The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-25

look black, as though"
Burnt EN-, OF course-hot stones.
That was so clever of you"
He made no response.
Supper was eaten in silence Even
Winthrope's presence would have been
a relief TO the girl; yet she could not
go TO waken him, or even suggest that
her companion do so. Blake sat
throughout the meal sulen and stolid
and carefully avoided meeting he,
gaze. Before they had finished, twi
light had come and gone, and night
was upon them Yet she fingered fol
a last attempt
Goodnight friend" she whispered
He sprang up as though she had
struck him and Numbered away into
the darkness.
In the morning it was as before. He
had gone OFF before she Weakened. She
fingered over breakfast; but he did
not appear, and she could not endure
WinthrOpe's suave drawl She went
for another day on the headland
She returned somewhat earlier than
on the previous day. AS before, Win
thrope was doing in the shade. But
Blake was under the baobab, raking
together a heap of rubbish. His hands
were scratched and bleeding To the
girls surprise, he met her with a
cheerful grin and clear direct glance.
Look here" he called.
She stepped around the oaobab and
stood staring. The entrance. from the
ground to the height OF IL feet, was
walled up with a mass of thorny
branches, interviewer with yet thorn
Ter creepers.
"How's that for front door," he
demanded.
Door,"
Yes"
But it's so big. could never
move ii"
A child could. Look" He grasped
projecting handle near the bottom Of
the thorny mass. The lower half NJ
the door swung up and outward, the
upper half in and downward. See
it's balanced on crossbar in the
middle. Come on in"
She walked after him in under the
now horizontal door He gave the in
ner end light upward thrust, and the
door swung back in its vertical circle
until it again stood upright in the
opening. From the inside the girl
could see the strong framework to
which was dashed the facing OF the
thorns. II was made Of bamboo and
strong pieces of branches, bound to-
gether with tough creepers
Pretty good grating, Ell ." remarked
Blake. When those green creepers
dry, they'll shrink and hold tight as
iron clamps. Even now nothing short
Of a rhinoceros could walk through
when the bars are fast. See here"
He stepped up to the novel door
and slid several socketed cro5sbars
until their outer ends were deep in the
holes in the tree trunk three on each
side.
'How's that for a set of bolts" he
demanded
Wonderful! Really you are very.
very clever. But why should YOU go
to all this trouble, when the barri-
cade-"
Well. you see, it's best to be on the
safe side"
But it's absurd for you to go TO all
this needless work. Not that do not
appreciate your kind thought for my
safety. Yet look at your hands,"
Blake fastened to put his bleeding
hands behind him.
Go and wash them at once. and I'll
put on a dressing"
mo, thank you, Miss Jenny. You
needn't bother. They'll do all right. "
You must, 1t would please me-"
Why, then. OF course But first.
| want TO make sure you understand
fastening the door. Try the bars your
self.
She obeyed, sliding the bars in and
out until he nodded his satisfaction.
Good he said. Now promise me
you'll slide EN- fast every night"
IF you ask IT, But why"
Il want TO make you perfectly safe. "
Safe? But am not secure with
Look here, Miss Leslie; I'm not GO
ing to say anything about anybody"
Perhaps Won had better say no
more. Mr. Blake"
That's right But whatever hap
pens, you'll believe I've done my best