The Washington times., 1912-08-06

She started up, barely saving herself
from fall, as the big unhusked nuts
rolled benath her feet. The morning
sunlight was streaming in over her door.
mire of the cave floor, and ran to un-
loosen the bars.
AZ the door swung up she darted out
with cry Of delight: You are safe.
safe! Oh! was so afraid for you!
But you are drenched. You must go
and build a fire--dry yourself-at oncel'.
You something" -
He caught her outstretched hands.
and pushed them down with gentle
force. His face was very grave, almost
solemn
.is Think you can stand bad news-a
"I-what Is It? You look so stranger
ITS about Winthrope-something
I6h, OH $, she cried, II know already
"Ail?" demanded Blake. staring
blaukly.
Yes, air. And--and he made me
think it was you!" she sasped. and fell
silent.
Biake's face went white. He spoke in
a clear vibrant voice tense as an over
strained violin string: II am speaking
about Winthrope-understa me?-
Winthrope. He has been badly hurt"
The door swung down and struck
him, when he was creeping in.
hands. II picked him up like a sick
baby-the beast!-'stead of grinding my
heel in his face! God! I'll
Tom! .don't-don't even speak of It!
God! When a helpless girl-when
al" He choked. beside himself with
rage.
She sprang to him, and caught his
Mash h. for meqeSs safe sIss Tom Blake
remember-you'r a mani
He calmed like ferocIous dog at the
voice of its master. but 1t was several
minutes before he could bring himself to
return to the injured man.
"Fll co." he growled at last.
Wouldn't do 1t II he wasn't as good ds
dead-lucky for him.
Dying. You stay away"
He went around the .baobab and few
PAGES along the cleft to where q limp
form lay buddled on the lodges out of
the fascination of terror, the girl crept
When she saw the broken, storm
beaten thing that had been Winthrope,
she stopped and would have turned
turned back. But there was a feeble
and she heard a moan. After all, as
Blake had said, he was dying.
When she stood at the feet of the
writhing figure and looked down into
ertion Of all her will-power to keep
from fainting. Blake frowned up at
her for an instant, but said nothing.
From out Of that hideous wreckage
feeble and broken, yet distinct. Real
ly. do not mean any harm-at first.
you know-but man does not always
have control"
Not a beast like you!" growled
"ow!- don't 1T me! I say. now, I'm
.'Oh, quick. Mr.. Blake! Build a fire!
1t may be, some hot broth"
here, winthrope, there's no use lying
about it. You're going out mighty
soon. See If you can't die like a man" |"
'.Die-Gawd! but I can't die-1 can't
-Ow! it burns"
tear at his wounds.
Hold hard!' cried Blake, catching
the hands in an iron grip.
Something in. his touch or the tone
wretched man into a State of abject
submission.
"S'eip me. Ill confess! II Il confess
ALI" he babbled. The stones are sewed
in the stomach pad-I 'ad to take EN-
hout of their settings, and melt up the
gold" He paused, and cunning
smile stole over his distorted features.
"Io, wot bloomin' lark! Valet plays
the gentleman, an they never as
hinkling! Mr.. Cecil Winthrope, hff you
please an a int of title-wot lark:
'Awkins, me lad, you're gay 'oaxer!
Wot a ark!-wot q lark!
Again there was pause. The breath
of the wounded man came In labored
gasps There was an ominous rattling
in his troat. Yet once again he raj
lied, and this time his eyes turned to
Miss Leslie bright with an agonized
consciousness of her presence and of
all his guilt and shame.
His voice shrilled out In quavering
appeal: 'Don't!-don't look at me, miss!
I tried to make myself a gentleman
God knows tried! fought my way up
out of the East End-out Of that hell
and none ever lifted finger to help me.
I educated myself like a scholar; then
the stock sharks cheated me Of my saw
ings-out Of the last penny, and I had
to take service. My God! valet-his
grace's valet-anl a scholar! Do you
wonder the devil got into me? Do
you-
Blake's deep voice, firm, but strangely
cry OF agony: There. l guess you've
said enough.
Enough ?-and last night. My
God! to be such beast! The devil
tempted me-aye, and he's paid me out
in his own coin! I'm done for! God ha'
mercy on mcleod ha' mercy"
A Continuation of This Story VIII