Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-11-17


! no believed he could trust.
To them he explained his plans and
tho rich reward that they would win
from him If they carried his designs to
successful conclusion.
one party he moved very slowly
northward along the trail that connects
with the great caravan routes entering
the Sahara from the south. The other
no ordered straight westward with or.
ders to halt and go into permanent
camp just beyond the great river which
marks tho natural boundary of the
country that tho big Bwana rightfully
considers almost his own.
10 his host he explained that no was
moving his safari slowly toward tho
north-he said nothing Of tho party
moving westward. Then one day he
announced that half his boys had de.
serted, for hunting party from tho
bungalow had como across his north
erly camp, and he feared that they
might have noticed tho reduced num-
bers Of his following.
AND thus matters stood when ono
hot night Meriem, unable to sleep, rose
and wandered out into tho garden, Tho
hon. Morrison had been urging his suit
once more that evening, and the girls
mind was In such n turmoil that she
had been unable to sleep.
The wide heavens above her seemed
TO promise greater freedom from
doubt and questioning. Baynes had
urged her to tell him that she loved
him. dozen times she thought that
she might honestly give him the Gil:
swer that he demanded.
korak was fast becoming but mem.
DRY. That he was dead she had come
to believe since otherwise he would
have sought her out. She did not
Know that he had even better reason
to believe her dead and that 1t was be-
cause of that belief he had made no
effort to find her after his raid upon
the village OF Kovudoo.
Behind great Towering shrub Han.
son lay gnZing at the stars and waiting.
lie hnd lain thus and there many
nights before. Tor what was he wait
ing or for whom? He heard the girl
approaching and half raised himself to
reinS topped over II fcnccposi, stood his
pony.
Meriem, walking slowly, approached
the bush behind which the waiter lay.
Hanson drew n large bandannn hand.
kcrchief from his pocket ana rose
stenlthily TO his knees. A pony neichcd
down Mt the corrals. Far out across
the plain n lion reared. Hanson chang
ed his position until he sQuattcd upon
both feet.
Again the pony ncighcd, this time
closer. There was the sound of his
body brushing against shrubbery. Han.
son heard and wondered how the ami.
mai had got from the corral, for II was
evident that lie was already In the gar.
den. The man turned his head I'm tho
direction Of the beast.
What he saw sent him to the ground,
huddled close, beneath the shrubhery--
man was coming, leading two ponies.
Meriem heard now and stopped to
look and listen A moment later the
Hon. Morrison Baynes drew near. the
two saddled mounts at his heels.
Meriem looked up at him in surprise.
The Hon. Morrison grinned sheeplshly.
II couldn't Sleep" he explained,
"and was going for bit Of ride
when CHANGED to see you out here.
and I thought you'd like to join me.
Ripping good sport. you know. night
riding. Come on"
Meriem laughed. The adventure ap-
pealed to her. "All right" she said.
Hanson swore beneath his breath.
The two led their horses from the gar
den to the gate and through It. There
they discovered Hanson's mount
"Why. here's the traders pony" re-
marked Baynes.
Hes probably down visiting with
the foreman" said Meriem.
pretty late for him. isn't it?" re-
marked the Hon. Morrison. "Id hate
to have to ride back through that jun
gle at night to his camp"
a moment later the two had mount
ed and were moving slowly across the
moon bathed plain.
Their horses were pressed side by
side. Baynes was pressing Meriem's
hand rs he poured words of love into
her ear. and Meriem was listening.
Come to London with me-" urged
the Hon. Morrison. II can gather n
safari, and we can he whole day
upon the way to the coast before they
guess that we have gone"
why must we go that way?" asked
the girl. "Bwana and My Dear would
not object to our marriage"
II cannot marry you a,st yet" ex.
planned the Hon. Morrison. IT must in
form my people. and there are other
formalities to be attended to first You
do not understand 1t will be all right
We will go 10 London cannot wait.
If you love me you will come"
"You love me?" she asked. "You
will marry me when we have reached
London2"
II swear it!' he cried.
II will so with you," she whispered.
though I do not understand why de-
lay Is necessary" She leaned toward
him. and he took her in his arms and
bent to press his lips to hers.