Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-22

LOWED HIM
square by eight high, principally formed by
the accidental falling together of several big
powders and rooted in by one great natural
slab Discarding three legged stool that
jamie offered her jess sank down upon q pile
Of skins in the corher.
"Stop before you begin" she said. "Have
You anything to eat here? / am nearly
starving"
Jantje grinncd knowingly, and, glubbing
in a heap Of rubbish in the corner. fished out
gourd with piece of fiat sheet iron which
had once formed the back plate of stove,
placed on the top. 1t contained "maas," or
curdled buttermill,, which a woman had
brought him down that very morning from a
neighboring kraal, and was destined for
Jantje's own supper. Hungry as be was
himself, for he had had no food all day, he
gave it to jess without a moments hesita-
ton, together with a wooden spoon, and.
squatting on the rock before her, watched her
eat it with cultural Explanations of satisfac-
zion. Not knowing that she was robbing a
hungry man. jess ate the mas to the last
spoonful, and was grateful to feel the sensa-
ton Of gnawing sickness leave her.
"Now," she said, tell me what you meana"
Thereon Jantje began at the beginning and
related tho events Of the day, so far as he
was acquainted with them When he came
to where the old man was dragged, with
kicks and blows and ignominy, from his own
house, Jess eyes flashed. and she positively
ground her teeth with indignation; and cs for
her feelings, when she learned that he was
condemned to death and to be shot at dawn
on the morrow. they simply bafled descrip-
ton. OF the Bessie complication Jantie was
quite ignorant, and could only tell her that
Frank Muller had an interview with her sis
ter In the little plantation, and that after that
she was shut up in the store room, where she
still was. But this YVES quito enough for Jess.
who know Muller's character better, perhaps
than anybody else, and was not by any means
ignorant Of his designs upon Bessie. A few
moments thought put the key of the matter
into her hand. She saw now what was the rea-
son Of the granting Of the pass and Of the deter
mined and partially successful attempt at
wholesale murder Of which they had been the
victims. She saw, too, why her old uncle had
been condemned to death-that was to be
| used a. lever with Bessie; the man was ca
pablo even Of that. Yes, she saw it all e clear
| Is daylight; and in her heart she swore. help
less a. she seemed to be, that she would find
| q way to prevent it. But what wayi what
waya All, il only John were herel But he
was not, 90 she must act without him, II only
she could see the way to action. She thought
first OF all OF going down boldly and facing
Muller and denouncing him q q murderer
before his men; but moments reflection
showed that this was impracticable. For his
own safety he would be obliged to stop her
mouth somehow, and the best she could ex-
pect would be to be incarcerated and rendered
| quite powerless II only she could manage to
communicate with Bessiel At any rate, it
| was absolutely necessary that she should know
what was going on. She might as well be a
hundred miles away as hundred yards.
| @Jantje," she said, "tell me where the Beers
are.'
Some are in the wagon house, missile, some
are on sentry, and the rest are down BY the
wagon they brought with them and out
spanned behind the gums there. The cart Is
there, too, that came just before you did,
with the clergyman in it."
"And where is Frank Mullerg
Il don't know, missile; but be brought q
round tent with him in the wagon, and it i
pitched between the two big gums"
"Jantje, must 60 down there and lind out
what is going on, and you must come with
me-"
"You will be caught, missile. Thers Is q
sentry at the back Of the wagoa house and
Two in 'front.'. But" he added, perhaps w
might get near. will 60 out and look ct the
night"
Presently he returned and said that q
small rain" bad come ON and the clouds Gov
cred up the stars so that it was very dark.
well, let us go at once, said Je9.
"Misie, you had better not Co." answered
the Hottentot. @You will get wet and the
Doors viii catch you. Better let mo 20 /
can creep about like snake, and Il tho Boers
catch me it won't mattern
"You must como too. but am going. I
must find out"
| Then tbs Hottentot shrugged his Shoulders
and yielded, and, having cxtinguished TIE
candle, silently - ghosts they crept out into
the night