The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-17
in Papua
By C. ROSS JOHNSON
Copyright. by Short Stories Co.. Ltd.)

paul. IL w as d lily luOlAShI AOA
him and his prophetic eye saw inter
nationoal trouble in the near future
i ..'Follow me-" he said. He had al
ready sent the natives out in differen,
directions and the camp was resound
Ing with the crack of rifle and gun te
the unspeakable delight of small ma
tive boys. They wandered through
the bush for nearly an hour. Then
suddenly they found him.
There was glimmer ahead from q
hut in a small clearing. "Alec's place,
said the governor. He might know
something"
They pushed open the door and en-
tered. There was a faring lamp in
the dirty room. In one corner, gazing
blankly at figure at the rickety
taDle, stood Alec-a negro from the
Murltius. Over his shoulder peered
his Papuan wife and Jimmy Japan
while Mac, a half-caste, stood on one
bare foot and thoughtfully scratched
his woolly poll Seated on the table
dlsmally sucking two feet, of sugar
cane and glazing at his hosts, was the
prince. His shirt was in rags and
ms face was scratched and dirty, while
TWO little pigs rubbed themselves
grunting against his spurs.
I'VE thought your serene high
ness"
Would like something to eat
snapped the other.
Twenty minutes later a very dishey,
| eled and exhausted heir-apparent was
| helped into camp. He had gone
through enough to tire man-not to
mention prince.
Diner was over and the prince
seemed recovering. On the bank of
the river O'Brien was in earnest con.
versation with the native corporal.
This place." said OBrien to the
Count Bierundonner, who strolled IN
this place is the very devil for ALI.
gators"
"Du lieber Gott!" calculated the lat.
ter piously.
Yes; but you are all right in your
hammock, you know. It's worse for
me on the ground. It's only a few
yards from the river, you see, and
they might sneak up and nip me-"
What do you propose doing?'
asked the count, much moved.
Il shall put barricade round my
bed; then they can only fool round
outside and smell at me, but won't be
able to get in
Dear Cod" thought the count
"The monsters might climb this barri.
cade and nip me- He seemed de.
pressed, but, recollecting that he was
soldier, comported himself bravely
| Tired out, every one turned in early
| The count watched with fascinated
interest Mr.. O'Brien's preparations for
the night. This gentleman had col
lected everything he could lay his
hands on and built them like a wall
round where he lay, under the counts
| hammock-boxes, swags, biscuit tins
and buckets. The count examined ii
critically and with a knowledge of
strategy and the art of war.
Look" he said; Il will move a
little this box-so"
| AAdHhs very MucH, OlQ man, re-
piled Mr.. O'Brien from inside. rs il
better now?"
Yes" said the count, 'yes-much
hetter-for me-" he muttered. as he
crawled into his hammock. "The
brutes might have come upstairs as il
was" and he sank into a sweet sleep
Downstairs" O'Brien moved rest
lessly on his rugs. He was stiff after
the unaccustomed ride, and the bed
was hard. He dreamed that the
prince was lost and that he was be-
ing led off to instant decapitation. He
dozed off again and dreamed that the
alligators were crawling up and sit
ting on his chest (tinned lobster). He
awoke with start and yell. There
was crash-then something got him
| firmly by the arm. With convulsiye
shrek he brought both legs together
! and put all his soul into one last Kick
There was an answering shrek from
above as the Count Won Bierundonner
receiving the full force of the kick in
the small Of his back, was hurled
bodily out of his hammock and landed
grooming some yards outside the tent
! The whole camp turned out in con
fusion.
! Whats the matter?" queried Dial
las, the private secretary, hurrying ur
| with lantern.
IAN alligator" gasped O'Brien. who
was pinned down with two boxes or
his chest. Save me, old chap. 4
has got me by the arm
IAN alligator" said Dallas. "Yor
essence of an idiot! Why, you driyel
ing ass, you have knocked over 8
bucket and the handle has closed owe,
your arm. Get up. you juggins, and
! will take your arm out"
Then an irate and scornful camp
after having told Mr.. O'Brien exatl,
what it thought of him and provided
for his future in few powerful an6
well-chosen expressions, returned t.
its interrupted slumbers.
/ Royalty Enjoys Musical Gifts.
Princess Henry of Battenberg
whose latest song won applause at tn,
concert given by colonial artists a