The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-01-09

udlLiuuNh. olS Hdu u cloOp very lUW
TO enter the hut itself and once within.
had TO wait a long time for her sun
filled eyes 20 aecustom themselves to
the kindly gloom. The man grew i'm
patient and struck a match. BY its
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 a wire and
on its end hung a lantern. The man
lit it and showed her how it 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 it a small camp chair.
On the other side was long hammock
chair, and close to 1t stood a carved
tabouret piled high with books. Over
small table hung a foolish little
mirror. The walls were wainscoted
with q 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 its
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 a deep socket.
1T occurred 10 me-" said the man,
"that perhaps you would be afraid at
night unless you were sure of help.
Listen" He raised the bar, aud as
he did so the hidden door flew open
and gong sounded in the next hut.
1.-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 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"
'LiveT" 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 houi
on account Of daylight and only tive
meals day. win you2 After thai
Wen talk it out"
Andrea nodded and dismissed him
with, "Till half after FIVE, then"
Things had moved so fast through
the day that she had had no time tc
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 ant
TO the public at large as represented
by the colony dance. She imagined
their CONSERVATION at her disappear
ance, visualized the efforts that ever
at this moment were being made to
trace her and the full force of theii
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 hao
left behind might chatter his way int
sufficient prominence TO get himself
called as a witness. But she sci
small hope on such a solution, for tn,
last few hours had taught her that
the author of all her troubles was
more than White Man 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-was 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, to that girl
whom she had curiously watched
studied and dreamed over during very
nearly a quarter of a century? I'm.
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.
I'm done for" said Andrea to her
self. Yesterday l 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 use 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.
merl"
'Scoff ready, Missis."
She jumped erect with a startled
cry.
"Plenty hungry, eh?" said Bathtuh
with his usual grin Of pride at his
powers of deduction.