elegraph
Department. Here is a shilling to pay for it."

"I'll take the letter, my dear, with pleasure, but not the shilling,"
said Hil, patting the girl affectionately on the cheek.

"You'll see it's sent off at once, for it concerns a young lady whose
mother is ill."

"I'll go as fast as I can carry it. Come on, Jack," answered Hil,
leaving the saloon hurriedly, followed by May.

Outside, she turned to her companion, and asked:

"Do you know what I have got here?"

"Wyck's address."

"I think so, we'll see," and she tore the letter open hurriedly, as if
the action hardly commended itself to her. Taking out the enclosure, she
read:

"V. Wyckliffe, Royal Hotel, Toowoomba. Two men enquiring for you.
Go to back country.--Sal."

"Where's Toowoomba, Hil?"

"It's on the overland road to Sydney, about five hours' journey. Have
you a guide?"

"Yes, here we are. Express leaves at 6.30."

"Good! Come, we will have to change our rig. He'll strike off for the
back country, the wire shews that. We shall want moleskin trousers and
rougher clothes."

"Why? Won't these do?" asked May, not liking the idea.

"Not for the bush, May. Of course, we will go in these and take the
others with us in case of emergency. Come on, time is precious," and she
led the way to an outfitter's.

The boys left the hotel for the purpose of consulting freely together
outside. As they paced the street, Reg said:

"That certainly seems strange. W--k may stand for Wyck, and S--l for
Sal, for that is the barmaid's name. If it is so, he is still in
Brisbane."

"Yes, I suppose so," answered Hal, thoughtfully.

"Would it not be as well to question that girl about it?"

"Why, of course, of course. What are we thinking of?" and Hal turned
back and once more entered the hotel.

"Do you know where Wyck is now, miss?" he asked in a familiar manner.

"No, I don't," answered she in a flurried way, blushing to the roots of
her hair.

"Yes you do, miss," said Reg, laughing. "He is a friend of ours and we
want to see him badly."

"I don't know who you mean," she answered, becoming very red and angry.
And the boys seeing there was no chance of finding out anything went out
again.

As they passed the Post Office they called in on the chance of finding
something, and were gratified at having a telegram handed to them, which
read as follows:

"Morris and Winter, Brisbane. Wyck at Toowoomba. Saw wire Dick.
Says going bush