The Kendrick gazette., 1919-09-26

beset her way back to the beloved
hearthstone Of Bwana and My Dear.
With. the thought came determina-
ton to return and obtain the coveted
ammunition. She realized that she
was taking great chances Of recapture.
But without means Of defense and OF
obtaining meat she felt that she could
never hope to reach safety, And so
she turned her face back toward the
camp from which she had but just es-
capped.
She thought Malbihn dead. SO ter
rife blow had she dealt him, and she
hoped to find an opportunity after dark
to enter the camp and search his tent
for the cartridge belt. But scarcely
had she found hiding place in 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 hurling 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 box in which were
packed the Swedes 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
munition. Quickly she loosed the cords
| 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
a little girl upon the back Of which
was pasted 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 picture
of herself, taken years and years be-
forel
Where had it been taken? How
had it come into the possession of this
man2 Why had it been reproduced In
newspaper? What was the story
that the faded type told of it7
Meriem was baffled 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 tC
the box, she rummaged to the bottom
and there In corner she came upon &
little box of cartridges.
A single glance assured her thai
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 fol
an examination of the battling Likeness
, Of herself that she held in her hand.
! AS she stood thus in vain endeavo
| to fathom this inexplicable mystery tn
; sound of voices broke upon her ears
Instantly she was all alert. They wer
coming closer. A second later she rec
ognized the lurid profanity of tn
Swede. Malbihn was returning!
She thrust the photograph into he
, waist. Quickly she slipped cartridg
E into each of the chambers of the re
Y volver. Then she backed toward tn
: end of the tent, keeping the entranc
4 covered by her weapon.
q The men stopped outside, and Ne
: riem could hear Malbihn profanely Ii
suing instructions. He was long tim
s about 1t, and while he talked In hi
believing, british voice the girl sough
e some avenue of escape.
8 STOPPING, she raised the bottom G
l. the canvas and looked beneath and b'
yond. There was no one in sight upO
that side. Throwing herself upon he
stomach. she wormed beneath the ter
wall just as Malbihn, with final wor
| 10 his men, entered tne tent.
Meriem heard him cross the foo
and then she rose and, STOPPING loy
ran to native hut directly behin
Once inside this she turned an
glanced back. There was no one
sight. She had not been seen.
And now from Malbihn's tent ST
heard a great cursing. The Swede ha
discovered the rif1ing of his box. E
. was shouting to his men, and as 81
heard them reply Meriem darted fro
the hut and ran toward the edge
the bona farthest from Malbihn's ten
Two minutes start Of any pursue
was all Meriem cared for. Once in IL
trees she knew that she could outdi
,. tance and elude them.
Her hopes were high. They cou
not overtake her now; she had had t.
K good start of them!
to There was a smile on her lips as 81
dropped to the ground to cross lit
I'd clearing where once had stood a n
le tive village surrounded by its field
pt The huts still stood in ruins.