Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-15

evil looking rif1e on his arm. He fired both barrels in quick succession and waited. standing gravely on the edge of the plateau. After a short silence two answering reports rose through the mist to his straining ears. He turned and found Victor Durnovo standing at his side. -l.. "What Is that?" asked the half breed. Tt must be Joseph" answered Guy, Tor Meredith. It can be nobody else" Let us hope that 1t Is Meredith" said Durnovo. with forced laugh. 1 but I doubt it."
 Oscard looked down in his sallow. powerful face. He was not quick at such things, but at that moment, he felt strangely certain that Victor Dur novo was hoping that Meredith was dead.
 T hope 1t isn't" he answered. and without another word he strode away town the little pathway from the sum- nit into the clouds, loading his ri6e as he went.
 | Durnovo and his men. working among the simiacine bushes. heard from time to time a signal shot as the two Englishmen groped their way ! toward each other through the ever lasting night of the African forest It was midday before the newcom- CTS were espied making their way pain fully up the slope. and Joseph's wei. come was not so much in Durnovo's handshake, in Guy Oscard's silent ap. proval.. as in the row of grinning. good natured black faces behind Durnovo's back.
 Joseph's arrival with ten new men seemed to give fresh zest to the work, and the carefully packed cases of simiacine began to fill 0scartfS tent to some inconvenience Thus things went on for two tranquil weeks.
 First" Oscard had said. .'let us get ! the crop fin, and then we can arrange what is to be done about the future"
 So the crop received due attention but the two leaders of the men-he who led by fear and he who commanded by love-were watching each other.
 One evening when the work was done Oscard's meditations were dis turbed by the sound of angry voices behind the native camp. He turned naturally toward Durnovo's tent. and saw that he was absent. The voices rose and fell: there was a singular accompanying roar of sound which Oscard never remembered having heard before. It was the protesting voice of a mass of men-and there l. no sound like it-none so disquieting Oscard listened attentively and sud denly he was thrown upon his feet by a pistol shot.
 At the same moment Joseph emerged from behind the tents. dragging soms one by the collar. The victim oi Joseph's violence was ofY his feet, bu' still struggling and kicking. Guy Oscard saw the fash of a sec ond shot. apparently within a feu inches o< Jo.eph's face. but he cam, oa. dragging the man with him. whom from his clothing Oscard saw to b' Durnovo.
 Joseph was splitting out wadding snt burned powder.
 shoot me. would yer. yer skulkins chooolste blrif I'll teach you, IT twist that brown nect of yours-
 He shook him ss . terrier shakes rat and seemed to shake things oc hlm-aronz others . revoiver vhbcl described a circle la the air and fei heavily On the grvunt. where the con cussion discharged s cartridge
 Ere. sir cried Io>eph- Hter.il, throwing Durnovo down ca the eroun. at osczrTs fess. that man has jus snos oce q them por niszsn. . -el2 me God-
 Durnovs ro~e slowly to bis feet, q if the shaking had disturted kAs far uIfses
 -Ok- do7-t uzke fcoi of yourseif. he said Ia q hissizx votces -yS1 3o1r s.ts-zf.zS sbee rstfFes st all n