Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-08

llne, Dflll.
ME and the princess" said Britt la
conically. Chase looked up quickly,
but the others face was as straight as
could be. IF you were a real gentle
man you would come around once in
awhile and give her something to talk
to instead of about"
Does she talk about me?" quite
steadily.
"They all do. I've even heard the
white handmaidens discussing you in
glowing terms. You're a regular matt
nee hero up there, N.Y.
"Selimr' broke in Chase. The Ara
came to the table Immediately. don
put so much liquor in Mr.. Britt
drinks after this-mostly water" Britt
grinned amiably.
81 say, Britt, you're not responsible
for this affair between Browne and
Lady Deppingham, are your demand
ed Chase abruptly.
81? What do you meanY"
81 was just wondering if you could
have put Browne up to the game in
the hope that a divorce or two might
solve a very difficult problem"
"Now that you mention it, I'm going
to look up the church and colonial
divorce laws" said Britt noncommit-
tally after a moment.
81 advise you to hurry" said Chase
coolly. 'If you can divorce and marry
'em inside of four weeks, with no
court qualified to try the case nearer
than India, you are a wonder"
Chase was in the habit of visiting
the mines two or three times a week
during work hours. The next morn
ing after his conversation with Britt
he rode out to the mines. When he
reached the brow of the last hill, over
looking the wide expanse in which the
men toiled, he drew rein sharply and
stared aghast at what lay before him.
Five hundred half naked brown men
were congregated in the shade of the
trees far to the right. By the aid of
his glasses he could see that one of
their number was addressing them In
an earnest. violent %harangue. 1t was
Won Blitz. From time to time faint
sounds of shouts came across the val
ley.
Chase shuddered. He knew what it
meant.
How about Allah now, Selim?" he
asked sententiously.
"Allah is great, Allah is good" naum-
bled the Moslem youth, but without
heart.
do you think he can save me from
those dogs?" asked the master, with
a kindly smile.
"Sahib, do not go among them to-
day." implored Selim impulsively.
"They are expecting me, Selim. If
I don't come they will know that I
have funked. They'll know l am
afraid Of Them"
do not go today" persisted Selim
doggedly. Suddenly he started, look
ing intently to the left along the line
of the hill. Chase followed the direc-
ton of his gaze and uttered a sharp
exclamation of surprise.
Several hundred yards away, out
lined against the blue sky beyond the
knob. stood the motionless figure of a
horse and its rider-a woman in a
green habit. Chase turned his horses
head and rode rapidly toward her. She
had left the road to ride out upon the
crest of the green knob. Chase was
in the mood to curse her temerity.
AS he came up over the slope she
turned in the saddle to watch his ap-
proach. He had time to see that two
grooms from the stables were in the
road below her. She smiled as he drew
up beside her, not noticing his uneon-
scious frown.
$50 those are the fabulous mines of
Japat?" she said gayly, without other
greeting. "Where is the red glow
from the rubies?"
"Who gave you permission to ride so
far from the chateauY' he demanded,
almost harshly. She looked at him in
amazement.
Am l a t~respasser?" she asked coldly.
81 beg your pardon" he said quickly.
81 Gid not mean to offend. Don't you
know that it is not safe for you to-
"Nonsense!" she exclaimed. 81 am
not afraid of your shadows. Why
should they disturb meT"
"Look!' He pointed to the distant
assemblage. ''Those are not shadows.
They are men. and they are making
ready to transform themselves into
beasts. Before long they will strike.
Won Blitz and Rasula have sunk my
warships. You must understand that
it is dangerous to leave the chateau
on such rides as this. Come! We will
start back ~together-at once"
81 protest, Mr.. Chase, that you have
no right to say what l shall do orr
at isn't a question Of right. You
are nearly ten miles from the chateau,
in the most unfrequented part of the
island. Some day you will not return
to your friends. 1t will be too late to
hunt for you then"
How very thrilling!" she said, with
a laugh.
81 beg of you. do not treat it so
lightly" he said. Sc sharply that she