Page:The Toll of the Bush.pdf/53

temperature; and things being a bit uncomfortable generally, I am going to put him out.’

‘You have not done so yet then?’

‘Not yet, but I have quite made up my mind. You see, the old man ought to be in bed by ten o’clock, then he’s up in the morning fresh as a lark, and the place runs on wheels; but they’ve taken to burning the midnight oil, and everything’s upsides in consequence.’

‘Why not take it over yourself?’

‘The chess? I can’t make a good enough defence—that’s the trouble; the old man plays too well for nine out of ten, only it happens he’s struck the tenth.’

Geoffrey smiled.

‘I suppose you would consider storekeeping infra dig.?’ Sandy said suddenly.

‘Does that mean you are offering me the job?’

‘Raymond’s a university man, you know—so he says.’

Geoffrey shrugged his shoulders and looked at Sandy with a slow smile. ‘I have never suited my employers yet,’ he said, ‘and I have had two or three; but I should not be above trying again if I thought, on consideration, I could do both of us justice.’

‘I’ll take the risk if you will,’ Sandy replied. ‘There’s no bullocking attached to the job; all that’ll be done for you. Raymond keeps the books of the station and superintends the store. He seems to have plenty of time over without neglecting anything. The old man’s a bit of a martinet, perhaps, but I never knew a decent chap that couldn’t rub along with him. You see,’ Sandy