[CHAPTER XIX.]
OLD BROADBRIM TIGHTENS THE COIL.
Old Broadbrim, after his interview with Danny of Melbourne, escorted the old man to the residence of the high sheriff, with whom he had a brief conversation.
The sheriff promised to detain the old fellow till the detective had secured Merle, and with this promise ringing in his ears, he went back.
Jem, the Sydneyite, was a man to be looked for now.
The reader will remember that he left Round Robin Ranch on a mission for Belle Demona.
Merle, however, had enacted from Jem a promise that he would go no farther than Perth, where he would find plenty to amuse him, for this purpose Merle had supplied him with ample funds.
What had become of Jem?
Had he gone to Melbourne for the purpose of looking into the pit-trap in Old Danny's den, or had he stopped in Perth?
If the American detective, still sailing under the name of Roland Riggs, could have looked into a well-known gaming den on the main street of the provincial town he would have got a peep at Jem.