The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-31

sponse to his testing tone. But as he swung away after Winthrope, she stood for some time wondering at her. self. A few days since she knew she would have taken Blake's remark as an insult. Now she was puzzled to find herself rather pleased that he should so note her ability to be of. service
 When she reused herself, and began singeing the hair from the odds and ends of leopard skin, she discovered a new sensation 10 add to her list of unpleasant experiences. But she did not pause until the last patch of hair crisped close to the hslfcured surface of the hide. Fetching the penknifs and her thorn and catgut from the baobab, she gathered the pieces of skin together, and walked along the cleft to the ladder-tree. There had been time enough for Blake and Win thrope to set up the signal, and she was curious to see how it looked
 She paused at the foot of the tree and gazed up to where the withered crown lay crushed against the edge ot the cliff The height of the rocky wall made her hesitate; yet the men, in passing up and down, had so cleared away the twigs and leaves and broken the branches on the upper side of the trunk, that it offered means of ascent far from difficult even for a young lady.
 The one difficulty was to reach the lower branches. She could hardly touch them with her fnger-tips But her barbaric costume must have in spired her She listened for a mo- ment, and hearing no sound to indicate the return of the men, clasped the | upper side of the trunk with her l hands and knees, and made an en. ergetic attempt to climb The posture l was far froin dignitied but the girl s | eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she l found herself slowly mounting When. flushed and breathless, she gained foothold among the branches. she looked down at the ground, and l permitted herself a merry little giggle such as she had not indulged in since l leaving boarding school. She had actually climbed a tree. She would l show Mr. Blake that she was not so | helpless as he fancied
 At the thought, she clambered on l up. finding that the branches made | convenient steps. She did not look back. and the screen of treetops be | meath saved her from any sense ol I giddiness. As her head came above the level of the cliff she peerec I through the foliage, and saw the sig | nal-fag far over near the end Of ths | headland. The big piece of white l duck stood out brayely against th' blue sky, all the more conspicuous fol | the fiocks of frightened seafowl whlcl wheeled above and around it.
 Surprised that she did not see thu | men. Miss Leslie started to draw her self up over the cliff edge. Sh' | heard Winthropes voice few yard | away to her left. A sudden realization that life Englishman might conside her exploit ill-bred caused her to sinl back out of sight.
 She was hesitating whether to de scend or to climb on up, when Win thrope's peevish whine was cut shor -by a loud and angry retort from Blake Every word came to the girls ear with the force of blow
 You do. do you? Well, I'd like t know where in hell you come in. She not your sister. nor your mother. no your aunt, and if she's your sweet heart, you've both been damned close mouthed over it.
 There was an irritable, raspin murmur from Winthrope, and agail came Blakes loud retort. Look here young man. don't you forget you calle | me a cad once before. l can stand good deal from a sick man; but 1T | give 1t to you straight. you'd better GU that out. Call me brute or savage if thatll let of your steam; but. un derstand, I'm none of your Engiisl
 Again Winthrope spoke, this tim in a fretful whine.
 Blake replied with less anger That's so: and I'm going to show yo that I'm the real thing when 1t come to being a sport Give you my word J,ll make no move till you're througl the fever and on your legs again What I'll do then depends on my owl sweet will and don't you forget 1t. Tn not after her fortune. It's the lad herself that takes my fancy. Remen l ,. ,.ha, I eaid to vou when YOU calle, me cad the other time. You ha' your turn aboard ship. Now l can d as please: and that's what I'm goini to do. if l have to kick you over tn cliff end first, to shut off your pesk' interference.
 The girl crouched back into th withered foliage. dazed with terror Again she heard Blake speak. He ha' dropped into a bitter sheer.
 No chance? It's no nerve, vol moan. You could brain me. eas. enongh. any night-iust walk up witt a club when I'm asleep. Trouble IS von're like most other under dogs 'fraid that if you licked your boss there'd be no soup bones. So l gues I'm slated to stay boss of this colon grand Poo Bah and Mikado, all | me Understand? You mind you own business, and don't go to inter fering with me any more'
 Now. if you've stared enough at tn , ladv's skirt"
 The threat of discovery stung tn ..rl to instant action. With almos