The times., 1899-12-10

There stood in the little patch of garden
at the back of the house in West Ken
sington a small tent, just large enough TO
hold a couple OF chairs. In the hot summer
DAYS il was a fayorite resort OF Dorothy
and her mother The following day John
called when the clocks were striking ten
He chose the time deliberately. Mrs. Arm
strong was never visible before H. and he
could speak to Dorothy without fear OF in
terrupion. He expected to find her in the
house. but the servant. in reply 10 his
query. said she was in the garden.
Il will go there" he answered; and.
walking around the house towards the tent
came suddenly on the girl seated listlessiy
i'm deep reverie the book she, was reading
living neglected on the ground. She started
at sight OF John.
Something in his face checked the con-
ventional words that rose 10 her lips. On
his part he came straight to the point
Il am in trouble" he said deep trou-
BILE ! want y0uc advice as TO what must
do
"Mine?"
Yes May l speak?"
She inclined her head, speech falling ner-
I His words and manner bewildered her lie
stood before her just as ne had done at
their first meeting. He looked her in the
face and spoke.
Il am going to tell you what l nave
never told anyone before-the details that
led to my shooting the man at Lotto, WheTe
| found my diamonds.
L had two NatTirs with me, both of
whom knew little English, and the day
after nv find, as we were short OF provi-
sions, / sent them out to look for game 1
remained to guard the diamonds. BY this
rimp I had collected all upon the surface,
I and slowed them away in bag Inc
/ Kaffirs, within a few miles OF our camp
/ encountered a white man also shooting,
and told him the news OF my find PSssi-
/ biy. they showed him some stones which
/ they had secreted the previous day. The
man saving he wished to see me- not
/ them TO describe the position of the place.
/ and despatched them TO fetch buck he
/ had shot that morning, which lay some
! two miles away,
] 1t was growing hot. and I was seated
/ in The shade Of the rocks, smoking and cas-
! fle-building, when a shot rang out and q
/ bullet natteued itself on the rock by my
head. Ny rife was by me; caught it up
and Jumped forward There, not fifty yards
I away | saw the man who had fired stand
/ ing in the open ground and aiming a see
ond shot. Before | got my rifle on ms
shoulder he fired again; again just missed
/ The heat of the whzZing bullet burnt my
left cheek Then l fired and he dropped
/ Running up ] saw that l had killed him;
the bullet had struck the chest and pene-
tratad the heart The whole affair was al
| first inexpIicable; but when the Katfiri
I came back, and told me how they had me-
/ him. it was easy 20 put TWO and two TO-
I gethar We buried him where he he fell;
| there were no papers to identify him.
| could only assume he was a wandering
Englisbman or German down in his luck
and tempted TO the crime by the news o.
my find.
Il do not see that you were to blame,
said Winifred, grayely. you fired to de
fend your own life. Is that your trouble?'
\ sudden interruption Jared on both.
IF You please, miss, letter" said tht
| servants voice at this iuncture. Doroth!
took it silently still looking at John. Sh,
was far from guessing the truth, and wheI
| the footsteps of the maid had passed be
youd hearing John nerved himself q
speak cut.
Suppose I loved the sister Of the man?'
Even now she did not understand JOhl
had so persuaded her her brother was aliy
that she was yet blind.
THAT would be very terrible" she began
and then the agony in his face suddenly
swiftly. revealed the truth. "Ah," sh
cried out. lit was my brother?"
at was your brother" said John.
In the silence that followed. the soun
of girIish laughter from a neighboring gar
den rang ia Johns ears; it mingled with