The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-08-30
CHAPTER xxIIl.-ContInued,

Miss Leslie looked away, visibly
distressed. She had not been reared
after the French method. Young as
she was, she had fluttered at will
about the borders of the garden of
vice, knowing well that the gaudy
blossoms were lures to entice one into
the pitfall. Yet never before had she
caught so clear a glimpse of the Shiny
depths.
That's IT." growled Blake. Throw
me down cold just because I'm square
enough to tell you straight out You
make me tired! I'm not one of the
work-ox sort. that can chew the cud
all the year round and cork the blood
out of their brains. I've got to cut
loose from the Internal grind once in
while, and barring chance now and
then at opera, there's never been any.
thing but a spree"
"Oh, but that's SO dreadfully shock
Ing. Mr. Blake!"
And then like all the other little
hypocrites, you'll go and marry one
of those swell dudes who's made that
sort of thing his business, and every
body knows 1t, but it's all politely I'M
1erstood to've been sub rosa, so it's
all right. because he knows how to
part his name in the middle and"
Please, please STOP Mr.. Blake!
You don't know how cruel you are!"
Cruel? Suppose l told you about
the millionaire cur that Oh, now,
don't go and cry! Please don't cry,
Miss jenny l wouldn't hurt your
feelings for the world! l didn't mean
anything out of the way, really
didn't! It's only that when | get to
thinking of-of things, it sets me half
crazy. And now, can't you see how
It's going to be ten times worse for
me after-with you so altogether be-
yond me-" He stopped short,
flushed, and stammered lamely: Il
didn't mean to say that"
She looked down, no less embar-
raised.
Please let us talk of something
else, she murmured. 1T has been
such a pleasant morning, until you
until we began this silly discussion"
All right, all right! Only mop I'D
the dewdrops and Wen turn on the
sun machine. | really didn't mean to
rip out that way at all. But, you see,
the things been ranking in me ever
since we came aboard ship at the
Cape, and Winthrope and Lady Bay
rose had my seat changed so II
couldn't see you Not that hold any.
thing against them now"
that this African coast is particularly
dangerous for women So far | have
escaped the fever. But you yourself
said that the longer the attack is de-
layed the worse it will be-
Blake's face darkened and he turned
to stare inland along the ridge. She
mad Kicked him on the raw, and he
thought that she had done so inten-
tionaly.
You think | haven't tried-that I've
been shamming!" he burst out bit
terly. You're right. There's the one
chance But couldn't leave you till |
the barricade was finished, and it's |
been only few days since All the |
same, | oughtn't to We waited a day. |
III start it tomorrow"
What? Start what?"
"A catamaran. l can rig one up in |
short order that. with skin sail and |
an outrigger, will do fairly well to |
coast along inside the reefs-barring |
squalls. Worst thing is that it's all |
guess whether the nearest settle
ment Is up the coast or down"
And you can think of going and |
IeaVlng me ali alone here!"
Ihat's better than letting you risk |
two-to-one chances on feeding the |
sharks"
But you'd be risking it,"
blake uttered a short harsh laugh.
what's the difference" he paused |
moment then addad with ori-n