 'I have been shot.'

'Where?' asked Jim Dennis. 'Show me the wound.'

'I cannot.'

'Show it me.'

'It is in my back, between my shoulders,' said Shaw.

Jim Dennis laughed savagely.

'In your back. A fitting place for it. Things such as you never face an enemy, they are always wounded in the back.'

He pushed him over and saw there was blood on the bed.

'So you have not lied this time,' said Jim. 'I have come to have a settling day with you. It is a long-standing account and a heavy one. You are the scoundrel who stole my wife and robbed my child of its mother. You are the man, and you have taken my hand in friendship since.'

He raised his whip and was about to bring it down across Rodney Shaw's body. He hesitated. He would not strike a wounded man with his whip.

'I meant to thrash you, but you cannot stand up and take it. That part of your punishment I will count out, but you must pay the rest in full.'

'What do you mean to do?' asked Shaw.

'Kill you before I leave the house, anticipate death by a few hours. You are bound to die anyway. I can see it in your face. Your miserable victim is at my house, dying, and you are going fast, but I will not give you that chance, for I mean to kill you, Rodney Shaw.'

'At your house?' gasped Shaw.

'Yes, she dragged herself there to die, a victim to your treachery and cruelty. Even when you had stolen and dishonoured her you could not be true to her. You are too vile a thing to live, therefore you must die.'

'One word, Dennis. I wronged you, but not knowingly. I did not know she was your wife.'

'That makes no difference to me. You wronged her, that is sufficient. Leave me and my wrongs out of the question. I have waited for this day for years and have sworn you shall pay the penalty.'

Rodney Shaw was gasping for breath. The excitement and the moving of his body had caused his wound to bleed profusely, and he soon became exhausted, and fainted.

Jim Dennis watched him with a bitter smile on his face.

'I have been cheated at last. He cannot stand up and take the punishment I would give him. I cannot shoot an insensible man, it would be murder. Sal was right, it would be as cowardly with him as with her.'

He opened the door and called Benjamin Nix.

'He is insensible,' said Jim. 'His wound has opened again and he is bleeding to death.'

'Then nothing can save him?' said Nix. 'I have sent for Dr Sheridan.'

'He is at Wanabeen by now,' said Jim.

'Who is ill there?'

'My wife, or the woman who was my wife.'

Benjamin Nix knew something of that story.

'Has she returned?' he added.

'Yes, to die in the home of the husband and child she had deserted for that man,' said Jim, as he pointed to Rodney Shaw.

Benjamin Nix started back and said, —

'Can it be possible he is such a villain?'

Rodney Shaw opened his eyes and looked at them vacantly. A violent fit of coughing seized him and the blood poured from his mouth. He commenced to struggle, for the terrible flow choked him. They went to his assistance and raised him, but it was too late, his head fell back and he was dead. A higher power than Jim Dennis's had summoned him to answer for his sins.

'Jim, I'm glad of it; I mean that I'm glad it happened this way, not your way,' said Nix.

'It is better so,' said Jim. 'He will have a heavy settling day when he is called before his last Judge.'

'Sometimes I have thought he was not Rodney Shaw,' said Ben Nix,'but someone very like him.'

'Who knows?' said Jim. 'That's strange. I have thought the same thing.'

Jim Dennis rode back to Wanabeen.

During his absence Dr Tom had arrived and done all that lay in his power to ease the dying woman and render her last moments free from pain.

The messenger sent to Barragong had missed Willie Dennis, who was on the way home.

When Jim Dennis arrived at Wanabeen and entered his house he saw his son standing by the bedside holding his mother's hand. To violently pull him away was his first impulse, but Dr Tom stopped him by saying in a low voice, —

'She is going fast, Jim. Be very quiet.'

Peacefully and quietly the woman who had wronged and been wronged passed away, with Willie's hand in her own.

'Who was she, father?' asked Willie.

Those words spoke volumes to Jim Dennis.

He bent over and kissed the dead woman's forehead.

'An unfortunate woman I once knew well, Willie,' he said, and thought to himself, 'She died without letting him know; it was brave of her. May she be forgiven as freely as I forgive her.'

'Rodney Shaw is dead,' said Jim to the doctor.

Dr Tom looked at Jim and then at the dead woman. He fancied he had solved the problem of Jim Dennis's life, and he was not wrong.

CHAPTER XXVII

NEPTUNE'S SON

The trial of the Barker's Creek gang excited much interest, and it took place at Bathurst.

It is needless to go through the evidence given at the trial, as it merely recapitulated the events with which we are already familiar.

All the prisoners were sentenced to death, and there was a general feeling of satisfaction with the verdict.

Constable Doonan was soon afterwards promoted and raised to the rank of sergeant, and had charge of the district formerly under control of the unfortunate Machinson. All who took part in the fight and the extermination of the gang were eulogised for their bravery.

One lady was so enamoured of Dr Tom that she wrote and offered him her hand and fortune, which he respectfully declined.

Jim Dennis prospered during the next few years, and his son Willie was a great help to him.

A claimant to Cudgegong Station appeared in the person of a cousin of Rodney Shaw, and he made good his claim.

The new owner of Cudgegong, Chris Shaw, was a very different man to his cousin, and he soon became a firm friend of Jim Dennis's. He was not, however, enamoured of station life, as he had lived in Sydney, and one day he made a proposition to Jim that he should take over the management of Cudgegong.

'I mean to live in Sydney, Dennis,' he said. 'This life does not suit me, and I want to get back to my racing and town amusements. Will you take it in hand?'

'What about Ben Nix?' said Jim. 'I should not care to oust him out of his billet.'

'Ben is growing old,' said Chris Shaw, 'and he is quite willing to remain and leave the responsibility to you. He says you always got on well with him.'

'Very well,' said Jim; 'I will accept, and the terms you offer are quite good enough; in fact, generous.'

'And if at any time you can afford to buy Cudgegong you shall have it at a reasonable figure,' said Chris Shaw.

Jim's eyes glistened. He would have dearly loved to make Wanabeen and Cudgegong one property for Willie's sake, but it seemed beyond his most sanguine dreams.

He thanked Chris Shaw for his offer, but said there was very little chance of his being able to buy such a large station.

Chris Shaw went to Sydney, and Jim Dennis and Willie had their hands full with Wanabeen and Cudgegong.

Everything prospered, and they had no severe droughts. Jim Dennis put by all the money he earned as manager, and also made a big profit out of Wanabeen. He commenced to have hopes of realising his ambition after all.

Neptune had grown into a fine sire, and Jim Dennis had many good horses and mares by him.

One in particular he set great store by. This was Grey Bird, a beautiful horse the colour of his sire, out of a mare named Seamew.

Grey Bird was a four-year-old, and had won a couple of minor races at Swamp Creek and Barragong, but so far as the big meetings were concerned he was an unknown quantity.

Jim Dennis knew if he could win a race, such as the Sydney Cup, he could win a lot of money and not risk much. Against such a horse as Grey Bird the odds in a big race would be remunerative, more especially if Willie, an unknown rider in the metropolis, had the mount.

He had entered Grey Bird for the Sydney Cup, but it was regarded as a piece of bluff, and no one ever thought it was his intention to run the horse.

The journey to Sydney was long and tedious, as there was no railway communication within some hundreds of miles, and then it was hardly safe to train a valuable horse.

Jim Dennis had, however, overcome far greater difficulties than the sending of a horse to Sydney. His never-failing counsellor, Dr Tom, was consulted, and expressed his opinion that the thing was feasible and that Grey Bird would have a chance in the Sydney Cup.

'Try it, Jim. Try it,' he said. 'There's nothing like self-confidence, and I am sure none of the southern jockeys can give Willie much. He's the cleverest lad I ever saw on a horse. By Jove, how he snatched that Barragong Handicap out of the fire on Dart! It was a better race than the memorable one he rode on Neptune.'

'I think I'll try it. We can all go down to Sydney together with the horse. You will go with us?' said Jim.

Dr Tom looked gloomy. As usual, funds were low, and he did not think he could stand the expense.

'Of course you will go as my guest,' continued Jim. 'I want your company, and your skill would come in useful in case of accident.'

Dr Tom smiled as he replied, 'Generous as ever, old man. You know where the shoe pinches. I will accept your offer because I know it is made with a good heart.'

'I am not afraid to leave the stations now Dalton's gang are out of the way. What a curse they were!'

'No mistake about that. It was a fight! I'm itching for another.'

'There will be no chance for a nest of thieves round here with such a man as Sergeant Doonan about.'

'No,' replied the doctor; 'he deserves all the praise he receives.'

Willie Dennis was delighted at the thought of going to Sydney and riding his pet Grey Bird in the great race. He loved the horse, and Grey Bird was so fond of his young rider that he was uneasy when anyone else rode him.

The arrival of the coach was anxiously awaited, in order to see the weights for the Sydney Cup.

At last the paper came, and Jim Dennis eagerly tore the wrapper and glanced up and down the columns, Willie looking over his shoulder.

'There it is!' said Willie, pointing to a long list of horses.

'That's it. I say, Taite's horse has top weight, nine stone twelve pounds; that's a fair start. Our fellow will be near the bottom. What will he get? Let's guess!'

He put down the paper and looked at Willie.

'I'll guess seven stone twelve pounds,' said Jim. 'That would give him a chance.'

'Too much,' replied Willie. 'I'll say seven stone six pounds.'

Jim opened the paper again and looked down the list.

'Here's luck, Willie. He's only got seven stone.' Then his face fell and he said, 'You will not be able to get down to that weight.'

'Yes, I shall,' said Willie, and ran outside to the weighing-machine.

'I am only seven stone seven pounds now,' he shouted. 'That seven pounds can soon be knocked off. Dr Tom will see to that. Tell him he will have to dose me.'

'We will have no dosing,' said Jim. 'It weakens you too much, and you require all your strength for a long, severe race like the Sydney Cup.'

It was considered a stroke of good fortune for Jim Dennis's Grey Bird to have only seven stone in the Sydney Cup, and Swamp Creek and Barragong folk vowed they would back the local horse no matter how good the others in the race might be.

Adye Dauntsey and Dr Tom were present at Grey Bird's final gallop before his long walk to Sydney commenced. The magistrate meant to take a few weeks' holiday and go to Sydney to see the race.

'I saw his sire win one of the best races I ever witnessed at Swamp Creek, and I must see his son eclipse even that performance.'

'We shall be mighty proud of your company at Randwick,' said Dr Tom. 'To have the celebrated P.M. from Barragong with us will considerably enhance our reputations.'

'Chaffing as usual, doctor. I believe you would laugh at a funeral.'

'Probably, if I had not been attending the deceased in a medical capacity,' replied the doctor.

'I suppose under such circumstances you might possibly think you had a hand in facilitating his departure from this life,' laughed Mr Dauntsey.

The Sydney Cup was a great race even in those days, when such horses as Yattendon, Fishhook, The Barb, Flying Buck, Zoe, Archer, Banker, Lantern, Toryboy, Flying Colours, Clove, and many other good ones were winning, or had just won, all the big events at Sydney and Melbourne. It was the year of good horses when Grey Bird went south, and Jim Dennis knew that with only seven stone his horse would have no easy task.

The handicapper had not much regard for station-bred and trained horses, and he said to himself, when he came to Mr James Dennis's Grey Bird, four years, by Neptune – Seamew, 'From Wanabeen, eh? That's near the place where that fight occurred with Dalton's gang a few years ago. They cannot have much idea of training in that quarter; and I do not suppose the horse will run. If they have the pluck to bring him all that way, and run him against such cracks as we have now, they deserve to be given a good chance. Seven stone will do you, Grey Bird,' and then he set to work to try and give others a chance with the top weights, a somewhat difficult task.

Grey Bird's final gallop pleased them all, and Willie rode him splendidly.

'He is a mover,' said Mr Dauntsey. 'He'll not disgrace our district in looks or in the race.'

'If my property would carry a mortgage, I'd back Grey Bird for all I could get on it, but I am afraid a loan would cause the premises to fall down,' said Dr Tom.

'Shaky, are they?' asked Mr Dauntsey, laughing.

'Very,' replied the doctor.

All preparations were made for the departure for Sydney, and Dr Tom decided to ride one of Jim Dennis's horses, as he said he doubted whether his own would carry him so far.

Adye Dauntsey was to join them at Barragong. He preferred good, congenial company to the quicker way, and more doubtful society, by coach.

Ben Nix was left in charge at the stations, and Sal had a friend from Swamp Creek to stay with her.

Sergeant Doonan promised to keep a strict eye on Wanabeen, and this was a pleasing duty to him, as he was very partial to Sal's company.

'And, Jim, just put me this on Grey Bird for luck,' said Sergeant Doonan as he handed him five one-pound notes.

CHAPTER XXVIII

GREY BIRD IS ADMIRED

They arrived in Sydney without any misadventures, and the long journey proved far more enjoyable than could have been expected.

The party, small as it was, had this advantage, they were all friends and understood each other, and had fought side by side in the time of danger. Great care was taken of Grey Bird, and the constant walking exercise suited him, and he arrived in Sydney in fine condition.

The cup was to be decided the following week, and in the meantime the horse was stabled near Randwick with a friend of Mr Dauntsey's. Permission was given to exercise him on Randwick track, and much interest was manifested in the cup horse from 'way back.'

Grey Bird was conspicuous owing to his colour, as he was the only grey horse at exercise.

Willie rode him a strong two-mile gallop, Dr Tom and his father being interested spectators.

The local trainers were considerably impressed with Grey Bird's style of moving, and comments were made on the folly of handicappers letting unknown horses in with such light weights.

There was considerable speculation on the Cup, as usual, and several horses were backed for heavy stakes.

Against Grey Bird fifty to one could be had when he reached Sydney, and Jim Dennis was not slow to accept such tempting odds to win him several thousands. He took a thousand to twenty five times from one bookmaker, who regarded him as fair and legitimate spoil. He then obtained these odds again to another hundred, so that he had the nice bet of ten thousand to two hundred. After Grey Bird had been seen out at Randwick only half this price was obtainable, and the men who had laid fifties were not well pleased with their books.

Dr Tom managed to collect a few outstanding accounts, some several years old, before he left Swamp Creek, and he backed Grey Bird to win him five hundred.

'If it comes off, Jim,' he said, 'I'll have a new turnout and buy sufficient drugs to doctor the neighbourhood with for the next five years.'

Willie became anxious as the eventful day drew near. He had come down to seven stone without dosing, having had long walks during their journey to Sydney. He never felt better in his life, and thought he had a good chance of success. He knew the Cup course well, having galloped Grey Bird over it two or three times.

He found the going on the rails was excellent, but the centre of the course was holding.

The morning of the race was beautifully fine, an ideal day for good sport.

Randwick presented the usual bustling scene, and everyone was on the tiptoe of expectation.

The favourite for the Cup was Defiance, owned by one of the best-known sportsmen in the colonies. The horse had nine stone eight pounds to carry, and was top weight, Taite's horse having been struck out.

Defiance had several fine performances to his credit, amongst them being the Melbourne and Australian Cups, and he was regarded as the best stayer in Australia. The crack jockey, Jack Ashton, was engaged to ride, and so eager was the desire to back his mount that five to one was taken freely. Target, owned by Chris Shaw, who had registered his cousin's colours – green jacket and white cap – was also in good demand. Tatters, Warfare, Bung Bung, Baby, Walwa and Hova all figured prominently, but Grey Bird had dropped back to a hundred to three, as no one appeared inclined to support the country-bred one.

This was a very tempting price, and so Jim Dennis thought, and took a thousand to thirty twice, so that he stood to win a matter of twelve thousand besides the stake.

Before the race a long interval took place, and much curiosity was shown in Grey Bird on account of his colour.

The horse looked a picture. He was one of those greys that show their colour well, not a washed-out grey, but bold and shiny in his coat. He was as fit as he could be made, and his powerful quarters and strong loins and back caused good judges to think seven stone would be a mere feather-weight to him.

A crowd collected round as Jim saddled him, and some curious remarks were passed about country-bred horses.

'He looks well,' said one; 'but they cannot be expected to know how to train in such a God-forsaken hole as Swamp Creek.'

Dr Tom turned round and said to the speaker, —

'I come from Swamp Creek. It is not quite the place you have described it. After the race you will sing very small. Take my advice and back the horse from that "God-forsaken place."'

The man looked ashamed of himself and walked away.

Mr Dauntsey was well known in Sydney, where he had been popular before he was sent to Barragong.

He came up with several friends, amongst them three ladies, who were eager to see the famous grey he had said so much about.

'What a beautiful creature! Mr Dauntsey.'

'He is. I knew you would admire him; and he is as good as he looks, Miss Corbold.'

The lady who had admired Grey Bird was about four-and-twenty and very good-looking. She was a cousin of Mr Dauntsey's and had been to Barragong once or twice.

'Why do you persist in calling me Miss Corbold?' she said, smiling. 'It used to be Molly.'

'You have grown beyond Molly,' he replied.

'Oh, no, indeed I have not, and Molly I insist it shall be.'

'I am quite willing, Molly.'

'That's better. Now show me Mr Dennis, the man with the history. What a sad life his must have been! Is he very interesting?'

'Very, and as good a fellow as ever lived. He is just saddling the horse.'

Molly Corbold looked at Jim Dennis, and her scrutiny was satisfactory.

'Will you introduce me?' she said.

'With pleasure. I am sure you will like him.'

Jim Dennis, having put Grey Bird to rights, left him in charge of the attendant to walk him about.

'Allow me to introduce Miss Corbold,' said Adye Dauntsey.

Jim Dennis, raised his hat, and, as he shook her hand, he thought, —

'What a good-looking woman.'

'I have heard so much about you from my cousin,' she said, 'that I was anxious to meet you. What a splendid horse Grey Bird is!'

'I am glad you like him,' said Jim, well pleased. 'I think he will run a good race. My son rides him. Here he is,' and he introduced Willie.

Molly Corbold liked the son at first sight as well as she had done the father, and she expressed the hope that he would win the race.

'I think so,' said Willie. 'I shall try my very best.'

There was not much time for conversation, as the signal was given for the horses to go to the post.

Amidst a chorus of good wishes Willie was lifted into the saddle, and Grey Bird walked quietly down the paddock.

Defiance, the favourite, had been mobbed by the people, and his trainer was glad the ordeal was over.

The roar of the ring could be heard and the hoarse shouting of the odds. There had been several ups and downs in the market, and Grey Bird again touched twenty to one, so many men, after looking him over, deciding to 'save' on him.

Jim Dennis met Chris Shaw as he walked towards the stand. Shaw had backed Target to win him a good stake and was sanguine of success.

'What chance has Grey Bird?' he said to Jim.

'I advise you to have a trifle on at the odds; but of course you have backed your own horse.'

'Yes, and he'll run well. I think I will have a score on yours. Are you going for a big stake?'

'Big for me. I have an object in view.'

'What is it?'

'Cudgegong,' laughed Jim.

'By Jove, you shall have it! I'm sick and tired of it, and can make better use of the money. I hope you beat me, upon my word I do,' said Chris Shaw.

'I shall not be able to pay all the cash down – '

'Never mind that. You will work it off. How much do you stand to win on Grey Bird?'

'About twelve thousand.'

'Then you shall have Cudgegong for that amount of cash down if you win.'

'It is very kind of you,' said Jim.

'Not at all. You are doing me a kindness by taking it off my hands,' and he hurried away after a friend.

Jim Dennis had not expected this, and it made him more anxious to win.