Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-15
Rivals for the
|CannibalO ueen

"Oh, 20 ahead" said Sarout. IT'S
our rule to let man talk until we get
enough. and then"
He raised his right foot suddenly.
IL understand" said Mr.. Kicker
when / was about % years old our
vessel WAS wrecked and |. the only
one saved, was cast ashore on a can
nibal island-or. TO be more correct
ethnologically, an island inhabited by
cannibals. / was & handsome young
fellow. and It is not at all surprising
that the queen. who was young. I'M
married and. fortunately. pretty. fell
in love with me and wished to become
my wife.
But the prime minister. or great
panjandrum, as he was called. wished
his son TO marry the queen and be-
come king, so he and his minors
planned TO get rid OF me.
"Lola-Akwa, that was the queens
name, discovered the plot. and re-
solved to save me.
You all read your Bibles. and you
will remember that in the olden days
there were places that were called
Cities of Refuge On that tisland
there was a tree of refuge. IL was at
least 100 feet high and for POD iset
from it. in every direction. not. a tree
or shrub could be found. Thfs open
space gave the pursuers "A fine chance
for an arrow shot before the, refugee
reached the tree.
'Lola-Akwa told me to elm b to the
top OF that tree and stay there until
she sent word for me TO come down
But the panjandrum discovered my
hiding place. The queen dec Jared that
| was protected by all thattwas sacred
in their religion, but the great pan
jandrum proved by the cannibal Bible
that only cannibals were entitled to
its protection. He said they would
roast man, and II | wonld eat him
and pick his bones | might go free.
declined, for am particular about my
diet.
Then the great panjan, rum seized
an AK and struck at the foot of the
tree. Others followed his wicked ex-
ample and it soon began to totter.
They next tied a rope abo'at the trunk
of the tree. The plotters were 16 In
number counted them. They stood
in line, Juggling at the rope.
"Lola-Akwa stood far back awaiting
the terrible moment of my death. |
could see that her eyes were filled
with tears. The tree fell, and | went
flying through the air-to certain
death,
When l came to. l found myself
clasped in LOla-Akwa's arms. Where
am 10 l asked. Look she said.
did. and learned the wonderful truth.
The great tree had fallen upon the
great panjandrum and his 10 conspir-
ators and killed them all"
For a moment there was silence.
then chorus of voices exclaimed:
Did you marry the queenT
The stranger pressed his hand upon
his forehead.
No. II / remember correctly. some
one held an ace and took my queen"
He arose from the nail keg
I'm hungry. / would like some sup
per and a bed for the night To-mor
row / will embrace my only living
relative. Is there a boarding house in
town."
"Somethin' better'n that" said Alb
ner. We've got a hotel-the Hawkins
house. Mrs. Hawkins keeps it. I'm
going along that way and III interduce
you. She's a pretty good talker her
SELF" and Abner winked with both
eyes as they went out
Well" said Benoni, as the door
closed after them. the Bible says An
anias was a pretty good story teller.
but that gentleman seems to have
added some modern improvements"
Hes a cussed liar" said Bob Wood
And if Mrs Hawkins is smart she'll
make him pay in advance"
The door was thrown open full
width and two men rushed in.
Have you seen him." cried one.
Seen who?" asked Strout
Hes tall-biack ciothes-had on a
straw hat"
Who in thunder is he?" cried
Strout.
Hes a lunatic-just escaped from
the asylum. We tracked him to this
town"
Hes gone to the hotel" said Bob
Wood. You can nab him easy there
Ill show you the way"
The men started on the run, led by
Bob Wood. and followed by all who
had been enjoying the hospitality az
forded by the soap boxes. nail kegs.
and the red-hot stove
What beats me-" said Hiram. is
how he knew all about the Kicker
family"
Simple enough said Strout with q
sheer. That ass Abncr told him the
whole business. He never could keep
his mout hshct That's the reason I
wouldn't give him a job ia this store"
Mr.. Sfrout exiinEuished some Of the