Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-06-06

Danton's silk handkerchiefS. When the
matter of the missing handkerchiefs
came to Paul Danton's notice, Anon
had no less than four of them on his
person, He produced them slowly, one
after the other, as If surprised, him.
self. at finding them there.
Paul Danton said. sadly, ITS no
good, Anon. You're a bad case, and
you Will have to 90. | can't keep you
on. It's a bad example TO Others"
Anon said, yes. sir"
Il wish l knew what had come over
you of late, boy. You have neglected
your work, and you don't seem like
your old self at all. You've gone as
thin as a whipping post. Are you ill?"
Anon said, mo, sir"
Then what in the name of heaven
is the matter with you? My things
are filthy. You haven't cleaned the
guns or pistol for weeks. Go along and
get them thoroughly polished up and
put in order. Then you must go. I
can't keep you after this. It's a bad
example to the others. l can't rely on
you, Il its hopeless having a person
around n cannot rely on.
Look at the box OF ammunition l
brought home from the arsenal the
other day and told you to lock up. 1t
is still lying in there, on the table"
He waited. half hoping the boy would
say something, offer some excuse. Anon
turned and left him without a word. He
went into the small room at the back of
the verandah and took down the guns
and the pistols from their cases. He
laid the sword, ready for cleaning,
across the table.
Black hatred filled his heart. He
knew now that he had been very COM
tAt.+A - ~ -, tlAD lD,. ~, Y1,D >ffta.-rs
quarters, and hat he did not want
10 go.
He picked up the pistol and polished
it urgently. The trigger clicked gently
as he rubbed it. It's voice seemed to
whisper inspiration to Anon. Why
should he not strike a blow for the
cause now? Such an opportunity might
never be his again. He could then ran
sack the house, taking everything of
value, and depart for the hills, to live
there hidden and in peace until such
a time as the white men were driven
away and the new masters took over
the country.
Upon the table beside him stood the
box Captain Danton had brought from
the arsenal the other morning. With
lean, brown fingers Anon slit the top
Of one of them and loaded the pistol.
In an ecstasy he crossed the floor with
catlike steps, and lifted the curtain
that hung over the door of the office
where Paul DantOn sat at work.
He shot him in the back.
Paul DantOn Stiffened, looked Over
his shoulder for half an instant, his
blue eyes full of a terrible amazement.
Then, very slowly, he fell across the
desk, his fair head sending the pho
tograph Of his father onto the floor,
where the glass shivered into a hundred
pieces.
Anon stood in the doorway, the
smoking pistol in his hand. 1t was
noon tide, very hot and still. People
were shut up in their houses and no
one heard the solitary report. The pts,
toll smoked, and smoked, and ceased
smoking. 1t fell with a clatter from
Anon's hand. He did not ransack the
house of everything of value. He did
not make good his escape. He crossed
the room and fell on his knees beside
his master. Uncomfortable grief he
could neither stop nor understand
shook him, and robbed him of all power
of movement or thought. He remained
there, weeping and weeping, the white
mans hand pressed against his fore
head. The orderly found them at five
o'clock.
Gerald Danton was sitting in his
study at home. reading his Indian mail.
He was an old mar noW, and his sons
the greatest JOY left him, like gentle
breezes blowing back to him the CHINA
mon scents of his own youth.
AS he unfolded the weekly budget,
an envelope fell onto his knees. Dis
colored with age and frayed at the
edges, it was still possible to discern
upon it the arms of the steamship COM
pany, and a single word written in his
own neat Greek Writing-the word
Anon"
Good God" said Gerald Danton,
aloud, and grew a little damp about the
forehead, for there were things he had
no wish Paul should learn about him.
Or Flora, who had believed in him SO
truly all these years. The fool things
a man does in his youth! He cursed
softly.
Then he drew his breath in a little
sigh of relief. 1t wa evidently all
right. Nothing much had come out.
But what an amazing coincidence!
Il wonder if this conveys anything
to you" Paul had written. II picked
up q nice young fellow who had got
into trouble with the police here, and
am giving him another chance by
letting him act as my private servant.
He seems an odd sort of fellow, and is
a cut above the average native, with
all kinds of queer refinements one
does not find amongst them, as a
rule.
Il have taken quite a fancy to him,
and only hope he won't let me down.
His name is Anon, which struck me
as SO odd that I IA questioning him
about it today, and he produced this!
AS you will see, it is in your writing,
and must be a relic of your time out
here.
This boy is too young ever to have
been employed by you, but it struck
me his father might easily have been
at some time in your employ. It's
such a very odd name, Anon. Does
it convey anything to you?'
Did it convey anything to him? He
saw again the bungalow looking out in
to the virgin jungle eternally festooned
with creeper as if for a fete. He saw
the small brown child seated there,
playing with some tins, a wooden
spoon, and some gaudy marigold flow
ers. He saw himself idly scribbling
that word upon the envelope. Think
ing it all quite funny.
He aroused himself sharply. AS il