Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-13
CHAPTER XIII.
Morison and Hanson,


p,her was attempting to formulate an
ouenIng that would lead naturally to
! me proposition he had In mind. He
! rode neck behind his companion,
trimming as he noted the sullen scowl
, mon the others patrician face.
"Rather rough on you. wasn't her.
ne ventured at last. Jerking his head
back In the direction Of the bungalow
as Baynes turned his eyes upon him at |
the remark.
"He thinks a lot Of the GIRL" contin-
med Hanson. "and don't want nobody |
/ 10 marry her and take her away. But |
IT looks to me as though he was dom |
her more harm than good In sendin' !
!. YOU away. She ought TO marry some
time. and she couldn't do better than
fine young gentleman like you"
\Baynes. who had at first felt inclined
10 take offense al the mention Of his
private affairs by this common fellow,
was Modified by Hanson's final remark
land Immediately commenced to see In
him man of discrimination.
I Hes a darned bounder," grumbled
the Hon. Morrison, but I'll get even
with him. He may be the whole thing
z IN central Africa, but I'm as big as he
IA In London, and he'll find it out when
he comes home"
eff l was you" said Hanson, Il
Z wouldn't let any man keep me from
rettin the girl l want. Between you
and me l amt got no use for him Ell
ther, and If ! can help you any, why,
Just call on me-
Its mighty good of you. Hanson"
replied Baynes. warming up a bit, but
lwhat can fellow do here in this God
!forsaken hole?"
Il know what I'd do" said Hanson.
s "rd take the girl along with me. If
she loves you she'll go all right
s 1T can't be DONE" said Baynes. HE
bosses this whole blooming country for
miles around. He'd be sure TO catch
g. U.S."
: "No, he wouldn't; not with me rum
ming things" said Hanson. 1--WE been
trading and hunting here for ten years.
and know as much about the country
las he does. If you want to take the
girl along I'll help you, and I'll guar
antee that there won't nobody catch
ap with us before we reach the coast
= "Ill tell you what-yOu write her a
note, and I'll get it to her by my head
man. Ask her to meet you TO say
goodby She won't refuse that. In the
meantime we can be moyin camp q
little farther north all the time, and
you can make arrangements with he,
h ito be all ready on certain night. Tel
her I'll meet her then, while you wai1
for US in camp. That'll be better. fol
i know the country well and can cover
1T quicker than you. You can take
charge of the safari and be movin
along slow toward the north, and the
girl and I'll catch UP to you"
4 The balance of the long ride o.uan
sons northerly camp was made In 81
Hence. for both men We're occupied witt
their own thoughts. most of which
were far from being either compli
lmentary or loyal to the other.
As they rode through the wood tn
sounds of their careless passage came
to the ears of another jungle wayfarer
1T was no other than Korak himself
who was perched In a tree.
He moved stealthily through tn
branches until he came within sight o
the riders. He fell in behind the pair
following them to Hanson's camp
Here the Hon. Morrison penned brie
note, which Hanson gave into TIL
keeping Of one Of his boys, who start
ed off forthwith with ii toward tn
south. Out of curiosity Korak re
manned in the vicinity Of the camp.
Baynes was restless, pacing bac
= and forth beneath the trees when h
thould have been resting against tn
forced marches Of the coming fligh
Hanson lay in his hammock and smok
ed. They spoke but little. korak la
stretched upon a branch among tn
dense foliage above them.
In the garden beside the bungalo'
/ Meriem wandered thoughtfully in tn
moonlight. She still smarted fr0I
Bwana's, TO her, unjust treatment G
the Hon. Morrison Baynes.
~ Meriem loved them both and wa
grateful to them for all that they ha
Done for her, but deep in her heal
surged The savage love Of liberty tbs
her year of untrammeled freedom
the Jungle had made part and parcel {
her being. Now, for the first tim
dhcs she had come to them, Meriel
tet Ike prisoner in the Dungalo" .
bwana and My Dear
Like Gagged tigress the girl pace
The length Of the inclosure. Once sh
paused near the outer fence. her hea
upon one side, listening TO the pad 9
naked human feet just beyond the gal
nen. The sound was not repeated.
Then she resumed her restless wall
ing. Down 10 the opposite end OF tn
garden she passed, turned and retrace
ner steps toward the upper end. Upo
the sward near the bushes that hid tn
renee, full In the glare Of the moor
aght, lay a white envelope that ha
hW been there when she had turne
sWost upon the very spot momef
before.
Meriem stopped short IN her track
listening again and sniffing-more tina
ever the tigress-alert, ready. Beyon
me bushes raked black runner squa
tso, peering through the foliage. b
has L. II 90 hn