Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-13

hoped to find an opportunity after dark
to enter the camp and search his tent
for the cartridge belt. But scarcely
had she found a hiding place in a great
tree at the edge of the bona, where
she could watch without danger of be-
ing discovered, than she saw the
Swede emerge from his tent, wiping
blood from his face and hurting a vol
ley of Oaths and questions at his terri
fed followers.
Shortly after the entire camp set
forth in search of her, and when Me-
riem 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, but
in one corner was a box in which were
packed the Swede's personal belong
ings 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
that held the canvas covering about
the box and moment later had raised
the lid and was rummaging 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
little girl upon the back of which
was pasted a clipping from a Paris
daily, clipping that she had 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-
forel
Where had 1t been taken? How
had 1t come into the possession of this
man? Why had 1t been reproduced in
Il newspaper? What was the story
that the faded type told of it?
Meriem was baff1ed by the puzzle
that her search for ammunition had re-
vealed. She stood gazing at the faded
photograph for a 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 q
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 breeches, 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 were
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 a cartridge
into each of the chambers of the re-
volver. 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 profanely 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
the canvas and looked beneath and be-
yond. There was no one in sight upon
that side. Throwing herself upon her
stomach, she wormed beneath the tent
wall just as Malbihn, with final word
to his men, entered the tent.
Meriem heard him cross the floor,
and then she rose and, STOPPING low,
ran 10 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
heard a great cursing. The Swede had
discovered the riding of his box. He
was shouting to his men, and as she
heard them reply Meriem darted from
the hut and ran toward the edge of
the bona farthest from Malbihn's tent.
Two minutes start of any pursuers
was all Merlem cared for. Once in the
trees she knew that she could outdis-
lance and elude them.
Her hopes were high. They could
not overtake her now; she had had too
good start of them
There was smile on her lips as she
dropped to the ground to cross a little
clearing Where once had stood ma
tive village surrounded by It's fields.
The huts still stood in ruins.
The deserted huts were to her all the
better because they were deserted. She
did not see the keen eyes watching
her from dozen points, from tum-
bling doorways, from behind totterlng
granaries. In utter Inconsistencies of
impending danger she started up the
village street because it offered the
clearest pathway to the jungle.
CHAPTER XIV.
Morrison Squares Accounts.
A mile away toward the east, fight