The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-03-19

carriers, newly arrived, and the crew
of bis freight boat. The negroes were
squatting In circle on guard, waiting
to make delivery TO their master of
various cases. Some of them evident
ly contained cloth, cutlery and kniek.
knacks dear to the native heart, but
one, at least, brazenly proclaimed In
deeply burnt stenClllng its contents to
be gin. 1t was on this small square
box that MacCloster's eyes were riv.
etc !. He turned and spoke to Andrea
IN an oily tone that for some inexplica-
bic reason froze her blood. II YVES as
though he had suddenly assumed
new and strange personality upon
which her twelve hours Of brave inter
course with him had, had no occasion
to establish its grip. He became a
stranger within stranger and hope
lessly inaccessible.
"Come with me, my DEAR" was all
he said.
She followed him slowly, an unac-
customed weakness in her knees. He
entered the monster Gaia and waited
for her. For some moments the gloom
was impenetrable to her eyes but as
their pupils dilated she began to dis
cover shadows within the shadow until
she was able to make out the entire
scheme Of interior arrangement The
ground floor, with the exception of an
open space around the trunk of the
tree, was devoted to series or vast
sleeping rooms into which, she gath.
cred from muttered phrase of Mae.
Closter's, were herded nightly all the
girls Of manageable age, accompa,
MED b. few of those old harridans
who in certain tribes act as govern
esses with the qualification that it is
their duty to instill all the knowledge
which the mentors of the young OF
civilized peoples are supposed to with
hold.
Around the trunk of the tree, which
was twelve feet or more in diameter
rough spiral stairway had been con,
structed to give access to a platform
which was built on and around he
main intersection of wide-spreading
limbs. This platform was inclosed
and lighted by oil lamps. A glance
within told her that 1t was the abode
Of Manchester himself, the well-nigh
impregnable center Of the spiders web.
From every side of it extended the
sturdy limbs Of the tree and up each
OF them climbed a series of projecting
cleats which served as ladders to reach
a vast system of smaller platforms
built wherever the natural disposition
of the branches afforded adequate sup
port. These lesser rooms were used
as storehouseS for merchandise, pro
visions and ivory; and few of them.
near the very top of the tree, wera
fitted out as guest chambers especial!
adapted to the safe-keeping of doubt
full strangers as also for the effective
hiding Of chattel, human and other
wise, which for one reason or another
Manchester desired to keep out OF
sight.
Into one Of the latter Andrea was
finally ushered, breathless from her
climb. On its floor was a fresh grass
mat, clean blanket, a clay pot OF
drinking water with dipper made out |
of coconut shell and a square box
filled with sand, evidently intended for
the bed Of cooking-fre. The only
light came from a cotton wick laid in |
an open vessel filled with oil from the
castor bean.
"There you are, Sissie." said Mac.
in his new oily voice, "every. /
thing you can possibly need and when
ever you want to go out, all you have
to do is to climb down and go through
my room. You won't have to do your
own cooking for a day or two; I'll send
your scoff up"
Andrea's heart sank to depths that
II had never reached before; her lower
lip trembled and drew down at the
z
corners.
snow, don't look so glum," said Mac.
Closter, leering at her. "Just remem-
Der that you couldn't be safer In III
than you are herep
He turned and left her with laugh
1t his own joke. The measured "Hal
Ia Ha !-Hal Hal Har' reve<berat
ID through the interminable mazes OF
he entOmbed tree. More than ever II
seemed the hooking laugh of thirty
loices, chanting in unison. She threw
herself full length, face-down, on the
yrass mat and covered her ears with
Ter hands. Presently bodily exhaus-
ion came to her aid and she mercE
ully slept. q
Hours later she awoke to a feeling
hat she had been definitely summoned
" her subconscious self TO face an i'm
ninent danger. Night had falleh and
Is peace had settled on the crnaI In
General, but there was no peace In the
.-eat Gaia. Out Of MacCloster's room
rose through the whispering stiffness
series of monstrous sounds, mon
trously misunderstanding. rumbling
urses. mutterings. the occasional
rash Of shattered empty bottle. |
hen came a silence more ominous i,
han the noises. for II was alive. g 7
Keeping thing with tentaeles that !
eemed 10 he writhing M the limbs Of Z