The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-05-21

were being delayed by snOwstorms.
If / didn't know the dear old fell
low so well by now" bennington re-
marked to Miss Strong, II should be
quite certain that he was-er-not quite
right, don't you know"
III it were not so pathetic it would
be Ridiculous" said the girl sadly. Il.
who have known him all my life. know
how he worships Jane, but to others 1t
must seem that he is perfectly callous
to her fate. 1t is only that he is so
| absolutely impractical that he cannot
conceive of so real thing as death
| unless nearly certain proof OF it Is
thrust upon him."
"You'd never guess what he was
about yesterday" continued Tenning-
| ton. 81 was coming in alone from
little hunt when l met him walking
rapidly along the game trail that was
following back to camp. HIS hanus
were clasped beneath the tails OF his
long. black coat, and his top hat was
/ set firmly down upon his head as, with
/ eyes bent upon the ground. he hasten
ed on. probably to some sudden death
had not intercepted him.
"sWhy, where in the world are you
hound. professOr?' asked him. i am
going into town, Lord Remington he
said as seriously as possible. to COM
plain to the postmaster about the rural
free delivery service we are suffering
from here. Why. sir, haven't had q
| piece of mail in weeks. There should
be several letters for me from Jane.
The matter must be reported to Wash
ington at once
"And would you believe 1t, Miss
Strong" continued bennington. Il had
i the very deuce of a job to convince the
old fellow that there was not only no
rural free delivery, but no town and.
that he was not even on the same con-
tinent as Washington nor In the same
hemisphere.
"When he did realize he commenced
to worry about his daughter. ] think
II is the first time that he really has
appreciated our position here or the
fact that Miss Porter may not have
been rescued"
IL hate to think about it." said the
girl, land yet i can think of nothing
else than the absent members Of our
party"
"Let us hope for the best" replied
bennington. '.You yourself have set
us each splendid example of bravery.
for In way your loss has been the
greatest"
EYES," she replied. II could have
loved Jane Porter no more had she
been my own sister,"
bennington did not show the sur
prise he felt. That was not at all
what he meant He had been much
with this fair daughter Of Maryland
since the wreck Of the Lady Alice, and
It had recently come to him that he
had grown much more fond Of her
than would prove good for the peace
Of his mind. for he recalled almost con-
stantly now the confidence which NJ.
Thuran had impaired to him that he
and Miss Strong were engaged. He
wondered II, after all, Thuran had
been quite accurate in his statement.
He had never seen the slightest indica-
don on the girls part Of more than
ordinary friendship.
"And then In NJ. Thuran's loss. II
they are lost, you would suffer q Sc
we're bereavement" he ventured.
She looked up at him quickly. m.
Tburan had become very dear
friend" she said II liked him very.
much. though have known him but
short time"
Then you were not engaged to mar
~ himy' he blurted out.
Heavens, no. she cried. II did
not care for him at all in that way"
There was something that Lord Ten
ningtOn wanted to say to Hazel Strong.
He wanted very badly to say 1t. and
to say It at once. but somehow the
words stuck in his throat. He started
lamely a couple Of times. cleared his
throat, became red in the face and
finally ended by remarking that he
hoped the cabins would be finished be-
fore the rainy season commenced.
But, though he did not know 1t. he
had conveyed to the girl the very mes
sage he intended. and 1t left her happy
happier than she had ever before
been in all her life.
| JUSt tOGu IUISuGG CVnVC OoeAVo WeAC
interrupted by the sight of strange
and terrible looking figure which
emerged from the jungle just south of
the camp. bennington and the girl
saw It at the same time. The English
man reached for his revolver. but when
the half naked. bearded creature called
his name aloud and came running to-
ward them he dropped his hand and
advanced to meet It.
None would have recognized in the
fllthy. emaciated creature. covered by
single garment OF small skins. the
immaculate NJ. Thuran the party had
last seen upon the deck Of the Lady
Alice.
Before the other members Of the lit
tie community were apprised OF bis
presence bennington and Miss Strong
questioned him regarding the other &C.
~,,v>nv 49, ~ thu vp,1ooauU hat