The Winslow mail., 1924-02-01

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The old man stared incredulously at
him. Then he turned into the shack,
beckoning mysteriously to Winton to
follow.
whats the gamer he asked bitter
ly. You amt lying for fun7"
"Read that" said Winton, pulling
Arches letter of Introduction to De
Witt out of his pocket. He had de-
cided impulsively, but, as he was con-
vinced, rightly, to trust Ned Burns.
Parenthetically, he had been recon
ciled to Archie before he left New
York. 1t was impossible to bear Ill
feeling against Archie, and after all,
Archie had done his best. He was
simply incapable.
But was he incapable, or had his
luck held true?
Ned Burns took pair of heavy, sill
ver-rimmed spectacles from a little
table in the shack, drew the letter out
Of the envelope with shaking fingers,
and read 1t. He handed 1t back with
out word, searching Winton's eyes,
though, keenly, with his own. Then,
opening a drawer In the table, he took
out an ancient and much worn Bible.
Lay your hand here" he said, open
ing the book at random. "Now swear
you've told the truth"
That's going little further than
have a mind to, Mr.. Burns" said Win
ter.
AYE, ayev' muttered the old man.
Maybe you're right there. But We'll
soon put your words to the proof of the
Book that never lies"
He took up the Bible and began read
ing from the page at which he had
opened IT.:
'And after him Abdon the son of
Hillel judged Israel. And he had forty
sons and thirty sons sons, that rode on
threescore and ten ass colts; and he
judged Israel eight years." He snapped
the Bible shut. MAN, you've told me
the truth - he cried.
"I believe So" answered Winton.
"But how do you get that sense from
the passage you have been readingY
Man, it's easy. All things are easy
to them that know how to search the
Scriptures. Abdon's Mr.. Davis. Mr..
Davis is the judge, amt he? And
IsraePs Malopo. And the forty sons
and thirty sons sons are the men who
work for the Diamond Fields Syndi-
cate And the threescore and ten ass
colts are the same poor fools them
selves, that work for those swindlers,
and are asses without knowing it.
And the eight years is me, who've
worked for Judge Davis and Mr.. De
Witt these eight years past, here and
in Kimberley, and am discharged at
the end of the month because Mr.. De
Witt has promised the job to some
body else"
''Steady, Mr.. Burns" said Winton.
There isn't going to be any discharg-
ing until I've had my say"
Ned Burns grunted incredulously,
and Winton suddenly felt his heart
full of flaming anger.
Witt got to do with the Big Malopo,
anyway" he asked.
Ned Burns laid hand on his shoul-
der. "Mr. Garrett, my lad," he an
swered, sit amt insulting a man to
tell him to his face he's green"
mot if he is green
you're green boy. Listen to me!
don't love those thieves in the syndi-
a+o opd 1xboy, Mr. To IN;++ dicobo,rod
me at the end of the month he knew,
didn't he, that there amt no job Cor
men of my age in Malopo, and that no
body would hire a man who'd grown
too old to hold his own against the
niggers, when they break loose in the
compounds? That's me, Ned Burns,
who've given Mr.. De Witt eight years,
and as strong as ever, except my arms
stiff from rheumatics. And me, set
here like an old hen over that dia-
mond patch, with millions to be picked
ND, and Mr.. De Witt knows he can
trust me not to take a smell of the
ground. Not but he knows any man'd
be a fool to steal when it's seven years
hard labor even to, buy diamonds in
this country"
Ned Burns seemed possessed by his
grievances to the exclusion of all else.
And Winton had a knack, somehow. of
striking a mans moods at the righr
moment. 1t was quick impulse,
swift decision, and the exact action.
He took the old fellows hands in his.
"Mr. Burns, l guess we need each
other" he said. I'm green. You're
discharged. Post me on the situation
and you can rely on me that you're not
discharged. 1 only landed a week
ago." he added ingenuously, land l
haven't begun to understand the first
thing about this country. l thought all
| would have to do would be to prove
my identity and step into the bust
ness"
''Oh, Lord." said Ned Burns. 'Sit
down here, Mr.. Garrett. Yes, you're
green, sir, but the same good fortune
that brought you to me will see you