The Lamar register., 1919-10-22

Sne watched them work with a won
der at what they were doing that
grew vaguer and vaguer until she
drowsed and finally dropped sound
asleep In her chair. She awoke two
hours later to find the white man
standing before her, clean sbaven,
clear eyed, smelling of soap and look
Ing almost dapper In khaki helmet,
shirt, breeches and puttees.
swell, Mr.. White Man7" said An
drea.
He smiled a slow smile of relief as
though he had been dreading her first
words. "Will you come now7" he
asked.
She arose. started to follow him and
stopped with a gasp. why" she ex-
claimed, her eyes fastened on the hut
that had been the scene of labor. 1t
was transformed. Before 1t now
stood a veranda with matched roof.
Inclosing the veranda, the hut and a
tiny garden at its back was a mighty
stockade, each post of which was
sharpened to a needle point. From
the extra door ran n covered way as
strongly built as the stockade and
which connected the hut with Its
nelghbor-thnt Into which the white
man had disappeared.
"Win you conner" repeated the man.
Andrea followed him. only to stop
again when she reached the veranda.
1t was carpeted with long grass
mat Of vivid colors and on the mat
stood chairs and table. On the
table was a hand sewing machine and
from corner-to-corner post swung a
hammock. She had to stoop very low
to enter the hut itself. and once within
had to walt long time for her sun
filled eyes to accustom themselves to
the kindly gloom. The man grew i'm
patient and struck a match. By Its
light Andrea saw a vision Of comfort
The room was circular and unceiled,
so that one could look up and up into
the very depths of its tapering peak.
From that height dangled a wire and
on Its end hung a lantern. The man
lit II and showed her how II could be
carried to any desired point on the
circumference OF the room and hooked
there.
On one side stood a cot already
made up; beside It a small camp chair.
On the other side was long hammock
chair. and close to II stood a carved
tabouret piled high with books. Over
a small table hung a foolish little
mirror. The walls were wainscoted
with a woven mat of golden reeds
The place smelled clean. was clean.
Andrea had come into the room OBJ
sessed by a single idea. and that was
to determine the why and wherefore
Of the covered passage leading to the
next hut. She failed to discover Its
entrance until her companion drew her
attention to door. wainscoted like
the walls but crossed by a sturdy bar
pivoted at one end. the other sinking
into a deep socket.
ut occurred to me-" said the man,
that perhaps you would be afraid at
night unless you were sure of help.
Listen" He raised the bar. and as
he did so the hidden door flew open
and gong sounded in the next hut.
"The bar cannot be lifted from my
side of course" he added.
Then he led her out through the
veranda into her private garden and
pointed to a quite new and tiny hut.
''Your bath and washroom." he said
you must have no water in the nut
you live in. not only because its door
is OF mud but principally on account
of the mosquitoes"
"Llve?" said Andrea my dear
White Man. you are mad. I'm not
going to live here, no matter how hor-
ribly I'm tempted by all this thought
fulness of yours and-care."
He looked questioningly at her face.
"win you dine with me-" he ventured.
"at half past five7 It's the best hour
on account of daylight and only two
meals day. VIII your After that
wen talk II out"
Andrea nodded and dismissed him
with. It'll half after five, then"
Things had moved so fast through
the day that she had had no time to
mark more than their general course.
Now she settled down to a deliberate
survey. She went back in her mind
to Aunty Gwen. to her brothers and
to the public at large as represented
by the colony dance. She Imagined
their CONSERVATION at her disappear
ance. visualized the efforts that even
at this moment were being made TO