The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-01-31

Shortly after the entire camp set
forth in search Of her, and when Me-
rtem was positive that all were gone
she descended from her hiding place
and ran quickly across the clearing TO
Malbihn's tent. A hasty survey OF the
interior revealed no ammunition, Dut
I'm one corner was "a box in which were
hacked the Swede's personal belong
lnps that he had sent along by his
head man to this westerly camp
Meriem seized upon the receptacle
as the possible container OF extra am
munition. Quickly She loosed the cords
that held the canvas covering about
the box and a moment later had raised
the lid and was r~umInaging through
the heterogeneous accumulation OF
odds and ends within.
There were letters and papers and
cuttings from old newspapers, and
among other things the photograph of
a little girl upon the back OF which
was pasted u clipping from u Paris
daily, Il clipping hat she mao no time
TO read, yellowed and dimmed by age
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 that picture be-
fore? And then, quite suddenly, It
came to her that this was a picture
of herself, taken years and years be-
fore
Where had 1t been taken? How
lad 1t come into the possession OF this
man? Why had 1t been reproduced in
q newspaper? What was the story
that the faded type told Of it?
Meriem was batled by the puzzle
yealed. She stood gazing at the faded
photograph for a time and then be-
thought herself Of the ammGnitton for
which she had come. Turning again to
the box, she rlnmaged to the bottom,
and there in a corner she came upon a
little box of cartridgeA.
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 endeavor
to fathom this ineXplicable mystery the
sound of voices broke upon her ears.
Instantly she was all alert. They We're
coming closer. A second later she rec
ognized the lurid profanity Of the
Swede. Malbihn was returning!
She thrust the photograph into her
waist. Quickly she slipped u cartridge
into each of the chambers of the re-
volver. Then she backed toward the
end of the teri, keeping the entrance
covered by her weapon.
The men stopped outside, and Me-
riem could zeal Malbihn p~rofanely is
suing instructions. He was a long time
about it, and while he talked In his
believing, british voice the girl sought
some avenue of escape.
STOPPING, she raised the bottom of
yond. There was no one in sight upon
that side. Throwing herself upon her
stomach, she wormed beneath the tent
wall lust as Malbihn, with q tina word
to his men, entered the tent.
Meriem heard him cross the floor,
and then she rose and. STOPPING low,
ran to a native hut directly behind.
Once inside this she turned and
glanced back. There was no one in
sight. She had not been seen.
And now from Malbihn's tent she
l heard a great cursing. The Swede had
, discovered the ritling of his box. He
was shouting to his men, n as she
heard them reply Meriem darted from
! the hut and ran toward the edge OF
1 the bona farthest from Malbihn's tent
Two minutes start Of any pursuers
was all Meriem cared for. Once in the
trees she knew that she could outdis
lance and elude them.
Her hopes were high. They coult
3 not overtake her now she had had to,
: good Il start of them!
There was a smile on her lips as sb,
dropped to the ground to cross a LITTLE
clearing where once had stood q ma
tive village surrounded by its fields
g The huts still stood in ruins
I The deserted hutS were to her ali tn
better because they were deserted. Sh
did not see the keen eyes watching
Q her from a dozen points, from tum
bling doorways. from behind totterin
G granarieS. In utter unconsciousneSs o
8 Impending danger she started up tn
q village street because it offered tn
~clearest pathway to h Jungle.
e (TO BE CONTINUED
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