he put something in, if I
didn't mistake. Then he looked in again.

'I'm afraid I'm rather impertinent,' says he, 'but your face,
Miss--ah--Elmsdale, thanks--reminds me of some one in another world--the
one I once lived in. Allow me to enjoy the souvenir and to return your
effects. No thanks; that smile is ample payment. Ladies, I wish you a
pleasant journey.'

He bowed. Mrs. Buxter did not smile, but looked cross enough at the
young lady, who, poor thing, seemed pretty full up and inclined to cry
at the surprise.

'Now then, all aboard,' sings out Starlight; 'get in, gentlemen, our
business matters are concluded for the night. Better luck next time.
William, you had better drive on. Send back from the next stage, and you
will find the mail bags under that tree. They shall not be injured more
than can be helped. Good-night!'

The driver gathered up his reins and shouted to his team, that was
pretty fresh after their spell, and went off like a shot. We sat down
by the roadside with one of the coach lamps that we had boned and went
through all the letters, putting them back after we'd opened them, and
popping all notes, cheques, and bills into Jim's leather sack. We did
not waste more time over our letter-sorting than we could help, you bet;
but we were pretty well paid for it--better than the post-office clerks
are, by all accounts. We left all the mail bags in a heap under the
tree, as Starlight had told the driver; and then, mounting our horses,
rode as hard as we could lick to where dad and Warrigal were camped.

When we overhauled the leather sack into which Jim had stowed all the
notes and cheques we found that we'd done better than we expected,
though we could see from the first it wasn't going to be a bad night's
work. We had 370 Pounds in notes and gold, a biggish bag of silver,
a lot of cheques--some of which would be sure to be paid--seven gold
watches and a lot of silver ones, some pretty good. Mrs. Buxter's watch
was a real beauty, with a stunning chain. Starlight said he should like
to keep it himself, and then I knew Bella Barnes was in for a present.
Starlight was one of those chaps that never forgot any kind of promise
he'd once made. Once he said a thing it would be done as sure as
death--if he was alive to do it; and many a time I've known him take the
greatest lot of trouble no matter how pushed he might be, to carry out
something which another man would have never troubled his head about.

We g