The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-13
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CHAPTER ilI.-(Contlnued.)
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II had arranged some time before
to have my mail sent up to the for
from the coast. and when | arrived
found letter awaiting me.
IT was from my precious uncle, 6
post-mortem message, forwarded by
my own lawyers. and had been fol
lowing me about for long time.
wish II had never found me.
My uncle was dead. and dying. he
wanted to purchase absolution by pay
ing blood money TO me, the son OF the
mar he had murdered.
And that wasn't all. There was a
condition attached in the shape OF his
adopted daughter. the orphan child OF
a southern soldier, whom must marry
in order TO inherit his millions. And
he informed me that, II l failed TO com.
ply with his wishes within a twelve.
month. the money he had amassed
would all go TO charity. while the girl
whom he had brought up in luxury
would be left penniless.
There was an internal arrange
ment for you! He was as cunning as
he was cruel He must have known
that nothing would tempt me to touch
me to harm an innocent girl.
Il wanted to get back into the wilds
by myself and think. The life | had
been leading had left me half a saw.
age. In my hurry | got together a
worse gang Of rascals than those who
had Just deserted me. and set on with
them for the lake north OF Palla.
1T was most damnable going, but
kept them at IT until We had crossed
the CAMERON border, and there they
in turn went back on me. boiling one
night with all my trade goods. leaving
me only my canoe with my personal
effects and few provisions in the
oruellest corner In Africa.
The natives round there are can
nibals, as you know, and / didn't dc
much travelling by daylight. got
across TO the western bank one night
and drew I'm under the growth by the
river edge SOS to escape observation
II was steaming hot and the place
stank. / couldn't sleep, tired out as
was, SO I ran through my uncle's let
ter again. just to pass the time
although I had thought II threadbare
already. But | couldn't think what
was going to do about 1T mean for
the girl
II knew nothing of her. and she less
OF me, but she at least had never done
me or mine harm, and II seemed hard
that she alone should be the scape-
goat. was independent financially
had sight drafts with me for all
possessed, and the two rose diamonds
as well. So long as | scraped through
alive with these I need never want.
But with the girl It was quite differ
ent, and that through no fault OF her
own
We'll, was lying there in the
shade, sweating, body and brains.
when I saw a canoe coming down
river round the bend. and dropped the
letter to pick up my rife. | was half
afraid that | had been spotted. But
no more followed II. and there was
only a single man in the one | Had
sighted. He was sitting bolt upright,
drifting
when he came little nearer saw
he was wearing a helmet, which gave
me a Jolt couldn't conceive what a
white man could be doing there alone.
but, In any case, l hailed him several
he paid not the slightest
attention. An eddy caught the canoe.
and II went sagging away toward mid
stream. On the spur OF the moment
| put out after him.
II raised my voice as ran along
side. but still he did not reply, and 4
single glance showed me that he was
dead. The black devils had done
things to him as well as killed him.
for--he had no face. He was held In
position by two short spears. one
under each shoulderblade, a haft made
fast to each gunwale. felt sick. very
sick, O'Ferral.
But he had been a white man,
and | was bound TO do something |
drove both canoes back among the
branches. and picketed them with my
paddles while held an inquest on
him. He was raggedly dressed. could
not have been either solsier. skypilot
or trader. and II wasn't nice thing
TO have to do, but did II. ! wanted
some clew. found none.
''As soon as I'D finished ! Topped
down In my own craft. and my fingers
fell on my uncle's letter.
THAT gave me my cue like fash.
Miles Quaintance had left me one
InnnhOio Thara was a nraviaidn an