The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-03-31


drapings. his hands were always glow
ed. and the thick veil of full green was
never lifted from his face
CHAPTER XII.
At the close of a long, hot day, the
enchanted yacht sighted land-a blur
of gray and green TO the left. AS the
night deepened this verged into
splash of tropic green. washed with
spendthrift moon. Betty begged to be
allowed to stop on deck to watch this
dawning beauty, and Tyosa, muffied in
a long white cloak, stood beside her.
AS they approached the harbor. Betty
saw 1t was the jettying mouth of a
river. the banks lined with mosshung
palms. springing from a matted
growth OF reeds, entwined vines, rush
es and lush grass. Straight up the
river they went in the moonlight.
through a current so slow that the
stream appeared stagnant No sign of
habitation met the eye, and the Jun
giles to either side were still as death
save for the occasional roar OF a lion,
or snarl of some angered panther.
The river verged into a lake, black
and forbidding, within bleak beaches of
yellow sand. and from there they rush.
ed into another river rooted with en-
tangled trees through which filtered a
blood-red sunrise. All day they fol-
lowed this river. pimpled at intervals
with lakes, small or large, and clear
or muddled The white heron and the
storm watched them unheeding. A
crocodile or two sided after them, and
at intervals some huge snake. untwin-
ing from long hanging bough. would
stretch its Shiny length across the
snowy deck Twice they passed a herd
of elephants coming down to drink. and
often sent an affrighted lioness hurry
ing back from the waters edge to her
mewing kittens The purple lotus
spread itself despairingly over some of
the slimiest pools as IL to patch up
black hideodsness with perfect bloom.
All this tropical splendor finally wear
led even Betty's rapt eyes. and she
chung gratefully to Tyoga's arm as the
negress said: I'VE are at our journeys
end" AMI with 1t had come the night.
The yacht had swung through an
archway. and shot into a rooted pas
sage. water dripping from the stones
and moss above them, and a raven
cawed as they stopped at a stubby
wharf. from which led up dizzy fight
Of dimly lighted granite steps.
The stairs ended In a vaulted corrf-
dor hung with a few antique brass
lamps. Placed at intervals along the
sides were low stone couches covered
with leopard skins.
To one Of these Tyoga motioned Bet
~. and then pursuing her thick black
lips she emitted peculiar whistle In
stantly there darted forward from one
of the dusk-hung inches a comely
young negro girl, her glistening body,
satiny as ebony. nude save for kilt Of
striped silk. and short tunic of gauze
She bowed low before Tyoga. who
addressed to her few half audible re-
marks in a strange dialect.
The girl nodded her head in the af-
| firmative. stealing occasional surrep-
titious glances at Betty, and then TAX
ing up one OF the smoking brass lamps
she led the way toward the end OF the
long hall Here more steps. two flights
| of them, of time married stone. moss
grown in the corners, greeted them.
stairs in a dizzying never ending Sc
| quence. till them came upon a hall
longer. lighter and lower than the rest.
A hundred archways with tapestry
| hangings opened upon this hallway
| and in the center arch the slave girl
bowed low again and. pushing aside
the draperies. stood apart for them to
enter.
The room was furnished I'm skins,
ivory, ebony and gold. The couch of
ebony had no springs. but to Betty's
later surprise the down cushions and
skins piled upon 1t made 1t the softest
bed she had ever rested upon. There
were stone stools, chairs of oddly twist
ed tropic woods, and a great mirror of
ebony, ivory and gold, studded with
hundreds of precious stones. Swing
ing from the ceiling was an ornate
lamp of filigree and jewels. and this
burned low and dull
You will be glad to rest, know
said Tyoga. Meta there will bring
you glass of warn milk, and then
you must rest Rest the sweetest you
have ever done. my lady. Tonight
| shall not be with you; 1 have other
duties; but Meta will sleep here on a
pallet by your side. Good might. BE
| unafraid." She stopped low and kissed
Betty's hand. and Betty could have
sworn a tear fell upon it.
Tyoga spoke truly. Meta brought
the milk as deliciously warm and fra
grant as II roses had been STEPPED
within it's limpid depths. The cool
| linen garment the slave wrapped
around Betty rested her fevered skin
| and the pillows were magic wings that
bore her away to Forgetfulness Land
Sleep came. just sleep. no dreams. and
the sun was topping the heavens when
| blue-eyed Betty awakened. Tyoga
was not yet returned. but Meta, faith
full and silent, stood by the couch gen.
tiy waving a huge palm branch.
"A modern Cleopatra; but where Is
my Antony" smiled Betty to herself
smuggling comfortably back into hel
/ nest She stretched her feet luxuri-
oGS4y back and forth under the silker
coverlids. then reused to full conscious
| ness with a start
"A sorry newspaper woman, l." she
scolded. mentally; here am l with a
whole live mystery between my thuml
and forefnger and doing never thing
to solve 1t! All. Betty, Betty"
She rose hurriedly. In pantomime
beseeching Meta to hasten with hel
garments For the shoes Betty hat
kicked OF and left on the floor Of thu