The Lamar register., 1919-12-10

went stone bllnn Tor month.
"Did you nurse them. White Man7
Did you see them through"
These were the questions that drove
him nearest to desperation, but the
CLEAN In the eyes above the demure
mouth from which they issued inva-
riably warned him of the trap In time
He was on his guard: he knew that
there were things between him and
Andrea that speech would turn into
CHASTITY skeletons walking by day and
which only consistent silence could
entomb. But so deep had grown his
sympathies that even in this he under
stood her. 1t was not that she was
perverse, but that her pride demanded
a constant test of his loyalty to her
other self-that internal self that had
lain barred. revealed and helpless In
his arms.
About those things which might have
aroused u legitimate curiosity, she
asked few questions. Without a word
of inquiry she saw him despatch twelve
picked men on some mysterious mis-
sion whose intricacies and Importance
necessitnted preliminary palaver of
an hours duration. Equally silent. she
watched his detailed preparations Of
a well-appointed safari. Tents were
brushed and set to air; cots and mat
tresses put out for a sun-bath; provi-
cases; water boiled, filtered and hung
in canvas coolers. Only a few days
before. just such signs as these had
made her heart heavy with unanswer-
able Questionings, but her illness had
changed all that. The successive mo-
ments of the throbbing present each
In Its turn filled her whole horizon.
She knew instinctively that he had
something big up his sleeve. and that
he would shake II out on the slightest
provocntion. She also had long men,
ory. and had no difficulty In recalling
his exact boast ms 10 what he would
do when she was well. He was going
to take her in free fight. She was well
now. she reflected: she had never felt
better in her life. and II there was one
thing she hungered for more than an
other. II was the promised combat.
There Is no telling how long An
drea's innate stubbornness would have
held out. nor at what point Trevor's
exasperation would have driven him.
for their wordless contest was inter
rupted by an event which he had both
foreseen and feared. They were sitting
at table after dinner on q
cloudless night, brilliant under Q
full moon. when far-away sound
came to disturb their purpose
full silence. Trevor Strengthened In his
chair and leaned forward. his whole
body tense in the effort Of listening.
1t came again. u ghost Of a sound that
gradually assumed substance and
rhythmic form until after five long
minutes 1t was recognizable as the
cadenced rumble Of an African river
chantey.
Instantly Trevor was on his feet. He
issued orders to Bathtub. who imme-
diately began to clear the table and
eliminate every item Of furniture that
would Indicate dual occupancy Of the
white portion of the camp. They had
dressed that night for dinner. not as
celebration or any special event, but
because they were both bored with
too much time on their hands. Trevor
now excused himself to Andrea and
withdrew to his room. In q few min
utes he reappeared gnrbed In his
toughest khaki shirt and trousers. His
face was grave as he advanced on
Andrea with d nod toward her hut
"MacCloster will be here In half an
hour" he stated. 81 ask you to 60 to
your room. close and bar both doors
and stay there until I call you"
Without waiting for her comment,
he turned and left her. She sat on
with narrowed eyes, until she had I'm
ished her cigarette. and then. with q
glance around to see II Trevor were
watching. she arose and walked slowly
across the open court Of the craal. In
her breast was great rebellion at
the curt manner in which he had made
his request. but she had to admit to
herself that no other form of address,
coming from him. could hnve impressed
her so deeply, moved her so quickly.
She went to her room, closed the
front door, but did not bar it. chose y
book and sat down 10 make pretense
Of reading. The sound Of the chantey
rumil,1 near and then wavered afar
accOrdia- 10 the bends Of the river, but
in spite NJ this variation the sum Of
its volume swelled steadily In an
otnIuou. uuprOuch until II died quite