Arthur Upfield - Winds of Evil

“Ah!” murmured the enlightened detective.

One of his first tasks at Wirragatta had been to advise Harry West about an engagementring, and with a jeweller’s catalogue to aid him he had chosen a platinum ring set with a square-cut diamond.

“She’s a humdinger,” Harry announced with tremendous enthusiasm. When recalling the price paid, Bony thought the ring should certainly be that, and more. Harry ran on: “If they had sent a ring with a round diamond, I’d have sent it back with my opinion on ’em. That was a natty idea of yours, thinking of a square diamond. Can’t say I everseen one before.”

“It is because they are not common that I urged you to purchase a ring set with one. That you simply had to buy a platinum setting was against my advice. A hundred guineas is a great deal of money to spend on a ring.”

“Itain’t too much to spend on a ring for my Tilly. A thousand-quid one wouldn’t be good enough for her. Any’ow, if we fall hard on bad times, this ring will pawn for a goodish bit.”

“I admire your forethought, but not your pessimism, Harry. Having had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to your young lady, I concur that a cheap ring would be an insult.”

“Thanks, Joe,” Harry said as another man might when accepting a knighthood. Hazel eyes regarded Bony with bashful intensity. “Cripes!” he burst out. “I wished I could talk like you.”

“Practise, my dear Harry.”

“Iain’t gotno time.”

“Then let us talk about Tilly. Do you intend to marry her one day?”

“Tooflamin ’ right I do,”came the prompt reply. “I heard only yesterday that old Alec, the boss stockman, was pulling out, and aimed to retire to the Hill. He’s occupying one of the married cottages, you know.”

“The married cottages! Oh, you mean one of the cottages occupied by married people on the far side of the river. So you think you may obtain the occupancy of one?”

“Iain’t sure, Joe. Isorta hinted to the boss this morning that I’d like to get married and settle down on Wirragatta. I’m a bit young yet, I suppose, but if old Alec leaves, I’m as good as the next for his place. Like to see the ring?”

“Yes, I would.”

With approval, Bony noted Harry’s firm chin and the straight nose. For two minutes, whilst the horse whistled and stamped and tugged at the reins looped from Harry’s arm, they stood to admire the expensive ring. The price paid was enormous for a station-hand.

“Think she’s good enough?” asked Harry with swift doubt.

For an instant Bony thought he referred to Tilly, the maid-guardian to Mrs. Nelson. Then:

“Why, yes,” he replied. “It is a truly beautiful ring. So you really want to marry her and settle down for life?”

“Too right-with Tilly. She’ll do me, Joe.”

“Then, married to Tilly, if you always play the game of life as it should be played, you will never regret it.”

For a space, they walked in silence. Then Harry said earnestly:

“Whatd’youthink of my girl, Joe?”

“When she smiles, she is lovely,” Bony told him, remembering Tilly’s plainness of features and beauty of eyes. “It will be your life-long vocation to keep her smiling. How old were you when you first came to Wirragatta?”

“Seventeen. I bin here a bit over five years.”

Bony plunged.

“I suppose that you, like most boys and young men, have often climbed these creek trees for galahs’ eggs?”

“Can’t say as I ever had the time,” replied Harry. “I wasmore keen on horses and things.”

For a little while they walked in silence, and then for a little while they again discussed Tilly. Eventually Bony suggested:

“When the blacks, who used to camp hereabouts, suddenly left, you must have noticed the quietness at Wirragatta. I understand that the tribe was quite a large one.”

“Too right! Theremusta been half a hundred all told when mustered: After poor Alice Tindall was murdered they all cleared off. I don’t blame ’em. Old Billy Snowdrop, the head man, tipped something like that would happen. He was a funny bloke, all right. Heuster reckon his tribe was cursed by a special banshee or ghost wot lived in the trees, and after they all cleared off and went outback I seen him one day, and he asked me if I ever seen or heard the banshee after he got Alice. The banshee, I mean, not Billy Snowdrop. Get me?”

“Yes, I think I do. That is all very interesting,” Bony remarked softly.

A Strange Fellow

HANG-DOG JACK WAS beating his triangle, calling the hands to dinner, when Martin Borradale stepped into the office to find Donald Dreyton at work on his books.

“Hullo! Time to knock off, isn’t it?”

Dreyton, looking up, smiled.

“I was beginning to think so,” he said, and reached for his pipe and tobacco plug. “Have theStorries got away for Adelaide?”

“Yes. Stella and I have just got back from seeing them away. They made Mabel very comfortable on the truck, and her mother and Dr. Mulray were able to sit with her. Mulray is going down as far as Broken Hill. Mabel seemed bright, but the terrible shock she received is still painfully evident. Mrs. Nelson has been very generous to her.”

“You were not particularly mean,” Dreyton said dryly. “I remember drawing up your cheque for a hundred.”

“They will want it. Mrs. Nelson gave them another hundred and let Storrie off paying the half-yearly interest on her mortgage, which was due this week. What with all that and the sixty-odd pounds raised by public subscription, Mabel should not lack the very best surgical and nursing service. Old Mulray says he thinks one operation at least will be necessary.”

“Simone done anything yet, do you know?”

Martin shook his head, saying, “I have heard nothing. It is time something was found out about this strangling swine. Even Stella is getting jumpy, and behind old Alec’s leaving, I think, is his wife, who is terrified to leave the doors unlocked after dark. Anyway, I dropped in to speak about a quite different matter.”

Borradale paused, and Dreyton noted the flush swiftly mounting into his face. When he again spoke the words came quickly.

“Look here, Donald. My sister and I have been discussing you.”

“Indeed!” Dreyton said politely.

“That’s right! Counter my-or ratherour -damned rudeness with suavity,” Martin burst out. “You are the most even-tempered fellow I know. Anyway, we discussed you in no critical manner, I assure you. As a matter of fact, we would like to know your real reason for not wanting to remain permanently in the office. It may be none of our business. It probably isn’t. On the other hand we might be able to remove a bar to your undertaking the office work for good.”

There was but little physical resemblance in Martin to his sister, but a great deal in mannerisms. His eyes were clear and steady-so like his sister’s. Dreyton wanted to look away, for he was finding it difficult to meet Martin’s gaze. As the temporary book-keeper hesitated to speak the younger man proceeded rapidly and with evident embarrassment.

“I am going to be perfectly frank,” he said. “Allen was a good book-keeper, and quite a good fellow, but he was wholly unable to forget he was a book-keeper when out of the office, when over in the house or on the tennis court. We have missed your conversation, your dashed good society, and never before or since you were with us have we been able to accept anyone so entirely without reserve.”

Dreyton’s brows now were raised a fraction, and still he made no attempt to speak.

“Hang it, man! You’re a mystery,” Martin exclaimed. “You talk about everything but yourself. You leave a comfortable job and decent living conditions for the life of a fence-rider, which is tougher than that of any stockman. Surely you must be sick of it by now?”