THE SABLE STAR.

Western Star, Issue 2220, 8 July 1898, Page 6

THE SABLE STAR.

It was tiffin-hour at Dutoitspan. On the sterp of ti.e hotel half-a-dozen men were distributed in lounge-chairs and picturesque attitudes, waiting for the bell to summon them within. Unto them came presently two others in white helmets and airy attire. They were

young, and they were hot and dusty and cross, and they wiped their faces aud said unkind things about the climate of the Diamond Fields. A voice from behind the " Cape Times " supplemented the general greeting with an in' quiry :

" How is the little Golconda ?" The younger of the new-comers responded for himself and pattuer : " The little Golconda," he said solemnly, "is a fraud, an outrage, a libel on it« illustrious name, a —but words fail me when I endeavour to express my opinion of that beastly, barren little du»t-hole ! And we've sunk all our cash iu it, too," he added, in a naive sooto voce. " Ask Fr*nk what he thinks of it. He's so fluent." But at that moment his friend was oblivious to chaff. The English mail had just come in, aud brought him a letter from the little girl at home, who had been waiting two long years for the day when he should be able to claim her, and he was reading one paragraph over and over again, with misty <»yes and aching heart." He proposed to me and the position is growiug desperate. Unless a few thousands can be found we shall lose the old place, and it would kill my father in his present state of health. What can Ido ? What can Ido ? The thought of giving you up is terrible ; but they are pressing me hard at home, and my duty seems so clear. If only you could help me. Oh, my poor Frank, forgive me, forgive me 1" And he had barely fifty pounds in the world F He put the. letter away, and went over to speak to his partner.

" I'm going home," he said huskily. " I feel a bit seedy, and I don't want any tiffin. You can get along without me this afternoon." "Of course, No bad news, I hope, old man ?"

" About as bad as can be—io bad that it won't bear discussing with you. Don't bother about me, Dickey. 'I shall be better alone."

" Good day, baas !" The weary while man on the sofa raised his head, to see a grinning * black face looking in through the open glass doors of his sitting-room. " Hullo, Sam !" ha slid. " What a swell you are ! Come in." Th? Kaffir obeyed with alacrity, evidently ranch gratified atthe compliment to his personal appearance, for his smile showed another toolh on either side. He was dressed in a smart suit of European manufacture ; his woolly hair and: rolling eyes were ludicrous enough to extract a smile even from frank. He had formerly beei» employed upon the little Golconda mine, but. having contrived to save a little money, he had left the partner's service to open a Kaffir canteen in a low part of the camp.

" You look as if your busiuess was paying better than mine," added Frank, grimly. "1! hope your grandeur is honestly come by. Thera are people you know, Sam, who say ycu are the biggest rascal on the fields. '• Me, sah ?" said Sam, in innocent surprise. " Yes, you. Hut I don't want to believe nasty tales of old friends. What do you want ?" '' Sam only came to ask after baas's health." "Oh skittles ! Don't blarney me ! There's something else. Out with it." The Kaffir hesitated a moment. Then he closed the door and came to the Englishman's side. " I've got some big stones, baas, and you shall hah 'em cheap." Frank swung himself into a sitting position ir» a burst of rage. " So that's what you're afti r, is it ? I thought so ; you've hinted at it before, you black thief. What do you mean by bringing your stolen stuff to me ? Clear out ! Do you hear ?" " All right ; don't be augry, baas," said the Kaffir, withdrawing a step or two. "Plenty oder gen'lemen berry glad to buy. Sam on'y wants to do de baas i good turn. Such splendid stones ! and you should hab 'em for t'irty pounds. Worth mort'n year wash-up ob Littlu Golcrmdii. Will de baas see for himself ?"

'I he next moment Prank was confronting the greatest temptation of his life. A glance told him that they were worth three or four thousand pounds. Pour thousand pounds purchasable with three ten-pound notes and nobody could ever suspect that he did not find them in his own mine ! Nobody but the God in heaven would know he was a thief ! And he would be, able to save her life ami bis own from ruin.

j " Dey're very cheap, baas." I The perspiration rose on the white man's fore- , head and his lips were hot and dry. He pulled ! out his pocket-book with shaking bands, and extracted half-a-dozen bank notes. " Here's your money," he said, huskily. " Take it and go." " Thank'ee, baas." " And, look here ! If you ever come near me again, you scoundrel ; I'll break every bone iu your body !" The Kaffir grinned, and turned to go, marvelling privately at the inconsistencies of the superior race. He wondered mora, when, an instant later, an imperious cry reached him. •' Come back, you Sam ! " " Yes, sab." The white man was shivering like a frightened horse, his face the colour of ashes. " Take the confounded things back ! I've changed my mind." The Kaffir's jaw dropped. •'Business am business, baas," he said,coldly; " and gt n'lemen nebber change minds when de mouey ab passed." " Well, keep your money then ; I don't care. But keep the diamonds, too. Do you bear ? Take the accursed things away with you ! J won't have them left here."

i " Frank ! Frank ! where are you skulking r Wake up, look lively, friend of my soul. There's news, news, news ! " Frank sat up, shielding the light from his eyes. " Oh, I'm not asleep," ha said, with melancholy sarcasm. " I heard you from the corner of the street, dear boy. What's the matter ? " J^ " I've been sorting the week's w*»jj-up and I've found something." "'"* - "Oh ! is it visible ? It would be such a novelty for anything bijger thau a pea to come out of the Little GJolconda " "If it risible, indeed ! " shouted Dick, derisively. " Can't you see I'm half delirious with joy ?'" He suddenly disclosed the hand which he had been holding behind him. Look ! " frank looked. Then he gave a gasp and turned dizzy. For in his friend's palm lay a monster stoue, the like of which he had never seen, and it was not white, or yellow, but the most valuable rarity—a black diamond. The other man put a supporting arm round bis shoukieis. ' Steady, old chap," be said, with a laugh in his voice, and a t«ar in his eye. " I feit a bit queer, too, when I came across it. But we ratisn't get seedy now, you know. The luck'; been a long time coining, but its come at last. Hooray for the Little Golconda."

The famous "Sable Star " sold for fifty thousand pounds, and a few w( eks later Frank and his " little girl " were married.