Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-11-06

ouarters-the Malaria coast and Yer
reker.
Strange things had been happening
to Verreker also.
Utterly bafled in his hunt for the
missing Savaran. he was in the jungle
coaxing his helpless patrols to further
efforts when word was brought to HIM
that if he came alone to the Ghost
Tree by the Vitoki river he would find
one who could undoubtedly bring him
face to face with the vanished adj
yenturer.
verreker, as bold in his way as Sava-
ran, kept the tryst, and even as he
walked across the clearing to the Ghost
tree there stepped from under its
shadow a tall and spidery man, a crea-
ture striking if bizarre in a wasp
wasted major generals uniform, on
The breast of which cleaned three rows
of medal ribbons-Savaran himself,
face to face as promised and thorough
ly enjoying the drama of the thing.
Verreker smiled wryly. The audaclty
of the fellow tickled him. even If the
sight of a pistol in the hand of the
finest shot in Africa told him that this
audacity was not entirely folly.
why this p~alaver, Savaran?' he
asked dryly. Are you demanding the
unconditional surrender of the British
empire or just giving yourself up as
a criminal at large?"
Half an hours talk is all we need,
Verreker," said the lean man genially.
After that you will be cooperating
with me-"
Save your breath, my friend" said
Verreker grimly. II don't handy words
with jailbirds."
NO" grinned Savaran. We'll, then,
will you allow the hangdog fellow to
ask a question? What is the history
of that locket and bracelet that caused
Sir Ryall Murlin to faint?"
Good Cod" cried Verreker huskily.
He stared hard at the eagle faced man,
then, quietly, he sat down. Il think
you are right, Savaran, there may be
grounds for talk"
Being right is one of my minor at
tributes" ~grinned the lean one, and he,
too, sat, his pistol on his knee, and
talked for two hours. Only his pistol
was gone from his knee after the first
hour.
1t was a week after this talk that
Charleur's CLEAN of hope came. Spies,
not one but many, came running with
heaven sent neWs-Verreer had COR
nered Savaran.
Verreker had run his man to earth
in the Baktu hills on the far side OF
the Malaria coast colony, eight hun
dred miles from Zatar. A big business,
the spies said. Savaran was we'll
placed, had collected a fighting force
and moreover he was Savaran, the
devil himself to take. Verreker knew
this as we'll as any He was MAX
ing no mistakes. He had ringed Sava-
rams stronghold about and vas calling
up fighting men from all over the
country. Even the frontier police posts
were being drained Of officers and
askari, so determined was Verreker to
make his Gordon about Savaran strong
and sure before attacking. Along all
the border lines, in Shenzi and else
where there now remained but skele-
ton ~detachments of men.
Charleur's spies thought that a gold
en- age for smugglers had dawned.
There were not police enough left to
patrol the border even. Charleur saw
it as something bigger than that.
1t was a heaven-or hell-Sent chance
for concentrating the marriage be-
tween the girl and the Han of Shenzi.
The one opportunity in a life time
when even his cringing skin need not
fear crossing the Zatar frontier into
British territory. And it came at a
moment when he craved it most. The
suspicious Han was now utterly I'm
bending and the time limit he bad set
for the marriage had all but expired.
He must act on his luck at once or
forever fail.
And the hate in him could not think
of failure. He snatched at his chance.
Sending messengers ahead to prepare
for the marriage he set out for Shenzi
with the girl.
And even Charleur grew bold as he
crept across the border. The good news
was true. Everywhere the frontier
guards had been drawn off for the
grand hunt for Savaran. There "a not
a sign of an armed man anywhere,
while the border villages were begin
ming to celebrate in disorder the with
drawal of the law.
In Shenzi itself things were even
happier. There wa usually a half
battalion Of African rifles with ma
chine gun companies in Shenzi, for
the Han and his people were unruly
and dangerous subjects. Now not even
a rifle remained. Indeed, so rejoiced
was the Han himself that he was in
clined to give his marriage second
place in a plan for immediate revolt
against his British overlords.
Charleur, his fear gone, his sly heart
rejoicing at this talk Of rebellion, u
ported him and promised to supply
arms and ammunition-but only after
the wedding. With the marriage ac-
complished beyond recall he was even
willing to meet the Han on generous
terms, he explained-but that marriage
must come first. 1t was, indeed, a ioy
for Charleur to insist, for by so doing
the girl would become the wife Of this
gross animal and then both would be
captured by the British in this fool
revolt. He could not have asked for