Part 16 (2/2)

”_Ja, Baas_”

”All right, To away

The bird was trapped now As pretty a case as ever was proved in broad daylight It was early yet, but no longer able to conceal his impatience he went to knock up Lambert

It was close upon the breakfast hour at the Barkly Hotel, and a knot offor the bell There caer

”Wish to the Lord you'd go and shoot soiving usyard of late”

”His what?” said a man ithin earshot

”Oh, old bones, and heads and tails, and all that kind of ill-assorted refuse Now a young rhybok or so--or a few partridges would coive ame, don't you know,” chaffed another, as intended for a very etting up frouns, Musgrave I want to go out this afternoon soot two,” answered Roden, ”and you don't want the old muzzle-loader, I suppose?”

”That's just the one I do want,” rejoined the other eagerly ”At least--er--Ifor your other one--your best”

”All right It's a very true shooter, although, a trifle heavy Look round at the office about twelve, Lambert, and you shall have it”

”At the office? Is it there then?” quickly asked the doctor, again giving hi his precious confederate, as intently listening, to swear almost audibly

”You look round about then,” was the careless rejoinder

”What does he , excitedly, beckoning the doctor back after the others had gone in ”Toun about twelve o'clock

Now, I believe he's going to try and get it back again Yes; that's it

I'll keep an eye on Toaly did But that sable servitor, though never out of his ood-humoured than ever, and trotted about the store and the yard, doing his work thoroughly and well, and notwithstanding that he never left the premises, by the ti to direction, Roden reached the gun from the corner--the very weapon supposed to have been sold to Tom Lambert could hardly believe his eyes There it was, however; the identical piece There had been no substitution, as he had at first suspected Every one knew it; for the peculiar rifling of its long-range barrel was unique in Doppersdorp No, there could be no mistake

”I'm sorry, La to another whom he disliked but had never quarrelled with, ”but I find the old shooter has broken down It'll want so”

There could be no mistake as to the truth of this; the locks were off, and Roden seeether with his hand La assured hione well, that the bait had taken, that their un still in its owner's possession, and the diabolical plot had clean broken down

Replying confusedly and at random to certain remarks on the part of Mr Van Stolz, who had at that moment entered, Lambert finally broke away, and betook hie was a sight to witness He went out there and then to the yard Tom was at work in the stable, and alone

”To that it was all right--_that it was all right_?” repeated the Jew in his fury hissing the words through his set teeth