is writing, Hal," said Reg, excitedly.

They had scarcely time to settle themselves when the lady returned,
carrying a sheet of blotting-paper, which she carelessly threw on the
shelf under the counter.

"Same again, please, Gussy," said Hal, trying to be pleasant.

"My name is Miss Wallace, sir," said she, indignantly.

"I beg your pardon, madam."

"I don't believe you saw Mr. Wyckliffe at all. I know what you are
after, but you won't see him again, for he has left for Western
Australia."

"Is that so?" queried Hal, cynically. "Then he did not go to Melbourne,
Miss Wallace?"

"No, Mr. Morris, he did not," she answered, with emphasis on the name
Morris.

"I notice you had a letter from him," said Hal, quietly.

"I never had--" She got no further for, turning round, she found the
envelope facing her. "You've been reading my letters while I was away,"
she called out, in a fury; then, noticing it was an envelope alone, she
cooled down, and said:

"This was from my brother at Port Augusta."

"It's a pity all the Colonies do not adopt the same colour for their
stamps, for, while Victoria is puce, South Australia is yellow," said
Hal, carelessly pointing to the puce stamp, but the girl snatched it up,
gave him an evil glance, and sat down to write a note.

The saloon was very tastefully arranged, and Gussy had forgotten that
the wall at her back was covered with mirrors, otherwise she would not
have been so hasty as to write on a telegraph form in a manner that was
easily to be distinguished by both Hal and Reg.

"Come, Reg. We must go," said Hal, rising.

"Good-bye, Miss Wallace, I'm awfully sorry you are offended."

"She's going to send a telegram to him. We must try and get a look at
the address," said Hal, as they once more found themselves in the
street.

"How is that to be done?"

"Well, I don't know if you have noticed the way a messenger generally
carries a telegram to the office."

"Can't say I have."

"Well, I amuse myself frequently by noticing these things, and I have
observed that he invariably carries it in his hand, and reads it twice
before sending it."

"Well, what of that?"

"In the first place it will enable us to see who the messenger is, and
in the second we may be able to read the telegram as well as he,"
answered Hal, as he took up his position in a deep doorway on the side
of the street opposite to the hotel.

Shortly afterwards they saw Gussy appear at the door, and look