The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-01-31
Copyright by
Frank A. Munscy Co.
CHAPTER XIV.
A Tryst by Proxy.

the pain, leaulHS tHe boy > hoiSe'
There he waited. 1t was nine o'clock
before he saw a solitary figure gallop-
ing toward him from the direction OF
the bungalow. A few moments later
Meriem drew in her mount beside him.
She was nervous and flushed.
When she recognized Hanson she
drew back, startled.
"Mr. Baynes' horse fell IN him and
spralned his ankle" Hanson FASTENED
to explain. HE couldn't very well
come, so he sent me to meet you and
bring you to camp
The girl could not see In the dark
ness the gloating, triumphant express
sion on the speakers face.
awe had better hurry" continued
Hanson, "for we'll have TO move along
pretty fast II we don't want to be
o%vertaken."
as he badly hurtl" asked Merlem.
"Only a little sprain," replied Han
son. "He can ride all right, but we
both thought he'd better lie up tonight
and rest, fer he'll have plenty hard
riding In the next few weeks"
EYES," agreed the girl.
Hanson swung his pony about, and
Meriem followed him. They rode north
along the edge of the jungle for "A mile
and then turned straight into 1t toward
the west. Meriem, following, paid lit
tie attention to directions. She did not
know exactly where Hanson's camp
law and On che did not pI1nGG thpt he
was not leading her toward 1t.
All night they rode straight toward
the west. When morning came Han
son permitted a short halt for break
fast, which he had provided In we'll
filled saddlebags before leaving his
camp. Then they pushed on again,
nor did they halt a second time until.
In the heat of the day, he stopped and
motioned the girl to dismount.
1--WE will sleep here for II time and
let the ponies Craze" he said.
81 had no idea the camp was so far
away" said Mersem.
~ left orders that they were to move
on at daybreak," explained the trader,
$50 that we could get a good start. l
knew that you and / could easily over
take q laden safari. 1t may not be
until tomorrow that We'll catch up
with them"
But, though they travelled part of the
night and all the following day. n %
sign of the safari appeared ahead of
them. Meriem, an adept In Jungle
craft. knew that none had passed ahead
of them for many days. Occasionally
she saw indications of an old spoor-
a very old spoor-of many men. For
the most part they followed this we'll
marked trail along elephant paths and
through parklike groves. 1t vas an
ideal trail for rapid travelling.
Meriem at last became suspicious.
Gradually the attitude of the man q
her side had begun to change. Often
she surprised him devouring her with
his eyes.
Steadily the former sensation Of pre-
vious acquaintanceship 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
cheeks and chin, and with it the as
that he was no stranger con
tinued to grow upon the girl.
1t was not until the second day, how
ever, that Meriem rebelled. She drew
In her pony at last and voiced he
doubts. Hanson assured her that thu
camp was but a few miles farther on
1t was midafternoon when they sud
denly broke out of the jungle upon tn
banks of a broad and placid river. BE
yond, upon the opposite shore, Merien
deserted a camp surrounded by u higI
thorn bona.
Here we are at last" said Hanson
He drew his revolver and fired in tn
air. Instantly the camp across the rN
er was aStir. Black men ran down I
the rivers bank. Hanson hailed then
Morrison Baynes.
In accordance with their masters II
structionS the blacks manned a al
and rowed across. Hanson placed Nj
riem in the little craft and entered
himself, leaving two boys to watch tn
horses, which the was to retur
for and swim across to the camp sic
of the river.
Once in the camp Meriem asked fl
Baynes. For the moment her feal
had been allayed by the sight Of Il
camp, which she had come to loo
upo as more or less Of a myth. Ha
son pointed toward the single tent TIL
stood in the center Of the Enclosure.
"There," he said, and preceded h
toward 1t. At the entrance he held Il
flap aside and motioned her With
MerieIn entered and looked about. III
tent was empty.
She turned toward Hanson. The
was a broad grin on his face.
"Where Is Mr.. BaynesT she d
manded.