The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-12-17
lave laughed ana yelled"


"In this case, yes" he said. "They
most certainly would, because they
had no direct responsibility. But
where responsibility attaches the rule
for rlen is life for life, and it's q
rule that has no exceptions. Anyone
can brain woman if he feels like it
and get away with the Identical obolo
her husband paid for lrer."
"YOu seem to be great adrnircr of
the native social SYSTEM" said ADdrea
quietly.
II am" answered M'sungo. "For
natives, Of course"
"Are you sure you're not bit taint-
ed with it for yourself?"
"Surc," he answered promptly.
That's part Of the secret Of my grip
on every country I've shot over. I'm
aloof. I've never turned my back on
the White MINIS God. Circular A Is
not for me-"
whats Circular Az"
He hesitated. "Circular A." he said
finally, "is the regulation that governs
the relations between British officials
under the colonial office and the wom-
en- Of the tribes they govern"
'I'm British" said Andrea, after a
pause, "and blush for the necessity"
"You are prompt. like most of u.s."
said M'sungo, "to sit in Judgment be-
fore any force Of nature that you've
never felt. Poor devils Of clcan-bred
youngsters! Take one that I knew.
Three weeks training under his prcde-
cessor, crazy to leave; hundred
thousand natives under his sole rule
one, perhaps two, bearded white faces
year. The long, long days after the
sportsman has been swallowed by the
pOt-hunter, when game becomes just
meat! And then. the fatal hour at
dusk when passing native glrl--any
girl--looks to him like some woman at
home! He marrles, not by canonicals
perhaps, but by the common law Of
the land and the people Mt horna'
shout cruelty him. hut In the end It's
God alone that will judge his agony
and measuye the price"
He stopped speaking and for long
time they travelled In silence. The sun
was sinking fast-s0 fast that it
seemed to be dropping by jerks, like
the loose hand Of grandfnthcr's
clock.
"There Is no twilight In the tropics"
said M'sung0, "by the deliberate Iudg-
ment OF God who knows the capacity
of the chart of man and would not
have 1t burst"
II can feel what you mean," an
swcred Andrea, ''evcn though you
haven't really said 1t in words. The
and no more; and even now. mine Is
aching!"
"Andrea Pellor,' said M'sungo. "you
have the faculty of your sex. You
have pinned Tie butterfly"
She felt sudden rcvulSion rage
at this man. this stranger, who talked
M she imagined he would fght. with
out gloves. Her eyes narrowed. "By
the way when Marguerite bolted. Just
what was 1t you shdttcd at mc?'
He paused In his stride so suddenly
that the doing donkey butted into him
and almost Knocked him over. "Eh?
W!nt?" he asked to gain time.
"Come on" persisted Andrea. "Just
say 1t again--what you shouted"
"Well," lied M'sungo. "I may not
remember the exact words, but It was
to the effect that you'd better head
him or or jump on"
Something like that" said Andrea
!ncisivcly. "only shorter. You yelled,
Marry him or jump Off
II believe you're right" said M'sun-
go. and added. apologetically, "You
see, didn't have much time to think"
"Exactly" said Andrea. "Instlnc-
lively all you saw was a Joke, like
every niger in the line. You didn't
care what happened to me. might
have been Drained under that tree
and you knew 1t and all you could
think Of was that you just had time to
get in one more nasty bit OF cleverness
beforc-before I died."
"Oh, no." protested M'sungo. "Go
easy. now, Why, Marguerite has done
that dozens Of times. He knows ex-
actly how to slice of his rider. And
besides, he always stops"
"But whnt if he hadn't--what IL he
had?" continued Andrea hotly. "Oh,