The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-07

quire." put in Guy quietly.
 The deep, oval eyes of the tradel turned upon the speaker. Your work is progressing?"
 Guy laughed.
 Trust me-" he Nexclaimed."I yol three look to the details I'll see tha 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 Cha1mer. As z man of action he was unsurpassed. IT this direction he was the leader ol their little enterprise.
 Sixty boys coming up, and nor. to follow" said Mike, in his lag, fashion. All of 'em new to the country, and bursting with everything youth can give 'em--except money and brains
 The old man nodded. Talk went on solemnly in the covert manner o1 men whose plans are secret. Guy Chalmers grew impatient of the quiet accurate detail of Sam Goodall and the monosyl1abic 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 3 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 aligh1 with enthusiasm.
 'It's 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 weak-kneed Government which has made our little game pos sible. In a year or two's time who can say what our position will be? I don't think we shall be sitting ir the bare back-room of an up-country store planning in secret.'' .'No,'' murmured the trader, in thoughtful response. lc 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.
 1t was Sam Goodall who saw the drift of the old mans thought. He had broached subject which had been in the younger mans mind for a long time.
 You refer to the agent and no! to the principal how,'' 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's?"
 Both are places in Stellaland ana Goshen" replied the trader, with meaning.
 'wen?"
 Guy Chalmer was at all times inn petuous. He chafed at the old mans restraining influence.
 There 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. Anglicised Boer; Herman FL wood. hunter, explorer" he said counting the three off on his fingers "Not a very formidable crew.
 ..All distinctly able men," said Good all, from his bale of blankets.
 'But not spies or agents of Cecil Rhodes" Chalmer exclaimed with heated decision.
 ''The missionary has other inter ests in the country besides the black souls of the Kaff1rs," said Jerry "Piet Kotze has acted on the side of the British all through the late war Ferman Elwood is always moving about the country without any appar. ent object. He is wealthy, and he i. the idol of the natives. What is his object?~ Why does he not return to civilization? What keeps him here?"
 f; rth 'omln. to the traders challenge It was Guy who suoke at last.
 All If tn .se are up-country of us We cut com nunic ons between them and he Cape. There is little to fear" He slsrugged disdainfully 'They must not stand in our way