The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-27
The Monarch of BObO
By WILL LISENBEE
Dy WILL LISENBEE
lcopgngnl. " snoFlal0ry Pub. 90

less purpose.
Capt Nelson made no reply. IN the
throw Of Destiny the dice had turned
against him. He could frame ne words
Of apology for what he had done, even
II he had been disposed to sue eor
clemency
4 see YOU recognize me" went on
the monarch of Bobo with a hideous
leer, but the hand Of oppression has
cut the bonds OF friendship between
us. When YOU set me on this island
to be eaten up by solitude or the ma
tives. that was your day To-day IS
mine rejoice that 1t Is so. Soon
after you left me here | fen in with
a band Of natives, and they made me
prisoner They took me to their
village, and when they had sized me
up, they came to the conclusion that
the most profitable thing to be done
was to barbecue me. That was not
pleasant situatIon--fOr me. It set my
mind to work. Something must be
done, and the incentive to do 1t was
prodigioua Here was chance TO
show Caucasian superiority over the
dark.skinned progeny Of Ham The
mere appetite for food, when not rein
forced BY actual starvation, IL not the
strongest Of human desires. Man Will
often neglect the calls OF his stomach
to provide entertainment for the mind
A brilliant thought came to me. BY
furnishing entertainment for my cap
tors might induce them to postpone
their intended feast BY some skilful
sleightOf-hand tricks gained their
attention AS ] proceeded, they grew
more and more enthraled. put forth
all my skill, and went on and on. They
pressed about me. Their interest grew
into anazement, amazement into Won
der, and wonder into superstitious
awe. From that moment all thoughts
OF the barbecue were forgotten. It is
long step from a fricassee to
throne, but before the sun had set
: they made me their king. 1t was the
victory Of the mind over the mind
They placed before me all the wealth
OF the tribe. They feasted me, they
prostraed themselves before me, ana
endowed me with nine wives. AS tbs
monarch of Bobo my word is law.
The captains face was study In
humiliation and anger. bet he knew
he could say nothing to help the
cause Of himself and shipmates. And
the monarch Of Boho, reclining on his
tawdry throne, smoked pipe Of
e prodigious size in silence.
He did not see the face that was
!, glued to an opening in the structure,
q nor the pair Of seintillant eyes that
It was fixed upon him. But even as he
q ceased speaking, form pushed
II through the opening, and entered the
q enclosure AS the curious gaze Of the
monarch rested on the figure his
e small eyes blinked with sudden energy
h He arose and peered before him, his
g face working with emotion. Then, as
ie he recognized the stern, implacable
{, features Of his wife, his form became
IT rigid as If transhxed with terror. His
al face paled and he tried to speak. bui
only a gurgling sound issued from bis
Of throat
IN And straight toward the throne tbs
is woman marched, the wonderstrickeI
IN blacks falling back to let her pass. Sh'
tn never paused till she stood before thl
"a trembling monarch. Then, stopping
ey she fixed on him a look Of witherInl
ID scorn.
le "A fine spectacle you are making 0
th yourself with these niggers!" she SAID
re- with suppressed wrath. "A fine hus
Id band you are to let your lawful VIII
shift for herself while you play kin
is- to a lot Of apes!"
X "Manda-" he faItered. but sh
ne checked him with a gesture Of COZ
no tempt
As Don't you dare speak tn / a
~ DONE she warned. Il have hear
1e every word you said. So, while hav
been at home working like a slavi
pinching and saving, you have bee
I'm taking your ease, playing king with
er' lot Of niggers and boasting OF min
uS wives!-Oh-"
Her voice rose to a Shrek. and ST
~ ~ made a grab for the monarch's ear.
~ at was a joke. Manda," he erie
40 dodging about the throne 4 tell 70
IL It was sll joke; you never cou
take joke"
,,,n "A joke, was itT she fair
M NJ screamed. "You dare tell me tina
10 III make 1t a dear joke for you befo
= I'm done with you. Solomon Brown
H.. Don't you dare to say word back
Du' she warned, as he essayed to spea
Order these niggers to release the
men at once. and come with me bal
ne to the ship Do you hear?"
opo "Yes-yes, 'Manda," he said, Il 3
'i0 ready to do anything you say"
1. made signal to the natives. and Oh
uls- released the prisoners. and fell bad
MY Then Mrs. Brown took the monarch
arm, and followed by Capt. Nels
lsti- and his men, marched from the pla.
ted And thus fell the dynasty Of SOlom