The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-02-29


The old man stared incredulously al
him. Then he turned into the shack
reckoning mysteriously to Winton t.
follow.
whats the gamer he asked bitter
ly. you amt lying for fun7"
"Read that" said Winton, pulling
Archie's letter Of Introduction to De
Witt out of his pocket. He had de
cided impulsively. but, as he was con-
WINGED, rightly, to trust Ned Burns.
Parenthetically, he had been recon
ciled to Archie before he left New
York. 1t was impossible to bear Ill
feeling against Archie, and after all,
Archie had done his best. He was
simply incapable.
But was he Incapable, or had bis
luck held true?
Ned Burns took pair Of heavy. sill
yer-rimmed spectacles from a little
table In the shack. drew the letter out
Of the envelope with Shaking fingers,
and read IT,. lie handed 1t back with
out word, searching WintGn's eyes,
though, keenly, with his own. Then,
opening drawer in the table, he took
out an ancient and much worn Bible.
Lay your hand here" he said, open
Ing the book at random. Nov swear
you've told the truth"
That's going little further than ]
have mind to, Mr.. Burns. said Win
ton.
AYE, aver muttered the OLD man.
Maybe you're right there. But We'll
soon put your words to the proof of the
Book that never lies"
He took up the Bible and began read
ing from the page at which he had
opened IT.:
"And after him Abdon the son Of
Hillel judged Israel. And he had forty
sons and thirty sons sons. that rode on
threescore and ten ass colts; and he
judged Israel eight years." He snapped
the Bible shut. Man, you've told me
the truth !" he cried.
1T believe So" answered Winton.
"But how do you get that sense from
the passage you have been reading?"
Man, it's easy. All things are easy
TO them that know how to search the
Scriptures. Abdon's Mr.. Davis. Mr..
Davis is the judge. amt hef And
Israel's Malopo. And the forty sons
and thirty sons sons are the men who
work for the Diamond Fields Syndi-
cate. And the threescore and ten ass
colts are the same poor fools them
selves, that work for those swindlers,
and are asses without knowing it.
And the eight years Is me, who've
worked for Judge Davis and Mr.. De
Witt these eight years past, here and
in Kimberley, and am discharged at
the end of the month because Mr.. De
Witt has promised the job to some
body else"
STEADY, Mr.. Burns" said Winton. |
There isn't going to be any discharg-
ing until I've had my say"
Ned Burns grunted incredulously, |
and Winton suddenly felt his heart
full Of flaming anger.
And what the devil has Mr.. De
Witt got to do with the Big Malopo.
anyway" he asked.
Ned Burns laid hand on his shout
Ter. "Mr Garrett. my lad" he an
swered, sit amt insulting man to
ell him to his face he's green"
"Not If he is green"
you're green, boy. Listen to me
don't love those thieves in the syndi-
ate, and when Mr.. De Witt discharged
ne at the end of the month he knew,
Iidn't he, that there amt no job for
men of my age in Malopo, and that no
,ody would hire man who'd grown
90 old TO hold his own against the
liggers, when they break loose in the
That's me, Ned Burns.
yho've given Mr.. De Witt eight years,
nd as strong as ever, except my arms
tiff from rheumatics. And me, set
Iere like an old hen over that dla-
nond patch, with millions TO be picked
ID, and Mr.. De Witt knows he can
rust me not to take a smell Of the
round. Not but he knows any man'd !
e fool to steal when it's seven years
ard labor even to buy diamonds in
his country
NeQ Burns seemed pOSSeSSeu Dy MS
rievances TO the exclusion of all else.
nd Winton had knack, somehow. of !
trlking a mans moods at the righf ,
,oment. 1t was a quick impulse. {
wifi decision, and the exact action. l
lie took the old fellows hands In his. |
"Mr. Burns. guess we need each
Their" he said. "Tm green. You're q
Post me on the situation 9
nd you can rely on me that you're not l
l only landed a week b
go" he added ENORMOUSLY, land / i
aven't begun to understand the first 4
ling about this country. | thought all \
would have to DO would be to prove b
Iy Identity aud step into the bust I
ess." a
"Oh, Lordl" said Ned Burns. "Sit Y
own here, Mr.. Garrett. Yes, you're I
reen, sir, but the same good fortune d
lat brought you to me will see you
trough your difficulties. Sit down"
He pushed packing case toward s
linton. who took his seat beside the a
atchman. {,