[iii]
THE LAST CHANCE
A Tale of the Golden West

[1]
CHAPTER I

As a Commissioner of Goldfields, and PoliceMagistrate, in New South Wales, it is hardlynecessary to say that Arnold Banneret’s pay wasnot conspicuously in advance of the necessaries oflife. Necessaries which may be thus catalogued:a couple of decent ride-and-drive horses, a light,much-enduring buggy, clothes and books, bootsand shoes, bread and butter, for half-a-dozengrowing boys and girls—with an occasionaltrip to the seaside, and a regularly recurringdoctor’s bill; while the Rev. Mr. Wilson’squarterly accounts for the eldest boy’s board andtuition had also a knack of turning up inconvenientlysoon, as it appeared to paterfamilias,after his departure to school.

He was leaning against the corner of the policebarrack, having just returned from a long officialride with Inspector Falcon, revolving the questionof ways and means, or else the conflicting evidencein a knotty, complicated mining case, upon whichhe had reserved his decision. He had invested allthe money he could spare (this was before the[2] latest mining Act) in a promising claim, whichhad turned out worthless. His tradespeople,usually forbearing, had suddenly disclosed monetarypressure—requiring to be relieved by cash payment.Altogether, the outlook was overclouded—therewas even a presage of storm andstress.

The Inspector had departed to dress for dinner,invited thereto by a wandering globe-trotter,known to his family in England. The Commissioner’sclerk, newly married, had gone hometo his wife the moment the clock struck four—indeed,a few minutes earlier.

It was growing late; the minor officials hadretired to their several quarters.

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