The Mena weekly star., 1920-01-08
WHITE MA N
By George AgnezC Chamberlain
IlIIIIIIlIlIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Author of =Home." "Through Stained Ciass." John Bogardus.' etc.

fContinued from a previous issue.)
 .At last the division of the sangui. uary spoil was completed. The we'll led army lined up, each and every man 4ceonpanied by woman or child as 8east for the small burden. These men were also provided with individual 0fPss checks, which they cast into the baskets at the feet of the captain uptn receipt of their portion of meat. At the end, to Andrea's amazement, the tally was exact except that it left tue starving group out of the count.
 Through 1t all the white man had 11ocd grimly by, uttering not word nd leaving her to the assistance of l1Gr own intelligence. She began tU Understand; the possessors of the bras eAecks had worked for them. But her eyes fingered pitifully or the starving
 She turned to the man with a ges- ture of pleading-pleading for pardon tor herself, mercy for the silent suffer ing. ''What about these?" she asked
 'They will receive ration of mil fef," he answered. Tomorrow the men will crawl to the fors sts, twice a week they will get meat checks. In q ss1onth they and their families will be faf and sleek. We refuse no one who wishes to work"
 He turned to lead the way back to the kraal and, once there. promptly Disappeared into his hut. Half an hour z later Andrea was nervously moving aoout her room, wondering whether to pot on her frock or not. when Bathtub arrived with a message. Did she wish fo dine alone or with M'sungo?
 Tell your master" she answered. .'that I will dine with him with pleas ure."
 During the meal, the white man falked, giving her listiessly certain ex- planatory information. Flight months eso," he said. T struck this country U was desolation. In spite of the big liver, which is quite near by, the whole district was in famine. passed < Through ruined kraal after ruined kl al, and in some of them dead bodies lAy about, too dried out in life even to rot. The game swarmed as 1t does only in dry seasons. and thrived."
 Andrea held both hands out toward Ain as though to stop him. Don't" hhe cried. don't think haven't un- derstoodl' Y
 'Upon my word" remarked the man dryly, you're getting sincere :" @ She sank back in her chair with a look of reproach. but he did not notice H I'm telling you he continued, q came to hunt and recover" He paused.
 Andrea could not keep her eyes from Klancing toward the airplane It was as though she had followed his hidden Thought. He flushed slightly, changed his sentence and finished And for another purpose But almost on the day of arrival I made a discovery in fhe forest. Out of it has grown an industry that employs hundreds of na- lives and never refuses a new recruit. [ am working absolutely without title and should you return to civilization iny ruin would be quite within your Nrasp."
 And that is why must stay," said Andrea.
 'No,' said the man reading her face. Eff I could drop you back tomorrow there on the beach where I found you. I would do it."
 She felt definite surge of pleasure, but of all proportion to the occasion. Thank you" she whispered and then Flushed at a sudden wonder as to the exact nature of feeling of gladness over the fact that she was not called upon then and there to decide whether In her heart she wished to go or stay.
 But I can't" continued the man.
 can't leave my people or my work For two weeks; l dare not trust you fo a native escort" He drew away from the table that he might cross his knees, took a cigar and lit it.
 You've eaten nothing" said Andrea.
 I'm too tired to eat just now" he Answered
 Presently she arose. ''rm tired, too. White Man" she lied. May leave you?"
 He gave her an almost grateful glance. arose and lifted one side of he net for her to pass She went to her room to read, but an hour later, vhen she glanced out surprised to see the lights burning under the tree, the white man was still there hands dropped upon his knees, head fallen Forward, sound asleep in his chair.
 Andrea clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. "Oh, why doesn't he go to bed?' she said to herself. "He can't get any comfort out of that sort < of thing" Finally she stole out and found Bathtub. Wake your master, she commanded. "Tell him to go to 2 bed"
 The darkey grinn.d up at her sleepily until he grasped her request. then his z face took on look of mixed fear and mischief. "Bathtub wake Msungo one time plenty long ago and never forget. Missis try it."
 She looked at the lax figure, bone tired, plunged miles deep in slumber, but even from those depths exuding sense of compelling latent power, and hesitated. Getting up her cour- age she coughed twice quite loudly, but Intellectually, and then, feeling almost relieved fhat nothing happened, stole