The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-28
In Which a Man and a Woman Mis-
Understand Each Other.

EtNOOu SlIOue uN way
Leaving the maze of Kaffir kraals
behind him he walked briskly off
in the direction of Bernard Keller
mans store. 1T was some distance
away outside the limits OF the vii
lage, long, low building with its
corrugated iron roof cleaning white
in the fierce sunlight For awhile
he had put the subject of his talk
with Mrs. Verrcker out of his mind
Deeply as her warning had concerned
him, other matters for he mOmeu.
| came foremost.
His horse was standing detected
ly at the tie-post, swishing its long
tail in a vain attemp 10 resist the
attack of swarm of pesilential
flies. Is attitude was one of utter
resignation; con-dtion which the
atmosphere of Africa breeds in man
and beast alike. He smoothed his
hand affectionately over the poor
beasts heated flanks and passed
into the store.
His business with the Jewish pro-
prietor occupied another hour. Kel
lerman was a leisurely but earnest
trader, and for the owner of the
| farm beyond the village he always
had liberal time, and an excellent
imported cigar. He knew the length
| of this customers purse, and never
tired Of his friendly struggle to loos-
en- its strings. But it was always the
same. Elwood listenel to him in his
thoughtful way, accepting his cajol
cry and asserting to all he said and
advised, and, in the end purchasing
just what he came to purchase, and
nothing more.
Having exhausted the mans impor.
tunities, and incidentally arranged
for the victualling of his expedition,
he mounted his horse and turned its
, head homewards. His way took him
I through the outskirts of the village
in the shadow of the Wide-spreadng
parq-like trees and at the drift he
paused to water his horse.
The farm, some four hundred
yards distant, stood on the brow of
the upland in full view of the river.
Half the intervening space was COW
cred with low scrub two or three
feet high, and dotted here and there
with solitary camel-thorn trees. Be
yoni this the open veldt stretched
away in every direction, a vast
pasture-land rising and falling in
great blllows not unlike the Ameri-
can prairies.
dash of crude color amidst the
tawny green of the scene before him
caught the horseman's eye while
he was in the act of readjustng his
bride. The object was set close in
beneath the shade of an unusually
large bush at the dividing line where
the plain opened out. Instantly he
recognized it. and his attention be-
came fixed 1t was the blanket-clad
figure of the niger he had seen
stealthily making his way towards
the farm while he was talking to
Emily Verricker.
The man was crouching down on
his launches with his back turned
to him. Nor did it need a second
glance to tell him that he was in
hiding. His whole attention seemed
to be fixed upon the house. Elwood
was interested, and, instead of re-
mounting, he off-saddled his horse
and flung his accoutrements down
besi'ie a bush. Then, leaving the
animal to its own devices, he pro-
ceeded to stalk his quarry.
He came upon the Kaffir like a
bolt from the blue.
What are you doing here?" he
asked sharply in Baralong.
The man faced about with a des-
perate jump His ugly black face
was a pictureof surprise and dis.
may and for awhile the question
remained unanswered. The fellows
mental faculties seemed to be par
alyzed by the suddenness of the chal-
lenge. This white man was certainly
the last person he wanted to encoun-
ter.
What mischief are you up to?"
demanded Elwood, still more rough
ly.
Into the Kaffir's eyes came a look
of dogged resignation.
81 have briefie,' he said sullenly
at last.
"Who is it for and why do you
skulk here?' his interrogator asked
again, while he tried to recall the
mans face. He felt sure he had
seen it before
"It hot I sit hera hv tho ebada -