The Delawarean., 1900-05-12

Now. perhaps. the German CORE
spon.lent observed. you will listen 10
reason | know you haven't got Il g,.,
on YOU. my friend. | know something
of your strange English character.
There is nothing like being ready for
any emergency that may arise"
Tom Barker. under the covering rc-
volver, stood erect and mute To ar
que further With man prepared to
commit murder on behalf of Il - ,
and a few news dispatches of no great
importance would be simple waste OF
breath.
Keeping the muZ2l2 of the revolver
pointed full at Rarllcrs breast. Shacfer
jumped into his saddle, and, seizing the
reins of the other horse, he started off
at sharp trot. As long as Barker re-
mained in running distance the Ger
man occasionally looked back to be
sure he was not followed. In five min
utes he was but a speck in the distance
on the South African veldt. Its your
own fault, remember, if you lose your
life and fail to get your news in Mon
days London r" was his final
greeting as he disappeared over the
crest Of the nearest kopje, turning to
his right.
When he had disappeared, Barker
looked around him, reviewing the situ-
alton. 1t was not a very cheering
prospect that met his eye. Two hills,
or kopjes, of some thousand feet rose
to the right and left. and he could see
the setting sun on the horizon between
them far beyond on the veldt Tie
day had been intensely hot.
Il don't know what the deuce to 10
now" thought Barker. AS if in answer
to the question the wounded guide roll
ed over on his side, making an effort to
rise.
"Whcre's Mass Shaefer?" he said
looking around him in surprise
Barker gave the negro a drink of
brandy mixed with water from his eau
teen, and the man presently seemed to
revive sufficiently to sit up.
Barker laughed grmly. Hes gone
down the path leading to the Tugela
river, leaving lis both here in nice
mess" he said. The darky rubbed his
hand over his eyes wearily and then
gazed steadily along the road ahead.
'Yo' say he go long the right trail?"
muttered the man.
Yes" replied Barker
"Then he's sure gone wrong. That
right trail leads down to the Bo' camp,
and he'll get nab or killed for spy" the
guide said slowly.
1t was too late now to warn the Ger
man correspondent. He was far out of |
sight by this time.
When Tom Barker and the negro
guide, the latter resting against the
Englishman's shoulder, staggered into
the hut of a friendly Kaffir Just before |
sunrise the next morning, they could |
obtain no tidings of the German But
they received Il rude welcome and
rough shakedown from the long suffer
ing Katirs, who had during the war
learned 10 respect the English race.
The next day Tom Barker with new
guide. started off once more for the
British camp on the Tugela. They |
reached it at sunset the next evening, |
and Barker reported himself to the
commanding officer, who was glad to
get news of the beleagucred army In
Ladysmith. and. although Tom Barker !
begged for party to go out in search
of the lost German correspondent. the
stern general steadily refused to listen
to his request.
And heaven only knows TO this hour
what did become of the wretcled
Shaefer. There were manV rumors
Some said he was shot as a spy by a
Boer commandant. but his fate re-
mains as unknown to his employers
and the world as does that of many
another whose life story lies buried
with them deep in the grassy breast Of
the South African veldt.-New York
Mail and Express.