AustLit

'Dick Maxwell, a light-hearted young Sydney man, finding the dissipation of a large city beginning to affect his health, secures a position as bookkeeper on Waroonga Station, near Orange, N.S.W. At a farewell supper with his friends, he imbibes "not wisely, but too well," with the result that he becomes the husband of Tilly Farmfield, a young woman of doubtful character; who, infatuated with Dick, lures him to one of Sydney's marriage shops, where the knot is tied, Dick taking it as a joke, Tilly having made Dick hopelessly drunk. After the ceremony, while alighting from their taxi-cab at the Night Birds' Club, Bob Lambert, a friend of Dick's, arrives on the scene, and during the temporary absence of Tilly rescues Dick from her clutches by carrying him off in a taxi. Next day Dick departs for out-back to take up his new. duties, being still in ignorance of the previous night's happenings. On arrival at his destination, Dick becomes greatly enamoured of Clarice Inglehurst, his employer's daughter, who reciprocates his affection, much to the chagrin of Martin Tracey, the manager, who has marked Clarice for his own. While out riding some days after, Dick comes across Geebung, an aboriginal (who has been bitten by a snake), lying by the road side. Dick ties a ligature round Geebung's leg, and sends him home on his horse. Geebung arrives at the homestead immediately after Clarice's rejection of Tracey, who vents his wrath on Geebung by whipping him. Dick arrives and rescues Geebung. Tracey is about to rush on Dick when Clarice interferes, asking for an explanation. Dick and Tracey remaining silent, Geebung volunteers the information. Tracey swears to ruin Dick, and watches for an opportunity, which soon comes. Some sheep being despatched to Flemington Saleyards, Dick enters the consignment in the railway book, which Tracey finds a way to alter, faking the entry to make it appear that Dick has stolen 200 sheep. He is seen by Geebung, whom he shoots, on the principle that "dead men tell no tales." Eventually Tracey arrives at the homestead, and informs Mrs. Inglehurst of Dick's dishonesty, Tracey producing apparent proof of Dick's guilt, who is arrested, but Geebung, who has been found by Clarice, arrives in time to free the innocent and convict the guilty. On the way to the police station, Tracey escapes and goes to Sydney, where he meets Tilly, who is an old friend. She and Tracey resolve to ruin Dick and Clarice on their wedding day. With that purpose in view, they leave Sydney for Orange. On the way an accident occurs, Tilly being seriously injured. Tracey escapes, and continues his journey, with Tilly's marriage certificate. Tilly, dying, repents of her evil doings, and writes a confession, which she persuades a nurse to take to Dick. The nurse arrives at the church in time to set everything right. Geebung recognises Tracey through his disguise, and he is rearrested. Tilly having died a minute before the commencement of the ceremony, Dick and Clarice are legally man and wife.'

Source:

Advertisement, Williamstown Chronicle, 10 February 1912, p.3.