Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 8, 2025
He saw only how the man's death affected his personal interests. At last he gurgled out some words. He scarce knew what he said. "There's nothing to be done. Yes no yes, you'd better go up to the Allandales," he went on uncertainly. "They'll send a rescue party." The trooper dashed off and Lablache securely fastened the door.
Horrocks was not a lady's man, but he appreciated comfort when he could get it, and Jacky spared no trouble to make him comfortable now. Had he known the smiling thought behind her beautiful face his appreciation might have lessened. As the summer day drew to a close signs of coming events began to show themselves. First of all Aunt Margaret made her appearance at the Allandales' house.
Bill waited only for this, then, as the sale closed, he leisurely rolled and lit another cigarette and strolled to where a horse, which he had borrowed from the Allandales stable, was tied, and rode slowly away. As he rode away he turned his head in the direction of the house upon the hill. He was leaving for good and all the place which had so long claimed him as master.
He had said that he would be at the ranch at four, and usually he liked to be punctual. He was late now, however, and made no effort to make up time. Instead, he allowed his horse to walk leisurely in the direction of the Allandales' house. He wanted time to think before he again met Jacky. He was confronted by a problem which taxed all his wit.
But since misfortune had come upon "Lord" Bill, the Allandales and he had become closer friends than ever. This effort had been one of the money-lender's few failures, and failure galled him with a bitterness the recollection of which no success could eliminate. The result was a greater hatred for the object of his vengeance, and a lasting determination to rid Foss River of the Englishman forever.
Yes, he would retire get away from the reach of Retief and his companions, and ah! His thoughts merged into another channel a channel which, under the stress of his terrors, had for the moment been obscured. He suddenly thought of the Allandales. Here for the instant was a stumbling block. Or should he renounce his passion for Jacky?
It was less than a quarter of a mile from the Allandales' house to the saloon a den of reeking atmosphere and fouler spirits. The saloon at Foss River was no better and no worse than hundreds of others in the North-West at the time of which we write.
Before putting the screw on the Allandales it had been his object to rid the place, and his path, of his only stumbling block. In this he had not quite succeeded as we have seen. He quite understood that the Hon. Bunning-Ford must be removed from Foss River first. Whilst he was on hand Jacky would be difficult to coerce.
She was too kindly for that too clever, tactful. After duly weighing the point at issue she found Horrocks's plans wanting, hence her unbelief, but, at the same time, her old heart palpitated with nervous excitement as might the heart of any younger and more hopeful of those in the know. As for the Allandales, it would be hard to say what they thought.
The great barn lay well away from where the cattle congregated. This ranch was very different from that of the Allandales of Foss River. It was some miles away from the settlement. Its surroundings were far more open. Timber backed the house, it is true, but in front was the broad expanse of the open plains.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking