Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-10-22
THE
PLAY OF
FATE
BY H. M. EGBERT
20 by w. q. chapman1
IN ELUNGU" said Roberts
INA native boy pointing to the
lV faint wagon trail that was


1V faint wagon trail that was
prominent in the burned
grass, and Roberts understood. The
word means white man" and is In
universal use throughout wide re-
gion of Africa.
There was wagon, and there were
four oxen. As nobody starts into the
Jungle with less than eight oxen Rob
erts surmised that the other animals
had been eaten by lions If this were
the case, the explorer, or whoever he
was, was having hard time of 1t.
The oxen had lain down repeatedly
and II was 200 miles to the nearest
settlement.
Roberts pushed on for two days and
nights and on the third morning he
came upon the white mans camp.
The camp fire had gone out. The
natives had deserted, driving away the
oxen with them. The explorer lay on
his back, unconscious, on the straw
mattress in the abandoned wagon, de-
lirious and apparently dying. 1t was
Westoby.
Westoby was the last man Roberts
had expected to see In these wilds.
He had left England n year before,
when pretty Mary Joyce, In At Of
plque, threw him over. Her engage
ment to Westoby had been announced
just before Roberts sailed to hunt
lions and buffalo in the jungle.
Roberts encamped, and for eight
days he fought the fever devil that
was grinding down Westoby's consti-
tuition. On the ninth day the fever
devil withdrew, bafiled. But Westoby
lay at the point of death. 1t seemed
impossible that he could survive that
dreadful weakness.
He opened his eyes feebly and rec
ognl2ed Roberts.
Hello, old man /" he said, stretching
out one limp hand.
Roberts took the hand and for Ave
days more nursed Westoby back to
life. Often the man relapsed into de-
llrium and whispered Mary's name.
At such times Roberts resolutely closed
his ears. He would not listen.
Finally the day came when Westoby
was well enough to sit up. They had
touched upon every topic but the one
which was vital to both Of them. But
the time could be delayed no longer.
And so they dropped into the discus
sion simultaneously, after one Of
those sllences which fell constantly
between them.
How did you leave Mrs. WestobyY
inquired Roberts.
Every WELL" said Westoby. "She
often speaks OF you, Roberts. You
were old friends"
yes" answered Roberts, resolute-
ly. He had learned all he wanted to
know. Westoby and Mary were mar
ried There was no more to ask.
Why had he not let Westoby die?
The damnlns thought occurred and re-
Cured to him mistakenly. He had be-
gun TO hate Westoby more than ever,
Westoby, now rapidly regaining
strength and health. He would have
to leave him before that insane i'm
pulse Overmastered him.
He had never meant to return to
England, but now, II Westoby died,
why could he not 90 back and win
Mary's lover That she and her hus-
band had developed lrrecOncllable diff
fcrenccs was sure, otherwise why
should Westoby have left her after
less than "A year Of marrlage2
The two men said good-by and sep
arated Westoby was going to con.
tlnue his hunting trip In the Interior,
he said. There was native village a
few miles away, where oxen could be
purchased and fresh servants hired.
Roberts announced his plan Of return
ing to the coast. He had grown tired
of the country. In truth, he felt that
Mhry's spiritual presence there, re-
fected through Westoby, made Africa
impossible.
without emotion, with final hand
clasp, Roberts rode away beside his
wagon, his native boy upon the seat
shouting to the oxen. At the top OF
the rise Roberts looked back Yves.
toby was sitting upon his horse, look
ing after him with a peculiar express
sion. It looked almost malignant to
Roberts. He wondered whether the
man had sensed his own hostility to-
ward him.
They drove all night. Roberts was
anxious to put as many miles as pos
sible between Westoby and himself
At dawn, sleepless, Roberts encamped
and taking his shotgun went down to
the stream In the hope Of securing
some guinea fowls for breakfast.
lie had heard a lion roaring as he
rode that night, but far away. Toward
dawn the sounds seemed to draw near
er, then they ceased abruptly. Rob.
erts surmlsed that the beast was stalk
Ing an antelope, but he paid no fur
Their thought to the matter. Lions
were cowardly beasts, and unless
driven by hunger rarely attacked
man, and never in the open.
lie shot a guinea fowl and was rest
ing upon the bank waiting for the sun
TO rise before returning to camp. Sud
denly, as he sat there, he saw a sight
that completely unnerved him.
Five hundred yards away, fiat on
his stomach, visible only by reason OF
the dark spot that he made against
the yellow grass, was WestOby. Yves
toby, stalking Roberts, covering him
with his rifle and wOrmlng his way
toward him
Roberts was paralyzed with horror
II was not fear ~ death; hl, at that
distance was unlikely, and II would be