The Washington times., 1912-08-03
THETIMEsr DAILY SERIAL STORY
INTO THEPRIMITIVE
'=========-;By================ss==;== - : r
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Copyright. 1919. Frank A. Munsey Co,

matters but should have fancied the
holes would come on the front OF the
tree"
sXou'il see in a day or two"
How did you make the holes? They
look black. as though"
Burnt 'em. of course-hot stones"
That was clever Of YOU"
He made no response.
Winthrope's presence would have been
relief to the girl, yet she could not
go to wake him, or even suggest that
her companion do so. Blake sat through
carefully avoided meeting her gaze.
Before they had finished twilight had
come and gone, and night was upon
them: Yet she fingered for a last at
tempt.
Good night, friend" she whispered.
He sprang up as though she had
struck him, and blundered away into
the darkness. "'
had gone Off before she wakened. She
fingered over breakfast, but he did not
appear, and she could not endure VIM
thrope's suave drawl. She went for an
other day on the headland.
She returned somewhat earlier than
on the previous day. As before, Win.
thrope was doing in the shade, but
Blake was under the boabab, raking to-
were scratched and bleeding. To the
girls surprise he met her with q cheer
ful grin and a clear, direct gaze.
Look here" he called.
{ She stepped around the baobab and
stood staring. The entrance, from the
ground to the height Of twelve feet, was
walled UP with a mass of thorny
branches, interviewer with yet thornier
How's that for front doorr' he de-
Door"
But it,s so big; I'm sure could never
"a child could. Look!"
He grasped a projecting handle near
the bottom of the thorny mass. The
lower half of the door swung UP and
outward; the upper half In and down.
See? It's balanced on a cross-bar in
the middle. Come on in"
She walked in after him under the
now horizontal door.
thrust, ard the door swung back in It's
circle until 1t again stood upright In
the opening.
From the inside the girl could see the
the facing Of thorns. 1t was made Of
bamboo and strong. pieces of branches
bound together with tough creepers.
Pretty good grating, eh?' remarked
Blake: when those green creepers
dry they'll shrink and hold tight as
iron clamps Even now nothing short
OF a rhinoceros could walk through
when the bars are fast. See here
He stepped up to the novel door ana
slid several socketed cross-bars until
In the tree trunk, three on each side.
"Hows- that for set of bolts?' he
demanded.
wonderful! Really, you are very.
all this trouble. when the barricade"--
We'll. you see, it's best to be on the
safe side"
But It's absurd for you to go TO all
that do not appreciate your kind
your hands!'
Blake FASTENED to put his bleeding
'anas They esased aSe a h'2 asht for a ladym he
muttered. apologetically.
Go and wash them at once, and I'll
put on dressing"
Blake slcwed with frank pleasure, yet
shook his head.
NO. thank you. Miss Jenny. Yvu
needn't bother. They'll do all right"
You must! 1t would please me-"
why. then. Of course--but first I
want to make sure you understand fast
She obeyed. sliding the bars IN ard
out until he nodded his satisfaction.
Good he said. Now promise me
yoT yon s1ids ask sm It. fast sut eysfy wSyy night
II want to make you perfectly safe"
"Safe? But am I not secure with"
Look here. Miss Leslie, I'm not 60
ing TO say anything about anybody. but
Perhaps you had better say no more.
Mr.. Blake"
That's right. But whatever happens
you'll believe I've done my best. won't
me straight. you'll lock up every night"
Very we'll, 1 PROMISE" responded the
girl.
He turned at once, swung open the
was markedly taciturn. and immedi-
ately afterward went off to his bed.
That night Miss Leslie dutifully fast
ened herself in with all six bars. She
prepare Blake's breakfast, but she
found herself too late. There were
evidences that he had already eaten
and gone off.
The stretching-frame of one of the
antelope skins had been moved around
by the fire, and on the smooth. inner
surface Of the hide was a laconic note.
written with charcoal. in a firm. bold
hand:
Exploring inland. Back by night, II
She bit her lips in disappointment. for
she had planned to show him how much
she appreciated his absurd but we'll
meant concern for her r,ssfs, safety. srd AS i
ure Of tete-a-tete with Winthrope.
Hoping to avoid this. she hurried
her preparations for a day on the
cliff; But before she could get Of
yawns behind a hand which had re-
gained most of its normal plumpness.
His eye was at once caught by the
charcoal note.
"Ah" ne drawled. really. now: this
is too kind of him to give us the
pleasure of his absence all day"
"Y-es:" murmured Miss Leslie.
Permit me to add that you will also
have the pleasure Of my absence. I am
going now
Winthrope looked down. and began
to speak very rapidly: miss Gene
We've, II wish to apologize. I've
thought II over. I've made mistake
IL mean, my conduct the other
day was vile-utterly vile. Permit
me to appeal to your considerateness IS
for a man who has been unfortunate
who, I mean. has been-er-was
carried away by his feelings. Your
favorin6 that bloom-er-that-e
bounder, SO angered me that THAT
II
Mr.. winthropew interrupted the
girl, I will have you understand that
you do not advance yourself In my
esteem by such illusions to Mr..
Blake"
AYE. aye. that Blake" painted the
E.ngiishman Don't you see? It's i'm,
an that blossom! Wen a mans dafty
an 'a'o In, InxEA-b