Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-11-17
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1917
SON OF TARTAN
CONTINUED From Sixth Pagc.)
the burden OF these garments.

uclcllSe or weapon to bring down
meat. Why had she not thought to
strip the cartridge belt from Malbihn's
waist before she had left his tent?
With cartridges for the revolver she
might hope to bag small game and to
protect herself from all but the most
tcrociouS of the enemies that would
bcSct her way back to The beloved
hcarth$tonc OF Bwana aud My Dear
with the thought camc dcre, nina.
ton to return and obtain the coveted
ammunition She realized that she
was taking great chances OF rccupturc
But without means OF defense and OF
obtaining meat she felt that she could
never hope to roach safety And so
Sho turned her tlcc back toward the
camp from which she had but lust es.
capped
She thought Malbihn dead. so ter
rifle blow had she dealt him. and she
hoped to find m opportunity after dark
to enter the camp and search his tent
Tor the cartridge belt Bat scarcely
had, she foupd II hiding place In great
tree at the edge of the bona. where
she could watch without danger OF bn.
Ing discovered, than she saw tho
Swedc emerge from his tent, wlping
blood from his face and hurting a vol
ley OF oaths and questions Mt his terri
fed followers.
Shortly after tho entire camp set
forth In search Of her. and when Me-
ricm was positive that all were gone
she descended from her hiding place
and nI1icIy1v I,> Al
Malbihn's tent. \ hasty survey Of the
interior revealed no ammunition, but
In one corner was n box In which were
packed the Swcdc's personal belong
ings That he had sent along by his
head man to this westerly camp.
Mcricm seized upon the receptacle
MS the possible contancr of extra am
munition. Quickly she looscd tho cords
that held the canvas covering about
the box and Il moment later had raised
the lid ana was rummuging through
the Heterogeneous accumulation of
odds ana ends within.
There were letters and papers and
cuttings from old newspapers, and
among other things the photograph Of
n little girl ~ " the back OF which
. "as pas:2C. --.s..e,-g from Paris
daily, clipping that she Ind no time
to read. yclowed and dinmed by ngc
and handling. But something about
the photograph Of the little girl which
was also reproduced in the newspaper
clipping held her attention.
Where had she seen chat picture be.
fore? And then. quite suddenly, It
came to her that this was n picture
of herself. taken years and years be.
fore!
Where had 1t been taken? How had
1t come into the possession Of this
man? Why had 1t been reproduced In
that the faded type told of It?
Meriem was ba1lled by the puzzle
that her search for ammunition had re.
vealed. She stood gazing Mt the faded
photograph for time and then be-
thought herself OF the ammunition for
which she had come Turning again to
the box. she rummaged to the bottom.
and there In corner she came upon n
little box Of cartridges.
a single glance assured her that
they were intended for the weapon she
had thrust inside the band OF her rid
ing brooches, and, slipping them into
her pocket, she turned once more for
an examination OF the battling likeness
of herself that she held in her hand.
AS she stood thus in vain endcavor
to fatllom this inexplcnhlc mystery the
sound OF voices broke upon her ears.
Instantly she was all alert They were
coming closer \ second later she rec.
ogniZcd the mrid profanity of tho
Swede. Malbihn was returning!
She thrust the photograph into her
waist. Quickly she slipped n cartridge
into each Of the chambers OF the re-
Volvcr. Then she backed toward the
end Of the tent. keeping the entrance
covered by her weapon
The men stopped outside. and Me.
riem could hear Malbihn profancly is,
suing instructions. lie was Il long time
about it. and while he talked IN his
believing. british voice tho girl sought
some avenue Of escape.
STOPPING. she raised the bottom OF
the canvas and looked beneath and be.
You'd. There was no one In sight upon
that side. Throwing herself upon her
stomach. she wormcd beneath the tent
wall just as MAlbihn. vii b q final word
to his men, entered the tent.
Meriem heard him cross the floor.
and then she rose and. STOPPING low.
ran to n native hut directly behind
Once inside this she turned and glanc.
ed back. There was no one in sight
She had not been seen.
And now from Malbihn's tent she
heard great cursing The Swede had
discovered the rlaing Of his box. He
was shouting to his men. and as she
heard them reply Meriem dartcd from
the hut and ran toward the edge Of
the bona farthest from Malbihns tent.
Two minutes start of any pursuers
was all Meriem cared for. Once in the
trees she knew that she could ontdis.
lance and clude them.
Her hopes were high. They could
not overtake her now; she had had too
good start OF them!