The Mena weekly star., 1919-11-27
Overcoatr,

Overcoatr'
At each name. for names they were,
a native stepped forward. They were
all bright-faced youngsters, fourteen
or fifteen years of age, and their garb,
made up of clean cloth bound tightly
around slim hips and falling TO the
knees. and red fez with tassel in
tact. marked them as houseboys-
trusted piclSaninnies who alone had
the right TO enter the white mans
quarters and We're collectively his rec.
ognized mouthpieces in conveying or.
ders
"Bathtub !" repeated the white man.
A youngster quickly saluted and
stepped out of the line. grinning from
ear TO ear at being distinguished even
for moment above his fellows.
With jerk of his head toward An
dfea the white man began to talk rap
IDLY. Bathtub's eyes rolled from his
face to Andrea's and back again. They
widened, they narrowed, and, each of
the three times the white man said
"Kiboco" with peculiar emphasis.
they seemed to vince.
Andrea interrupted, what does
'Kiboco' mean, please"
1t means whip OF raw rhine
hide" said the man. IAN implement
that draws blood with a whisper"
Andrea went white; her eyes blaze0
$50 you whip your servants?" she
said with curled lips.
Il have whipped boy once" an
swered the man coolly. "They have
never forgotten He turned to her.
This boy, Bathtub, is yours. If he
ever fails You l shall thrash him with
IN an inch of his nine lives" He dis
missed the boy with a nod.
BathtuO stepped before his mis-
tress, saluted. grinned the broadest.
most friendly grin Andrea had ever
seen and without waiting for the
smiling answer of her eyes was off
like an arrow.
So taken up was Andrea with watch
ing the white man as he issued rapid
fire of orders TO his remaining lieu
tenants that when Bathtub returned,
saluted, and led her beneath the les
ser of the acacia trees she could not
believe her eyes, for they showed her
a canvas wash basin on stills, clean
towel laid over the back of q chair, an
other chair before a camp table laid
with clean cloth and burdened with
two sizzling fried eggs, hot toast, mar
malade, a pot of tea and an absurd
squat bottle with the stems of wild
flowers rammed down its throat.
She took Off her cloak and Bathtub
promptly hung it to air over low
branch Of the tree; then. while she
bathed her face and hands, he stood
by with the towel. and when she was
through with that he drew her chair
for her and poured her tea. Children
began crowding around. He drove
them back. and, dragging his toe.
marked wide circle on the ground
with the table as center.
Up to that mark and no farther
came the children and squatted in a
staring but silent ring. Andrea sat
down and gazed over their heads at
the kraal In general and at the white
man in particular, for from him ra-
dated an activity incredible in COM
parison with the languor that had pre-
coded 1t. Her eyes fell to the table
and she realized two things: she was
unusually, marvelously hungry and
the table was set for one.
Doesn't your master eat?" she
asked of Bathtub.
MY master makes ready Gaia for
mRsis."
"What is 'caiaT"
Bathtub frowned in an effort to
catch up with a word that was on the
verge of escaping from his meager
vocabulary. House" he suddenly ex-
ploded and grinned with satisfaction.
Andrea lowered the fork that was
half way to her mouth. Makes ready
a house--for mef" Her eyes mar
rowed. II will not need house. Tell
him."
Bathtub's grin broadened. Sorry,
Missis," he said, Flaw like that: ev-
cry Missis one hut, every hut one tax"
Andrea stared at him open-mouthed
and then blushed furiously. Il mean
that I will not stay here" she ex-
planned angrily. Tell your master |
wish to speak with him--at once.
Wait a minute. You call him M'sungo.
What does that mean7"
"White man." said Bathtub, and de-