II
Jack had not let himself be cleaned out entirely, as Tom had. Tom seemed to want to be absolutely stumped. But Jack with deeper sense of the world’s enmity, and his own need to hold his own against it, had posted a couple of cheques to Lennie to hold for him. Save for this he too was cleaned out.
The same little engine of the same little train of four years ago shrieked her whistle. The North-West crowd drifted noisily out of the Hotel and down the platform, packing into the third class compartment, in such positions as happily to negotiate the spittoons.
“Let’s go forward,” said Jack. “We might as well have cushions, if we’re not smoking.”
And he drew Tom forward along the train. They were going to get into another compartment, but seeing the looks of terror on the face of the woman and little girl already there, they refrained and went further.
Aggressively they entered another smoking compartment. A couple of fat tradesmen and a clergyman glowered at them. One of the tradesmen pulled out a handkerchief, shook it, and pretended to wipe his nose. There was perfume in the air.
“Oh my aunt!” said Tom, putting his hand on his stomach. “Turns me right over.”
“What?” asked Jack.
“All this smell o’ scent.”
Jack grinned to himself. But he was back in civilisation, and he involuntarily stiffened.
“Hello! There’s Sam Ellis!” Tom leaned out of the door. “Hello, Sam! How’s things, eh?”
The young fellow addressed looked at Tom, grinned sicklily, and turned away. He didn’t know Tom from Adam.
“Let’s have another drink!” said Tom, flabbergasted, getting out of the train.
Jack followed, and they started down the platform, when the train jogged, jerked, and began to pull away. Instantly they ran for it, caught the rail of the guard’s van, and swung themselves in. The interior was empty, so they sat down on the little boxes let in at the side. Then the two eyed each other self-consciously, uncomfortably. They felt uncomfortable and aware of themselves all at once.
“Of all the ol’ sweeps!” said Tom. “Tell you what, you look like a lumper, absolutely nothing but a lumper.”
“And what do you think you look like, you distorted scavenger!”
Tom grinned uncomfortably.
They got out of the station at Perth without having paid any railway fare.
The first place they went to was Mr. George’s office. Jack pushed Tom through the door, and stood himself in the doorway fingering his greasy felt hat. Tom dropped his, picked it up, hit it against his knee.
Mr. George, neat in pale-grey suit and white waistcoat, glared at them briefly.
“Now then, my men, what can I do f’ ye?”
“Why——” began Tom, grinning sheepishly.
“Trouble about a mining right?—mate stolen half y’ gold dust?—want stake a claim on somebody else’s reserve?—Come, out with it. What d’ you want me to do for ye, man?”
“Why——” Tom began, more foolishly grinning than ever. Mr. George looked shrewdly at him, then at Jack. Then he sat back smiling.
“Well, if you’re not a pair!” he said. “So it was mines for the last outfit? How’d it go?”
“About as slow as it could,” said Tom.
“So you’ve not come back millionaires?” said Mr. George, a little bit disappointed.
“Come to ask for a fiver,” said Tom.
“You outcast!” said Mr. George. “You had me, completely. But look here, lads, I’ll stand y’ a fiver apiece if y’ll stop around Perth like that all morning, an’ nobody spots ye.”
“Easy!” said Tom.
“A bigger pair o’ blackguards I’ve seldom set eyes on.—But you have dinner with me at the club tonight, I’ll hear all about y’ then. Six-thirty sharp. An’ then I’ll take ye to the Government House. Y’ can wear that evening suit in the closet at my house, Jack, that you’ve left there all this time. See you six-thirty then.”