Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-03-15
CHAPTER VIlI-c ontlnued.

Sam, and 1t was arranged that he was
to enter upon his Iuties at the end Ct
the week, reliey'A Ned, who stu Or
cupied the brick shanty but was plan
ming to board at a cottage on the
MalOpO road.
Winton had now reached the point
where the immediate sale Of the big
stone had become inevitable. He had
@nd a quantity Of the blue clay-which
is simply the yellow clay before de-
position-crushed with mallets, an
unsatisfactory process. but useful when
the slow process Of decomposition can
not be undergone This had been
passed through the washing troughs
and picked over Not single diamond
had been discovered.
Ned could not understand It, If only
few small stones had been found this
would have been an augury for the
future. Still, little could be gagged as
10 the resources Of the claim from this.
The diamonds might lie compactly at
a lower level But his need Of funds
compelled Winton to enter into nege-
tlations for the sale Of the big stone.
lie showed Il to one OF the jobbels,
who was in Malopo The man agreed
10 advance him fifteen thousand pounds
on it, pending It's valuation. The trans
action WAS to take place on the follow
ing morning.
WintOn had had a day OF intense la
Dor in the compound. looking over the
Eashings. He flung himself down on
his bed without undressing, and fell
asleep almost as soon as his head
touched the pillow. once he awakened
with a start, and, half dreaming stln,
imagined that he heard horse canter
up to the compound. Then he fell
asleep again.
But after a while he began to be
aware of sense of oppression. and
he struggled In that dim borderland be-
tween sleep and waking whore dream
and reality are lnextrlcahiy blended
lie felt as If invisible fingers weSe
clawing at his throat, so that each
breath became an effort For a long
time he was unable to shake himself
free from the bonds OF sleep. At last
he found that his eyes were open. 1t
was quite dark, but he fancied that
there was a figure ia the room. and he
became aware Of an intolernble, sweet
sickly odor that filed his nostrils.
He must have stirred. for he felt
the hands at his throat again. and was
certain that Il was not halluclnatioa :;
he felt them between periods Of nncou-
sciousness that might have been years
Something damp was against his llps
Winton recognized the odor as that OF
chloroform, and by the faint light Of
the moon that came through the little
window he perceived a mans face beat
over his
He tried to cry for help. but only
hoarse whisper came from his throat
and the saturated handkerchief was
clapped over his nostrlls.
Then followed absolute unconscious.
ness. broken by the distant sound of a
revolver shot, and faint cry Of pain.
Both sounds passed through Wlnton's
mind as meaningless but suddenly he
felt hand upon his shoulder, shaking
him,
With supreme effort he sat up In
bed. The fumes were sunocatlng. but
he managed to spring to his feet and
Stagger toward the window, which had
been opened. Then he saw Sans agi.
tated black face before him.
The man was speaking aud trying
to make him understand Wlnton
could not gather the import OF what
he WAS saying He shook himself free
impatiently and leaned out Of the win
dow, breathing IN the desert air Grad
ually his situation dawned upon him.
What is It, Ssm?" he mumhled
"Mr Garrett. sir come to the next
room They've stolen the diamond
! was watching though my Job doesn't
begin til tomorrow. Come. sir"
Winton stood Up Tie room had
ceased TO revoye about him. but still
swung djzzlly before his eyes. The
moon was sill low It could rot have
been much past midnight Eons seemed
10 have passed since Winton had gone
80 bed at nine
He made his way toward the door.
supported BY Sans arm lie passed
through the open doorway
The outer door was closed. Two
men lay upon the floor against t.. one
was Kash, the Armenian. stone dead.
with bullet through his forehead.
The other was Ned Burns breath.n.
noisiIy. but unconscious. and his head
covered with blood from blow IL Tie
butt Of the revolver which lay beside
hin.
sam caught at Wlnton's arm Il
aeard the shot" he cried. Il was com.
Ing to watch the claim. I .an. and
saw the two Of them attacking AR.
Burns He killed one. the other shot
him and dragged his body inside ana
locked the door. I climbed through
your window and found you uneon-
Rcious from chloroforu.
Win.on began to take In the sltua-