The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-26
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
A Royal Thanksgiving
Feast.
teaSC.
BY a. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1918, b. the Mcclure
Newspaper syndlcate.)

B09EUgAWA NOaak MShAuAB 49, -
stumped. II seemed that she was des'
tined soon 70 be q widow, II she hat
not already reached that stage in life''
journey.
Yes, It was gloomy Thanksgiving
day, although the sun was shining DIS
terfngiy. Her husband had disappear
( ca. and the chances were 100 to
against ever seeing him again.
She sensured herself for agreeing
y 10 this south sea honeymoon. Why
had she yielded to. Ralph's wishes to
explore Kondo island when some
thing inside her had persistenty
warned that she should not let him
set foot on shore?
True, being an explorers daugn-
ter, she had been as keen for the
trip as had her newly acquired spouse
but events-one in particular-made
her realize now that a three-room fiat
would be heavenly for honeymoon
and as place to live and die.
She sat on the deck of the steam
yacht Crystal and tried to reason a
way out Of the dilemma happy
way out. One course would be to
hoist anchor and steam away. But
that would not be the happy way,
because 1t would leave Ralph in the
clutches OF the cannibals.
Still, what was there for her to do?
Take the five men that comprised the
crew of the Crystal and invade the ma
tlves' LARS? No, certainly that was
not the solution; not with the natives
swarming the island jungle like flies
in pool OF syrup.
The big event that converted her to
the three-ro room flat idea had occurred
the previous afternoon about 4 o'clock
They had just arrived at the island
and Ralph had insisted on going
ashore.
There's absolutely no danger" he
assured her. II was here two years
ago with your father and we found
absolutely no traces Of inhabitants.
The nearest inhabited land is Gugo
island and Plague island, which are
populated with cannlbals but the
nearest OF The two is 100 niles dis
tant. It's perfectly safe, Marge."
Margaret realized sense of fore
boding as her husband set on in the
little boat with Samson Brown, one
OF the sailors.
Better let me go along" she called
after him, but he shook his head,
Pretty hard climbing around in
there" he replied, pointing to the
vegetation which reached down to the
water, "I'll be gone only short time"
Margaret saw her husband land and
belly. Samson drew the, boat where the
waves could not touch iii then they
both disappeared into the forest. She
sat on the deck and watched and
waited, still harassed by that feeling
Of lorePoding.
Perhaps an hour after the landing
Margaret thought she heard chorus
o. tatnt cries arising from the island,
but she could not be certain this was
hot the product OF nerves. She looked
intently IL the direction lfOM WhiGi,
the vera sound SEEMED 10 e.unate,
bat tne forest was 30 dense tnaL aAa
cuu!o not have seen anything happen
Ing within twenty feet oil shore. a.
silence that was compete, except Tor
Inc tapping OF the waves Against the
Irystals sides, had settled over the
island and its environs, and this in
activity did not tend to dispel the fore.
6oding. She knew the men were play
ing poker somewhere below, but she
hesitated to call and thus display herI
terror; for she was a girl who was
proud Of her lack OF fear.
The sun was a half circle on the hori
zon when she saw Samson stagger out
from among tho trees and push the
small boat into the water, leaping in.
This action seemed to take the last
ounce OF strength, for he sank to the
bottom Of the stlfr and lay there appa-
rently helpless.
That was sufficient excuse for Mar
garet to sound an alarm that brought
the crew Of the Crystal stumbling and
tumbling to the deck, where they at
once comprehended the situation and
set out In another boat to rescue Sam /
son, whose craft was being tossed back
on shore.
whats happening? Where's
Ralph?" breathed Margaret, as Samson
was carried on deck, but he answered |
simply with CLASSY stare and was /
taken to his bunk. He rolled his eyes
queerly and opened and shut his hands
repeatedly. /
There was no question but that he
had been through a narrowing expert
ence, for his fatigue was due as much
TO fear as to physical exertIon. The
other men could not find as much as a .
scratch on bis body. Presently he
seemed to get grip on himself and
managed to articulate:
"Cannibals got him"
While Margaret s steadied herself
against the wall, growing deathly pale,
he went on, talking laboriously:
We spent some time getting out
bearings before he sent me to find
spring Of water, while he went in a
different direction to dig up some relic
your father left two years ago. / found
water and was starting after him on
the dim path he had taken when I
heard 1nearthly screeching from d.
rectton hO had taken, I hurried ana
soon arrived at scene of trouble, About
my black men were dancing round
him, shouting and singing, and he was
tied TO q tree with thongs. knew I
couldn't light the whole gang, so hid
behind another tree and watched for
dnnnFiilnikI IN nT,& hty,, Ira,o "a .ItJ.u