The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-16


 Well, this freebooting business is getting serious. Nothing in the shape of Kaffir property within ten miles of border is safe. At present white people are respected, that is, except the Boers These rascals do not stand at trifies. Murder and de- struction do not come amiss. As far as I can make out, on the Boer side, all the adjacent farmers are in it, and the retaliatory band on this side, some hundred and fifty strong, made up chiefly of the scum of Kimberley, work their depredations regardless of which side of the border they are on. Not only this, but the game has spread to more distant ranges. learn that the Damaraland border is disturbed. The country will soon be af1ame with a pitiless war between Kaffir and white man, and the old racial atrocies of Cape Colony will be repeated. There is only one hope for Bechuanaland. It is the firm hand of man like Rhodes. But this brings us to the wearisome sub ject of politics.
 And when do you think-'
 "Oh, you will be safe enough. I'll see to that" he went on, mistaking her meaning. Before the trouble be- comes general you will be out of the country. It will be months, even years Hallo! what's that boy do- ing over there with that dog?"
 He had caught sight of the black imp who was now torturing the yell low cur and making it howl by pinching it's tail between two sticks, est. even delight, that had so sud- denly brought brightness to his wife's eyes and animated her wan face. He was telling her of those things which interested him, and had always been kept from her becauses, he said, she could not understand. Now she turned eagerly to the win- dow.
 The boy looked up, and, seeing their faces turned in his direction, grinned till the corners of his mouth seemed in danger of reaching his ears. But his eyes were fixed on Elwood's face intently. And it was the woman's instinct that first fathomed the child's meaning.
 Y1 time. Don't you think he is endeav- bring to draw your attention?"
 The man looked quickly into his wife's smiling face. There was no responsive smile on his. He only wondered at her. He rose quickly from his chair and passed out of the room.
 Mary saw him pass out of the house and cross the road to where the boy was still squatting. She saw him pause, and heard his deep voice talking in Kaffir to the mis- chievous imp. Then she saw the lat ter ihand him a small piece of bam- boo. Then, as he strode back to the house, the boy abandoned himself to the amusement of inscribing hiero- glyphics in the loose sand of the road with his black finger. Her interest was alive, and she wondered if Fer man would tell her the meaning of it all when he came back. She hop ed he would. If she could only contrive to let him understand that she was interested, even anxious to share in what she had come to be- lieve were his secret labours. It was not curiosity. It was a longing she did not understand. Only she knew it hurt her more than all else for him to thrust her aside like some useless doll.
 But it was some time before he came back to her, and as the mo- ments crept by her hopes began to die out. ''How could it be other wise now?" she asked herself. His love for her was dead. Perhaps, even, he was glad of the excuse for leaving her. She was a fool to hope.
 Presently, however, her heart gave a bound as she heard his footsteps again in the passage. He came into the room, and her eager, questioning eyes saw that he was holding a crum- pied piece of paper in his hand. But her reviving hopes were dashed at his first words.
 "1've told Tanta to come and sit with you, Mary" he said. "I'm sor- ry, but I'm afraid I can't stay any longer. I've just received some i'm portant news that requires immediate attention. You were right, that boy wanted me. I may have to SC ] away for few days. Do you feel we'll enough to be left alone with l Emily and Tanta?''
 1 "Yes, if it's necessary for you to l go. What is it?"
 The man shrugged his shoulders expressively.
 That I can't tell you," he said seriously. "Only the matter is of the gravest importance"
 Mary shrank into herself at the 1 co1dness of the rebuff. It was nc use, he would not have her in his