ors she
cut the choicest flowers, and placed them upon the snowy napkin which
covered the contents of her basket. Then she tripped into the town.

She passed by Tresco's shop, where Jake Ruggles, worried by the
inquiries of the police, and overwhelmed with orders which he could not
execute, strove to act the absent goldsmith's part. At the door of The
Lucky Digger, where stood a noisy throng of men from the gold-field, she
heard the words, "It never was the work of one man. If he did it,
he had accomplices. How could one man lug the four of 'em up that
mountain-side," and she hurried past, knowing too well to whom the talk
referred.

As she passed the Kangaroo Bank, a florid man, wearing a white
waistcoat, came out through the glass doors with a digger who had been
selling gold.

"So you thought you'd bring your gold to town yourself?" said the florid
man.

"After that, yes," replied the digger. "I sold the nugget to Zahn for
six-pound-ten, and, when next I see it, the Sergeant's got it. There
never was a clearer case. It's a good thing they've got 'im safe in
gaol."

Rose hurried on, feeling that all the town, watching her with
unsympathetic eyes, knew well where she was going. But at last she stood
before the gate of the wooden prison. After ringing for admittance, she
was ushered into a room, bare of furniture save for a pine table and a
couple of chairs, where a warder read the Judge's order, made some
entries in a big book, and examined the contents of the basket.

She was next conducted through a species of hall which opened into a
small, covered yard, on either side of which stood rows of white-washed,
wooden cells.

Unlocking the second cell on the left-hand side, the warder said in a
loud voice, as though he were speaking to some one who was either a long
way off or very deaf, "Visitor to see you. Stand up, man. 'Tisn't every
day that a pris'ner has a young lady to see him."

Rose entered the cell, and the door was closed behind her. The walls
were white and bare. On a small bench at the further end sat a figure
she saw but indistinctly until her eyes became accustomed to the dim
light which crept through the grating in the door, against which she
could observe the head of the watchful warder who stood inside the cell.

Jack rose slowly to his feet, and stood speechless, with his hand
extended.

"I've brought you a couple of fowls and some fruit," said Rose.

"Thank you." Jack's voice was very lo