The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-04-14
flask. and set him to rights generally

44dSh, anu set IlIii 10
How are you. Morris?" he asked.
"Oh. fair" replied Larry. This gaunt
American found it hard to admit ply
steal inferiority to the black
I'VE can rest but an hour or two.
volunteered Benoni. CURLY. Then we
must go on
But where?" asked Larry. Il con-
fess 1 wanted to go into darkest Afri-
ca. but this affair is growing too shad-
owy for me. / don't care about being
handled like packinghouse GOVT"
Benoni turned a reproachful eye
upon him. Il have promised to help
you find the girl you seek. can you
not rely upon me? 1 know my Africa.
am trusting you. and trying to repay
you for aiding me to escape from that
cafe mob-that corral filled with worse
than the beasts of the jungle-drunken,
Infatuated swine that once were men,"
Hello, what's this?" asked Johnny.
I'm always finding things-now amt
I? Look at this, and in the desert.
too" He held up 10 view a plump
pigeon. Apparently 1t had been hurt
in fight with some heavier denizen Of
the air. For 1t was quite dead, and it's
head was severed almost from its body
Benoni reached out his hand for the
bird
Doves like that nest in but one
place in ali this continent" he remark
ed. and his face became ashen gray as
he noted the odd markings of purple
and brown on it's snowy breast. only
ore place." he repeated
Johnny had been turning the bird
over and over, rumpling up the help
less wings Something caught his eya.
and he held the dead dove out with up
raised wing for the others TO see.
Scratched on its wing In rude letters
they read:
BETTY Lancey. Africal"
| Betty" cried Larry. Then he seiz-
ed Benoni by the wrist. IF doves like
that nest in but one place on this con-
tinent. take US there. take us at once.
What place is 1t? Where? Would she
be safe? Or in the hands of savages ?''
THAT is where He have been trav-
cling to, my friend" answered Benoni.
Il had suspected. but 1 had not GER
tainly known. We will not even res,
for the hour, IL you wish"
Il must" answered Johnny. Safety
razors, I'm beat out I'm not a camel
in the legs. II 1 can go without q drink
for six rnonths."
Tell me. tell me something plead
ed Larry.
But the sands were not more silent
Benoni made but one reply. II dare
not. 1t might destroy all hope,"
| M ia 81 ink
Gus travel. Once they met a caravan
and Benoni bargained for fresh horses
The erstwhile novelty was succeeded
by feverish unrest. Both American
were dead with fatigue. the little Araf
stood the journey well. and Benon
was in the pink of condition. Ten day.
later they found second pigeon.
This one was alive and huttered IL
their very luncheon table. Larry GOV.
cred 1t with his hat. and bent its wing.
back fercely only to find bitter dis.
appointment. for there was no messag.
traced upon the wing.
Two days later they reached a natfy.
village. hanging tassel-like upon tn,
borders of an immense jungle. Benon
hired heaters to break the way FOL
|
a setting of tropic grass and dusk,
skins. One morning Larry awoke I,
find the camp deserted of all but Be
noni and Johnny. The horses wer,
gone and even the little Arab had dis
appeared.
What. are we lost in this Jungle
Betrayed and deserted?" QUESTION:,
Larry.
mo, indeed. sent them away. w
cannot leave here till nightfan. $
sleep again or lounge till l return" re
piled Benoni. Il will be back in a fey
hours"
Divesting himself of his garments
Benoni swathed his loins with a girdl
Of flexible grass. and strobe away in
to the Businesses of the thicket
Larry reused the sleeping Johnn
rudely. "Firehead. get up. and tell m
what you think OF it," he commanded
, Johnny. roughly disturbed fror
dreams of home. kicked viciously 4
Larry's grasp.
Cant you let a fellow sleep whe
, he's having a pleasant dream?" he de
manded. You're worse than an alarr
clock,"
Look around and go dream again,
growled Larry.
Johnny sat up. Safety razors,"
cried. What's become of them?"
What's going to become of us?
grunted Larry. "Benoni said he'd
: back
Then l think he WILL" Above
: Johnny. Did he leave US anything I
ea.?"
There's some dates. that confound
ell meal cake they make In this coun
try and some figs" itemized LAIR,
and. say. Johnny. these look lik
! hens eggs,"
We'll. you can sample them,
WON'T" declared Johnny, with vision
! OF the stomachic illness that had be
set him early on the route. thanks
. an overly curious appetite I'll site
TO the viands that have come the lea.
near to killing me during our Africa
peregrination. Were we fools to com
Larry, or not?"
"Oh, / don't know. quit your kich
u Ing" said Larry. Il suppose if BE
y noni doI, come back we might sta
q here all night"
D II reckon we WILL" added Johnn
grimly.
For the want of better occupatio
I their meal finished, they fell 10 play
ing munble-peg in the clearing whel
e camp had been struck. Mumble- pc
V falling as a time-killer, they tried roi
]. ing marbles out of the soft clay. ar
: had put up very passable game
K "Mibs" when they heard a rustlir
d and cracking in the brush and folial
o around them.
II Bets on a lion" said Johnny.
t "Oh, make it cannibal king or
p boa constructor" suggested LAIR
: Something novel;"
Benoni appeared at the edge af ii
:. clearing
a Larry wins" was Johnny's gree
n ing II bet on a Homie said 'twi
< d cannibal king approaching"
I'm neither" answered Benoui.
y want to sleep. / worked all mig
e while you fellows rested. VIM W
y keep watch for me? Wake me at Il
O. n n