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

tho leadership of each to men whom
no believed he could trust.
! TO them he explained his plans md
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
ne ordered straight wcStwar with or
ders to halt and go into permanent
camp Just beyond the great river which
marks the natural boundary of tho
country that the big Bwann rightfully
considers almost his own.
10 his host he explained TINT no was
moving his safari slowly toward the
north-hc said nothing of tho partv
moving westward. Then one day he
announced that half his boys had de.
serted, for hunting party from tho
bungalow had come across his north
erly camp, and he feared that they
might have noticed the reduced Nun.
bers OF his following
ana thus matters stood when ono
not night Mericm, unable to sleep, rosa
ana wandered out into tho garden. Tho
lion. Morrison had been urging his suit
once moro that evening, and tho girls
mind was In such Il turmoil that she
had been unable to sleep.
The wide heavens above her seemed
to promise II greater freedom from
doubt and questioning Bavncs had
urged her to tell him that she loved
him. y dozen times she thought that
she might honestly give him the IN.
swcr that he demanded.
korak was fast becoming but n MON.
ory. That he was dead she had como
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 It was be.
cause OF that belief he had made no
effort to find her after his raid upon
the village of Kovudoo.
behind II great Towering shrub Han.
son lay gazing ut the stars and waiting
lie had lain thus and there many
ni2htS before. Tor what was he wait.
inS or for whom? He heard the girl
approaching and half raised himself to
his elbow. \ dozen PAGES away. the
rrinS !oopcd over Il fcnccpos,, stood his
pony
Mcrcm, walking slowly, approached
III" push behind which the waiter lay.
Hanson drew II large bandanua hand.
kcrchicf from his pocket ana rose
stralthly To his knees 4 pony ncighcd
down mt the corrals. Far out across
the plain lion reared. Hanson chang.
cd his position until he squattcd upon
both feet.
Again the pony ncighcd. this time
closer There was the sound OF his
BODY brushing against shrubbcry. Han.
son heard and wondered how the ami.
NAL had got from the corral, for il was
evident that he was already In the gar
den. The man turned his head in the
direction Of the bcnst
What he saw sent him to the ground,
huddled close, beneath the shrubEery-
man was coming. leading two ponies.
Meriem heard now and stopped to
look and listen. a moment later the
Hon. Morrison Baynes drew ncirr. the
Mericm looked up at him In surprise.
Tho Hon. Morrison grinncd shecpishly.
II couldn't Sleep" he explained,
and was going for bit OF ride
when I Glanced to sec you out here,
and thought you'd like to Join me.
Ripping good sport, you know. night
riding. Come on"
Mcriem laughed. The adventure APP
pealcd 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 1t. There
they discovered IIanson's mount.
"Why, here's the traders pony" re-
marked Baynes
lies probably down visiting with
the foreman" said Mcricm.
"Prctty late for him. isn't it?" re-
marked the Hon. Morrison. "rd hate
to have to ride back through that jun.
gle at night to his camp"
moment later the two had mount.
ed and were moving slowly across the
moon bathed plain.
Their horses were pressed side by
side Bayncs was pressing Mcricm's
hand rs he poured words of love into
her ear. and Mcricm was listening.
Come to London with me-" urged
the Hon. Morrison. II can gather a
Safari. and we can he IL 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 p,st yet" ex.
planned the Hon. Morrison. II must in
form my people. and there nre other
formalities to be attended to first. You
do not understand 1t will be MI right.
We will go TO London cannot wait.
If YOU love me you will come"
''You love mc?" she asked. lyon
will marry me when we have reached
London2"
II swear it, he cried
II will go with you" she whispered,
Though | do not understand why dc.
lay Is necessary She leaned toward
him. and he took her in his arms and