The Winslow mail., 1924-02-22
CHAPTER v
The Stockholders Meeting.

The next thing Of which Winton
was aware was that the moonlight had
given place to the light of day. 1t was
intolerable, in spite Of the strip OF
heavy material that had been pinned
before the window. Winton raised his
head, and groaned at the stabbing pain
In his temples. He saw the stretcher
bed and quantity Of dried blood on
the blankets, and he did not remember
what had happened to him or know
where he was.
Glancing about him in bewilderment
he saw the bare brick walls Of the
interior of the house. The floor was
of boards, roughly laid down, and a
strip Of cheap carpet led into the room
from another room behind the door
Between two Of the loosened planks
was q little pyramid of earth, the
nights labors of the white ants that
swapmed everywhere.
The room contained, besides the
stretcher bed, chair, a little mirror
and q cheap bureau. In corner were
some shelves with crockery and cook
ing utensils.
Then Winton remembered, and he
groaned again and made brave effort
to rise. At the sound Sheila came
through the doorway. Her eyes were
red and heavy, and she did not look
at him, but set down tray beside
him, with a cup Of tea and some strips
of toast scorched over an open fire.
'How do you feel now7" she asked
anxiously.
''I'm better" muttered Winton, try
ing to rise once more. But she put him
gently back upon the pillow.
"You are not well enough to get up"
she said. "You must rest till night.
fall, and then shall try to get you out
of Malopo. Father may be back today,
but if he comes he will be In no con-
dition to understand or to cause
trouble"
why should leave Malopo" asked
Ninton. 'Who do you think I am?'
Il don't know who you are," an
swered Sheila, "but 1 know that you
came here to steal the De Witt dia-
mond."
Winton looked at her in incredulity.
"You think l am thief, then?" he
asked
Aren't your" she answered. Aren't
your
Because was pursued by that
mob?''
Because you talked Of the diamond
all last night. You said it was yours"
"And you shielded me and saved me.
believing that?"
She shrugged her shoulders. Il
have lived long enough in this country
to know that good men and bad men
are just about the same" she an
swered. Perhaps I have lost my
sense Of right and wrong. / don't
know, or care. I only knew that you
were in danger, and 1 wanted to help
you as you wanted to help me, and
did help me-"
II see" said Winton, gazing at her
curiously and wondering whether the
acid Of humiliation had eaten into her
soul beyond restoration.
II may as well explain to you where
my father is." the girl continued. Mr..
De Witt sent for him and offered him a
position. I know what that means.
He is planning to use him as tool
for some dishOnorable purpose, as he
has often done before. We are in his
hands. We have only been three
months in Malopo, and the same old
story will repeat itself until we fee
somewhere else.
"Mr. De Witt has offered father the
position of compound manager on the
Big Mal0po as soon as the gangs ar
rive. He has displaced man for him.
Father walked out to new claim that
the syndicate is developing, outside the
town, to see Mr. De Witt, and didn't
return. He will be back some tLre
today, drunk. If he comes in before
dark he will go to sleep at once, and |
shall hide you in my room till it is safe
to leave. I have seven pounds. and
that Will help you across the desert
If you need money. After that you
must do the best for yourself that you
can"
Winton made a tremendous effort
and got off the stretcher. He found
that he could stand his head still
ached abominably, and the room
seemed to sway, but he pulled himself
together. He faced Sheila and took
her hands in his
"You have saved me when you
thought l was thief" he said, land
| think 1t is the most wonderful thing
/ have ever known. Now listen to me.
l am not thief nor does Mr.. De Witt
or the syndicate own the Big Malopo.
1 am the president Of the Big MalopO
company"