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

night and all the following day, no
sign Of the safarl appeared ahead OF
| them. Meriem. mn adept In jungle
! craft. knew that none had passed ahead
Of them for many days. Occasionally
she saw indications of an old spoor--
| very old spoor-of many men. For
the most part they followed this well
| marked trail along elephant paths ana
| through parklikc groves. 1t was an
| ideal trail Cor rapid travelling
Mcricm ut last became suspicious.
Gradually the attitude Of the man at
her side had begun to change. Often
she surprised him dcvouring her with
his eyes
+ Steadily the former sensation of pre-.
vious ncquaintanceship urged itself
| upon her. Somewhere. some time be.
fore she had known this man. 1t was
| evident that he had not shaved for
several days. a blond stubble had
commenced to cover his neck and
| checks and chin. and with 1t the as.
surance that he was no stranger con
tinued to grow upon the girl.
\ 1t was not until the second day, how.
ever. that Mcricm rcbellcd. She drew
in her pony ut last and voiced her
doubts. Hanson assured her that the
camp was but few miles farther on.
1t was midafternoon when they sud,
denly broke out Of the jungle upon the
banks Of broad aud placid river. Be
You'd. upon the opposite shore. Mericm
deserted n camp surrounded by n high
thorn bona
Here we nre at last" said Hanson
He drew his revolver and fred In the
| Fir Instantly the camp across the riv.
| or was astir Black men ran down to
the rivers bank. Hanson hailed them.
But there was no sign Of the Hon.
Morrison Baynes.
In accordance with their m6stcr's in
structions the blacks manned n canoe
and rowcI across Hanson placed Me
rtem In the little craft and entered 1t
himself. leaving two boys to watch the
horses. which the canoe was to return
| for and swim across to tho camp side
| OF the river
Once In the camp Mericm asked for
Bayncs, For the moment her fears
had been nllaycd by the sight OF the
camp. which she had come to look
upon rs more or less OF II myth Han.
| son pointed toward the single tent that
stood in the center Of the inclosnre.
"Thcrc." he said. and preceded her
| toward 1t. at tho entrance he held the
| Zap aside and motioncd her within.
Mericm entered and looked about. The
| tent was empty.
She turned toward Hanson. There
was broad grin on his face.
'Whcrc Is Mr.. Bnyncs?" she de-
mandcd.
"IIe amt here" replied Hanson.
! "Leastwise don't see him, do you?
But I'm here. and I'm n better man
than that thing ever was. You don't
need him no more-yOu got me-" and
/ he laughed nprouriously and reached
for her
! Mcricm was looking full into his face
rs she fought for freedom when there
+; came over her sudden recollection of
!, similar scene In which she had been
!. a participant and with It full recognt-
ton or her nsSaiant, He was the
Swedc Ninllhhn. who had attacked her
once before. who had shot his compan-
ion, who would have saved her and
laOlu WHO'LL SIG HuN UcctA lSSSuGO NY
Bwana,
His smooth face had deceived her,
but now, with the growing beard and
tho similarity OF conditions. recogni-
ton came swift md sure.
But today there would be no Bwana
to save her!
AS Mcriem struggled with Malbihn
hopo died within her. She did not
utter q sound. for she knew that there
was none to come to her assistance,
and. besides. the jungle training of her
earlier life Ind taught her the futility
of appeals for succor In the savage
world Of her upbringing.
But as she fought to free herself one
hand came In contact with the butt
Of Malbhns revolver where 1t rested
In the holster Mt his hip. Slowly her