The evening world., 1915-11-19

SCOTT
ss that Virginia was safe un.
der his care. Gordon felt at liberty
10 rejoice that they had made rea-
sonably good connections. II might
have been worse-chance might have
brought them TO the coast only a day
ahead Of a steamer.
Gordon. unspoiled by wealth and at
tentions and soheming mammas,
lacked Sufficient egotism TO think that
'-ginia Scott might be attracted to
=, - he was to her. There had been
other girls who he had known de-
sired MIN. but these he had not cared
for. Very soon after he had met vir-
sinia he had realized that here at last,
In the wilds OF Africa, he had found
the one girl. the only girl, and
straightaway he had set her upon a
pedestal and worshipped silently
from sfar.
!. To think that this deity might stoop
TO love a mortal did not occur to him.
and. strange TO say. he was content
TO love her without declaring his
love but that was while he had her
alone and all to himself. How II
would be when she was returned TO
the haunts OF other eligible men did
not occur TO him.
Very adroltly-at least he thought II
was adroitly accomplished-he dis
covered from her own lips that she
}. was not engaged. and thereafter his
bliss knew no bounds. 1t had been
difYicult for Virginia to repress a smile
during the ponderous strategy with
. which he manoeuvred the informa-
ton from her. and also II had been
her FIRST intimation that Rich
Z ard Gordon might care for her. II
troubled her, too, not a little. for Vir-
ginia Scott was not young lady to
throw her heart lightly into the keep
ing OF the first good looking young
man who coveted IL. That she liked
Gordon immensely she would have
readily admitted; but she had given
: but for the suggestion the young nan
tiunderingly put into her head might
such a thought have occurred to her
|, at least not so soon.
But the idea, implanted, became
food for considerable speculation. with
the result that she now often dis
covered herself appraising Gordon In
q most critical manner. AS though"
she unused. "ho were six cylinder
limousine. and I wanted to be sure
that liked the upholstery-which l
do; but there's something wrong with
his sparkling Device" and Virginia
laughed softly to herself.
What's the joke?" asked Gordon.
sitting beside her on the hotel ver-
anda-
'Oh, nothing-just thinking" re-
piled Virginia, evasively; but she
turned her face away TO hide a guilty
! flush, and as she did so her eyes
alighted upon the head OF long
column marching into the town.
"Oh, lcok!' she exclaimed. glad OF
any pretext to change the line OF
!. thought. who do you suppose IL tan
be?
\, Gordon looked in the direction she
!. Indicated. rose and walked TO the end
of the veranda, and then called back
over his shoulder:
"They're the collectors. ! wonder
II they got their man eater" :.
Virginia was at his side now, and
down the street to meet the incoming
caravan. Tho collectors were delight
ed 20 see them again, and In response
to Gordon's inquiry pointed to stout
cage in the middle of the long line.
"rhere he is said one OF Them
''and he's devil
Gordon and the girl dropped back
to have a look at the latest capture,
T, finding huge, black-maned lion
- crouching in the narrow confines OF
his prison. His yellow eyes glared
balefully out upon them; his tall
o moved restlessly in angry jerks. and
his bristling muzzle was wrinkled In
s 10 perpetual snarl that pared long,
ugly looking fangs.
a. HE does look like devil, doesn't
= her remarked Gordon.
A crowd was gathering about the
, cage now. and as one approached
more closely than his majesty thought
proper he leaped to his feet and
dashed madly against the bars, roar
ing loudly and clawing viciously IN
sn attempt to reach the presumptuous
arnortal-who shrank back in terror.
=, mpch to the amusement of the other
what beauty!" exclaimed Vir-
ginia.
Gordon was looking very closely at
E.he lion. and instead OF replying
kH6Ntu lOTWdIu ntdItT ING CdBc' He'
lion growled savagely, hurting him
self against the bars, and then Cor
don stepped quite close TO bin. The
y beast stopped suddenly and Z. ID the
uan in silence. A look. almost of
human recognition, changed the ex-
preston OF his face. He growled, but
no longer angrily-a growl of friendly
F., greeting Gordon could have sworn.
81 thought as much" said the man,
turning toward Virginia and one OF
the collectors at his back. "See that
Jagged scar on the inside OF that
forearm there" he asked.
Theiolector nodded.