The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-13
The COMPACT
The Story of An
TTnrecorded Conspiracy
In South Africa
by
RIDGWELL CULLUM
Author of
ssThe Watchers of the Palms," "The
Night-Riders," etc.
Continued from Page 49,

bilities in cases of sickness, she had
the next best thing-a quiet devotion
to 1.-THE masters" wife, and a faculty
for doing what she was told with
dispatch and thoroughness.
1t was not until later that Elwood
was able to fully appreciate the sterl-
ing worth of his friends at the Mis-
sion. At the time it seemed per-
er should take his place on the con-
templated journey. He knew that
whatever happened the work they
were engaged upon must be carried
out, and he would never have thought
Of abandoning his journey. But the
missionary had promptly assumed the
responsibility, and insisted that he
had no earthly right to leave Mafe-
king while Mary was in danger. This
was the difference between the two
men. While Elwood only saw the
sternest side of his duty, Verricker
saw another side. He would take his
friends place. In spite of his years
he would sacrifice his comfort and
face every danger and hardship IN
the cause of friendship, so that the
other might fulfil his duties towards
his wife without detriment to his
worldly obligations.
Thus Elwood found himself left to
oF N
solitary contemplation Of his own
thoughts.
That he was wounded, aye, sorely
wounded, there could be no doubt.
But he gave no sign. No one could
pass the outward mask which nature
had set up for the safeguarding of
his innermost thoughts and feelings.
His rugged face bore no trace of suf-
fering, his quiet eyes remained I'M
dirnmed, his lips permitted no chance
word of complaint to escape them,
his hands were controlled by nerves
Of steel Whatever his affliction, ne
kept it hidden. eN
The days passed: week, two
weeks. There was no change from
the anxious watching. His whole in
terest seemed to be bound up in the
life and death struggle being waged
in the sick-room. He was never per-
mitted to see his wife; but every
morning, every noon, every night, he
received Emily verricker's report, ac-
cepting her verdict without question,
often without comment. And during
that time he carried on the work of
the farm, moving about amongst his
Kaf1r boys, but never absenting him
self long enough to miss receiving a
single bulletin.
1t was at the end of the third week
that the crisis in the fever came
Mary passed it successfully, and he
was told that as far as human proba-
bilities went she would recover. She
had returned to consciousness.
For a few brief moments he was
permitted to see her. But it was not
for speech; merely that he might
feast his patient eyes upon the wan
form, now, at last, free from the rag
ing fires of fever and peacefully rest
ing in childlike slumber.
And when he passed out of the
sick-room change had come over
him. His eyes were no longer quiet;
there was a deep, slow fire in them
which said far more than any words
But it was only his etes that be-
trayed the change.
He passed out of the house into
the light of the golden sunset. Just
FIR a moment he paused on the
stoep, like a man who desires to final
ly review the details of purpose
long since arrived at. His thoughts
were moving swiftly while his ears
listened to the voices of the boys
herding the cattle into the kraals for
the night, and to the evening sounds
that came from the village away to
the left and from the river below
him. There was a wild, melOdiOus
drone in the chanting voices at the
which was very seductive, and
blended tremendously with the inces-
SAINT song OF the frogs down at the
river. A thousand times had he list
eued to these sounds, but never had
they 50 fitted in with his mood till
riow It was the voice of Africa's
wild in tune with the primitive man
stirring within him.
His eyes hungrily devoured the
scene that opened out before him. 1t
was as though he would drink in the
inspiration of Natures virgin work.
He looked upon the vast upland Of
giant rollers beyond the river with
new understanding; broken, dishevel-
led, ragged, the earth spread out like
a breaking sea. 1t was like the view
of an ocean, so distant seemed the
skyline where earth and heavens met
Everywhere the purple shadows gath
cred under the bushes Of thorn, and
willow, and blue gum; and the
tawny grass of the veldt reflected thu
red and gold of the suns dying light.
The sky was slashed with a myriad
hues, glowing and fading like the
light of the FREELY already moving
among the remoter shadows down by
the river, and finally eliminating in
the furnace-like glare of the evening