Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-22
The Man With
Three Fingers
-


1t must be twenty five years ago, and
more. since l first went to South Ar
RIGA. l remember that the journey up
from Cape Town to johannesburg, then
a collection Of shanties, was q tedious
rumble Of nearly a week in bullock
wagon over the rough veldt and one
was glad enough Of a bed at the end
of it.
1 went out with my wife-I might
almost say my bride-for we had been
married but a few weeks, and the world
seemed at my feet in those days.
had money at my back that l never
had to draw upon, for, from my first
year at the Cape until the trouble that
seemed to terminate my life, my luck
seemed right in.
Money was easier to make there then
than now, and, judging from the men
l hear about and read about, 1t still
seems possible.
When we had been there a little
more than a year my Eva was born.
can see her now from where l write,
cutting the first roses in our Sussex
garden. and am thankful that she
will never know the story that l have
to tell, and she will never know how
near her father, of whom she thinks so
much, came to going through life bear
ing In his heart the brand Of Cain.
She was years old at the time
when the trouble came. Our house
was on the outskirts of Cape Town, a
mile or two away from our nearest
neighbors, and drove a dog-cart to
and from town every day.
On the night in question was at
tending a Government dinner In the
town, and some understandable present
iment made me feel uneasy In my mind
the whole evening, and long before the
speeches were over / made my excuses
and left.
1t was a lovely night and the walk
home was not unpleasant, but l was
still oppressed with the evil influence
that had haunted me for hours. When
neared the house the lights of home,
after the darkness Of the road, cheered
me considerably, and l assured myself
that the depression was merely the nat
ural result of an indlgestible dinner.
My house was built facing up coun-
try, and approached it from the rear,
and, standing as it did in large en-
closure, had had private doorway
built IN the wall there.
By this entered and crossed the
nj nd 70 hn for haf
extended along the back of the house.
The servants quarters were in dark
ness, and they had evidently retired
for the night, but when came to the
drawing room, the French windows
were ajar, and the lights were burning
brightlys
entered quietly, and 1t seemed only
In confirmation of my worst fears to
find my wife lying senseless on the
floor.
was by her side In a moment, and |
at first thought that she was in faint,
but there was blood upon her hands
and an ugly wound on her forehead.
l raised her tenderly. She opened |
her eyes, and recognized me for mo-
ment.
"You, Matt?" she said, with a faint
smile, and then, as If she realized that
she was losing consciousness again, she
leaned her head against my chest and
murmured with an effort:
"A man with three fingers"
She had collapsed again, and / car
ried her up to her bed, and aroused the
servants.
1t was an hour before the doctor
could be brought from the town, but it
was Of little matter. She fingered on
In state of coma until the morning.
and then, as the sun lightened the
drawn blinds and the birds in the gar
den began to twitter, her life and p,y
happiness gradually fllckered out to-
gether
There was nothing, absolutely moth
Ing but her few words, to throw any
light whatever upon the mystery, and
the most exhaustive efforts failed.
From that day 1 went on with nv
work changed man. Work was some-
what OF panaeea, and was at II
night and day. Money that no longer
wanted came to me from every enter
pro- 6os sle old happiness aud peace
of mind, for which would so Willingly
have given it all. never returned to me.,l
At last the old house and the old
associations became intolerable, and
determined to trek
There was much talk at the time Of
the diamonds TO be found near to 10
and l purchased a large
claim there. and made my arrange
ments to leave the Cape. 1 sold my
house and estate, and with little Eva
and a few servants started on that
tedious journey.
The country up there was new to me,
but soon found delightful spot some
miles this side Of the town. and de-
Toted nearly the whole Of the following