The Winslow mail., 1924-04-04
CHAPTER TX.
Sheila's Secret.

SnSUNB S@CFeI.
AS they came nearer he saw that one
Of them was a woman He watched
the pair with apathy; he felt too III TO
be interested In anything very much.
But In a moment he was upon his
feet, staring incredulously at the girl
The blaze OF moonlight upon her face
revealed to him-Sheila!
The other man was Hottentot. AZ
first he thought it was Bottlejohn.
Then he perceived 1t was a shorter,
younger man. He was evidently
Sheila's escort
But 1t was Sheila'a appearance even
more than her presence there that as
tonished Winton She wore q ragged
suit of khaki, with tall boots that
reached to the edge Of her knicker-
bockers, in her hair was wreath OF
the pungent yellow flowers Of the ard
lands, her bare throat was encircle&
with a necklace Of blue beads, and
there were bracelets Of hammered cop
per upon her wrists.
She leaped from her horse and ran
to Winton. did he hurt your she
cried
Then, seeing the blood upon his face,
she uttered an exclamation Of fear and
began to wipe It with handkerchief
that she drew from her pocket.
"You are wounded"
"a slight hit on the head--like that
other" said Winton. "Tm all right,
think. Sheila-''
'Tn tell you how / came here.
heard Of the conspiracy. 1t was
planned by De Witt. He meant to get
the diamond so that you should not sell
it and raise money. You would have
to go to the syndicate"
"Well, Van Worst has it all right"
answered Winton.
He was still looking in wonder at
the girl. Her whole demeanor had
/ changed. She seemed freer more con-
fident, bOlder, braver.
''Tll tell you how l came here" the
girl repeated. 81 learned of the scheme.
Judge Davis Matched it through De
Witt They employed Van Worst, prom
Using him the diamond Van Worst
wanted to get downcountry. He
agreed My father knew. They wished
him to have a hand in it, but he was
afraid. Oh don't think it was loyalty
to youw she cried
81 warned you from the beginning"
the girl went on ''You should have
left us alone. It was not for me to tell
81 XW;4+ NV
father would do anything betray any
trust rather than risk his life That
man has bounded US, and some day he
will meet his deserts But when I
heard of the plan rode in to warn
you. And have met you. That's all"
mo, Sheila," said Winton, looking
at her and feeling the old mad infatu-
alton for her again, mingled with the
old doubts and uncertainties. There
is one thing you have not told me:
how you came here, or from where
you have come"
''If / tell you, must tell you what
| do not want to tell you" she an
swered quietly. 81 have asked you,
in memory of the honor you did me
in the coach at Taungs to leave me,
and to let me keep the truth from
you. Isn't that enough?"
at would be enough if l did not be-
lieve-that you are the victim of a
hallucination, Sheila," Winton an
swered
"Then you, shall know" cried the
girl In any event, you cannot ride
back to Malopo tonight wounded as
you are. 1t is eight miles away, and
it is only five to my-my home"
There was q bitterness in her voice as
she spoke. "If you can ride, and will
ride with me tonight, you shall know
everything that you want to know be-
fore we part for the last time.'
81 can ride" answered Winton. "And
/ wish to know, to prove to you that
what seems so dreadful to you is a
trife, something that we can laugh at,
Sheila."
The girls attitude was expressive OF
intense excitement as she listened
She made no reply, but, turning to the
Hottentot, addressed him in his own
tongue The man clicked In answer,
dismounted from his horse, led it to
Winton, and, placing the reins In his
hands, set off at an even jog across
the desert in the direction from which
they had come.
Winton would have helped Sheila
into the saddle, hut she vaulted in
without touching the stirrup, and sat
| upright on her mount, waiting for him.
He clambered up, and they set off side
by side.
The fresh breeze, blowing on Win
toms face, drove the last traces of
the chloroform away. The scalp
wound had ceased to bleed. Winton
began TO feel stronger And he watched
Sheila riding gracefully at his side.
He perceived that her saddle was OF
the thinnest and most pliable leather,
her feet hardly touched the stirrupsi
she rode like one Of the centaureSque
| figures upon the Elgin marbles. Whe