Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-02-23
CHAPTER Vi--continued.

This was one Of a block owned by
the syndicate. 1t ran Its own native
store, which was in charge Of a fellow
named Kash an Armenian. a little,
blear eyed. scoundrelly looking maraud-
err who. Ned Burns had said made
most OF his revenue from the sale OF
liquor TO the natives In defiance of the
prohlbitory law
Saturday afternoon was a half hOli
day in the compounds, and at noon the
gates we're thrown open until midnight,
As most Of the natives were Bechuanas,
the formal challenges, followed by
murderous intertribal fights with knob
kerries which were a regular Satur-
day afternoon performance on the gold
fields at johannesburg, did not take
place at Malopo, During the weekend,
however. drunkenness and brawling
were universal, the length OF the reef
was a scene of uproar and riot, 10
which nobody paid any attention. and
the cause was the trade gin sold by
every storekeeper. II was the current
belief that the native could not be
stopped from procuring liquor. and the
syndicate winked at Kash's activities.
Wlnton had looked on the matter diff
fercntly from the frst. While deter
mined TO go slowly. the sight OF Sea-
ton, lying dead drunk upon the 1oor,
reused him to furious anger, Burning
with indignation, he crossed the syn
dictate claim and entered the store
1t was one of the fllthiest places that
Winton had ever seen. The front was
hung with secondhand clothing and
gnudy-Colored blankets with lions and
heads OF women woven patchily into
their surfaces Canned foods, put up
years previously and probably con
demned, twists OF tobacco, cheap sweets
exposed to the innumerable dies. rolls
OF soiled calico in white and blue lit
tered the shelves, with beads and lmi.
tation jewelry which the natives took
home TO adon the wives bought with
the earnings OF their apprenticeship
Behind the counter stood Kash. blink
ing like an owl out Of the darkness
you've been selling liquor to my
compound Manager cried Winton an
grily.
Kash flung up his hands In horror at
the suggestion. mo, sair !" he pro-
tested Il sell no drink to any one.
Never, ssir I'm good merchant. hon
est merchant"
lie had just finished speaking when,
before Winton could reply. trap-door
in the floor opened, and there emerged
the head OF yellow Hottentot, and
hand wiplng the mouth in evident sat
isfaction AS the man saw Wlnton his
eyes rolled with fear. His head van
ished and the trap-door fell with a
clang.
Wintou was upon the spot in an in
slant. pulled up the door. and saw be-
meath him short flight of steps lead
Ing into a tunnel dimly lit by small
electric bulb. AS he ran down he heard
the Armenian screaming wildly behind
him. He reached the passage just as
che light went out An electric bell be-
gan ringing. There was a scurrying Of
feet at the end Of the passage. where
faint CLEAN of daylight showed When
Winton reached II he saw q second
digit ot steps. and. ascending these. he
found himself in the syndicate com
pound. with gang Of half dozen ma
tives flying before him IN all directions.
He went back. TO find that the trap
door had been closed and boted be-
hind him. II was of hard oak, and re-
sisted all his furious efforts to force il.
There was nothing TO do but TO 20 back.
and Winton reached the second flight
Just Ia time TO prevent n second trap
door at the bottom OF the wooden gal
l~ry being shut on him by cue Of the