The Winslow mail., 1924-02-01

1uu dSh6u me JuSL now WndC MT.
De Witt had to do with u.s." said Ned,
using words for which I hope you
may be forgiven. There's your answer,
sir. Tomorrow the syndicate gets hold
of the Big Malopo unless you're on
hand in the Chamber of Commerce
building at ten to stop it,
'Tll be there" answered Winton.
Remember, they'll stop you if they
can, and by now they know that you're
in Malopo. 1t may be they're making
their plans while we sit talking here.
Go home, Mr.. Garrett, and stay there.
Keep among the crowd. Don't obey
no messages, nor go to meet nobody.
Where Is it?"
''The Continental"
1.-THE best place. Stay there all the
evening. See your windows fastened.
Put something against your door.
Keep your revolver handy"
i've never owned a revolver in my
life said Winton.
Ned Burns made a clucking sound
and, opening the drawer, pulled out a
small automatic. '"Take this, Mr.. Gar
rett," he said. "You may need it. It's
loaded. That'll be all. Except. re-
member not to talk alone to strangers
"No there's something more," said
Winton. II came away without my
breakfast. Can you give me a bite,
Mr.. Burns?"
Ned Burns shook his head as If he
thought Winton uncommonly green.
But he took some bread and bacon
from closet, and, going to the door,
began to build little fire of sticks in
front of the shack. Soon Winton was
eating with more relish than he had
felt since he had landed.
I'll do what you say, Mr.. Burns" he
said, when the meal was ended. "And
don't worry about your job. We stand
together. 1t seems like Providence, my
turning up at this time"
SIT Is Providence" answered Burns.
Half a minute, Mr.. Garrett. Well
see what the book has to say about it."
| He brought the Bible out of the
shack, opened it, and began to read:
"One young bullock one ram, one he
lamb of the first year, Cor a burnt offer
ing; one male of the goats for a sin
offering; this was TIE oblation of Ahira
the son of Enan."
He closed the Book. "We win, Mr..
Garrett" he said in q tremulous voice.
"We win"
"How do you make that out?" asked
Winton
''It's as plain as pikestaff, sir. The
young bullock is the Big Malopo. The
rams Judge Davis. The he-lamb of
the first year is yourself. The male Of
the goats for sin offering is Mr.. De-
Witt, who's to be punished for his
SINS
"And Ahira, the son of Enan?" asked
Winton.
That's the big diamond" responded
Ned.
1t was evident that the watchman
had not yet learned of the supposed
robbery, and Winton did not think it
necessary to enlighten him. He bade
him good-by and turned toward Malopo.
But his mind was in a whrl, and, feel
ing the need of being alone in order to
think, Winton retraced his steps after
he had gone some distance, crossed the
diamond fields by means of a success
sion of plank paths, and made his
way into the desert.
Winton tramped on, turning over in
his mind all that Ned Burns had told
him. His coming had certainly been
providential Doubtless De Witt and
Davis, believing that they would never
be- troubled by him, had felt secure in
their scheme. The Big Malopo was to
be wound up and reconstructed, prob
ably a trif1ing sum would be sent to
Archie, and Judge Davis would be the
ruler of the diamond fields
He meant to stop that game. But
the thought of Sheila kept intruding
into the situation, and of Seaton, under
De Wits thumb.
The sun was low in the west, and
the cool of the afternoon was refresh
ing as he made his way back toward
Malopo. He crossed the fields, passed
through the new suburb, and found
himself among the street crowds again.
A few minutes later he was ascending
the steps that led up to the stoep of
the Continental, where a group was
still discussing the absorbing topic Of
the robbery.
Winton, lingering among the men for
few moments, drew the conclusion
that no progress had been made so far
in the solution of the mystery.
He might have waited but as he
stood there he saw little man with
a heavy mustache standing d little
way beyond the thrOng and regarding
him attentively. WintOn did not like
the little mans face, and he suddenly
remembered Neds injunctions. He
knew that if he remained the little
man would accOst him.
He was turning away when the sup
per bell began to ring in the hall.
One or two men got up, and Winton
went with them toward the room where