The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-10
CHAPTER VIII.
The Club Age.

gan to scorch one of his legs. He 1 stirred uneasily, and sat upright. Like sailor, he was wide awake the mo. ment he opened his eyes. He stood up and peered around through the half leafless branches.
 over the water thousands of gulls and terms, boobies and cormorants were skimming and diving, while above them number of graceful frigate birds-those swart, scarIetthroated ni- rates Of the air-hung poised, ready to swoop down and rob the weaker birds l or their fish. All about the headland and the surrounding water was life In fullest action. Even from where he stood Blake could hear the harsh clamor of the seafowl.
 In marked contrast 10 this scene the plain was apparently lifeless. When 1 Blake rose, small brown lizard i darted away across the sand. Other wise there was neither sight nor sound of living creature. Blake pom dered this as he gathered his clothes Into the shade and began to dress.
 Looks like the siesta Is the all round style in this God-forsaken hole" l he grumbled. Haven't seen so much as rabbit. nor even one land bird. May be a drought-no; must be the dry season. Vince, these things are hot! I'm thirsty as a shark. Now. where's that softly and her ladyship? sFraid she's in for tough timel"
 
 He drew on his shoes with a jerk, growled at their stiffness, and, club In hand, stepped clear of the brush to look for his companions. The first glance along the foot of the cliff showed him Winthrope lying under the shade of the overhanging lodges, few yards beyond the sand beach. Of Miss Leslie there was no sign. Half alarmed by this, Blake started for the beach with his swinging stride Win. thrope was awake. and on Blake's ap- proach. sat up to greet him.
 "Hello!" he called. Where have you been all this time?"
 Sleep. Where's Miss Leslie?"
 She's around the point"
 Blake grinned mockingly. "Indeedl But fawncy she won't be for long"
 He would have passed on. but Win trope stepped before him.
 Don't go out there Blake" he pro tested. "I-ah--think 1t would be bet ter if went"
 "Why?" demanded Blake.
 Winthrope hesitated; but an impa- tient movement by Blake forced an answer: Well. you remember, this morning. telling us to dry our clothes"
 Yes; I remember" said Blake 50 you want to serve as lady's valet?"
 Winthrope's plump face turned sickly yellow.
 1-ah-valet? What do you mean, sir? l protest--I do not understand you," he stammered But in the midst, catching sight of Blake's bewildered stare, he suddenly flushed crimson. and burst out in unrestrained anger: "You--you bounder--you beastly cad, Any man with an ounce of decency--"
 Blake uttered a jeering laugh Wow, HarlS. how the British lion r-r-roars when his tails twisted,"
 iOu DtdStlg tdu. itptdttu tut Englishman. now purple with rage.
 Blake's unpleasant pleasantly gave place to a scowl His jaw thrust out like bulldogs, and he bent towards Winthrope with menacing look. For a moment the Englishman faced him, sustained by his anger But there was a steely light in Blake's eyes that he could not withstand Winthrope's de liant stare wavered and fell. He shrank back. the color fast ebbing from his cheeks.
 "Ugh!" growled Blake. Guess you won't blat any more about cads! You damned hypocrite, Maybe I'm not Cn to how you've been hanging around Miss Leslie just because she's an heiress. Anything is fair enough for you swells. But let fellow so much as open his mouth about your exalted set, and it's perfectly dreadful, you know"
 He paused for reply. Winthrope | only drew back step farther and | eyed him with furtive, sidelong | glance. This brought Blake back to i his mocking jeer. You'll learn, Pat, | me by. There's lots of things'll show up different to you before we get | through this picnic. For one thing, I'm boss here--president, congress and | supreme court. Understand?'
 By what right, may l ask?' mur- mured Winthrope.
 "Riehtl" answered Blake. That | hasn't anything to do with the ques tion-it's might Back in civilized f parts your little crowd has the drop on my big crowd and runs things to suit themselves. But here we're sort of reverted to primitive society. This hapnens to be the Club Age and I'm inc Man with the Big Stick Seer
 q myself symyathize with the lower classes. Mir. Blake. Above all, think ii harbarous the way they punish one who is forced by circumstances to annropriate part of the ill-gotten gains of the rich upstarts. But do you De. lleye Mir. Blake, that brute strength
 You bet Now shut up. Wherere the cocoanuts?
 winthrope picked up two nuts ana handed them over
 ~There were only five" he eS plaincd
 ~An right. I'm no captain of in- dustry.~ sr,sd
 reininpd Winthrope.