Evening star., 1936-03-29
THIS WEEK
The Fabulous Valley

Michael's hands clenched as he re-
allied for the first time the seriousness
of Patricia's position. with this un-
scrupulous adventurer trusted men,
Der of her step-father's party.
II met him in johannesburg and he
called himself Wisdom, then." he told
Sandy. But if it 5 the same fellow who
knocked you out with the knobkerrie
in London. you are right about his
being a crook. And those assistants of
his, Schwartz and Plettenburg. must
be crooks too. The Longs can't pos
sibly know that it's Philbeach they've
taken on. must warn them at once"
Patricia had noticed the four men
almost as soon as they halted and be-
gan to talk together in the street. To
see Michael and the Benefits again
was no surprise - but Sandy! So he
too had arrived here on the edge of the
Kalahari, and was doubtless going on
the same quest. Patricia could not
understand that, but there was no
time to think. Michael was already
at the garden gate; she ran down the
steps and along the path to meet him.
Patricia" Michael spoke urgently.
as they came face to face. 1--WE just
heard something. The man you
call Wisdom is actually Philbeach, you
know. the crook who stole Sandy's
knobkerrie in London"
Patricia's hazel eyes opened wide in
horror. 'Philbeach." she whispered.
Now I understand. q. . Oh, Michael,
what shall l do? Father must be
told
"I'll tell him." said Michael - but
Patricia protested:
mo, no. must. He is so unreason-
able he would not even listen to you -
I'll tell him .. tonight. Michael, who
told you?"
Sandy recognized him." Just then
the Bennetts and Sandy came up be-
side them and Michael and Patricia
had no more opportunity to talk to-
gether.
AS they all turned to mount the
steps of the inn Michael noticed that
Wisdom and the two men had dis
appeared and Henry Long was sitting
alone. apparently deeply engrossed
in some book he was reading. He did
not look up as the Bennett party en-
tered the inn - and they in turn
made no effort to speak to him. Pat
ricia chatted awhile with the Ben
netts, but they were, naturally. secre-
tive about their plans. so after arrang-
ing to meet Michael that night after
dinner she went upstairs to her
room.
But Patricia did not see Michael
that night after all. 1t was not until
after dinner that she was able to talk
with her step-father. alone, and she
felt that nothing was so important as
to warn him of VISIONS true iden-
tity. Henry. however. scoffed at what
he termed utter rot" He Indignantly
refused to discuss the matter with
Patricia and said that he was not pre-
pared to explain his actions nor his
associates to her.
Patricia was astonished and then
furious. Whether or not her step
father was really ignorant of Wisdon's s
identity, she could not tell. Whatever
we're his real thoughts he masked
them under an angry TRADE directed
against her supposed insubordination.
She went to bed with heavy heart.
hoping that when she saw Michael in
the morning something could be done
about Wisdom.
Before the first rays of sunlight
shone over the low hills to the east OF
Zwartveldt, the next morning, Sandy
had left the Van Niekerk camp. He
returned as Sarie and Cornelius were
eating breakfast and reported that the
Bennetts were off. Michael accom-
panied them, on horseback, and the
Hottentot, Ombulike, with three other