The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-04-06

the Beers, except Strydom and ono
other who remained to guard their
prisoner, rode of on a patrol To an.
other Engllshman's farm, promising
to call for iladlow next day. on their
way to Nryburg.
At sunset Edie arrived at Stry-
uom's house. With her walked a Kaf.
hr servant, carrying a large basket.
Herr Strydom," she said. as the big
Dutchman rose from his chair on tho
stoop. 81 have brought some supper
for Mr.. lIadlow; please give II to him.
There is n bottle Of whisky, also. and
as father thought you might be short
of liquor with SO many friends In and
out. have brought you another bottle
for yourself"
Strydom was n secret hut ardent
admirer OF the handsome English girl.
lie put on his best manners. acknowl.
edged the compliment in clownish
fashion, and. having cmptied the has.
ket, Edie smiled pleasantly. bade him
good night and returned home.
Her scheme worked exactly as sho
had anticipated. IL was forlorn hope.
but il succeeded. Frans Strydom and
his friend devoted themselves after
supper--in which their prisoner had
no share-to the contents OF the whis.
Ky bottles. and by 10 o'clock. when
thy had consumed as much as they
could manage, were not only very
drunk. but very sleepy. Shortly after
they were both lying on Strydom's
rough bed, snoring heartily in a deep.
drunken slumber, At IL Edie, who
had long since found means to briba
Strydom's native servant (who him,
self as she happened to know. was
only seeking n chance TO bolt from
his masters servlce) made her way
into the house She was very fright,
oned but stoie with the silence of q
mouse into Dicks room, cut his cords
-Klaas, the native was keeping
watch-and released him. Together
they crept out. whispered farewell To
Klaas. and disappeared into the dark,
ness. Kiaas. meanwhile. with two
golden sovereigns in his waistbelt
pouch. collected his scanty traps and
struck out for the Kalahari, only too
glad To escape from Strydoms hard
mastership.
A quarter OF an hour later Dick
Hadlow had bade farewell 20 Mr.. Jan.
son. tenderly kissed Edie. and with
his letters regained, and his Lee Met.
ford rife on his back. mounted his
horse and rode away again southwest.
ward into the starlit night. Moving
steadily on. and improving his pace
as day broke. he reached Granesa, n
Bechuana village. forty miles from
Mosita, by 10 o'clock next day Here
he rested four hours. and again
pushed on. this time for Kuruman. the
well.known mission station. eighty
long miles ahead. No Beers. the friend.
ly natives said. were out in this direc.
tion. and the road was safe. All night,
therefore, he pressed on. canterins
doggedly along the wagon track and
making good progress.
Motto, another Bechuana village
was reached by o'clock next morn.
Ing. All was safe there: no Boer pa.
trolls had yet reached this remote dis.
trict. Some breakfast and two hours
sleep, and once more he mounted his
horse for the forty.mile ride 20 Kuru.
man. where remount could easily be
procured. The gallant black was look.
Ing worn and light and tucked up now,
after his 40 miles OF travel. Yet his
spirit was as keen as ever and he
reached heartily for his bride as Dick
cnce more got to his saddle. A long,
weary day OF travel. under n parchinx
Gun. and over yellow illimitable grass
plains. Infinitely monotonous 10 the
CoHfiHsed or 6tft fqgr.