"Right you are, your honour, and be jabers, if he's the man, we'll see him at 345, Nicholson Street," said Terence as he left.
About nine o'clock Terence called at their hotel, in a very excited state, and quite out of breath.
"It's Wyck, it's Wyck," he said, sinking down on a chair and wiping his forehead. They gave him time to recover his breath, and then he told them his story.
"When I left your honour," he said, "I went to the 'Gaiety,' but he was not there, so I waited on the other side of the road, as I didn't want Dick to see me togged up. Just about seven, I see Dick's cab drive up, and out jumps the old gentleman. When Dick had driven off again, I followed him into the saloon. There he was, larking with Miss Harris, but I took no notice of him at all. 'A glass of lager,' says I, throwing down a sovereign carelessly, like as if I was a toff, and as I counted the change I put the stick on the counter. The old gent he gives a start directly he sees it, and he looks quite hard at me, but I took no notice and called for a smoke. Well, I lights up, says good-night, and was just off, when he calls out--'Have another drink with me?'
"'That's a curious sort of stick,' says he, pointing to it.
"'What's them notches on it for?' says he.
"'Whose is it then?' asks he, getting interested.
"'Oh,' says I, 'there's quite a history belonging to that stick.'
"'Well,' says I, 'it's like this. My sister, she was staying at Toowoomba up Queeensland way; she's the sister of the landlady at the 'Royal.' Well, one day a new chum named Wyckliffe came there to stop. She told me he seemed a decent sort, but he left early for out West the next morning, and he never came back, poor fellow! for he was drowned--so the papers say. Any rate, he left some old clothes at the 'Royal,' and this stick was found amongst them, and she keeps it, for she said he was such a nice fellow.'
"'No such luck,' says I. 'She don't know I have it out, else there'd be a row.'
"'I'll tell you what I'll do,' he says, 'I knew the chap as owned this stick, and I'll give you ten bob for it.'
"'You won't,' says I, 'nor ten pound neither.'
"'I'm living in her house,' says I, 'and if she knew I was taking liberties with her goods I'd get the run.'