The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-07-24

1f week before Phil.
lips had seen the "Gold
Reef City" shivering In the panic of au
expected war. His thoughts rs lie
stared out OF the car window may have
gone back bitterly to johannesburg, tC
the ridge which has made so many sor
rows, and his own failure there. Clutch,
ed in the hand, however, lie held Il tclc.
gram from his partner, Burton, and
this he read: Come up to klcrkSburg
next train. Big thing possible here"
Around him men were arguing heated.
ly In various dialects AS to where Jou.
bert would strike first, What would
happen to the utlandcrs and when II
would begin to happen. The train ran
on hour after hour. 1t came to II stop
ut last and discharged It's passengers
Into the excited, questioning crowds
which filled the streets OF Iilcrkuburg.
1t was almost midnight, but there was
no quiet in the towns OF the border
n large young EngllShman stepped
out of the shadows and touched Phil
lips on the elbow. Here YOU arc" he
drawlcd. IT'S late. but you mustn't
sleep yet, Jack. You're expected"
What Is 1t anyway" asked Phillips
81 don't know" replied the other
and know ut the same time that it is
something WORTH our while" He was
slower In his mental processes than the
American, and he now fell into deep re.
fiecuon. "lt was Athcrton who told
me to get you here. Appears that there
is something being planned. Como
along"
int
walked for some distance and came to
a house. The front OF this was dark.
encd, but there were lights at the rear
and as they approached moro than one
man came out and hurried away. Bur
ton held low conversation with some
one at the door and then returned to
find bis friend.
They want to see you alone In
there" he explained, "and Pm to wait"
Phillips went forward. a servant
ushercd him through the house and
bowed him into a lighted room. Three
men were seated around n table there
upon which lay spread q man OF South
Africa. In smaller room behind Phil.
lips could hear telegraph Instruments
clicking fcvcrishly, and now and then
n message would be brought out and
placed upon the table.
London seems to be getting excited"
one Of the three remarked.
They did not embarrass Phillips by
too close scrutiny, but they were tax.
Ing note Of him. "Sit down, won't
youT said one Of them, a big man.
The speaker leaned back almost shyly
In his chair and turned his drowsy gray
ex-army officer. "You state the case,
Atherton," he said.
"Hemw observed the latter. "Well.
Mr. Phillips, l suppose you would not
be unwilling to accept of good oppor.
tunity."
Phillips smiled grimly. "I rather need
to-" he replied.
"Ah. yes. Well, no offense. You
know, but we have been led to believe
that you are a-hem-rather wild
young thing"
ne Americans square jaw frightened,
and he arose. You might have tele
graphed that information" he observ
ed.
mo. Sit down, please" said the big
man, and hear us through" There
T.
ner difficult to explain
You know" continued Atherton. his
eyes upon the table and speaking as If
by rote, whether this country Is In a
healthy condition now. You are from
johannesburg and also know how tho
ultlanders are being treated. Here In
Alerksburg we believe that war is in.
eVitaDle and that the sooner It comes
the better for us all There are, how.
ever, people who cannot understand
this situation. aud they advise delay."
he nodded. perhaps unconsciously, to-
ward the room where the telegraph in.
struments were clicking.
NOT SO very many miles from here,
at a point which your friend Burton
KNOWS. there Is camp OF the border
ponce. 1t lies about two miles from
the frontier line OF the TransvaaI, and
ten miles on the other side the Beers
nave also camp. Very good. Now
need not point out to you that Africa
Is like bin Of 2unpowder and that II
needs only spark to set It af,re. Here
Is where that spark can be struck"
lie put his finger upon the map. "Just
as thls point. over the line, is the farm
or Boer named Zwager He is an old
Dutch rhinoceros. ready enough for
trouble. 1t would be very easy for any
one who went there-any one who was
rather wild and irresponsIbe-to pre-
cipitate quarrel. 1t would not need
extreme measures "A mere quarrel,
with perhaps little misusage, and the
Boers there In camp would do the rest,
Tor they would attack the border police
as certainly rs we sit here. After that
some history would probably be made"
Young Phillips whietled thoughtfully.
"'ts rather too rich for u.s." he said.
and not the incest Job. especially see.
ing that I'm an American. No; guess
not"
The big man raised himself up from
his chair. The lamplight fell upon him
redly as he stood. tall as giant, above
the table where lay the map Of South
Africa IAN American" he said. THAT
is all the better. Americans are men
or our own blood, and this movement
ls Tor every man who knows what
progress means. 1t is war which must
Cumo, and III this world we must look
ugly facts in the face People who are
afraid to do this say to me: But it will
be too dangerous they say to me 1T 10
wrong But say to hem: we must
COX facts in the face Til Boers arc