d to Jack, who lifted his hat, and
went into the inn, to see what could be done for the bar-maid's injured
wrist.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A Small but Important Link in the Story.

The Timber Town Club was filled with ineffable calm. The hum of
convivial voices was hushed, the clicking billiard-balls were still, no
merry groups of congenial spirits chatted in ante-room, or dining-room.
All was strangely quiet, for most of the members were at the diggings,
and the times were too pregnant with business to warrant much
conviviality.

Scarlett and Mr. Crewe alone sat in the reading-room, where the
magazines from England lay in perfect order on little tables, and steel
engravings, of which the Club was proud, hung upon the walls. Jack was
enjoying the luxury of a big easy chair, and the Father of Timber Town
sat upright in another.

"I was asked out to spend the evening, yesterday," said Jack, lazily.

"Indeed, asked to spend the evening?" replied the alert old gentleman.
"I can't say that I see anything remarkable in that, Scarlett."

Jack smiled. "By a most charming young lady, I assure you."

"Ah, that is another matter, quite a different matter, my dear sir."

"Ostensibly, it was to meet her father, but hang me if the old gentleman
put in an appearance!"

"Ho-ho! Better, Scarlett, better still. And what did you do, you
rascal?"

"I did nothing. It was the young lady who took up the running."

"But wasn't she provided with a judicious Mama, in the background
somewhere?"

"No, a calamity seems to have befallen the Mama. She's _non est_."

"That's very good. The girl depends for protection solely upon her
Papa?"

"I remarked that, and said, 'Your Father will hardly approve of my
coming to see you in his absence.' 'Oh, you needn't mind that,' she
said--'he trusts me implicitly. And as for you--didn't you save me, the
other night?' You see, I found a drunken digger molesting her, and threw
him into the river. But I haven't so much as seen the old boy yet."

"Quite so, quite so, but I want to hear about the girl--the father will
turn up in due time, and as for the digger, he at least would get a
bath."

"I waited for her loving parent to come home, as it was supposed he
wanted to see me."

"I see; I see: and what did he say when he came?"

"He didn't say anything."

"That was very churlish conduct, don't you think Scarlett?"

"But, you see, he didn't come."

"Didn't come home? Now, look here, Scarl