Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-12-05
The Wandering Gentle -.
By Douglas Nerton

ty olane-has your Blanche monev2"
mo. Not now, that is. Rut when
her father. Lord Balcomb. dies"
"Oh, Lord, n has a title, too?-and
inf1uence?"
She's Lady Blanche Buryon. I
thought you knew-and, of course, that
family has immense influence
The riddles solved" said Savaran
with one OF his ~extravagant gestures
and a flash Of his fine teeth ..Fls-
males u to snatch his great chance
AT a stroke he means to gather all the
glory and rewards for subduing the
Sharti and, while the world rings with
his name, marry into the rich and in
n family OF Balcomb, when n
heights IN world politics or ~aristocracy
Wlll be ms for the Snatching."
"But--but haven't 1 spoiled that by
remaining aIve?' Askern faltered.
You've AIKEN the edge of it, but
the main glory's still there. It's plain
ne hasn't let the world know how well
you nave done. 1t Is also plain that he
intenoS 10 pe!lttle even what he has
told by aScr1blng such success to YOUR
evil trick of winning the worst side
OF the Sharti with smuggled hashjsh
When you're broken for that he'll come
up and collect the glory"
Its unbelievable" cried Askern
mo mani"
mo decent man." said Savaran
But Female isn't decent. He snug
gled drugs before. He put dry rot into
nall a tribe l was ruling with opium
once. That's why I'd sworn to get File
MALE even before / knew he had a
hand in the Tchik business. Oh, the
hashlsh there was his all right. He's
been making big profit in that line
ever since he came to the Malaria
Coast. He's the traffic you could not
stamp out-Of course, you couldn't with
Female both policeman and SNUG
gler.
How do you know all this?" asked
ASkern.
"Yaunde! You wouldn't tell me who
Yaunde Was-too loyal, eh? So I found
out for myself. I've been nosing
about a GOOD deal-and I've had some
interviews with Yaunde-and Savaran
knows how to deal with such vermin.
"Yaunde, as you wouldn't tell, is
Females particular agent, used by
him for all matter Of dirty work from
spying to dope smuggling. He wouldn't
tell me Females name, just called
him the big boss in the government,
that's how l didn't knoW-but he told
almost everything else. He's been
helping in the smuggling and disposal
for years. It was he who planted the
stun at Tchlk when you left him be-
thousand dollars. But he did that for
a purpose as well as for profit; that is
to put the blame on you.
"Flemalle, no doubt, thought you
might be turned back, and as he meant
to out you, anyhow, he laid this second
trap. He did it well, too. That's why
| came after you wanting your blood
The villagers at Tchik told me they'C
got the stuff from the white boss who
marched towards the Sharti. Yaunde's
been spreading the evidence against
you. He's been spreading it here. He's
got a CASE full Of tins like the one ]
gave you, all consigned to you. Anc
| bet Females got some sort of agent
coming up here now, ready to fine
the goods on the spot"
My God!" cried Askern, springine
I'm I'VE must do something"
Its DONE" grinned Savaran. AN
| the sort TO wait about? I've dealt
with that consignment of dope-anc
Yaunde.'
Askern hid his face in his hands
But what does even that matters
II Females framed a case against
me, what can I do?"
mot a thing" said Savaran cheer
fully. You're just a baby in a mat.
ter like this. Fortunately, you have
me. And I'm Savaran! Just carry
on until Blanche sends you good news.
You're going to deal with Flemalle?'
I'm going to break Female, and il
the way it hurts him most-through hi
greed, his ambition, and his black pride
in intrigue" his face alight with ex.
ultance. I'm going to teach Flemallt
what 1t means to cross Savaran."
And yet Savaran had a strange meth,
cd OF keeping this promise. He wa;
captured a few weeks later at the heat
OF a smuggling caravan.
Female made a point of going II
the guard room in Paronga wher'
Savaran had been taken. He remem
bered Savaran well and his threats
Female nev missed a chance O
glOating over an enemy.
He staggered in, sleek, handsome
just beginning to be bloated with goot
5 living and overweening pride. He dix
+ not notice that the British major il
charge showed decidedly less S
than usual to a mandatory secretary
: but, then, he knew few of the British
/ did like him, save, perhaps, Lad
Blanche, who was beginning to com
under his spell.
He staggered up to Savaran, VIII
l stood Indifferent amid the litter of hi
| carrier bags, which had been searched
and jeered: We'll, Savaran, SO the
nabbed you at your old tricks, eh
What was it-gun or ivory running?
= Savaran merely muttered as thougI
not wanting to be overheard: "Shu
up, you fool! Get out of here quick
Females fine eyes opened wider, hi
thin hand reached for his mustacht
: Savaran was caught, a trapped lior
/ but the jackal fears the might of tn
. lion. What waS Savaran'S game? H
became a little nervous, especially a
! he saw the major nod an Askari ser
geant to the door.
E What bluff are you trying to pu
l up now, Savaran?" he jeered. H
turned to the major. Let me war,
you, this mar is as clever as a ca
r He'll attempt any tricks, lies, or bluff
: He stopped because the chill glanc
of the major froze him. Savaran sal
hoarsely in his ear:
you fool. Female! It's you VIII
have tried an impossible bluff. The