“Did ye say Miss Ess wanted to go alone wi’ you?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Ned. “Go and ask her if you like.”
Darby turned without a word and walked across to the house. Ned saw him knock and heard him speak to Ess. Presently he came back and nodded to Ned. “I’ll fix ’im,” he said.
“Just entice him inside for five minutes,” said Ned. “We don’t want any fuss, you know. Say you want to show him something—anything you like, and keep him talking. Look at the clock when you go in, and allow us a good five minutes. Persuade him to stay inside that length of time.”
“Right,” said Darby, and strode off to the bunkhouse.
He found the policeman sitting in the doorway smoking. Darby walked in. “Look ’ere, mate,” he said confidentially, “there’s somethin’ ’ere I want to show you.”
“Hey? What is it?” said the trooper, looking round lazily.
“Can’t you stir your stumps enough to come an’ look?” asked Darby, and after another look at Ned, strolling quietly across the yard, the trooper rose and went inside. He found Darby lighting a match and looking at the clock on the shelf.
“It’s too dark to see much ’ere,” said the trooper, “unless you wants me to see that clock.”
“No, I wants you to see more’n that,” said Darby. “Wait till I light the lamp.” He fumbled with the lamp for some time, and when he had it lit saw with satisfaction that a good minute of his time had already gone. He looked vaguely round the room, and wondered what he was to show.