The Winslow mail., 1924-03-07

the Armenian screaming wildly behind
him. he reached the passage just as
the light went out. An electric bell be-
gan ringing. There was a scurrying Of
feet at the end Of the passage, where q
faint glsam Of daylight showed. When
Winton reached 1t he saw 4 second
Eight Of steps. and, ascending these, he
found himself in the syndicate COM
pound, with gang Of half a dozen ma
tives flying before him in all directions.
He went back, to find that the trap
door had been closed and b0lted be-
hind him. 1t was of hard oak, and re-
sisted all his furious efforts to force 1t.
There was nothing to do but to go back,
and Winton reached the second fight
just In time to prevent a second trap
door at the bottom Of the wooden gal
lery being shut on him by one of the
natives, who, seeing Winton, ran off as
fast as he could 60.
The ludicrousness of the incident
might have tempered Winton's anger,
but for the memory Of Daddy SeatOn,
lying unconscious on the floor. He
went back to Kash's store. The little
storekeeper wes standing where he had
been behind the counter, and still blink
ing.
II sell no drink p he protested, fling
Ing out his hands. 'n you beat me /
have you arrested. These men from
the compound, sair, they get their
drink from other mans"
"What do you have trap-door for,
Kash? And why did you shut 1t on
me?'
''The trap-door lead to the cellar,
sair, where keep things cold. Those
native mans make tunnels everywhere.
I shut on you because fear you beat
ms. sair."
"Your instinct was a sound one,
Kash," said Winton grimly. There
are few things 1 should like better"
He leaned across the counter and
shook his fist very deliberately under
Kash's nose. Listen carefully" he
said. You'd better, because / don't
speak twice. II ever l catch you selling
or white, or yellow, I'll break every
bone in your carcass"
Disregarding the little traders vol
ubis protests he went back to his
claim, to find Seaton standing at the
door Of the cottage. The cid man
recognized him and came staggering
toward him..
"Tll be going, Mr.. Garrett" he said
thickly. Report work tomorrow How
much you going to pay meY
He stood swaying backward and for
ward, smiling foolishly into Winton's
face. Winton repressed his disgust
with a strong effort.
How about the drink, Seaton?' he
asked.
whats the matter with drink y de-
manded Seaton.
''I'n have no drinking in my COM
pound. What about your promise of an
hour or so ago? Is this the way you
intend to keep it?'
'Yhats all right" mumbled Seaton.
"Just drop, ole man. Last time"
Suddenly he took fright at Wintons
look Gimme another chance" he
begged. For the Lords sake, gimme
another chance"
He laid his skinny, shaking fingers
on the lapels of Winton's coat.
Gimme chance for Sheila's sake" he
begged. "You know Sheila. Fine girl.
Best girl in MalopO. De Wits been
after her ever since he saw her last
time. When he knew her before she
was too little for him. Now he's taken
fancy to her. Want save her from De
Witt. She dunno what / know. De
Witt dunno. Some day I'll tell EN-
Won't tell 'em now. Girl might leave
me. You like her, eh? Gimme chance
on count of her.
The shrewd, old, odious face peered
into Winton's.
Gimme another chance / want save
her from De Witt. Hes got wife down
country. Maybe two of EN-. Some day
I tell 'em all joke about her. Open
their eyes. You gimme another chance,
Mr.. Garrett, and I'll have joke on De
Witt, and bring her here where he
can't get at her"
That's enough" cried Winton, and
he was surprised at the hoarseness of
his voice Il don't want te hear any
thing more from you about Miss Sea
ton. I'll give you one more chance,
and only one. Report for work tomor-
row morning, and Wen get the COM
pound cleaned up"
He watched the old man StagSer
away along the road to Malopo, and his
thoughts tortured him. SO De Witt
had wife down-country, and it was
known, and yet he could annoy SheiIa
But whatever the nature of Seaton s
Staying had been, however stringent the
penalty, it was not right that the girl
should submit to De Wits insults to
save her father.
Seaton was no guardian for her
rather a care, too heavy 20 bear. he