ABSTRACT
Millie stood leaning against the verandah until the men were out of sight. When they were far down the road Willie Cox turned round on his horse and waved. But she didn’t wave back. She nodded her head a little and made a grimace. Not a bad young fellow, Willie Cox, but a bit too free and easy for her taste. Oh, my word ! it was hot. Enough to fry your hair ! Millie put her handkerchief over her head and shaded her eyes with her hand. In the distance along the dusty road she could see the horses—like brown spots dancing up and down, and when she looked away from them and over the burnt paddocks she could see them still—just before her eyes, jumping like mosquitoes. It was half-past two in the afternoon. The sun hung in the faded blue sky like a burning mirror, and away beyond the paddocks the blue mountains quivered and leapt like sea. Sid wouldn’t be back until half-past ten. He had ridden over to the township with four of the boys to help hunt down the young fellow who’d murdered Mr. Williamson. Such a dreadful thing ! And Mrs. Williamson left all alone with all those kids. Funny ! she couldn’t think of Mr. Williamson being dead ! He was such a one for a joke. Always having a lark. Willie Cox said they found him in the barn, shot bang through the head, and the young English “ johnny ” who’d been on the station learning farming—disappeared. Funny ! she wouldn’t think of anyone shooting Mr. Williamson, and him so popular and all. My word ! when they caught that young man ! Well—you couldn’t be sorry for a young fellow like that. As Sid said, if he wasn’t strung up where would they all be ? A man like that doesn’t stop at one go. There was blood’all over the barn. And Willie Cox said he was that knocked out he picked a cigarette up out of the blood and smoked it. My word ! he must have been half dotty.
