, 1909-02-04

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actually climbed a tree! She YOU'D
show Mr.. Blake that she was not 81
helpless rs he fancied.
At the thought, she clambered On
up, finding that the branches maue
convenient steps. She did not look
back, and the screen Of treetops pc
meath saved her from n sense OF
giddiness. As her head came above
the level of the cliff, she peereo
through the foliage, and saw the sig
mailbag far over near the end OF the
headland. The big piece OF whl'e
duck stood out bravely against the
blue sky, all the more conspicuous 1or
the fiocks of frightened seafowl which
wheeled above and around 1t.
Surprised that she did not see the
men, Miss Leslie started to draw her
self IN over the cliff edge. she
heard W~inthrope's voice a few yards
away to her left. A sudden realization
that the Englishman might consider
her exploit ill-bred caused her to sink
back out Of sight.
She was hesitating whether to de-
scend or to climb on up, when WIN
thrope's peevish whine was cut snort
by a loud and angry retort from Blake
Every word came to the girls ears
with the force of a blow.
"You do, do you? Well, I'd like 10
know where in hell you come In. n
not your sister, nor your mother, nor
your aunt, and If she's your sweet
heart, you've both been damned close
mouthed over it."
There was an irritable, rasping
murmur from Winthrope, and again
came Blake's loud retort. Look here
young man, don't you forget you called
me a cad once before. I can stand a
good deal from a sick man.; but I'll
give 1t to you straight, you'd better cut
that out. Call me a brute or a savage,
If that'll let off your steam; but, I'M
derstand, I'm none of your English
kinds"
Again winthrope spoke, this time
in a fretful whine.
Blake replied with less anger:
That's so; and Pm going to show you
that I'm the real thing when 1t comes
to being a sport. Give you my word
| I'll make no move till you're through
the fever and on your legs again
What I'll do then depends on my own
sweet will, and don't you forget 1t. I'm
not after her fortune. It's b lady
herself that takes my fancy. Remem-
! Der what I said to you when you called
) me a cad the other time. You a
I your turn aboard ship. Now ! can do
! as / please; and that's what I'm going
| to do, IL l have to kick you over the
! cliff end first, to shut off your pesky
interference"
The girl crouched back int the
withered foliage, dazed with terror.
Again she heard Blake speak. He had
dropped into a bitter sheer.
mo chance? It's no nerve, o
mean. You could brain me, easy
enough, any night-just walk up with
a club when I'm asleep. Trouble is,
you're like most other under dogs
'fraid that If you licked our boss,
there'd be no sour m So / guess
I'm slated to stay boss Of this colony
grand Poo Bah and Mikado, all in
! one. Understand? You mind your
own business, and don't go to inter
fering with me any more!
Now, II you've stared enough at the
lady's skirt"
The threat Of discovery stung the
girl to instant action. With almost
frantic haste, she scrambled down to.
the lower branches, and sprang to the
ground. She had never ventured such
q leap even in childhood. She struck
lightly but without proper balance.
and pitched over sideways. Her hands
CHANGED to alight upon the remnants
of leopard skin. Great as was her
fear, she stopped to gather all to-
gether in the edge of her skirt before
darling up the cleft.
At the baobab she turned and gazed
back along the cliff edge. Before she
had time to draw a second breath, she
caught q glimpse of Blake's palm-leaf
hat, rear the crown of the ladder tree.
"o-o-h!-he didn't see mel" she
murmured. Her frantic strength van
ished, and a deathly sickness came
upon her. She felt herself going. and
sought to kneel to ease the fall.
She was reused from the wool by
Blake's resonant shout: Hey, Miss
Jenny! where are you? We've got
your laundry on the pole in fine
shape!"
The girls faccid limbs grew tense,
and her body quivered with a shudder
of dread and loathing. Yet she set her
little white teeth, and forced herself
to rise and 60 out to face the men.
Both met her look with a blank stare
Of CONSERVATION.
What is 1t, Miss Genevieve?" cried
Winthrope. You're white as chalk"
TITS the ~fever!" growled Blake.
"She's In the cold stage. Get q pot on.
Well"
mo, no.; it's not that! It's only
I've been frightened"
Frightened"
by IA dreadful beast!"
Beast repeated Blake. and his