The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13

two minutes they stood there listening
to the abuse which they heard pouring
from 1, the lips Of the wooden manni-
cling, .. and mouths gaping. and knees
all Et the o., on Rivers; ~, -
merized by fright. But then the two
mannikins which were nearest on
either side. began cackling with UNI
canny laughter, and ju-ju man who
or than HIS own, and allowed the super
stition that was native to him to rub
a awe the thin veneer Of his education.
even If 1t be to meet the curved exc.
cution axe of King Kallee in Okky
City. Better the sharp edge Of that.
srucixion t eysn ngerng days on the
OF these devils. Wood they are now,
! th 40 believe ~ But they can talk as no
n nr,ns OF WOOD thn eyer could talk; and
hurl at us those green tins of LIQUID
fire with which they are garlanded.
X they are any that wish to see more,
Okky City, even II it means impale-
ment''
The other wooden mannikfns broke
out INTO words. and Immediately the.
bush around t each of them rippled with
men. Carter, whose knowledge of the
n naive was growing. used every sylla-
bic OF his vocabulary down two tubes
Laura, who had grown up biIingual,
commenced at first timidly. But the des-
perate peril of their surroundings. the
excitement of battle, the thrill of seeing
men run. the drop OF negro blood that
colored her veins were all circumstances
that presently whirled her into resist
less torrent of words. Never had she
spoken with such fluency; never had
she framed such sentences. 1t was all
In the Okky tongue. accurate biting. glib.
fnI1 irtv ptnV hy1V 1,
hating speech to listen. He could not
speak the language yet with any great
ease. but he could understand almost
every word. He chilled as he listened
to her. He coughed warning. He
called sharply that she should stop. But
that drop of negro blood held her to
her speech. The Krooboy. thoroughly
warmed UP to his work. was yelling in
famies down a tube at the other end OF
the mess-room. Laura, with eyes CLINT
ing and hands clinched. was growing al
most beside herself with speech.
Carter gripped her arm and piucked her
almost savasely away.
you had better shut UP. The Okky
men have gone. minutes ago. and l do
not think you know what you are saying.
Laura, do you hear me"
She stared at him. and then spoke with
dry throat. II said only what you
told me. 1t was to save our lives. And
you-you could not understand what
said. 1t was Okky talk; you surely could
not follow it. Why do you look at me
like that? George: what a , Is ,er she
warned you before that was black. and
now 1 suppose you believe me"
He returned her look steadily enough.
my dear girl. you've gone through more moro
than you can stand, and you've Just
worn yourself to rags. never quite
knew what Mysteries meant before, but
l fancy that In about two minutes more
you would show me. Now the trouble 3
over; we've fixed EN- tight this time.
and you needn't worry yourself any more.
Just you go to your room and lie down
and sleep"
"Sleep! You think / could sleep?"
very we'll" he said coolly, then Trou.
BILE and 1 must wait till you can. But
please understand, my sweetheart; that
until you have put in ur-hours
spell Of sleep. and can get UP rested 70
stand watch neither the boy m. nor :, !
to you to arrange whether We shall all
have q dose of overwork or not
She came to him and put her slim SLIM
brown hands on his shoulders anu iooks ,u
rings under her eyes. and her cheeks
were white and drawn, but somehow WIFI
her delicious curves she appsaleo 70 - IN II,
more than ever. and he let her see !. M ~
name" she said. You still call me sweet,
heart even after what you have seen anu
heard?' ,,
doesn't chance towards girl Just nes
cause she happened to get bit excit Si =
when she was doing her best to save ms
life I'm half sorry now stopped yo or:
only the myrmidons of my rival, ms
Majesty OF Okky. had run away. an1
YOU really were rather working yours Sc .
ip." He drew her to him and kissed NEE .El.
an tho forehead. "And now you Will go
and turn in won't you, like a sooa
girl?" -, ,,,,shes Run
you will look after yourself. promise
me?"
let your boy get YOU a meal. You've
be be- starving. It was horribly careless .a OF
me not to have thought Of 1t before;
"rhat is rather bright idea. Ha at
ANYTHING yourself? No, see you maven ,,', =.
Well. we'll sup, Laura. before you re-
hacked off to bed. It's five O'Clock IN
the the afternoon, but we'll call 1t SUPPER
Trouble?''
con Carter?" a.,
eve At for chop. You kill two tin.
ooh, Garter. three tin. Me one, Missy