Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 known it for a long time. But never mind that. There are other pees much more important. “ Now listen, and do not interrupt, or I shall get very angry. My father, his name was Patrick O’Brien—” “Then you are the Miss O’Brien of Isaac’s report!” he exclaimed. “ What a fool I was not to guess that before. « But—”’ “Yes,” she continued. ‘“‘ You were a fool not to guess. Because you heard me speak. the Taal, because I live like this, you thought that I was a Boer—and how could a Boer have a name like O’Brien? We have been in this country, the O’Briens have, for over one hundred years, but we have not forgotten the land of our fathers. The strain is strong in us. And | went to a school in Ireland for three years.” “IT knew you weren’t the savage you pretended to be,” Hardwick murmured. “ That’s twice you’ve interrupted, big ' Jim. Now listen: My father once owned a large farm—all the land that surrounds these kopjes—and all the natives living hereabout worshiped him because of his kindness and just dealing with them. But after mother died and I was away at school he drank and gambled with Isaacs and Smithers, so they won all his land from him except this house and these worthless kopjes. They tried to find out about the reef, too—the O’Briens have always known about it—and shot him when he wouldn’t tell them where it Was located. He died fifteen minutes after I got home. That was five years ago, big Jim, and since that time I’ve been trying to get Smithers and Isaacs to visit me here. “ But they would not come. They pre- tended to be my friends, tried to make me believe that they had been my father’s partners, and that he had shot himself, that his accusation of Smithers was the delirium of adying man. The fools! And so I made my home here, alone, forgetting all that I had learned of civilization. My people pledged me their loyalty just as they had to my father, You have seen how faithful they are. “ And I have been fighting their battles, big Jim. I’ve tried to keep them away ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. from the mines, away from the influence of white men. And I have punished many beasts like those two you passed judgment on the other day. But Isaacs and Smith- ers, who are the biggest rogres of them all, kept away. They are cowards, but they are very clever. “T got tired of waiting for them, so I went to them one day with a large piece of quartz, and told them where I had found it—only I didn’t find it in that place—and asked them if it were any good. They said it was valueless, but, for my father’s sake, offered to buy the land on which I found it. I pretended to be cautious. I agreed to sell it at their price if a mining engineer examined the ground first and said it was worthless. I thought they would be sure to come then. But they didn’t. Instead, you came, and—and I forgot revenge, Jim.” He reached up, and, taking her hand, patted it gently. For a while they sat in happy silence which was only broken when a native entered. “Inkoosikaas,” he said, ‘many stran- gers, black men, are coming, and at their head ride two white men—one tall and one fat like a pig.” Katje gave a little gasp of dismay. gx! had forgotten,” she said. Then, in the vernacular: “‘ How long before they reach here?” “One hour, Inkoosikaas.” “Tt is enough,” she said. “ Have all the things been done as I ordered?” “Yah, Inkoosikaas.” _ Good! Then get you to your place.” 45 As the native left the room Katje turned toward Hardwick. ‘“‘T said that I had forgotten my desire for revenge—but I haven’t. At last Isaacs and Smithers are coming.” “Why are they coming now, Katje?” ‘“* Because the day before yesterday I sold them the land they thought they wanted. Yesterday they prospected it and found it valueless. Now they are coming here for an accounting. And I’m frightened, big Jim. They have a strong bodyguard. They’ll try to make me tell them where the reef is, and if I don’t they’ll treat me as they did father.” . “No, they won’t,” Hardwick said. Gomicioo (C©@)