The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-01-23
table was 4 hand sewing machine and

hammock she nuu 10 StOop va ~"
to enter the hut itself, and once within
had to wait long time for her sun
filed eyes to accustom themselves 10
the kindly gloom. The man grew I'M
patient and struck a match. by us
light Andrea saw vision of comfort |
The room was circular and unceiled, |
so that one could look up and up into
the very depths of its tapering peak.
From that height dangled wire and
on its end hung 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 cot already
made up; beside it small camp chair.
On the other side was long hammock
chair, and close to it stood carved
tabouret piled high with books. Over
small table hung foolish little
mirror. The walls were wainscoted
with a woven mat of golden reeds
The place smelled clean, was clean.
Andrea had come into the room OBJ
sessed by single idea, and that was
to determine the why and wherefore
of the covered passage leading to the
next hut. She failed to discover it's
entrance until her companion drew her
attention to a door, wainscoted like
the walls but crossed by sturdy bar
pivoted at one end, the other sinking
into deep socket.
1T occurred to me-" said the man.
"that perhaps you would be afraid at
night unless you were sure OF help.
Listen" He raised the bar, and as
he did so the hidden door flew open
and gong sounded in the next hut.
"The bar cannot h lifted from my
side of course" he added.
Then he led her out through the
veranda into her private garden and
pointed to 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"
"Live2" said Andrea. "My dear
White Man, you are mad. I'm not
going to live here, no matter how hor-
ribly I'm tempted by all this thought
fulness of yours and-care."
He looked questioningly at her face.
"Will you dine with me-" he ventured,
''at half past five? It's the best hour
, on account of daylight and only two
; meals a day. WIN you? After that
Wen talk it 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 to
mark more than their general course
, Now she settled down to a deliberate
4 survey. She went back In her min(
> to Aunty Gwen, to her brothers ant
: to the public at large as represented
by the colony Dance She imagined
their CONSERVATION at her disappear
J ance, visualized the efforts that ever
e at this moment were being made t
: trace her and the full force Of thei
> inevitable futility.
The searchers would have nothing
> to go on. There was only one chanc
) as far as she knew and that was
> slim one. In the general excitemen
L. the native whom the white man ha
. left behind might chatter his way int
Il sufficient prominence to get himsel
u called as witness. But she sc
% small hope on such q solution, for tn
>, last few hours had taught her tina
u the author Of all her troubles wa
more than White Man to those unde
him-he was master
Then her thoughts turned to tn
man she was to have married. @
- course, and whatever happened froY
~ now on, that-deal-was off. Sh
- puckered her brow, puzzled that sue
~ conclusion brought no great shoe
- with it. Last of all, she thought {
~ herself. What was the meaning {
y. this day to Andrea Pellor, to that gi
- whom she had curiously watches
~ studied and dreamed over during yer
~ nearly a quarter of a century? Vi
- consciously she faced the proble
~ from the standpoint into which ST
had been bred alone-measured 1t /
g the cold rule of convention and S
nc ciety usage.
- "Tm done for" said Andrea to he
- self. Yesterday | was a pearl
great price in the marriage marke
and now everything in the way of ca!
- that offers will come from the mus
halls Your last day, Pellor," 81
added aloud, giving a deep significan
to the use Of the old family nan
W. alone. Her lips curled and her ey
az hardened rebelliously as she added
nc final murmur, "But it's been a hui
''u merl"
W "Scoff ready, Missis."
"n She jumped erect with startl
~ cry.
IN PLENTY hungry, eh?" said Batht
ct, ,,,,.,, "a, ,,s,a, rr,r ~ nr,da Of :
powerS of deduction