The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-03-25

thoughtfully. "But II you're not going
to be persuaded to love me, will you
please tell me where 1 get off? What
are you good for, anyway? Do you
realize that l CAV up a case Of gin
for you and that a case Of gin In these
troubled times IL worth all Of three
pounds sterlingY"
Andrea WINGED. $50 I'm really not
worth three pounds" she said half to
herself.
Manchester heard and took quick
pity on the w~istfulness In her voice.
"Well," he said, comfortingly, 81
wouldn't say that. Where It was a
| question of sentiment or a matter of
having something pretty around the
house q man might go further. Why,
even among the blacks"
He paused, looked calculatingly at
her and then went on "Old-timers will
tell you that there are two qualities
that don't exist In Africa at all one is
gratitude and the other Is affection. /
think they're right about the first. but
about the second, I know better. There
are cases where a black likes a partic-
ular woman, and when that happens
his face is marked by a peculiar look.
] know II and every time I catch sight
OF 1t I'm two extra pounds In pocket"
"Whyf" asked Andrea. "What do
you meanf'
"Why, my dear? Don't you known
Didn't Trevor tell you that Tm-I'm
i'm trader"
"He said" answered Andrea. "that
you were engaged In some horrible
business. but that he couldn't conceive
of any reason why he should tell me
what II was. i was very curious then,
'but now ! really don't care"
"Finicking, Growing prudew ex-
claimed Manchester. his mind on Ire
vor. "Wky. it's the most legitimate
hundres per cent little business that
yer crawled out Of a big brain. II 1t
wasn't for me this whole back coun-
try would run short Of wives"
you mean you buy and sell wom-
emf" asked Andrea.
mo. not exactly" answered Mac
Closter. II raise them. I'm the legal
possessor of a huadred and eighty-two,
or five, oil six, wives. Can't just re-
member"
"ohw gasped Andrea, cvsuching still
farther into her corner.
There you 60" said Manchester,
calmly. 'Don't let Your imagination
run away with you, my dear. / said
I'm the legal possessor and ! mean
just that. But what's the use of talk
ing. You'll see"
All through the night and well into
the next day the boat travelled stead
lily upstream. Manchester yawned pro-
~digiously three or four times, but
never gave up the tiller to boy"
In the early morning they entered a
long reach of the stream thanked on
both sides by fiat plains. MacCloster
stood erect and his eyes made the cir
cult of the horizon. "Nothiag," he
said. "If he could have beateH Us to
this our name would have been Den
mis-. He's given up his favoriee little
spotted hen. Flap your wings and say
good-by."
Andrea's heart, already low. sank n
lot lower. Not once through the night
had she closed her eyes and she knew
now that she had been hoping and
praying that the first CLEAN OF Eaorn-
ing would find Trevor, the avenger, on
the bank. She could not know, rs did
Manchester. that an impossible serest
Of unbroken4 thorn stretched for miles
between the two camps. There was
just one opea road to MacClosser's-
the river-and on that no other boat
could equal the speed of his osnL
SAY" said Manchester, moved BY n
sudden thought. Us there anyone that
would give y lot Of money for ysaY'
Andrea's brows drew togahher I'm
honest valuations Of what was left Of
her old SELF -f Aoat know" sac said
meekly. Perhaps not now"
what would he give for yosf' Mac
CIoster assed, Jerking his beard ove
his shoulder
He said ne wouldn't give three
pounds" answered Andrea in a still.
small voise. She began to cry.
MacCloster's eyes grew round with
fright. -0h, come now" he protested.
Here you've been hours without even
thinking Of that Did old trick. Stop
I'll" he roared suddenly. Stop 1t or
I'll mash your head In"
IL wish you would" sosSed Andrea
and cried harder than var
Manchester rolled his eyes heaven
ward as though he implored aid. LIS
| tens~ he said, talking into the SKY.
Listen and III tell yoa what I'll do.
Are you li~stening?"
YES" gasped Andrea.
aweil." said Manchester. "You've
been a lot of trouble to me and q big
loss. You can't expect a dry mar TO
forget a whole case Of schnaprs. Now
I'm going to let yoa write hira q note
and IL you car get him to give three
cases Of gin for you. why he can have
you. d---n hlfal"
Andrea stopped crying. sat up
straight and dsbbed her eyes with her
very dirty fingers. but there was a
strange. set hook In her face that made
Manchester doubt her sudden cure.
WI you do itf" he asked.
aAy--o.N r.fJ A,a~>- fNM~