Jim Dennis

“ He was a shrewd judge of character, and in his heart he believed that Jim Dennis was more sinned against than sinning. He had heard strange stories of this lonely man, and he had more than once had a stand-up fight on his account. He liked Jim more than anyone about Swamp Creek, and he was very fond of the little chap, as Willie was called.
He meant to save the child if possible, and he had fought many a fight with grim Death and beaten [Pg 7] him. Nothing gave Dr Tom more satisfaction than to rescue a patient from danger. ”

“ Jim Dennis had saddled Neptune, and seen everything right, and, leaving the horse in charge of one of his hands, he went to have a quiet chat with his son before the race.
'There's no need for me to tell you much,' said Jim. 'You have ridden him in his work, and if you ride as well in the race I feel pretty sure of your winning. Don't let them crowd you on to the rails or block you at the finish. You had better lose ground by going on the outside than take any risk of being shut in. Keep an eye on Madsley, he's a good rider, and Distant Shore is a good horse. ”

“ Jim Dennis, who was standing near the judge's box with Adye Dauntsey, saw how splendidly his horse was going, and that Willie had him well in hand, and said to the magistrate,—
'If Neptune is as full of running next time he passes here we shall win, I think.'
'By Jove! how well your lad rides! He is a plucky little fellow,' said Adye.
'Yes, there's not much fear in him, and he is a rare judge of pace; I have proved that when we have ridden together on the station; he has often come with a sudden rush and beaten me,' said Jim. ”

“ Instead of the dull, dry brown would come a bright, refreshing green. The grass grows with remarkable rapidity in such regions and the scene changes as though by magic. The horses had gone under the sheds for shelter, and Jim, dismounting, closed the gates. Having unsaddled his horse, and peeped inside to see how Willie fared, he went to look at the stranger amongst his mob.
Already there was a fight on and the stallion was trying to savage his nearest neighbour. A battle royal seemed imminent, but Jim Dennis meant to stop that. ”

“ Chris Shaw went to Sydney, and Jim Dennis and [Pg 234] Willie had their hands full with Wanabeen and Cudgegong.
Everything prospered, and they had no severe droughts. Jim Dennis put by all the money he earned as manager, and also made a big profit out of Wanabeen. He commenced to have hopes of realising his ambition after all.
Neptune had grown into a fine sire, and Jim Dennis had many good horses and mares by him.
One in particular he set great store by. This was Grey Bird, a beautiful horse the colour of his sire, out of a mare named Seamew. ”

“ THE HALF-CASTE'S WARNING
Jim Dennis heard of the row at the Gum Tree Hotel, and he also heard of the cause.
Ned Glenn, who happened to be there, told him all about it when he pulled up at Wanabeen.
'You'd have laughed, Jim, to see the funk Dalton was in,' he said. 'I never saw such a blooming coward in my life. He's not fit to sew a button on his own shirt. He cowed down before the doc like a whipped kangaroo dog, and darn me if he even so much as swore when Dr Tom asked him out to fight.'
'But what was it all about?' asked Jim. ”

“ Jim Dennis knew there were lawless characters in the district who would be only too glad to get him into trouble. He was a straight goer and would have nothing to do with them, although he was credited with being hand and glove with the gang. The mounted police, too, had a 'down' on Jim, with one exception, Constable Doonan, who was his staunch friend. It was over the sticking up of the mail at Potter's Shanty and the robbery of the bank agent, that the police were strong against him. ”

“ Jim Dennis laughed savagely.
'In your back. A fitting place for it. Things such as you never face an enemy, they are always wounded in the back.' [Pg 228]
He pushed him over and saw there was blood on the bed.
'So you have not lied this time,' said Jim. 'I have come to have a settling day with you. It is a long-standing account and a heavy one. You are the scoundrel who stole my wife and robbed my child of its mother. You are the man, and you have taken my hand in friendship since.'
He raised his whip and was about to bring it down across Rodney Shaw's body. He hesitated. ”

“ A team-master gave me a lift to Barragong.'
Jim Dennis started. Willie was there. Then he recollected the lad would not have known her had he seen her.
'From Barragong I walked to Swamp Creek, where a kindly man gave me food and rest.'
'Had he a big dog?' asked Jim.
'Yes, it was the dog attracted his attention to me.'
'Dr Tom, just like him,' thought Jim. 'He little thinks who she is.' [Pg 221]
'Then I came on here. Let me die here, Jim. I have not long to live. You cannot thrust a dying woman out.'
He made no answer. ”

“ It was an old-fashioned weapon, or would be considered so now, but it was apt to be dangerous when handled by Jim Dennis. He kissed the boy and went out, saying he would return as speedily as possible.
'Poor old dad, he's always in trouble over something,' said Willie. 'I wonder why it is, when he is so good to you, and me, and everybody.'
'There's men about here as hate him 'cause he's honest,' said Sal; 'but don't you be feared for him, Willie, he's a good man and he'll come to no harm.'
'I wish I were a man,' said the lad. ”

“ His face was set and his eyes were tearless, but his heart throbbed painfully, and each pulsation seemed to increase his dread of what might happen in the homestead during his absence. In the Australian bush doctors are few and far between, and many miles have to be covered before assistance in case of sickness can be obtained.
Jim Dennis's had not been a happy life. He was practically an outcast from society, a solitary man, living in a lonely spot in the wilds of New South Wales. ”

“ He is young, they must remember."
"It's a long tale," said Uncle Denny, "but I'll tell it to you," and he plunged into the story of the Project.
Herr Gluck listened breathlessly.
"And so you see," Dennis ended, "that for all he has done he feels he's failed, for everything the dam has stood for in his mind has come to naught. And [344] that's a bad feeling for a man as young as Jim. He'll never readjust himself, Jim won't. He can get another job but his life's big dream will have gone to smash. His inspiration will be gone. ”

“ It was at such races as these Willie Dennis often rode his father's horses with signal success, but he refused to ride for anyone else, although offered large sums to do so. Jim Dennis remonstrated with him, but Willie stood firm, and his father allowed him to have his own way.
The Cudgegong stud was fast becoming famous, and breeders from many parts of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland visited the station and made extensive purchases.
They were surprised to find in Molly Dennis a well- [Pg 262] educated, refined woman, and wondered how she managed to exist in such a lonely part. ”

“ Ned Glenn's remark:
'I hope I'll live to see him on the back of a cup winner for his dad,' had sent off his thoughts in another direction.
Jim Dennis was a splendid horseman, no man in the wild district in which he lived could compare with him.
He had broken-in the most obstinate of buck- [Pg 31] jumpers and took a delight in mastering their stubborn natures. If a neighbour had a particularly savage, untameable animal, he would send to him and ask him if he could 'make the brute manageable.'
Nothing suited Jim better. ”

“ Dennis looked quizzically at his big friend. Jim was pacing restlessly up and down the living room of the bachelor apartment, puffing jerkily at his eternal pipe. Dennis knew the symptoms. Though he hadn't seen Jim for over a year, he remembered his characteristics well enough.
Some men seem designed only for action. They are out of step with the modern era. They should have lived centuries ago when the world was more a place of physical, and less of purely mental, rivalry. ”

“ I says. Then she looks up—an' that's the end of me. ...
⁠"O man!" she cries. "O modest man, if you go on like this—"
⁠But I interrupt a lady, an' I do it with a kiss.
"Jim, do you know what heroes are?" says she, when I'd "behaved."
"Why, yes," says I. "They're blokes that save fair maids that won't be saved."
⁠"You're mine," says she, an' smiles at me, "an' will be all my life—
⁠That is, if it occurs to you to ask me for your wife."
•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•
Grey thrush is in the wattle-tree when I get home that day—
Back to my silent, lonely house—an' still he sings away. ”

“ There was the day the parson come to tell The news about our Syd. . . . An', yet, some'ow . . . .
My little Jim!" She pauses for a spell. . . .
"Your 'olly'ocks is doin' reely well," She sez, an' battles 'ard to brighten up.
"An' them there pinks uv yours, 'ow sweet they smell. An'--Thanks! I think I will 'ave one more cup."
As fur as I can get the strength uv it,
Them Floods 'ave 'ad a reel tough row to hoe. First off, young Jim, 'oo plays it 'igh a bit,
Narks the ole man a treat, an' slings the show.
Then come the war, an' Syd 'e 'as to go. ”

“ He pointed first toward the nearest carcass and then toward the rock-crushing, steadily snapping jaws.
"I'll try to hold the bridge here—"
But Dennis was on his way, catching Jim's idea with the first gesture.
He stooped down, and caught the dead termite by two of its legs. Close to two hundred pounds the mass weighed; but strength is an inconstant thing, and increases or decreases according to the vital needs of life-preservation.
Clear of the floor, Denny lifted the bulk, and with its repulsive weight clasped in his arms, he advanced toward the mighty guard. ”

“ It was Spring, gay Spring. Still were swallows on the wing.
An', on a sudden, once again I heard the thrushes sing.
⁠There was gold upon the wattle, an' my recent wish to throttle
Murray, as he lay there groanin', was a far-forgotten thing.
⁠In the soft blue sky were sailin' little clouds as fine as fluff.
⁠"Wantin' more?" I asked him gently; but Ben Murray said,
⁠"Enough."
"Well done, Jim," says old Bob Blair.
"'Tis the brave deserves the fair." ”

“ The usual clear whistle made no impression. “Jim” was off. Jack quickly followed, and to his relief saw a big Irishman patting “Jim’s” head; “Jim,” with unmistakable signs of delight, jumping up and down and rubbing against the man.
That started the strange friendship between Jack Burroughs, lawyer, sportsman, and Dennis O’Sullivan.
Dennis lived in the last house on “Grasshopper Hill.” It was a little less ramshackle, a little more independent looking than the rest of the row that faced on a small bluff above the railroad tracks, and its garden bloomed like a rose. ”

“ They don't care anything about human beings. I can't think of New York as anything but a can full of angle worms, all of them crawling over each other to get to the top."
"Sit down, me boy," said Dennis. "If little Mike had lived, he'd have been just your age, Still Jim. I don't like to think of you as having so little of a boy's life. Jim, take the summer off and I'll take you to the seashore."
Jim smiled a little uncertainly. "I can't leave mama, and the money I'll get this summer will buy my clothes for a year and something for me to put in the bank. I'm all right. ”

“ Dennis followed up his advantage.
"Look at his hands, Mrs. Manning. Hard work has knocked them up too much for his age. He should have his chance to play if he's to do good body and brain work later. Let's give his father's son a chance! Don't you think his father would approve?"
"Oh, but I'm going to keep on working and supporting myself!" cried Jim. "I just wanted you to look out for Mama."
"Well, I guess not!" cried Mrs. Manning, vehe [40] mently. "You'll come straight out of that foundation tomorrow. You are going to have your chance. Oh, Jim dear! ”

“ Don't go away. I need you. I've neither wife nor father and I haven't the gift of speech that makes a man friends."
Jim was off the next morning before daylight. Uncle Denny slept late and while he was eating his breakfast, the ex-saloonkeeper, Murphy, came in.
"The Big Boss sent me up to spend the day with you, Mr. Dennis. He can't get back till late in the afternoon. He told me to talk Project politics to you. My name is Murphy. I'm timekeeper down below, but I've left the job for a while for reasons of my own." ”

“ It's jist the form 'is nerves 'ave took.
Now 'e's been watchin' Flo an' seen
'Er style, an' 'ow she's always keen For news uv Jim.Then 'e starts out
To 'ope, an' 'esitate, an' doubt.
'E wonders if 'is own girl spoke
Jist this same way about 'er bloke.
'E wonders if in 'is girl's eyes
That same look came; an' then 'e sighs, An' dulls 'is senses with the dope
That 'arf a man ain't got no 'ope.
'E makes me tired. But, all the same,
I tries to work a little game.
"Look 'ere," I sez. "About this Flo.
Jim mightn't come back 'ome, yeh know. You 'ave a fly; yeh're sure to score ”

“ Happy the human who has found one great love. All nature speaks in him profoundly."
Musings of the Elephant.
Jim started up the road but Mr. Dennis stopped long enough to say, "Oughtn't you to be there, doctor?"
The doctor nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can. They've just brought an hombre with a crushed leg into the hospital. Mrs. Flynn knows what to do and so does his wife. He may go any time."
Uncle Denny panted after Jim, but before they reached the tent house, Mrs. Flynn stopped them on the trail. ”