The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-01-22

hammock. She had to stoop very low
to enter the hut itself, and once within
had to wait a long time for her sun
filled eyes to accustom themselves tC
the kindly gloom. The man grew i'm
patient ard struck a match. BY Its
+! light Andrea saw "A vision Of comfort
| The room was circular and unceiled
so that one could look up and up into
the very depths of rs tapering peak
| From that height dangled a wire and
on Its end hung a lantern. The man
| lit 1t and showed her how 1t could be
carried to any desired point on the
| circumference of the room and hooked
there.
On one side stood a cot already
made up /: beside ii a small camp chair
On the other side was a long hammock
chair. and close to it stood a carved
tabouret piled high with books. Over
q small table hung a foolish little
mirror. The walls were wainscoted
with a woven mat of golden reeds
The place smelled clean, was clean.
hdACd OAl kulO t1c IOUtn Ob
sessed by a single idea, and that was
to determine the why and wherefore
of the covered passage leading to the
next hut. She failed to discover Its
entrance until her companion drew her
attention to a door, wainscoted like
the walls but crossed by a sturdy bar
pivoted at "A end, the other sinking
into a deep socket.
ut occurred 20 me-" said the man,
"that perhaps you would be afraid al
night unless you were sure of help
Listen" He raised the bar, and as
he did sc the hidden door flew open
and a gong sounded in the next hut
"The bar cannot be lifted from my
side of course" he added.
Then he led her out through the
veranda into her private garden and
pointed to a quite new and tiny hut
your bath and washroom." he said
"You must have no water in the hut
you live In, not only because its floor
is of mud but principally on account
Of the mosquitoes"
"Live?" said Andrea. ~My dear
White Man, you are mad. I'm not
going 20 live here, no matter how hor.
ribly I'm tempted by all this thought.
fulness Of yours and-care."
He looked q~uestioningly at her face
"Will you dine with me-" he ventured
lat half past Eve? It's the best hour
on account Of daylight and only two
meals a day. VIII your After that
We'll talk 1t out"
Andrea nodded and dismissed him
with, IT'LL half after FIVE, then"
Things had moved so fast through
the day that she had had no time 10
mark more than their general course.
Now she settled down to a deliberate
survey. She went back In her mind
to Aunty Gwen, to her brothers and
to the public at large as represented
by the colony dance. She imagined
their CONSERVATION et her disappear
ance, visualized the efforts that even
at this moment were being made to
trace her and the full force of their
inevitable futility.
The searchers would have nothing
to go on. There was only one chance
as far as she knew and that was a
slim one. In the general excitement
the native whom the white man had
left behind might chatter his way into
sufficient prominence to get himself
called as a witness. But she set
small hope OF such a solution, for the
last few hours had taught her that
the author Of all her troubles was
more than White Mar to those under
him-he was master.
Then her thoughts turned to the
man she was to have married. OF
course, and whatever happened from
now on, that-deal-7was off. She
puckered her brow, puzzled that such
a conclusion brought no great shock
with 1t. Last Of all, she thought OF
herself. What was the meaning OF
this day to Andrea Pellor,s to that girl
whom she had c~uriously watched
studied and dreamed over during very
nearly a quarter Of a century? On.
consciously she faced the problem
from the standpoint into which she
had been bred alone-measured 1t by
the cold rule Of convention and so.
ciety usage.
"fm done for said Andrea to her
self. Yesterday / was a pearl OF
great price in the marriage market
and now everything In the way of cash
that offers will come from the music
halls! Your last day. Pellor," she
added aloud. giving a deep significance
to the S Of the old family name
alone. Her lips curled and her eyes
hardened rebelliously as she added a
final murmur, "But it's been a hum.
meri"
"Scoff ready, Missis."
She jumped erect with a startled
cry.
"Plenty hungry. eh?' said Bathtut
with his Ssaa. grin Of pride at his
powers of deduction.