The Mena weekly star., 1909-02-04
Continued from iastweek) SYNOPSIS.

What's the matter?" he demanded. Think I'm going to bite you?"
 She shrank farther away, and did not answer. He stared at her, his eyes hard and bright Suddenly he burst into harsh laugh and strode away towards the cliff, savagely Kicking aside the birds that came in his path.
 When, an hour later, the girl crept back along the cleft to the baobab nhe saw him hard at work building q little hut several yards down to- wards the barricade. The moment She perceived what he was about her bearing became less guarded, and she took up her own work with "a spirit md energy which she had not shown since the adventure with the puff adder.
 At her call to the noon meal Blake took his time to respond, and when ho at last came to join her he was m0rose and taciturn. She met him with a smile and exerted all her wom- orly tact to conciliate him.
 "You must help me eat the egg, she said I've boiled it hard"
 sRather eat beef" he mumbled.
 But just to please me-when I've cooked it your way"
 He uttered an inarticulate sound which she chose to interpret as as sent The egg was already shelled. She cut it exactly in half and served one of the pieces to him with bit or warm fat and pinch of salt. As he took the dish he raised his sullen eyes to her face She met his gaze with look of smiling insistence.
 Come now" she said; please don't refuse I'm sorry was so rude"
 Well if you feel that way about N!--not that care for fancy dishes, he responded. gruffiy.
 "It would be missing half the en- joyment to eat such delicacy with out some one to share il" she said.
 Blake looked away without answer. But she could see that his face was boglnning to clear. Greatly encour- aged, she chatted away as though they were seated at her fathers dinner table and he was an elderly friend from the business world whom if was her duty to entertain.
 For a while Blake betrayed little in- ferest, confining himself to monosyl- Inbles except when he commented on the care with which she had cooked the various dishes. When she least expected, he looked up at her, his lips parted in broad smile. She stopped short, for she had been describing her first social triumphs and his untimely leyity embarrassed her.
 Don't get mad. Miss Jenny he raid, his eyes twinkling. 'You don't know how funny 1t seems to sit here md listen to you talking about those things It's like serving up ice cream and onions in the same dish
 Tim sure. Mir Blake"
 WRsiEdefqse all h9lsSMtEs and young Mrs. yandam-Jones' auto cotiIlon-- with us sitting here like froelodytes, chewing snake poisoned antelope, and you in that Kundgy dress"
 'Do you-I was not aware that you knew about music"
 *Don't know note. But give me q chance to hear good music and I'm there if have to stand in the peanut. .sa1lery"
 "Oh. I'm so glad I'm very, very fond of music, Have you been to Bayreuth?"
 'Where's that?"
 vIn Germany. It is where his operas are given as staged by Wagner himself. It is indescribably grand and inspiring-above all, the Par sifal."
 "rlI most certainly take that in even if I have to cut short my en- gaKement in this gee-lorious cline not but what, when 1t comes to leopard ladies-" He paused and surveyed her with frank admiration.
 The blood leaped into her face.
 "Ohl" she gasped, T never dreamed that even such man as you would compare me with-with a creature like that!"
 .snch a man as mel" repeated Blake, staring. What do you mean' know I'm not much of ladies man; but to be yanked mp like this when fellow is trying to pay a compliment well. it's not just what you'd call pleasant"
 1 beg your pardon, Mir Blake. nlisunderstood I-"
 
 *That's all right, Miss Jennyl don't ask any lady to beg my pardon The only thing Is don't see why you should flare out at me that way"
 For a full minute she sat- with down bent head her face clouded with doubt and indecision At last she bravely raised her eyes to meet his.
 'Do you wonder that am not quite nayself?n she asked You should re member that I have always had ths utmost comforts of life and have beer cared for Don't you see how ter rihle it is for mel And then the deatf 0f- -of---"
 'a can't be sorry for that,"
 'But even you felt how terrible | Has-and then Oh. surely. you mus see how how embarrassing"
 II was Blakc's turn to look dowr ana hesitate She studied his face her bosom heaving with quick-drawt breath: but she could make nothins of bis square jaw and frmset lips