Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16


ger to his feet and totter to the wag-
on, where, after much boosting and
groaning on their part and his, he
was made fairly comfortable on the
heavy mattress which covered the bed
of the conveyance. Then the wounded
man collapsed.
The days ran into weeks, and the
weeks mounted into months before
the lonely adventurer began to mend,
Fever wasted him to skeleton; ma
laria Slapped his vitality. Help there
was none within hundred miles; he
could not stand the jolting of the wag-
on, and in his lucid moments he stern
ly vetoed Joey's offers to 20 for
help. He knew what that would mean
"a rush of strangers to his claim.
So there. on the banks 0: the Moot
river, he fought his second fight with
death, tended and nursed only by his
faithful Katfirs-and won out at last!
All through those weary weeks, in
the intervals of delirium and the
tedinm of convalescence, he planned
and plotted vengeance on the miscre-
ant who had robbed him. He would
chase him round the world and back
again if need be! Daily and hourly he
looked for rush of diamond seekers
to the new field. That they did not
come proved that the unknown robber
must have kept his own counsel, and
was doubtless far enough away enjoy
ing the fruits Of his unholy spoil.
But there were enough shining
stones left on the beach TO make an
other fortune-several fortunes, in
tact-and Dysart was still rich man.
The first thing was to get to the
coast, and easily diyining that the
criminal would make for the nearest
seaport rather than for Kimberley or
Pretoria, Richard determined to strike
for Ladysmith at that time the near
est town whence ran the railroad for
Durham.
1t was OH a bright morning late in
the South African spring when the
word was given to inSpan and trek
once more, to the huge delight of Joey
and his brother. The oxen had waxed
fat over their long idleness, and good
speed might be looked for.
The little party reached Ladysmith
without mishap further than the loss
of two of the cattle from drinking red
water" There Dysart disposed of
some of his smallest stones, so as not
to excite too much inquiry, suitably
rewarded Joey and the other boy with
a handful of volIou ooNoro;oue or3ooo
made them present of a new wagon
and dozen oxen, entered and proved
his claim to the new field on the Moot,
replenished his wardrobe, got a shave,
haircut and bath, and then was
ready to turn amateur detective
He stumbled on hts first clew by &C
cident.
"A middlin' fine passed. O. stones,
Blister Dysart," said one of the deal
ers. little Houndsditch Jew named
Moses Plish. to whom he sold small
part of his find, after the purchase was
concluded. There vas another gent
ere avile ago With jest SIGH lot; in
steamin' 'urry e wos tool"
''Indeed?" said Richard, as nonchal-
antly as possible, keeping his eyes
averted lest old Plish should espy their
angry CLEAN.
"Yessir; a cool an 'aughty customer
e was! low much for the lot sez-
zee, an no qvestions arsed?' 1 'ad
done leetle business With i'm afore,
an knowed is vays!"
That's curious" said Richard. II
wonder if have ever met your man?
l don't mind telling you, Plish, that
I've located and proved new claim,
and I supposed l was first on the
ground. But you can never be sure
What did you say his name was?"
II didn't sy, Blister Dysart," said
Plish, with cunning grin, ZOOS I
never card it-leastways is genooine
nyme; ven see i'm afore, matter O.
two or three years back, e useter play
the palmer in dance 'ouse in Dur
ban"
Hmm" unused Dysart, drumming
on the dirty table. "Vhat was this
chum like, Plish?"
Tall an thin, sorter grizzly air,
with vite 'ands and long fingers like
voman's. But all this 'ere's strickly
confidenshul an atween ourselves, Bis
ter Dysart, like as vun gent to an
other"
ooh, certainly" asserted Richard,
quietly pocketing the invidiously i'm
pudent classification. 1T doesn't real
ly matter, you know. Thought might
know the beggar," and he rose to go.
"'Ere's somethin' e left behind i'm,
sir" said Plish, who had been rum
maging in a drawer, displaying dirty
canvas bag.
Rick seized it and went to the open
door to examine it.
Sure enough, it was the canvas bag
of which he had been looted on the
bank of the Moot! Turning to the Jew,
he inquired as carelessly as possible:
"You don't mean to tell me he had
this full of stones?"
"Oh, no, Blister Dysart, not by no
manner O. means; only saw abart a
'andful," was the reply.
''1'l keep this bag, Plish, If you've
no objections" said Richard, slowing
it away carefully.
Don't benton it, Blister Dysart, SIR"
was the affable reply.
Zone more question, Plish, and I'm
done," said Richard. Which way was
your friend travelling, do you sup
pose?" He had risen, and stood care
lessly Ticking his boot with his riding
whip, yet much depended upon the re-
ply he should receive.
Il 'appen to know e vent round to
Hfoxyv, hx ho fret eoi<l