The Mena weekly star., 1908-11-26

SAXA AGs< yNIl
 ssltt5Ssal s- zH EAA \ pace of the girl to consider. he ad- vanced at his natural gait the quick. tireless stride of an American railroad surveyor His feet, trained to swamp travel in Louisiana and Panama, seemed to find the firmest ground as by instinct, and whether on the half dried mud of the hummocks or in the ankle-deep water of the bogs, they felt their way without slip or stumble
 Winthrope, though burdened only with the half-eaten coryphene, toiled along behind, greatly troubled by the mud and the tangled reeds, and now and then flung down by some unlucky misstep. His modish suit, already much damaged by the salt water, was soon smeared afresh with coating of greenish slime. His one consolation was that Blake. after jeering at his first tumble, paid no more attention to him. On the other hand, he was cut by the seeming indifference of Miss Leslie. Intent on his own misery, he failed to consider that the girl might be suffering far greater discomfort and humiliation
 More than three miles had been GOV cred before Blake stopped on hum mock Releasing Miss Leslie, he stretched out on the dry crest of the knoll and called for slice of the fish. At his urging the others took few mouthfuls, although their throats were so parched that even the moist flesh afforded scant relief. Fortunately for them all, Blake had been thoroughly trained to endure thirst. He rested less than ten minutes; then taking Miss Leslie up again like rag doll. he swung away at a good pace.
 The trees were less than half a mile distant when he halted for the second time. He would have gone to them without pause. though his mus cles were quivering with exhaustion, had not Miss Leslie chanced to look around and discover that Winthrope was no longer following them. For the last mile he had been tagging farther and farther behind, and now he had suddenly disappeared. At the girls dismayed exclamation. Blake re- leased his hold and she found herself standing in foot or more of mud and hn uyn gf n down Blakes face. As he turned around, he wiped it on with his shirt sleeves.
 Do you-can 1t be. MT. Blake. that he has had sunstroke?' asked Miss Leslie.
 "Sunstroke? No; he's just laid down. that's all thought he had more sand--confound him!'
 But the sun is so dreadfully hot, and have his shade
 And he's been tumbling into every other pool No: it's not the sun. I've half a mind to let him lie--the paper legged swell, It would no more than square our aboard-ship accounts
 Surely, you would not do that, MT. Blake, It may be that he has hurt himself in falling"
 Tn this muds--bah! But l guess I'm in for the pack-mule stunt all around Now, now; don't yowl, Miss Jenny I'm going But you can't ex- pect me to love the snob."
 As he splashed away on the return trail. Miss Leslie dabbed at her eyes to check the starting tears.
 "Oh, dear-Oh, desrl" she moaned; what have I done to be SO treated? Such brute. Oh, dear.-and l am so thirsty!"
 In her despair she would have sunk down where she stood had not the sliminess of the water repelled her. She gazed longingly at the trees. in the fore of which stood grove of stately palms. The half-mile seemed an insuperable distance, but the ride on Blakes back had rested her and thirst goaded her forward.
 Stumbling and slipping she waded on across the inundated ground, and came out upon half-baked mud-hat, where the walking was much easier. But the sun was now almost directly overhead, and between her thirst and the heat she soon found herself falter- ing. She tottered on a few steps farther, and then stopped, utterly spent As she sank upon the dried rushes she glanced around and was vaguely conscious of strange, double headed figure following her path across the marsh. All about her be- came black.
 The next she knew Blake was splashing her head and face with brackish water out Of the whisky flask. She raised her hand to shield her face. and sat up. sick and dizzy.
 That's it!" said Blake. He spoke in kindly tone, though his voice was harsh and broken with thirst. You're all right now. Pull yourself together and we'll get to the trees in a iiffy"
 MT. Winthrope-?"
 I'm here, Miss Genevieve. It was only a wrenched ankle. If l had a stick, Blake, fancy l could make q go Of it over this drier ground.
 And lay yourself up for a month, Come, Miss Jenny, brace up for an other try It's only quarter-mile, and I've got to pack him"
 The girl was gasping with thirst; yet she made an effort, and. assisted by Blake. managed 10 gain her feet. She was still dizzy; but as Blake swing winthrope upon his back, he