The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-03-13
CHAPTER vIIl-Continued.

Winton had now reached the poin
where the immediate sale of the BIZ
stone had become inevitable. He ha,
mad a quantity of the blue clay-whicl
is simply the yellow clay before de
composition-crushed with mallets, al
unsatisfactory process, but useful whel
tie slow process of decomposition can
not be undergone. This had beer
passed through the washing trough.
and picked over. Not a single diamond
had been discovered.
Ned could not understand it. If only
a few small stones had been found this
would have been an augury for the
future. Still, little could be gagged as
to n resources of the claim from this,
n diamonds might lie compactly at
a lower level. But his need of funds
compelled Winton to enter into nego-
tiations for the sale of the big stone.
He showed it to one of the jobbers,
who was in Malopo. The man agreed
to advance bin fifteen thousand pounds
on it, pending its valuation. The trans
action was to take place on the follow
ing morning.
Winton had had a day of intense la
Dor in the compound, looking over the
washings. He flung himself down on
his bed without undressing, and fell
asleep almost as soon as his head
touched the pillow. Once he awakened
with a start, and, half dreaming still,
imagined thar he heard a horse canter
up to the compound. Then he fell
asleep again.
But after a while he began to be
aware of a eng of oppression, and
he struggled il that dim borderland be-
tween sleep and waking, where dream
and reality ale inextricably blended.
He felt as if invisible fingers were
clawing at his throat, so that each
breath became an effort. For a long
time he was unable to shake himself
from the bonds of sleep. At last
found that his eyes were open. 1t
was quite dark, but he fancied that
mere was a figure in the room, and he
became aware Of an in~tolerable, sweet,
sickly odor that filled his nostrils.
He must have stirred, for he felt
hands at his throat again, and was
certain that it was not hallucination
he felt them between periods of uncon-
seriousness that might have been years.
Something damp was against his lips.
recognized the odor as that of
,hloroform; and by the faint light of
he moon that came through the little
window he perceived a mans face bent
sver his.
He tried to cry for help, but only a
loarse whisper came from his throat.
md the saturated handkerchief was
Tapped over his nostrils.
Then followed absolute unconscious
less, broken by the distant sound of a
'evolver shot, and a faint cry Of pain.
'oth sounds passed through Winton's
mind as meaningless; but suddenly he
cit a hand upon his shoulder, shaking
i'm.
With a supreme effort he sat up in
ed. The fumes were ~suffocating. but
e managed to spring to his feet and
toward the window, which had
cen opened. Then he saw Sans agi-
ated black face before him.
The man was speaking and trying
make him understand. Winton
ould not gather the import of what
e was saying. He shook himself free
n%patiently and leaned out of the win
ow, breathing in the desert air. Grad
ally his situation dawned upon him.
What is it, Sam?' he mumbled.
"Mr. Garrett, sir, come to the next
They've stolen the diamond
was watching, though my job doesn't
egip till tomorrow. Come, sir"
WintoD stood up. The room had
eases 10 revolve about him, but still s
vuaig dizzily before his eyes,. The {
Don was still low it could not have I
much past midnight. Eons seemed /
have passed since Winton had gone
bed at nine.
He made his way toward the door, /
lpported by Sans arm. He passed I
rough the open doorway. S
The outer door was closed. Two t
en- lay upon the floor against it. One 5
as Kash, the Armenian, stone dead,
tn a bullet through his forehead. Il
other was Ned Burns, breathing /.
'isily, but unconscious, and his head
vered with blood from a blow of the f
1T Of the revolver which lay beside
t
Sam caught at Winton's arm. 81 r
ard the shot" he cried. II was COM n
g to watch the claim. l ran, and b
W the two of them attacking Mr.. S
rms. He killed one; the other shot
m and dragged his body inside and q
the door. l climbed through o
ur window and found you uncon- d
ious from chloroform."
Winton began to take in the situa- a
N. Sam must have alarmed the rob- h
r, who had taken fight without wait b
3 to finish Ned Burns. Evidently Il
lrder, a very dangerous game on il
itish territory, had formed no part 81