The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-17
He was almost in view of

hesitating.
81 can't do it," he muttered; 81 can't
tell her-poor girl"
He turned and pushed into the
thicket. Forcing a way through the
tangle of thOrny shrubs and creepers
until several yards from the path he
began to edge towards the face of the
jungle. that he might peer out at his
companions unseen by them.
There was more of the thicket be
fore him than he had thought. and he
was still fighting his way through il
when he was brought to stand by
peculiar cry that might have been the
bleat of young lamb: "Ba-ba!"
Whats that" he croaked.
He stood listening, and in a moment
he again heard the cry. this time more
distinctly: "Blak!-Blak,"
There could be no mistake 1t was
WINTHROP calling for him, and call
ing with a clearness of voice that
would have been physically impossible
half an hour since. Blake's sunken
eyes lighted with hope He burst
through the last screen of jungle and
stared towards the palm under which
he had left his companions. They
were not there.
Another call from Winthrope di-
rected his gaze more seaward. The
two were seated beside a fallen palm.
and Miss Leslie had large round OBJ
ject raised to her lips Winthrop was
waving to him.
"Cocoanuts!" he yelled. Come on"
Three of the palms had been over
thrown by the hurricane, and when
Blake came up he found the ground
strewn with nuts. He seized the first
he came to; but Winthrope held out
one already opened He snatched it
from him and placed the hole to his
swollen lips. Never had champagne
tasted half so delicious as that cocoa
nut milk. Before he could drain the
last of it through the little opening
Winthrope had the husks torn from
the ends of two other nuts, and the
convenient germinal spots gougeu
open with his penknife.
Blake emptied the third before he
spoke. Even then his voice was
hoarse and strained. How'd you
strike EN-"
Il couldn't help it," explained Win
thrope Hardly had you disappeared
when l noticed the tops of the fallen
palms and thought of the nuts. There
was one in the grass not 20 feet from
where we lay"
Lucky for you-and for me- too, I
guess" said Blake. We were all
three down for the count But this
settles the fist round in our favor.
How do you like the picnic, Miss
jenny"
Miss Leslie. if you please" replied
the girl, with hauteur
oh say Miss Jenny" protested
Blake, genially. I'VE live in the same
boarding house now. Why not be
folksy? You're free to call me Tom.
Pass me another nut, Winthrope.
Thanks! BY the way, what's your
front name? Saw it aboard ship
Cyril"
Cecil" corrected Winthrope, in a
low tone.
"Cecil-Lord Cecil, eh?-or is it only
the Honorable Cecil?"
MY dear sir, l have minated be-
fore that, for reasons of-er-state-"
"Oh, yes; you're travelling incog, in
the secret service. Sort of detect
I've"
"Detective!" echoed Winthrope in
q peculiar tone.
Blake grinned. "Well, it is rawther
a nawsty business for your honorable
ludship, But there's nothing like call
ing things by their right names"
Right names-er-I don't quite
take you. l have told you distinctly
my name is Cecil Winthrope!"
"O-h-h! how lovely!-See-sill! See
seal!-Bet they called you Sissy at
school. English chum of mine told me
your schools are corkers for nick
names. What'H we make it-Sis or
sissy"
Il prefer my patronymic, Mr.. Blake"
replied Winthrope.
"All right then; we'll make it Pat,
If that's your choice. | say, Pat this
juice Is lue SUN LOT WetneSS, out II
makes a fellow remember his grub.
Where'd you leave that fish,"
Really, l cant just say, but it must
have been where | wrenched my
ankle"
You cawn't just say! And what
are we going to eat?"
Here are the cocoanuts."
Bright boy! go to the head Of the
class! Just take some more husk off
those empty ones"
Winthrope caught up one of the
nuts, and with the aid of his knife
stripped it of its husk. At a gesture
from Blake he laid it on the bare
ground and the American burst it
open with a blow of his heel It was
an immature nut, and the meat proved
TO be little thicker than clotted cream
Blake divided it into three parts, hand
ing Miss Leslie the cleanest.
Though his companions began with
more restraint, they finished their
shares with equal gusto. WINTHROP
needed no further orders to return to
his hushing. One after another the
nuts were cracked and divided among