The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-12-16
| The TRANSYAAL DISPATCH.
BY r. E. YOUNG.
THANK Heaven, it is all overl I can

THANK Heaven, ii is all over! can
breathe freely-can vaguely grasp
how that one fatal slip of mine, at
moment when the scales in the Trans
yaal were balancing so breathlessly,
might have come near TO spelling ma
tional disaster. Looking back, il oil
seems eamlike-incredibl My hard
earned holiday had worked in the
Cape government Office nearly three
years without one-was not due for six
months more. Five minutes before the
chief OF my department called me in and
handed me the locked leather case /
had not the faintest idea that | was to
be let OFF those six months and, more
over, TO carry a dispatch invested, in
the light of possible events, with an
importance beyond words.
There IL is. You thoroughly I'M
derstand? Straight to the colonial of
flee, and don't lose sight OF il for a
moment. IL may mean war; ii may
mean nothing. Whether or no, a dozen
newspapers in London would pay any
price 20 be able to publish ii before IL
is read in the house OF commons-if
ever 1t is. And il that happened!
Your berth has been booked in the Cape
Castle, and you start tomorrow morn
ing"
That was it. j know | went in
qu.ver Of indescribable suspense all the
voyage, partly for fear anyone might
discover what il was guarded so jeal-
ously in that corner Of my cabin, and
Lee. 4 20,
ny Lottie, whose last quivering words
had been: go, If you must, Brian-if
ii means advancement; but l never eX-
pect to see you again!" And here was
Southampton in sight, and in my
pocket the superb blue diamond she
was TO wear on our wedding day. What
nm exquisite surprise! She would know
nothing until the moment when 1
handed in my card.
The one person in the world had
dared to trust was her brother, Jack
1Tamiyn, the Oldest and best friend |
had. | had telegraphed TO his rooms
from Madeira, just limiting that my
luggage was valuable and telling him TO
meet the vessel at Southampton; and
even in that had taken the precaution
90 use a crude code that we had con
cocted in the old romantic days at
school. His would be safe company
until the dispatch was delivered, and
then-but the rest was too intoxicat-
ing 10 bear thinking upon.
At last! The Cape Castle had kept
her time almost TO the hour. Feeling
just a trifle sick and strange after the
long suspense, | had passed the Gus
toms and stood staring round for a
sight Of Jack Hainlyn. The telegram
had surely reached him-he would un-
derstand 1.-THE would be here well in
time? Yes! A few minutes OF uncer-
tainty and then: "Brian, old fellow
yes, il is you'll" struck on my strained
ear.
Jack" / spun round almost con-
vulsively. Himself!-and yet some
how, the first thrill over, | felt some
thing like chill 81 disappointment.
Was II that my old chum's hand had
scarcely the old bear-like grip? In the
lampsight, too, he looked curiously
haggard and aged. ! stood, with sort
OF prescience.
Overcome, Brian? / hardly wonder
--all this timel oh, aye; forgot-Ive
given up my beard since you went"
And we both laughed. ''This way; I'm
simply dying TO hear all about it," lie
had my arm in the old impetuous fash
ion now. Been waiting hoursi No,
not soul dreams OF your having ar
riyed-trust mel Lottie? Eyes,
she's right enough, believe"
"Believe?" | stopped dead. His voice
had trailed off strangely. Jack" /
whispered, husdly, you look-you've
something to tell mel Isn't she-isn't
she just the same? Her last letter."
''Why, of counsel" He laughed so
boisterously AT my whitened face that
the weight slipped off my mind at once.
Nothing had happened DO you think
I'D deceive you. Brian?" he was say
ing. "erhe ideal Another 12 hours or
90 and you'll have the joy of seeing
the old flush dance into her cheeks.
But what was IL you meant in the cable
about"
twelve hoursl I'm going on by the
first train--now, nj once. / mustl In
s:ruetions-straight to colonial Office.
Jou know"