he intended to run away or where
he has gone. At least have that much faith in me."

"I did think so," he said quickly. "Now I do not."

"Thank you," she said softly. "I know how difficult it is for you to say
even that. You cannot discuss the matter, but--don't think harder of me,
Fred, than you can help."

She turned quickly and hurried from the room. She had scarcely closed
the door when she reopened it.

"Constable Brennan is asking for you," she said. "Will you go in?"

She pushed the door wide open and Brennan came forward.

"Is Mr. Wallace here?" he asked, as soon as he had seen the door close.

"He has gone to bed--he is rather tired out after his journey. Is it
anything particular?"

"One of the troopers has just ridden back. When they reached Taloona
they found the place on fire. The sub-inspector was outside with his
head smashed, and Mr. Dudgeon, with a bullet through him and his hands
handcuffed behind his back, lying on the floor of the hut. They saw the
glare of the fire through the trees and only galloped up just in time to
get the old man out. He's in a bad way, Conlon said, and so is the
sub-inspector."

"Wait till I tell Mr. Wallace," Harding exclaimed, as he rushed from the
room.

Outside in the passage, Mrs. Eustace faced him.

"Fred, what is it? I heard--who is killed?"

"Nobody, I hope. I'll be back in a moment."

He dashed up to Wallace's room and hammered at the door.

"Hullo, what's the matter now?" Wallace cried, as he answered the knock.

"Come down to the dining-room. Brennan is there. One of the troopers has
come back. Taloona is burnt and both Dudgeon and Durham injured."

When they reached the dining-room they found Mrs. Eustace with Brennan.

"I can be of use. I know how to nurse. I've learned how to give first
aid. Let me go out and attend to them till the doctor comes. He is
twenty miles away, and they may bleed to death before he can get there.
I've got some bandages. I'll fetch them," Mrs. Eustace was saying.

She turned as Wallace and Harding entered.

"Tell them, Brennan, while I get the things," she added as she ran out
and upstairs.

"It's wicked to think of her wasted on a scoundrel like that," Brennan
exclaimed. "You heard what she said, sir? I know she's the only one in
the township who understands what to do till the doctor comes. We've
sent a man off for him, and they're getting a party together to go out
and fetch the sub-inspector and the old man in