The Washington times., 1912-08-12
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
INTO THE PRIMITIVE
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Copyright. 1919. Frank A. Muns.y Co.,

cleft, she gathered up hamper Of food
and Ned to the tree-ladder.
AS she drew herself up on the cliff,
rising from the last smoidering brands
or a beacon fire that had been built
in the midst Of the bird colony, on the
extreme outer edge of the headland.
s,n,,. she did not observe. however, that,
from the fire directly skyward. beyond
1t there was a much larger volume of
smoke, which seemed to have eddied
down the cliff-face, and was now rolling
She gave on heed to this. for the sight
of the beacon had instantly alarmed
her with the possibility that Blake was
still on the headland. and would imag-
Inc that she was seeking him
She paused. her cheeks aflame. But
the only sign of Blake that she could
see was the fire itself. She reflected that
he might very we'll have left before
at the north end Of the cleft and had
gone of to the river to start his cat
amaran. At the thought, all the color
ebbed from her cheeks and left her
white and trembling. Again she stood.
hesitating Then she started on toward
the signal bluff.
She was close upon the border of the
bird colony, when Blake sat up from
behind a ledge and she found herself
staring into his blinking eyes.
Hello" he mumbled, drowsily. Then
he spranR up. wide awake. and flushing
with the guilty consciousness OF what
he had done. Look at the sun: way up!
Didn't mean to oversleep, Miss Leslie.
the beacon. But. of course, that's no
excuse
Don't" she exclaimed. There were
seals snnr in her eyes eyes; vet she smiled as she he
pretty late. You've been up all night"
No: l haven't. Not all night"
ITO be sure! / quite understand you.
Mr.. Thomas Blake! Now. sit down. and
eat this lunch"
Cant. Haven't time. I've got to get
to the river and set to work I'll get
some jerked beef and chew It on the
Tom she protested.
;, It's for you,' he retoined, and his
lips closed together resolutely.
He was stepping past her, when over
the seaward edge OF the cliff there came
monster.
Siren" shouted Blake.
The cloud of smoke beyond the cliff
end was now rolling up more to the left.
OF the cliff. as though he intended to
leap off into space. The girl ran after
MIN as fast as she could over the loose
stones. Before she had covered half the
d1stance. she saw him halt on the very
brink Of the cliff. and begin to wave and
shout like a madman.
A few steps farther on, she caught
slght or the steamer. II was lying close
m only a little way of the north point
OF the headland.
Even as she saw the vessel, its siren
responded to Blakes wild gestures with
series of joyous screams. There could
De no mistake. He had been seen. AL
ready they were letting 20 another and
there WAS a little crowd of men gather
Ing about one of the boats. Blake turned
ana started on run for the cleft. But
Miss Leslie darted before him. compeIi-
Wait" she cried. her eyes sparkling
with happy tears. Tom. MS come
T Lst Jet me by! I'm going to meet them.
But she put her hands upon his
/, shoulders.
Toni she whispered. "let it be
noss;b,5 nowi before fore asnyone-anything can
part Of our life here-here, where
man can be-"
"Ans snsatn then ,n have ",,aG him grove himself
Jenny I've got you to think of. Wait t
till I've seen your father Ten to one.
nell not hear OF tt-he'I cut you cff
without a cent. Not but what I'd
luxuries. grille, and I'm a poor man.
can't give them to you"
she laid hand on his mouth, and
smiled up at him intender mockery.
Come. now. Mr.. Blake: you're not
my cooking for all these weeks. don't
you think I might do. at a pinch, for
a poor mans wife,"
,r;'' mo Jenny" he protested. trying to
oraW back You oughtn't to decide
now. When you get back among your
friends, things may look different"
DO you say that? For all these
weeks have stood at your side. and
Inv trt
us her beautiful. terrible pictures of
life; pictures whose blue was the
storm-wave and the sky veiled with
res reser haze; a1,, WI. whose white was the
derbolts: whose red was FIRE and
blood! Can I ever forget those pic
But think of your society friends
gentlemen! I'm Just q rough. uncul-
Hush" she. cried. and she again
placed her hand on his mouth. You
Shan't say such cruel things about Tom
nv Tom. the man trust. that ~
Her arms slipped about his neck and
her eyes shone up into his with tender
radiance.
Don't" he begged hoarsely. "'Tain't
fair, II can't stand it,
The man ! love"' she whispered.
He crushed her to him In his arms.
my little girl-dear little girl! he
repeated. and he pressed his lips to her
hair.
She pressed her face closer AGAINST his
shoulder. and replied in very small
voice: 'I-I suppose you know that
shin captains can m-marry people?"
But I haven't even a Job yeti" he
| exclaimed. Suppose your father"
please listen!" she pleaded. There
was a sound like suppressed sobbing.
What Is it?" he ventured, and lis
tened. greatly perturbed.
The mufled voice sounded very meek
and plaintive: 'Ill try to do my part,
MIR. Blake. really l will II hope we
can manage to struggle along-somehow
You know, l have little of nv own.
It's only three "three-million: but"
! What! he demanded. ard he held
her out at arms length. 70 stare at her
In frowning bewiiderment. If Ia known
that. I'd
You'd never have given me a chance
! toto propose to yon you dear old
silly!' she cried. her eys dancing with
| tender mlrth. "See here!"
She turned from him. and then bach
again, and held up withered. crumnled
flower. He looked, and saw 1t was the
| amaryllis blossom.
"You-kept it?''
| "Because--bscausa. even then. down ir
the bottom of my heart. had begun L
realize-to know what you were like
| and-and of course that meant-Tom
tell me! Do you think I'm utterly
shameless? DO YOU blame me for beinl
| the tn-IO-'