They bowled through the gate and up the long drive, under the arching boughs of the big gum trees, that formed a natural avenue on each side. At the garden gate Mrs. Brown stood waiting, with a broad smile of welcome, and a chorus of barks testified to the arrival of sundry dogs. “It’s a real home-coming,” Mr. Linton said as he walked up the path, his hand on Norah’s shoulder—and the little girl’s answering smile needed no words. They turned the corner by the big rose bush, and came within view of the house, and suddenly Norah’s smile faded. A trooper in dusty uniform stood on the doorstep.
“Why, that’s a pleasant object to greet a man,” Mr. Linton said, as the policeman turned and came to meet him with a civil salute. He nodded as the man came up. “Did you want me?”
“It’s only about this ’ere murderer, sir,” said the trooper. “Some of us is on a sort of a scent, but we haven’t got fairly on to his tracks yet. I’ve ridden from Mulgoa to-day, and I came to ask if your people had seen anything of such a chap passing—as a swaggie or anything?”
“Not that I know of,” said Mr. Linton. “What is he like?”
“Big fellow—old—plenty of white hair and beard, though, of course, they’re probably cut off by this time. Very decent-looking old chap,” said the trooper reflectively—“an’ a good way of speakin’.”
“Well, I’ve seen no such man,” said Mr. Linton decidedly—“of course, though, I don’t see all the ‘travellers’ who call. Perhaps Mrs. Brown can help you.”
“Not me sir,” said Mrs. Brown, with firmness. “There ain’t been no such a person—and you may be sure there ain’t none I don’t see! Fact is, when I saw as ’ow the murderer was supposed to be in this districk, I made inquiries amongst the men—the white hands, that is—and none of them had seen any such man as the papers described. I reckon ’e may just as well be in any other districk as this—I s’pose the poor p’lice must say ’e’s somewheres!”
She glared defiantly at the downcast trooper.
“Wish you had the job of findin’ him, mum,” said that individual. “Well, sir, there’s no one else I could make inquiries of, is there?”
“Mrs. Brown seems to have gone the rounds,” Mr. Linton said. “I really don’t think there’s any one else—unless my small daughter here can help you,” he added laughingly.