Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-08

| story CT Jack and the BeanStalK,
Harry grasped the slender, swayin g
ladder and began his ascent feeling
very much as though it were part
of curious nightmare, the awaken
ing from which would be his arrival at
the top.
10, you was safe, und now comes
your trent"
The voice and the face that bent
over Harry as, painting and breathless.
he was assisted from the top of the
ladder to substantially constructed
platform of cane held together by
twisted witches, was Teutonic.
Yet, in curious incongruity to the
gutturals, the bald head, with its
fringing of long. light hair and the
long pointed blonde beard, was the
shirt of native tafl cloth worn over
what had once been pair of broad
cloth trowsers.
But Harry had no time to dwell
either upon this unexpected prolonga-
ton of his dream or its incongruities.
Hardly had Hiram reached the plat
form, with breath foreshortened and
| tS liisth IL Oiii
beneath came a chorus of bowls and
shrleks, so intensely blood curdling
that Harry involuntarily shuddered as
he glanced downward at a sea OF
black heads and small forest of war
ing spears.
Meanwhile the Teutonic Solomon
Islander had drawn up the ladder, with
the assistance of Hiram. who had re.
covered his wind and GOODNESS, piling
it in tiers on the platform beside them.
They were safe there for the time
being. Only, thought Harry. if the
enemy took into their woolly heads tc
chop down the tree it might be awk'
ward to say the least.
Der drunk was harder than dol
South American iron-wood-it turr
the edge of steel. ind wire will no
burn HIM in fifty year." remarked the
blonde bearded individual, as though
cognizant of Harry's thought.
"'Twont take long for 'em to starve
lis out. though" suggested Hiram,
with hollow groan.
'.Ach. sop was the impurtable re
Spouse; and as the speaker rose to hi:
feet. Harry and Hiram followed the
direction of his gaze.
The great circular platform OF
which they were standing was bull
on the lower course of closely grow
ing. far-reaching tree limbs. The in
tervening branches above had beer
cleared away on every side to a height
| - to 81,
unique tree-dwelling of the Solomon
islands. A sloping roof of palm
spathes followed the bole of the tree.
all the way round, not unlike grea
umbrella top. the trunk forming the
handle. The sides were of closely
woven grass mats, impervious to wind
e or rain and arranged to roll up sepa
rately at pleasure. Around the plat
form itself was substantial bamboo
rail. while over the whole was the
thick. wide, spre aiding canopy of leafy
boughs.
But this was not all. As the tive
young men stood staring at the curl
Gus habitation, one of the grass mat!
Immediately in front of them was sud
denly drawn up.
No wonder that the two uttered .
simultaneous exclamation.
For framed in the doorway thu
formed. stood tall, graceful Young
girl, shading pair of soft lustrous
black eyes with a shapely hand which,
like the beautifully-rounded arm, bar,
to the shoulder, was like ream- tinteC
iron touched with bronze-if the com
parison be allowable.
A little flush of surprise-or embar
ACKNOWLEDGMENT the beautiful fac,
as she met the respe ctfully, admirins
gaze of the strangers.
1T was only mine daughter Alva.
said the Teuton. with careless wave
of his hand. Addressing her in wha
was evidently the native dialect
he pointed to tho bowling mob below.
but Alva only shrugged her shape ly
shoulders. whose lines were sugges TED
by the single clinging garment Of
some soft native fabric which reached
to her small bare feet. Either the
sight was by no means uncommon. OF
else she considered the noisy blacks a:
both figuratively and literally beneath
her notice. Her parent indicating
Harry and Hiram in one comprehen
sive gesture. again spoke at length. A
charming smile parted the young
girls lips.
You was-wel-come," she said
with the prettiest possible imitation OF
her fathers peculiar pronun citation.
She spoke to Hiram, who was little
in advance Her dark eyes, with theil
unfathomable depths. were bent upon
Harry, who felt curious pulsation in
the region of his heart.
'.How-de-do. Miss" promptly re-
sponded Hiram, Selling Alva' slender
hand. which he vigorously shook
greatly to her amazement. But as
Harry's fingers clos ed about the little
member. flush as delicate as that o
petalled rose crossed her dark, sweet
face.
Explanations were in order. Harr,
told the story of their coming in a few
brief words.
"My name Decentralization" sal,
, their host in his turn. lit wa