The Washington times., 1912-08-10
CHAPTER XIII (Continued).
Friction.

LITTLE later herd of large
~ animals appeared on the bor-
II der Of the grass-jungle. but
wheeled and dashed back into
cover SO quickly that Blake barely
had time to make. out that they
were buffaloes-the first that he had
seen on this coast but which he easily
recognized by their resemblance to the
Cape, variety. Their fight gave him
small concern, since for the time being
he was more interested in topography
than game.
The southern headland now lay close
before them, Its seaward face rearing
up sheer and lofty, but the crest behind
running down in broken terraces. Mid
morning found the explorers at the
foot of the ridge Blake squinted up at
tho boulder-strewn ropes and the cram
nies of the broken lodges.
Likely place for snakes, Miss Jenny"
he remarked. Guess I'd better lead"
Eager as she was to look over into
the country beyound, the girl dropped
into second place and made no COM
companion's advance. She found ID the
most difficult parts of the ascent quite
easy after her training on the tree
ladder. Rlake could have taken lodges
each terrace he halted to spy out the
ground before him. Like Miss Leslie,
he was looking for snakes, though for
an exactly opposite reason. He wished
to add to the contents of the cigarette
case.
Greatly to his disappointment and the
girls relief, neither snake nor sign or
tRs dse 70 0e hey ar the
Blake turned to offer her his hand up
"weii, it looks like I have another
49,. ax&t, Nt,,fc
he said But I'll bet I've hit it on the
swamps."
Let us hope not" she replied, and
they sprang up the rocks together.
thfK TSes salhsd NaS 'ne now s0fR fRreshenng to gale,
struck the girl with such force that
she would have been blown back down
the lodges had not Blake clutched her
wrist
But, needless alike Of the painful grlp
which held her and OF the gusts Which
tore at her skirt , the girl Ss s,UUa gsbb,ns g@b,c
stretched away to, the southwest as
far as the eye could see. She did not
speak until Blake led her down behind
WHAT'S the natter" he demanded
Didn't warn your
She looked away to hide the tears
which sprang into her eyes.
"oh, come now. little woman, DOM
take on sol" he urged. ~ might b.
a lot verse. you know: We've We've gotter
You have been very kind, Mr.. Blake
and, as sou say, matters might have
been worse. I do not forget how fal
morning after the storm. Yet you mus
even the slightest hope Of escape"
We'll. don't know. If 1t wasn't 20,
the rains ], for one, would just as leay'
stick to this camp right along, provid
ing the company don't change"
She turned upon him, with fiashin:
eyes, all thought OF caution lost In he
How dare you say such thing
You are contemplate! despise your
my, Miss Jenny, but you are p!rett!
The answer took her completed!
aback. Ne was neither anry nor laugh
ing at her. but met her defiant glanc
with candid, sober admiration. Their
was something more than admiration
In his glowing eyes, yet she could no
but see that her alarm had been base
less. His manner had never been mor
respectful.
Suddenly she found that sne could n
longer meet his gaze. She looked away
and stammered lamely:
,''You-you shouldn't say such things
you know"
why notf Hasn't everything bee
running smooth the last few days
Haven't we been good chummy com
rades? OF course, you've got the wors
of the deal. know I'm not much o
fancy talk. but | like to hear 1t whe
I've a chance. I've led a lonesome sor
of life since they did for my sisters
no. I'm not going to rake that up again
I'm only trying to give you an ide
what 1t means to a fellow to be with
lady like YOU. Maybe II isn't polite t
tell you all this. but it's just what fee
and I never did amount to shucks as
liar"
II believe understand you, MI
Blake, and ! assure. you that I fee
highly complimented."
mo, you don't, any such thing, Mis-
Jenny. Own up. now: II met You tC
morrow, on your pas doorstep, YOU
'I should If you continued TO be :
rude Have you no regard for my fee
inGs? But here. we are talking nonsens
when we should be going
lis II nonsense?' he broke, In. ''Wha
does life mean, anyway? Hero We ca
be true friends and comrsdes-rea
free, living people. 1t can't be that yo
want to go back to all those societ
shams after you've seen real life! A
for me, what have ! to gain by goin
hack to the everlasting grind2 1 don
mind work. But when a man has noti
ing ahead to work for but bank a!
count-when It's grind. grind, grind q
your head goes stale and all the worl
looks black-then there's no choice bl
throw up your job and go on drunk
YOU want to keep from a gun acciden
Maybe you don't understand III o.
that's what I've had to go thpouE
time and again. Do you wonder = ll
TO fancy an everlasting picnic here1 VII
little partner who wouldn't let n
come within shouting distance of HI
in the land Of lavender trousers an
"NSr Rlake. really vou are most nj