AustLit

'The story is interesting. Ned Dyer, on the death of his wife, has sent his daughter Maisie to a ladies' school in Melbourne. When this occurs Maisie is 8 years of age, and for 10 years she does not see her parent again, although he amply provides for her, and she receives a first-class education. Ned Dyer is a mystery to all in the localiiy in which he lives—his little homestead is ten miles from the town of Tinamba. He grows nothing, and the source of his livelihood is unknown. At intervals he visits the township and spends money freely at Nixon's, the local pub, and bloodhouse of the little township. Ned is a wily customer, and fully aware of the curiosity of his many pals and hangers-on. If the truth were known he has discovered an unusually rich alluvial patch, and the gold he secures he secretly hoards, using only what is necessary for his own purposes, and the education of his daughter in Melbourne. Maisie, after ten years, yearns to meet once more her almost unknown father, and eventually in Melbourne just prior to her departure she has met a young bank clerk—Roger Colville—recently out from England, and he has interested her. Nothing has actually come of their meeting, for Colville is in financial difficulties, and has embezzled the bank's funds, and is fearful of exposure. After Maisie's departure the authorities discover his deficiency, and Colville clears out. Later at Tinamba—a remittance man—(his people in England have settled with the bank—he meets Maisie's father, and saves him from being fleeced by some locals, who are determined to take him down. That night he accompanies the old man home, and to his amazement he discovers Maisie once more. The girl sees in the man but a shadow of his old self, and desires to reform him. Colville discovers the hiding place of the gold, also the alluvial patch he is working. On Christmas Eve Ned Dyer, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his daughter, leaves for the township, and gets badly the worse for liquor. In a mad moment he reveals the fact that he has 10,000 oz. of gold hidden in the house. Black Dick and some companions, casual station hands, have long since determined to rob the old chap, and this provides them with a clue. Colville, hard up and tempted, gets ahead of them, and Maisie, who has retired for the night, re-enters the living room, only to discover the man she loves is a thief. Colville pleads for his own redemption, and Maisie believes she can save him. The Black Dick clique, not knowing of Colville's presence, arrive on the scene, and Maisie, by a ruse, gets away and rides Colville's horse to the township for assistance. Colville refuses to reveal to the gang the hiding place of the gold, and they ill-use him. They are successful, however, in their search, and when they are about to depart with their booty the townspeople arrive and they are captured. Ned Dyer gives Maisie to the man she loves, and the gold is her dowry.'

Source:

'The Remittance Man', The Mail [Adelaide], 4 October 1913, p.6S.