The Falls City tribune., 1909-01-08
CHAPTER VIII.
The Club Age.
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@~EA liz bNAh Summing -
Blake lay -outstretched, be-
gan to scorch one of his legs. He
stirred uneasily, and sat upright. Like
a sailor, he was wide awake the mo-
ment he opened his eyes. He stood
up and peered around through the half
teatless branches.
Over the water thousands of gulls
were Swimming and diving, while
above them a number of graceful frigate
btrds-those swart, scarlet-throated pi-
rates of the air-hung poised, ready to
swoop down and rob the weaker birds
Of their fish. All about the headland
and the surrounding water was life
In fullest action. Even from where
he stood Blake could hear the
harsh clamor of the seafowl.
IN marked contrast TO this scene the
plain was apparently l~ifeless. When
Blake rose, a small brown lizard
darted away across the sand. Other
wise there was neither sight nor
sound of a living creature. Blake pom
,lered this as he gathered his clothes
iii.j IliS SISUt anu ptSdl u dltSS.
Looks like the siesta is the all
round style in this God-forsaken hole
he grumbled. Haven't seen so much
rs a rabbit, nor ven one land bird.
May be a drought-no; must be the
dry Whee, these things are
not! I'm thirsty as a shark. Now,
where's that softly and her ladyship?
3E1a-sI 1.As. t., 60, - {A.,rl, +;1,aff
He drew on his shoes with a jerk,
growled at their stiffness, and, club
In hand, stepped clear of the brush to
look for his companions. The first
glance along the foot of the cliff
showed him Winthrope lying under the
shade of the overhanging lodges, a few
yards beyond the sand beach. OF
Miss Leslie there was 40 sign. Half
alarmed by this, Blake started for the
beach with his swinging stride. Win
thrope was awake, and on Blake's APP
preach. sat up to greet him.
Hello" he called. where have
yol been all this time?"
r'Sleep. Where's Miss Leslie?"
She's around the point"
Dldke SlIuIltd liOthllSlN. uutti
But l fawncy she won't be for long"
He would have passed on but Win
trope stepped before him.
Don't go out there. Blake" he pro,
tested. 'I-ah-think it would be bet
ter if | went"
9Why?" demanded Blake.
WINTHROP hesitated; but an impa-
4tC-t -,1r1,,o,+ ~ D1o1rl FovooJ a.,
answer: well, you remember, this
morning, telling us to dry our clothes
Yes; I remember said Blake. so
you want to serve as lady's valet?"
Winthrope's plump face turned a
rtckly yellow.
"I-ah-valet?-What do you mean.
sir? I protest. do not understand
you."'he stammered. But in the midst,
catching sight of Blake's bewildered
stare, he suddenly flushed crimson,
and burst out in unrestrained anger:
"You-you bounder-you beastly cad
Any man with an ounce of decency-"
Blake uttered a jeering laugh
'Wowi Hark, how the British lion
rr.ro-ars when his tails twisted!"
You beastiy cad!' repeated the
Tnglishman, now purple with rage.
Blake's unpleasant pleasantly gave
place to a scowl. His jaw thrust out
like a bulldogs, and he bent towards
Winthrope with a menacing look. For
p moment the Englishman faced him,
sustained by his anger. But there was
q steely light in Blake's eyes that he
could not Withstand. Wi~nthrope's de-
FAINT stare wavered and fell. He
shrank back, the color fast ebbing
from his cheeks.
UGH" growled Blake. Guess you
won't blat any more about cads! You
slammed hypocrite! Maybe I'm not
on TO how you've been hanging around
Miss Leslie just because she's an
heiress. Anything is fair enough for
vou swells. But let a fellow so much