The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-06-23


beetle would prove his clew to the
presence Of the coveted orchid. Chal
mers had said the beetle was three
inches in length and Of horrible ap
rearance. though quite harmless
Wherever the precious orchid grew. In
Its close vicinity might be found the
orange beetle.
Months after his departure from
New York Jack Hedges was still bent
on his quest in the upper reaches of
the Amazon.
His guides were Carajonas Indians
from one of the hill tribes, and he
conversed with them in broken mix
ture Of bad Spanish and elaborate
gesticulations. Never a day passed
hut that he came upon strange speci-
mems of parasitic plants swaying
aloft on some towering tree trunk far
above his reach. and his strong glasses
enabled him to study them at close
range. and. so far as his book taught
knowledge went. there was nothing
new that he might take to Cassius
Chalmers.
At last one day they made a noon
day landing in a quiet lagoon where
long creepers reached down to brush
their faces as the canoe grounded
against the muddy shore.
While the guides prepared a simple
meal Of coffee and cassava cakes Jack
took his glasses and splashed through
the spongy morass into an open space
where tall trees lowered above the
forest as II seeking a purer air than
that afforded below.
Suddenly he leaped backward and
he nearly fell. Quickly recovering
himself. he leaned over and scanned
the uncanny form Of the orange bee
tie. At last he was within reach Of
the fortune for which he had risked
so much.
About three inches long, with close
ly folded glossy wings. all Of deep
orange tint. the insect jerked a small
jetty black head and with a slow,
awkward gait crawled stickily over
the damp ground. avoiding the wet
spots and choosing dry leaf or bit
Of fallen twig for its path.
Jack followed patiently until his way
was stopped by the massive trunk Of
huge sycamore up which the beetle
was making its laborious way. Jack
threw back his head and looked up
ward among the twisted limbs at the
top Of the tree and then brought his
gaze slowly downward until his eyes
rested on the glowing mass Of some
parasitic blossom. This was the or.
ange orchid.
Two days afterward he was speeding
down the river again. the orange or
chids confined in q wicker cage stuff
ed with rotting vegetation: the orange
beetle. quietly chloroformed, sleeping
its last sleep in an air tight tin box.
Six weeks later he was leaving South
America behind. and there was no re-
greet in his heart as he set his face
toward the north.
On the steamer he made several &C.
Quaintances. among them renowned
orchid hunter. In the course of con-
versatiOn he mentioned the object Of
his search, and after an incredulous
stare the orchid hunter. Jackson by
name. spoke bluntly:
"Who sent you on such a FOOLS err
randi"
"Fool's errand!" suffered Jack.
Surely was successful in my quest.
found what l went for. What do
you mean. sir?"
Pardon my abruptness, Mr.. Hedges,
was surprised" said the other cour-
teously. 1.-THE orchid you have de-
scribed to me is very common va
riety and Is hardly worth place in
any collection"
How about the orange beetley" de.
manded Jack. chagrined. IT could not
have mistaken the variety of orchid.
for the beetle was in one of the flower
cups when l picked it from the tree
BY Jove! If I've made mess Of this
expedition after all''- He paused trag-
ically.
Jackson expressed a desire to see
the orchid. and the wicker cage was
brought and the exotic displayed. to
the experts suppressed amusement.
"Deuced queer the old boys sending
you OF after that" he muttered after
reading the copious notes with which
Cassius Chalmers had filed Jacks
notebook. ANY reason for his want
Ing to get you out of the wayY
Jack shook his head hopelessly.
Search mel! he exploded. "a year
out Of my life-all for nothing, and
not word from He bit of Dor
othy's name and walked away to con.
ceal his anger and modification.
At last when they were in the port
OF New York Jack felt his confidence
returning. While he was now con.
WINGED that Cassius Chalmers had
sent him on wild goose chase las
well as beetle hunt. he was deter
mined to press that eccentric million
aire for some explanation Of the whole
matter. Therefore his first errand on
landing was to go straight to the Of
fce of Cassius Chalmers.
There bitter disappointment awaited
him. Cassius Chalmers had been dead
for two months. and his estate had
not only been settled, but his heir, the
nephew whom Jack knew, had sailed
for voyage around the world. The
lawyers knew nothing whatever about
Tho maftor 90 IN <hoA xho .on.-A, =