The Falls City tribune., 1909-01-29
sisted Miss Leslie.

That's so; and r~oaSting-ears are
better than boiled. Win, | guess We'll
have a sample of bamboo asparagus
a la Les-leei"
Winthrope took the penknife and
fetched a handful of young sprouts
from the bamboo thieket. They were
heated oyer the Goals on a grill of
green branches and deyoured half
raw.
Say mumbled Blake, as he rum
mated on the last shoot, we're getting
on some for this smell hole of a coast
house, and chicken ranch and yege-
tables in our front yard. We've got
old Bobbie Crusoe beat, hands down,
on the start-off, and he with his shipful
of stuff for handicap"
Then you believe that the situation
looks more hopeful, Mr.. Blake?'
We'll, we've at least got an extern
sion on our note for a week or two.
But I'm not going to coddle you with
a lot of lies, Miss Jenny. There's the
fever coming, sure as fate. | may
staye it off a while; you and Win, ten
to one, will be down in a few days
and not a smell of q%uinine in our
eommissary. Then there1l be dyson
cry and snakes and wild beasts No:
we're not out of the woods yet, not by
a-considerable."
by Jove. Blake" muttered Win
thrope, Il must say. you're not very
encouraging"
ttniInft CnU u.ag irwin. IN ha
But, MI. Blake. | am sure papa will
offer a large reward when the steam
er is reported as lost. There will be
ships searching for us
Were not in the British channel,
and III bet what few boats do coast
along there don't nose about much
among these coral reefs"
81 fancy il would do no harm to
erect a signal" said Winthrope.
only thing that would make a
show is Miss Leslie's skirt" replied
Blake.
There is the big leopard skin per-
sisted Winthrope. To his surprise he
engineer took the suggestion under
serious consideration.
well, | don't know" he said. IF
we had a water background, now But
against the rocks and trees-no; what
we want is white. I'll tell you-when
Miss Jenny sets TO and makes herself
a dress of that skin, I'll fly her skirt
to the z%ephyrs."
"Mr. Blake! l really think that is
cruel Of you.'
ooh. come now; that's not fair! l
wouldn't lave said a word, but you
said you wanted to help"
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Blake. I
I did not quite understand you. |
really do want to help-to do my
share
Now you're talking! You see, it's
not only a question of the signal, but
of clothes. We've got to figure any
way ON needing new mes before long.
Look at my pants and vest, and Wins
too. Inside a month We'll all be in
hide-or in hiding. That's a joke,
Win, me by; see?'
But in the meantime" began
Miss Leslie.
In the meantime we're like to miss
a chance or two of being picked up.
just because we've failed to stick out
a signal that'd catch the eye twice
as far off as any ether color than scar
let. Do you suppose | worked my way
up from to engineer, and did
not learn anything about llags?'
But it is all really too absurd! |
do not know the first thing about sew
ing, and have neither thread nor
needle"
ITS up to YOU, though, If you want
to help. My sisters sewed mighty Don
after they learned to toddle. Bout
time you learned There, now; | did
not mean to hurt YOU feelings. You've
made a fair stagger at cooking, and
| bet you win out on the d~ressmaking.
For needle you can use one of these
long, slim thorns-poke a hole, and
then slip the thread through, like a
shoemaker"
"Ah, yes; but the thread? ?" put in
Winthrope.
THE c|ocoanut fiber would hardly
do" said Miss Leslie, forgetting to dry
her eyes.
mo. We could get fairly good fl
bers out of the palm leaves; but cat
gut will be a whole lot better. I'll
slit up a lot for you, fine enough TO
sew with. And now, let's get down to
lacks. No offense-but did either of
you eve learn to do anything useful
in all your blessed little lives?"
why, Mr.. Blake, of course I"
"Of course WHAT" demanded Blake.
as Miss Leslie hesitated. 1--WE know
all about your cooking and sewing.
What else?'
Il see what you meant. I fear
that nothing of what I learned would
be of service now"
"Boarding-school rot, Ell? And you.
Winthrope?"
"If you would kindly name over
what you have in mind"
"Tmi" grunted Blake "Well IFS