The Washington times., 1912-08-12

- the tepld water In her face
Il when she moaned. and her eye
lids began to futter. He flung
down the flask and fell to chafing her
wrist.
Tom" she moaned.
Yes. Miss Jenny, I'm here. It's all
right" he answered.
Have ! had a sunstroke? Is that
why 1t seems SOL can hardly breathe" "
ITS all right, l tell you. Only a little
bonfire l touched off. Guess you must
nave tainted; but it's all right now"
1T was'so silly Of me TO faint. But
when | saw that dreadful thing
ing.
Fearful that she was about to swoon
again, Blake slapped her hand between
his palms with singing force.
You're IT, he shouted, The Jokes s
way, and he won't 'ea come ne'' back S Gr"el in a
hurry with that fire to head him off
Jump up, now, and we'I do a Jig on
the strength of it, 7
She attempted to smile. and a trace
OF color showed in her cheeks. With an
idea that action would further her re-
covery, he drew her to a sitting posi-
tion. stepped briskly behind, and with
his hands beneath her elbows lifted her
and giddy to stand alone. AS he re-
leased his grip she swayed and would
have fallen had he not caught her arm.
She clutched at his sleeve:
vn ,'steady:. ~aiy h. he ,ad1 admonished. Brace
murmured. 1T will pass pass in T a mlnute "s
It's so silly. but I'm that way-Tom
II think you are the bravest man
Yes, yes. But that's not the point
Leave go now. like sensible girl. It's
about time to hit the trail
He drew himself free. and without a
glance at her blushing face began to
gather up their scattered outfit His
hat lay where he had weighted it down
with the cocoanut. Ne tossed the nut
into the skin bag and jammed the hat
oo on his II, head pulling the brim far down down
his club he walked back past the gil!
with his eyes averted.
Come on" he muttered.
The scarlet in the girls cheeks swept
over her whole face III a burning wave
that ebbed slowly and left heI colorless
Blake had started off without a back
ward glance. She gazed about with 4
bewildered look at the palms and the
barren ridge and the fiery tidal wave
Of flame rolling inland across the wind
Then her gaze came back to Blake and
she followed after him.
Within a short distance she found
herself out of the sheltering lee of the
threw her. She could never ha q
walked against such a gale. But with
the wind at her back, she was buoyed
UP and borne alonS as though or
wings. Her sole effort was to keel
her footIold. Had 1t been their morn
ing trip, she could have cried out witt
joy and skipped along before the gusts
like a school girl. Now, she walked al
took care not 10 lessen the distance be-
tween herself and Blake
Mile. by mile they hurried back across
the plain their right the blue sea
fIf UQ QfAl uyhi for nc
on their left the yellow sea of fire. with
it's dNA Dog of smoke.
Once only had Blake looked back to
see II the girl was following him. After
that he swung along with down-benl
head. his gaze upon the ground. Even
when he passed in under the grove and
ar0Hnd the pool to the foot Of the cleft
he began the ascent without waiting tC
The girl came after, her lips firm, he,
eyes bright and expectant She drew
herself up the ledge as though she had
been bred to mountain climbing.
ing TO close the opening. She crept
though and rose to catch him by the
.'Tom. look at me-" she said. "once
thoughts. I wronged you. Now I mus,
tell you that think you are the bray
hstt-he noblest man"
Get away he exclaimed, and he
bHOOh OIL HeE mana De
q fool! You don't know what you're
talking about"
But do, Tom. I believe you are
I'm a blackguard-do you hear?"
No blackguard is brave. The way
you faced that terrible beast"
Yes; blacksuard-to'Ve gone and
shown to you that I-to've let you say
q single word. Can't you see? Even II
I'm not what you call a gentleman,
thought l knew how a man ought Il
treat a woman. But to go and let vol
know, before we'd got back among peo
ple!"
"But-but. Tom. why not, II We
''!' he rejoined harshly, I'm COINS
now to pile up wood on the cliff fer
beacon fire. In the morning I'll star
making that catamaran"
No; you shall not. You shall not e
on and leave me, and risk your life!
can't bear to think OF it! Stay with me
Tom-dear! Even II ship neveI
Cumes--'
He turned resoluteIy. so as not to sc,
her blushing face.
Come now Miss Leslie" he said. In
dry. even tone: don't make II so aw
fully hard. Let's be sensible, and shak
hands on it, like two real comrades
She struck frantically at his out
stretched hand
Keep away-I hate youw she cried.
Before he could speak she was run
ming up the cleft.