The newspaper., 1909-08-13

than two hours work. The girls eyes
frightened. She herself could gather
the thorn-brush and fill the gap before
night. They no longer need fear the
jackals or even the larger beasts OF
prey. None the less, they must have
fire.
Spurred on by the thought, she was
about to spring through the barricads
when she heard the tread Of feet on
the path beyond. She crouched down.
and peered through the tangle Of
brush in the edge of the gap. Less
than ten PAGES away Blake was ploi
ding heavily up the trail. She stepped
out before him.
"You-you! Are you alive!" she
gasped.
Live? You bet your boots!" came
back the grim response. You bet
I'm alive-though / had to go Jonah
one better to do 1t. The whale heaved
him up; heaved up the whale-and it
took about barrel Of sea-water to do
it"
"Sea-water?"
Sure tumbled over twice
on the way. But l made the beach.
Lord! how I pumped in the briny
deep, Guess ! won't go into details
but II you think you know anything
about seasickness- Whewi Lucky
for yours truly, the tide was just start
ing out. and the wind on shore. I'd
fallen in the water, and the Jonah
business laid me out cold. Didn't
know anything until the tide came up
again and soused me-"
Il am very glad you're not dead.
But how you must have suffered You
are still white, and your face is all
creased"
Blake attempted a careless laugh
Don't worry about me. I'm here. o.
K, all that's left,-a little wobbly on
my pins, but hungry as 4 shark. But
say, what's up with you? You're
sweating like a Good thing, though
It'll stave OF your spell of fever .
while. How'd you happen to be com
ing down here SO early"
Il was starting to ind you"
"Mei"
Not you-that is. thought yoa
were dead. was going to make Ger
tain, and to-to get the burning
glass"
"Um-m. see. Let the FIRE 60 out.
eh.''
DO not blame me. Mr.. Blake, I
was SO i'll and worn out. and I've paid
for II twice over. really l have. Didn't
those awful beasts attack your
"Beasts7 How's that!" he demanded
"Oh. but you must have heard them!
The horrid things tried TO kill u.s." she
cried. and she poured out a half in
coherent account of all that had hap
pened since he left
Blake listened intently. his jaw
thrust out. his eyes glowing upon her
with a look which she had never be-
fore seen in any mans eyes. But his
first comment had nothing TO do with
her conduct.
"How's that.-sorry Win got roust-
ed out OF his nice little snooze-s
Why. don't you know. we'd been all
alone in our glory by tonight II it.
hadn't been for those brutes. He was
in the stupor. and that would have
been the end OF him II the beasts
hadn't stirred him up so lively. I've
heard OF such a hing bore. but al
ways thought II was iaSe- here you
are sweating. too
Il feel much better than yesterday.
| did not tell you. but have felt i'll for
nearly a week
Fraid to tell, eh,-and you were
so scared over the beasts Scared
BY Jimmy. you've got grit little wom-
an, There's two kinds of scaredness.
You've got the Stonewall Jackson kind
II anybody asks you. just refer them
to Tommy Blake"
Thank you. Mr.. Blake. But should
We not hasten back now to prepare
something for Mr.. Winthrope2"
Ditto for yours truly. I'm like that
sepulchre you read about-white out
side. and within nothing but bare
bones and emptiness"