The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-12-06
CHAPTER XVI.
TWO Messages.

road to his home at the ROoI GrOnd.
1t was a short enough distance-a
bare hours riding-but it was long
enough to give him much time for
thought. With many another Of like
nature. he quickly moulded. His sell
fish impulses swept him into a rough
sea that had no confining bounLa-
ries of rectitude. He preferred to
run before the wind of his feelings
rather than keep head to sea on a
laid course. He was neryously cheer
full when he reached Joe Schumann's
little canvas store.
Three days sufficed to distribute
his orders for the preparations nee
essary for his long trek. He need
ed "salted" trek oxen, which Schu-
mann was TO obtain for him from
the northern Transyaal; his supplies
were to come from Pretoria, and the
Katfirs accompanying him were to
be procured from distant points, so
that none might know them, and
they might know nobody in the dis
trict. Secrecy was his object, there
fore nothing was TO be obtained
within fifty miles of Mafeking. The
wagon and all his supplies were to
await him at a point on the Molopo
River, seventy-two miles west OF
Mafekng. hence he would embark
on his journey through the "thirsts
of the desert.
He knew his business. He had
served too long an apprenticeship
to the life of the frontier to fail
in his preparations. He could do
all that with perfect skill and care.
1t was not in such matters that
he was likely to fail.
All these things arranged for, he
turned his attention to plans that
were more secret still-plans that
he hugged TO himself and which
even his comrades were unaware Of,
His month was all TOO short, yet
longer time would hardly have serv-
ed him better, for he was never a
man to delay.
The fourth morning after his re-
turn from Sitlagoli found him sit
ting on a plank and trestle counter
in Joes store.
That is all we have to see to,
joe" he said, looking into the ferret
face and squirting eyes of the trad
er lounging on sack of mealies
beside a barrel of cape smoke
Il mustn't be seen purchasing a
thing The whole thing must be
kept the profoundest secret. / don't
want even a pound of sugar from
your stock, or from any one else's
in Mafeking. I've look to you.
And remember, all your care and
trouble will bring its reward a hun
dredfold-later BY the way, I'm go
ing down to Grootfontein tomor-
row. may go to Kunwana, but I'm
not sure. | sent word to Mick to
meet me. There's a nice fat dis
trict wants stirring up down that
way. We must keep the bot boiling.
suppose you haven't a notion of
Joining in.?"
Joe shook his head and grinned
IT'S no good to me. I'm on the
wrong side of the border for Groot-
fontein. I'm on for any Kaffir bait
ing over Mafeking way. It's easier
and more profitable, and would be
doing the country a service in get
ting rid of a few of those black
devils. But on this side, amongst the
Boers-not for me. You see, I'm a
peaceful trader here. They might
realiate."
Yes. / suppose you're right. Your
little concern is much too useful
to us to risk it," Guys eyes became
sombrely thoughtful. However, we
! Uldy operate NdlchlhS way pciolt
I go And then"
Count me in"
Guy smiled at the little mans
eagerness.
You've made a goodish bit here
in this deserted region, Joe?'
so, So" The Jew was uppermost
at once.
"Ah, yes. It's always so. so with
your people. | wish was like that.
go for the spurs every time. It's
no use to me in small bits. That's
the difference between our races"
There's more difference than
that. You are the men who make
money eor us You are the seive; we
are the receptacle Underneath. You
retain the useless stones, We get
the sifted mould. 1t comes to us
in minute particles, but it is pure