ld duties.

"What did those two khaki women want with you last night, Miss
Hansie?" the irrepressible Flippie asked as soon as he saw her that
morning.

"Khaki women! What _do_ you mean, Flippie?"

"They _were_ khaki women," he said aggressively. "I saw two English
officers with revolvers with them, and they were pretending they
didn't belong to them. What did they want with Harmony?"

"I don't know them, Flippie. I never set eyes on them before. I am
sure they were up to no good."

"But what did they say they wanted with Harmony?" he persisted.

"They told me they were looking for something else," Hansie answered
lamely. "Have you fed the fowls, Flippie?"

"No, but I wonder--"

"Then go and do so at once," Hansie interrupted severely. "It is long
past 6 o'clock."

He went unwillingly.

On comparing notes, she found that he had carried on the same
conversation with her mother. There was no doubt that his suspicions
had been thoroughly roused, and for the next few days they had their
hands full, trying to keep his curiosity in check. Perhaps if they had
taken Flippie into their confidence and trusted him with their secret,
it would have saved them all the anxiety and unrest they had to pass
through afterwards, but they acted for the best, and perhaps they
would have been betrayed in any case.

What use to speculate now on what might have been?

Hansie's first duty that day was to go to town and inform the members
of the Secret Committee of Naude's arrival in Pretoria, and to procure
clothing for Venter.

A friend of hers, whom she judged to be about the same size as Venter,
gave her a splendid suit of clothes, nearly new, without asking many
questions, and placed his further services at her disposal.

She then went to Venter's relatives in Arcadia and told them on no
account to visit him at Harmony, as he was coming home to them that
evening. Too many people knew about the spies at Harmony, and there
was good reason for beginning to feel uncomfortable.

The women of the Committee promised to call at Harmony that afternoon.

When Hansie arrived home she sewed on Venter's buttons, supplied him
with studs and ties, a clean pocket-handkerchief, and a new hat.

I believe he had on clothing belonging to six different people when he
sallied forth soon after sundown, and Mrs. van Warmelo was glad to see
the last of him, for her cares and responsibilities were multiplying,
and his presence in the house was o