Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
duesd the photograph Of a woman and q

TO her"
II can't" said Lawrence, hopelessly, and
was pretty. I'd like to see the boy once
too. You would not think 1t, wyv1l, but
my father and she. between them. pushed
the devils land Give me some water-I
feel-1 love her yet, Wyvil."
Don't try to talk"
You will know her. Look on the back
and see If her name is not there-then you
VIII know my real name-but-don't let
anybody else
1T is too dark here; let me take it to the
light of the door,"
He slipped away, and when he came back
a stranger in citizens dress, who had been
silently moving among the prisoners, was
standing over Lawrence, who. raised on his
and defantly.
You've got me at last" said Lawrence
-! think SO, and l suppose have claim
on you. you prior to that Of Paul Kruger" the
stranger coolly replied. You've changed
| names pretty often of Late
Whats up?' cried Wyvil, coming back.
Excuse me, sir, but my friend is badly
wounded. Even the exertion of talking
Il think in that case the stranger said
calmly, Il can get an order to have him re-
moved to the hospital on the hill
You know him, then? Thank YOU
No cried the wounded raider with
violence. You would have me get we'll,
your
How? What's the matter?" wyviI
dSkGU.
| THE fact is that 1 have a warrant here
for the arrest of your friend. Robert Law
| renee, for a murder in Johannesburg, two
weeks ago.
| Wyvil recoiled from the hand Lawrence
| held out to him appealingy.
1T was in fair fight he whispered in
| despair
| You will nave some difficulty to prove
that, the detective remarked.
Il swear it," said Lawrence and then, as
Wyvil held aloof pale and agitated, the
SICK man with q sudden wrench tore the
bandages from his SIDE and the wound
| slant Wyvil forgot what he had just heard
and leaped to render aid, but the detective
was before him.
You go and send for the prison DOCTOR"
SAID he, and Wyvil ran. Going to the door,
| he was just In time to meet lady and boy
who were being ushered in. The lady's
face was fresh in his memory, older but
| the same-the face of the photograph.
Lady Nore!' he cried in establishment,
as the name on the picture flashed to mind.
The lady clasped her hands excitedly and
swiftly stepped to him.
You know me?' she said. But we have
| not met? Then you-you know my hus-
band? o! take me to him. He is here,
isn't he? We have been at Krugersdorp
and he is not among the poor killed ones.
He must be a prisoner. Take me at once
to him, please
In his bewilderment Wyvil was already
approaching the corner, where the dex-
ferrous detective had already rebandaged
the wound. His sight, accustomed to the
darkness Of the prison, made clear to him
what the wife could not see-Lawrence, his
face all swathed in cloths. sitting up, star
eyes. Wyvil stopped. He and Lady More
and the boy were within yard or two CT
the detective and his prey.
There is some mistake" said Wyvii to
the wife, but with his look Questioningly on
Lawrence. Lawrences face said clearly:
DO not betray me!''
Il knew you from your photograph, my
lady," Wyvil stammered.
The detective drew back to the wall,
MY photograph? In Africa? Then only
Sir Robert could have that. He must have
shown it to you. Oh. do please take me to
him."
Wyvil was wet with Precipitation. He
looked imploringly at the eyes between the
bloody cloths And again these answered.:
NO! Do not betray me!'
Lady More miStook Wyvils hesitation,
Il understand" she said. You know my
husband, and-and he may have told you
about-about what occurred long ago. He
may not wish to meet me-and he is right.
But that Is forgotten. He was innocent.
1t was us-me-who We're to blame. 1 want
to see him-oh, take me to him at once to
ask his pardon
The wounded man dropped back with a
groan.
Too late-too late! he moaned in an
extremity of agony.
What was that? Who said that?" cried
The detective stepped forward and bowed.
Il had the honor to meet you at Vry-
burg, my lady, he said. speaking to her,
but keeping his gaze en- his prisoners face,
and l also was locking for a-friend who
was in the battle This is he, but he is
badly wounded. and is perhaps little off
his head.
The raiders hand stole out unseen and
touched the detectives leg. Thank you,"
the raiders lips murmured.
Il thought am rather worn out-I knew
the voice." said the wife, in tears. "Oh.
sir" she cried again to Wyvil, have pity
and take me to my husband"
Poor Wyvil was in distress. He knew not
what to do. Again the detective felt his
trousers touched He bent down and caught
the agonized whisper of the prisoner: Tell
her anything to send her away-she must
not know"
The detective turned with perfect equa-
nimity to the lady.
Pardon me, my lady" said he, "but I
heard you mention Sir Robert just now
Sir Robert Nore?"
Yes, yes! Do you know him? He is here.
is he not?'
The detective shook his head.
you have been misinformed," said he,
quietly Sir Robert is-dead."
opened, but no cry came. The boy chung
to her, weeping
81 knew him very WE'LL" the detective
went on, relentlessly. He went under the
name of Noble-Thomas Noble He was
killed, fighting bravely, in the last Kaffir
outbreak in the north of the TransvaaL
You can find his name in the list of killed
here in Pretoria. He had no friends here,
but think his grave is marked. There can
be no mistake, 1 think. This was he"
He proceeded to faithfully describe the
prisoner at his feet.
Il am afraid, my dear lady," said he,
that you have been nisled by some re-
semblance. He cannot be here"
She had the strength left to look over all
the prisoners, but found no Sir Robert. So.
at last believing the kindly lie, she was car
ried away, swooning.
'"Thank you." said the prisoner again to
the undisturbed detective. BE kind once
more. Do not send me to the hospital.
Let it-end-here."
1T must do my duty" said the detective.
Over the grave of an utterly unknown
exile on the sunbrowned veldt stands a
shaft to the memory of Sir Robert More.
In disgraced grave lie the forgotten re-
TU.n DE-