The Winslow mail., 1924-04-04
Al Diamonds
E}lkS E}lSl Of Malopo
A9atn A5tR'ee i By
I IYMN VICTOR
Z Y1N1R-A) ROUSSEAU
TNNM
~ VIC
oopyRlotir by VIC cHAPr1Ara

Winton dropped the whip at his feet.
You can consider that ON Miss Sea-
toms account he said. "Our reckon
ing viii come later. You can CO."
De Witt, disheveled and bleeding,
staggered up. I've got something to
tell you," he whispered hoarsely, and
the eagerness Of his purpose seemed fer
the moment to thrust away his rage.
II won't hear you" shouted Winton,
taking up the whip again. Zone word
and I'll thrash you like the hound you
are. And II ever you dare come to this
house again, or to Miss Seaton-"
De Witt shrank back. you think
there's no law in Malopo, maybep he
muttered. you'll pay for this-in
jail, you swine!"
But as Winton stepped toward him
he made off along the road. And Win
ton let the whip fall from his. hand.
1t was his second assault that day
and it had brought him no nearer
Sheila. But he had saved her.
She had sunk, fainting, upon the
ground. Winton bent over her and
raised her. "Sheila!' he cried, and,
yielding to his overpowering impulse,
he kissed her on the lips.
She opened her eyes and shuddered,
and looked at him in piteous appeal.
"Let me go! Why did you ever come
into my life?" she moaned
"Sheila, love you. You were going
to sacrifice yourself for your father.
1t was wrong. You do not love that
man."
She smiled wanly. "If he had told
you the rest" she whispered
81 don't care what more that liar
had to say. love you, SheiIa, and l
believe in you, in your goodness. l am
going to make you my wife"
'If you knew, you would turn from
me in loathing.'
"Sheila, you are as good and true as
any girl in the world"
"Oh, if he knew If you could
guessn'
Dear, I love you. Let that suffice.
l can make you love me-"
She shook her head with her uncon-
querable obstinacy. Never she an
swered
Winton held her, by the wrists ana
looked at her, and she returned his
gaze, steady-eyed immovable.
rs it that you cannot love met" he
asked at last.
She nodded; but the nod itself was
u denial of its meaning. Then she be-
gan speaking with intense earnestness
There is something that makes it
impossible. l tried to warn you from
the first, and you would not be warned.
| cannot tell you. l want you to think
of me"-her voice broke for a mo-
ment-"as you saw me in the coach
coming from Taungs. You may not
know that you are the first man in the
world, the only man who has ever
treated me as woman hopes to be
treated, with Difference, with respect.
That barrier has cut me off from the
world"
"MOrbidness, Sheila. Your fathers
troubles have preyed on your mind"
Il want you to think of me as you
thought of me that day. And 1 shall
not trouble you again.
You have helped me more than you
dream. But it is all useless. 1 can't
say any more"
Her gesture was of irrevocable dis
missal
Promise me one thing" cried Win
ton desperately. THAT you will never
sacrifice yourself for your fathers sake
TO that manr
Il shall not see my father again."
she answered. Let this be good-by.
Don't be alarmed about me. l am go
Ing tO--tO friends"
Her sobs choked her. She ran into
the house And Winton, waiting, saw
the light blown out; and, turning, he
made his way back along the dreary
street utterly sick in spirit, toward
Malopo and the diamond claim