The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-28
THE COMPACT
w.
Storyofan Unrecorded Conspiracy in South Africa

/ tell me who it's FORE
The staring eyes dropped before
the cold command of the others.
/ Suddenly Elwood remembered. He
had a wonderful memory for Kaffir
/ faces.
You come from Kunwana. You
were working at the store. Who sent
you here with letter.
The niger rolled his eyes. His
fear was evident, but perpleXity
troubled him most. Corner KAT
| fir and he always becomes the vic
tim of doubt as to what course to
pursue, and generally lies; equiyo-
cation is second nature to him.
Amongst the natives Fermain FL
wood was regar.ed as something more
than an ordinary human being, there
fore the fellow restorted to no fur
ther subterfuge, but promptly threw
over the lesser light and flung him
self upon the mercy of the great
! er.
The briefje for vrouw-your
vrouw, baas. work by Baas Chal-
mer, and he stay at ROOF Grond
now. We leave Kunwana long time
The white mans eyes remained
deadly cold, and the man shrank
visibly before them.
Give me the briefje."
And there was that in his tone
that decided the Kaffir more quick
ly than any effort of his own could
have done. He produced a carefully
| folded note from the inner recesses
of his blanket and handell it over.
The other took the missive and
turned it over and over in his hand,
staring at it with eyes suddenly dar-
llened with intense feeling. The
Kaffir watching him had no prop
er understanding. All he was think
ing of was his own safety. He be-
/ lieved this big white man had the
power of life and death where he
and his people were concerned
Should he escape? or that other
he thought little He would go back
and tell him that he had given the
and demand his reward. 1t was quite
simple. Then he would take himself
off before the truth could be dis
covered. But this man was different.
He felt that he could reach him
with dire punishment at any time,
and wheresoever he might be.
But his fears were put at rest
when he saw the arbiter of his fate
5raw a shilling from his pocket. Just
for moment Elwood hesitated and
looked at it thoughtfully, while the
Kaffir's eyes glistened. Then he
dropped the coin at his feet and
walked off in the direction of the
house without a word, leaving behind
him not a grateful heart, for the
Kaffir knows no gratitude, but
creature with fresh and wonder
fully picturesque tale to tell to his
people of "baas" Elwood.
Tanta Shepherd swung round from
her pastry-boariL She was startled by
the unusual sharpness of Elwood's
voice.
rs Mary back yet?" he demanded
thrusting his head in at the kitchen
doorway.
mo, MASTER
He was gone before the old WON
an had completely focused him
through her glasses. The fleeting
glimpse she caught of him gave her
no enlightenment, and in response
to her feminine curiosity, she shut
fled to the door and watched him
striding over to his two wagons.
They were standing side by side
in the center of what might have
been called the farmyard, except
that it was only bounded by the
scattered oubuildings.
She saw him mount one of the We
hicles and begin to remove a large
bed-laartel from its fastenings. Then
she turned to her work with an ON
nous shake of her head.
He continued steadily at his work
until the clatter of horses hoofs
old him that Mary had returned.
Glancing up he watche1 her dis
mount at the sable-doOr and hand
her horse over to Saturday; but