An Outback Marriage

And now, after hauling the reader pretty well all over Australia--from

mountain-station to out-back holding, from cattle-camp to buffalo

run--we must ask him to take a seat in the Supreme Court at Sydney,

to hear the trial of the "great Grant Will Case."

Gavan Blake had made no effort towards compromise. He knew the

risk he was running, but he had determined to see it through. The

love, the ambition, the hope that had once possessed him had turned

to a grim desperate hatred, and he would risk everything rather

than withdraw the case. He kept Red Mick and Peggy up to the mark

with assurances that she was certain to win. Neither he nor they

knew that Considine had been found. Even the most respectable

solicitors sometimes display acuteness, and the old man's return

had been kept secret by Pinnock, so that public opinion anticipated

Peggy's victory.

At last came the day of trial. Every seat in the Court was filled,

and a mass of the unwashed hung over the gallery rail, gazing

at the show provided for their entertainment. Mary Grant and Mrs.

Gordon went into Court at the suggestion of their leading Counsel,

Bouncer, Q.C., who was nothing if not theatrical. He wanted them

there to see the overthrow of the enemy, and to lend point to his

invective against the intruders who were trying to take away their

birthright. A small army of Doyles and Donohoes, who had come down

for the case, were hanging about dressed in outlandish garments,

trying to look as if they would not tell a lie for untold gold.

The managing clerks were in and out like little dogs at a fair,

hunting up witnesses, scanning the jury list, arranging papers for

production, and keeping a wary eye on the enemy. Punctually as

the clock struck ten, the Judge strutted into Court with as much

pomp as a man-of-war sailing into a small port; depositing himself

on the Bench, he glared round for a few seconds, and said to the

associate, "Call the first case," in a matter-of-fact tone, just

as if he did not know what the first case was going to be. A little

rustle went round the Court as people settled themselves down for

the battle.

The case for Peggy was set forth by the great Jewish barrister,

Manasseh, Q.C. He was famous for his skill in enlisting the

sympathies of the jury from the outset. He drew a moving picture

of the sorrows of Peggy, disowned by her husband's relatives and

the case proceeded so far that he had put the marriage certificate

in evidence when Blake, who had been away for a few minutes rushed

into Court and touched Manasseh on the shoulder, bringing him to

an abrupt stop.

Manasseh asked the Judge to excuse him for a moment while he conferred

with his juniors and Blake. After a short but excited conference

he rose again and--but first we must hear what had happened outside.