The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-27

| : = 5: = E 2. 5 H = | . 5 N@8&W the German storekeeper, setting o, H@A his latest novelties, keeping up, meanwhii | h8 A8 running fire of chaf with the Pond lEAA&# girl who had come insolent1y tip to u NSASkSsM counter to demand gift He had give kHS4i NM her frecracker and was trying to indue her to make purchase, to which end
 M4@ displayed glass beads, bracelets, and anld
 pieces of copper wire, cheap mirror
 blankets, and boxes of stale sweetneat
 ali of which had arrived at M'Pala by til xid-week coach that carried the mails and goods int that edge of Africa.
 by to-nights coach, he said in Zulu. "Good-good! He thrust box of caramels into her hand Tax one; good-goodP' he reiterated, and unfolded I'll with green lion rampant upon background 0 crimson.
 Williams his help from corner near tn telegraph instrument, where he had been opening case of whisky, and brushed the dust from his knees
 "Here comes Murchison MT. Brausch," he called pointing outside. Over the brown plains horsemal was riding in pony. Come into M Palla fo his monthly spree He looks though he's going tt have tumble before he gets here"
 Brausch glanced out through the door. "Good!' h' said rubbing his fat hands together. Get out tha rotgut whisky and some glasses. And you keep his glass full Williams. got to make my books balance this week, and trades rotten
 Williams laughed A young lieutenant of the Rifles came striding from the mud huts across the road which housed his bakers dozen of soldiers. He was just from England and the tan had not quite obt efated the pinky freshness of his cheeks He halted at the door and looked back to where Murchison was riding slowly n his hands limp his ponys neck, his eyes ha closed his body reeling each stride of his mount It was the autoats of habit that kept Muir chison in the saddle ss5 q s7f
 Trade bad did you Sy Brausch ," asked the lieuten ant turning into the store T suppose you know why that is don't you? These Pondos saving up their money to buy muzzle-loaders
 "Mein Got Lieutenant you don't take no stock in them stories about rising, do you cried the store keeper huskiy, glancng round in disay at his stock of perishable goods
 Cant tell" answered the other struggling his shoul- ders We've got to be ready, that's all You know the Dutch settlers leaving their farms and going into camp. The trouble s we've heard this talk so long that we've lost faith in it. and when the rising does itn take us by surprise
 Brausch looked at the lieutenant fearfuly That the government was prepared for trouble with the tribes was evident from the fact that it had the young officer, with his half troop, to garrison M Palla but then what could fourteen do if the countryside revolted? The memory of the Zulu kings and their terrible armies was fresh in the minds of manynot old men, either.
 As Brausch leaned toward the lieutenant his counter Murchison rened in his pony at the door, dis mounted and staggered inside. The lieutenant regard ing him contemptuously saw man of about thirty years dressed in rough country clothes dsheyeed sod den, and bearing curious hang-dog look which was the more intoerable because its still bore the stamp of gentleman Outside the soldiers grinned and exchanged audible comment. Murchison heard and his head sank lower He glanced round him furtively and, sighting the Pondo girl addressed her roughly in Zulu 'Nho gave thee permission to leave thy kraal?" The girl leered at him and wned at the storekeeper Murchison dropped his eyes. Brausch came up and slapped him effnsiyely upon the shoulder
 Good day, Mir Murchison, very pleased to see you back again" he said, unctuously T have some new things in that you look overust for the pleas ure of showing them to you even you don't want thing. Your bedrooms ready for you as long as you want to stay, sir Williams, get out that very old Scotch You'll take rest in the paror of course MT. Murchson?"
 Murehson nodded and tnsteadily took the glass of whisky which Williams handed him and drained it. The assistant who evidently understood the course of pro- ceaure conducted the visitor into inner room con- taining lounge and table. On this latter he placed the whisky with tumbler and bottle of water. Mur
 son poured out liberal and stretched him- ee,f out to rest Williams withdrew closed the door carefully and winked expressively.
 ~fIow long'n he stay?' asked the lieutenant.
 AHVhy. he's generally good for days, Mir. Churchill" said Brausch, snickering.
 "ft must be darned uncomfortable when mans gone r.et on his own color" unused Williams Don't you s,,ooose n ralls him. Mr. Churchill to know there ant decent white man in this section of Pondoand would deal him a friendly hand drink with him-ouside business, of course" he added, with a deprecatng glance at the glasses.
 "Kafsr chief isn't he ?" asked the lieutenant
 "That's about the size of it,, Mr. ChurchilL the assistant answered. And yet five years ago, when the settlers came into these parts there wasn't dccenter fellow in our column than him Young Enghshnan- me of them public-school men, he'd done something in England and there was gal said she'd marry him if he went abroad and stayed straight for year But he couldn't keep away from booze, and you know how that knocks the stufing out of was with him in rutcherss column when the Pondos cut up our rear rnard He saved Butcher himself at Makeshla when 2 s.,,oi. If Pondos had him down and were trying to