The Winslow mail., 1924-01-25
CHAPTER ii-Continued.

De Witt was UNCONSCIOUS ana DredIn-
ing heavily. Somebody ran back for
water. Another man produced flask
of brandy and got some of the contents
between De Wits teeth. Presently
De Witt began to splutter. He sat up,
saw and recognized Winton, and his
eyes filed With deadly hatred.
'TH get even with you for this he
mumbled.
But there was no more fight in him.
SoIicItousIy attended by the little clerk
whom he had ousted from his seat so
uncermoniously, De Witt staggered
back TO the coach, resuming his old
place i'm the corner, with his hat pulled
over his discoloring forehead.
He looked so abiect and crestfallen,
with his swollen lip and bruised jaw
that Winton almost felt pity for him.
But IL was certain that De Witt de-
served no pity The man was bully
and cad and had got his deserts.
After the coach had started, Sheila
Seaton bent forward and spoke to Win
ton.
II don't know how to thank you,"
she said, with a catch of her breath.
"Nobody else would have dared to do
what you have done"
'T think most men would have done
So" Said Winton.
"YOu don't know who he is. He is
Judge Davis man. Nobody would dare
to thwart Judge Davis. The judge
stands behind Mr.. De Witt in every
thing"
who is Judge Davis?"
'rThe president of the Diamond
Fields Syndicate. And the landdrost."
whats that?" Winton asked
'The resident magistrate and judge.
You see, MalOpO is really native pro-
tectorate, and there isn't any legisla-
ture or law, so Judge Davis can do
anything he peases. You are a stran-
ger, aren't you? But you don't speak
like an Englishman."
"Tm an American, and | know moth
ing of this country" answered Winton.
"I only landed a week ago. came out
to"-he checked himself-"to take up a
claim in Malopo"
They were bending close toward
each other. The creaking of the coach
made their words inaudibe to the
others, who, having discussed the
amazing incident to their satisfaction,
had settled down to sleep through the
glare and heat and dust. Winton cast
q glance toward Daddy Seaton. The
old man, having assuaged his thirst
with plentiful gulps of whisky. was
fast asleep in his corner.
''YOu have made a terrible blunder,"
said the girl earnestly. ''You had bet
ter take the next coach back. Really,
you had better because nobody can
fight the Judge. and Mr.. De Witt is his
right-hand man."
well see,' said Winton grimly. "In
the mean time. won't you tell me why
why he thinks he can insult your
She smiled wearily. "In frontier
settlement women DO not expect cour-
tesieS," she answered.
con the contrary" answered Winton.
III don't believe these men"-he looked
round the coach-''w>Lld not protect
you in an emergency, unless"
He hesitated He was getting into
deep water. The question was too
personal.
And Winton was beginning to suspect
that the same fate which had broken
old Seaton had somehow changed the
course OF the girls life, though she was
not spiritless like her father. There
Was about her an indetinable air of
aIoofneSs, as if she had been driven in
upon herself, as If some tragedy had
robbed her of her right to happiness.
And she had submitted to De Wits
grossness as if it had been inevitable.
The girl bent forward earnestly. 81
see you don't understand" she said.
t'In our frontier towns there are only
two classes of women, those that are
ladies and those that are-not 1 am
not. These men could tell you