The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-09-16

strikes me-" he remarked
as they set out again
There's no doubt vassalli
- had these diamonds plant
ed when he escaped. and It's most like
ly he stole them. Il must have been
some big burglary Won't their descrip-
ton be known
we shan't ofYer them a. they are"
fools ms to put our necks into a moose
like that They must be broken up
and sold In parcels. That trip to
South Africa and back seems as n u
would have to come on
That means spending money" said
Lloyd.
IT'S laying out capital" replied
IIollins thoughtfully. 'If you want
to do big things you've got TO spend
money on 'em. I reckon we've botn
got a bit put away that we can use ii
we see good return for our outlay"
"Oh. I've saved a bit" said Lloyd.
rive got hundred pounds or 30.
hut shouldn't we give It out that we
were back from South Africa, without
really going there2 We could pretend
we'd been"
And surprising they started asking
us questions about the countryT' said
Hollins. with IA sneer at his compan-
Ions lack OF foresight.
I'VE should look like couple of
fools In that case. No. II you're doing
business. do II In n business-liks fash
ion---that's what ! say"
They had now come to the foot of
the rocks which crowned the Tor and
they paused and looked carefully
about them. Not IA living person was
In sight on that side OF the hill. and
the silence was as oppressive az II
had felt to Lloyd at the moment when
he found himself alone with Vassallfs
dead body.
Neither OF the men spoke as they
climbed up to the top OF the rocks.
both breathed heavily.
Now. then" said Hollins. as they
came to the top. Lets see n there n
anybody about on the other side"
They crossed the little plateau and
looked over The land was Just AZ de-
serted on that side ms on the other;
the only sign Of human existence was
In tho presence or the little mooriand
fnrmstead mile away. from which
iiollins had fetched the pony and cart.
and no figure moved In It's neighbour
hood
Nobody about" said HollinS.
Now. then. let's to work"
lie bent down and lifted the big
stone which Lloyd had placed over
the assure at the point where he had
hIled up the cavity about the did-
monds with heather and brnckrn
Lloyd dropped on his knees. stretched
himself fiat along tho rocks and be.
gan 10 draw out the green stun from
the assure. His head rested on a
ledge or stone as he worked, his arm
was plunged at FUN length into tho
cavity below.
II was at this moment that the in
stinct of murder shot full-named into
Hollinss mind He saw his fellow at
his mercy, his head resting against
the ledge of rock. his eyes closing
win the eSertion Of reaching FAR
down into the assure for the SUR
which covered the diamonds, he felt
the heavy stone In his own hands turn
to terrible weapon, aud Tn, demons
OF greed and coyctousuess within HIM
suddenly CAV" willing place To- a dryiI
who urged him to slay In fancy he
could hear the mans skull crack
against tho stuu.
can scarcely reach" begun
Lloyd pantingly MY arms not.
Holllns, with one deep breath. lifrcd
the heavy sion" aud brought II down
with slckonns crash upon his COM
pdnion's head. lie heard the bones 20
ana shut hi eyes at the sound. when
h" opened them second later hr found
ihai he himself had sprung b.sik a
yard or two and was standing croucaed
Ike wild beast with clutched and
shaking hands IN readiness to spring
again IN attack or defense.
hut Lloyd lay suplne across the rs
sure, his body drawn up uglily. as an
insect draws itself up when one trelds
the life out OF II, What could be seen
OF his head under tho stone that stlll
rested upon II was a loathsome mass
OF blood and brains. The life had been
crushed out.
Hollins stood up. sighed deeply
stared round him NJ tho E..ttc,!ng ,ay
and the wide loneliness OF the m0o.s