The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-09


 in Kimberly" replied the trader promptly. "He will pay over two thousand pounds-in gold. Well?"
 Sam Goodalfs eyes lit. It was we'll to be working with large-mfnded man of his own race. If a Jew loves to make money, he also loves to gam ble. And these men were gambling now-playing the greatest game known to man-the game of politi- cal conspiracy.
 Then the first consignment can start in three months" he said.
 That is precisely the time I re- quire,'' put in Guy quietly.
 The deep, oval eyes of the trader turned upon the speaker.
 "Your work is progressing
 Guy laughed.
 three look to the details I'll see that things move. My all is in this, which is nothing but my life-if necessary. Mike has done we'll, too.''
 Jerry smiled as he turned to the giant. He knew Guy Chalmer. As man of action he was unsurpassed. In this direction he was the leader of their little enterprise.
 Sixty boys coming up, and more to follow" said Mike, in his lazy fashion. '.All of 'sm new to the country, and bursting with everything youth can give 'em-except money and brains.''
 The old man nodded. Talk went on solelnnly in the covert manner of men whose plans are secret. Guy Chalmers grew impatient of the quiet accurate detail of Sam Goodall and the monosyllabic interjections of Mike Donovan. The old trader was the only one who interested him, and he was listening rather than talking. He rose from his seat on the table and stepped across the room to where a map of South Africa was hanging up- on the wall. He examined it closely for some time; then he took out a pencil and drew a straight line across the continent, from Damaraland to the eastern boundary of the Trans vaal. A moment later he turned to his friends, his handsome face alight with enthusiasm.
 .It's a great scheme" he cried. Look" And he pointed to the thick black line he had made. We must thank the gods for the unutterable folly of a weak-kneed Government which has made our little game pos sib1e. In year or two's time who can say what our position will be? I. don't think we shall be sitting in the bare back-room of an up-country store planning in secret.'' "No," murmured the trader, in thoughtful response. Jerry's thick lips pursed under the mat of hair which covered the lower part of his face. Three pairs of eyes searched his genial features. At the present moment we occupy the positions of right and left bow CT before the Joker has fallen,'' he went on presently. You see, we don't know if it's out; we don't know who holds it. There are many inter- ests concerned in the matters we are dealing with.''
 "You mean Cecil Rhodes?" sug- gested Guy bluntly. "That man has agents every where" Jerry replied seriously. It was Sam Goodall who saw the drift of the old mans thought. He had preached subject which had been in the younger mans mind for a long time.
 l "You refer to the agent and not to the principal .now," he said sharp ly.
 | "Agents?"
 | Guy made an impatient movement
 "Keppel and Sprague have both disappeared from vryburg," he said quickly. There are four others un- der surveillance at Taung's3' "Both are places in Stellaland ano Goshen,' replied the trader, with meaning.
 l ''Wen?"
 l Guy Chalmer was at all times inn petuous. He chafed at the old mans restraining influence.
 'oThere are men outside the terri. tory. There is the northern from tier" Jerry went on slowly.
 "Mafeking," put in Mike, in ihs di. | rect fashion.
 "Yes, Mafeking,'' nodded Jerry. | Chalmer lauhed easily.
 'John Verriker, missionary; Piet Kotze, Angiicised Boer; Ferman Ei. wood, hunter, explorer" he said counting the three off on his fingers .sNot very formidable crew"
 "All distinctly able men," said Good. all, from his bale of blankets.
 "But not spies or agents of Ceci Rhodes" Chalmer exclaimed witt heated decision
 'The missionary has other inter ests in the country besides the black souls of the Kaffirs,' said Jerry "Piet Kotze has acted on the side o the British all through the late war Ferman Elwood is always movins | ~x,ixt.1.,&