The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-11-26
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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
fact-and Dysart was still rich man.
The first thing was to get to the
coast, and easily divining 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 on 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
handful of yellow sovereigns apiece.
made them a present of a new wagon
and a dozen oxen, entered and proved
his claim to the new field on the Moot.
replenished his wardrobe, got shave,
haircut and bath, and then was
ready to turn amateur detective.
He stumbled on his 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 a small
part of his find, after the purchase was
concluded. "There vas another gent
ERE avile ago With jest SIGH a lot; in a
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? I 'ad
done leetle business With i'm afore,
an I knowed is vays!'
@'That's curious said Richard. 81
wonder if I have ever met your man?
l don't mind telling you, Plish, that
I've located and proved a new claim,
and I supposed I was first on the
ground. But you can never be sure.
What did you say his name was?"
Il didnn't sy, Blister Dysart," said
Plish, with cunning grin, "'cos I
never 'eard it-leastways is genooine
nyme; ven see i'm afore, a matter O.
two or three years back, e useter play
the pianner in dance 'ouse in Dur
ban."
Hmm" unused Dysart, drumming
on the dirty table. what was this
chum like, Plish?"
Tall an thin, sorter grizzly air.
with vite lands 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.''
"Oh, certainly" asserted Richard,
quietly pocketing the invidiously i'm
pudent classification ut 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; I only saw abart
'andful,' was the reply.
"l'll 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.
lone 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.
II 'appen to know e vent round to
Cape Town by the first steamer" said
Plish. "But all this is strickly pers' nal
an privit, Blister Dysart, SIR" he
whined, for something in Richards
manner told him he had been talking
too much.
"Quite so,' was the terse answer,
and with parting nod off he swung
down the wide and sunny street.
A week later he landed in Cape
Town, where, in the process of form
ing company to work the new claim,
and arranging for the shipment to Lon
don and the insurance of the remainder
of his stones, he was able to make
few cautious and casual inquiries
about the man of whom he was in
search. Not much could be cleaned,
yet enough to convince him that the
trail led in the direction he was him.
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