The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-03-19

Belgian had dreamed, In his planning.
of future in which he might convince
Lady Greystoke that her husband was
dead, and by playing upon her graft
tude win her for himself.
At that part of the village farthest
from the gates Werper discovered that
two or three long poles, taken from a
nearby pile which had been collected
for the construction of huts, had been
leaned against the top Of the palisade.
forming precarious. though not i'm.
possible, avenue Of escape.
Rightly, he inferred that thus had
Lady Greystoke found the means to
scale the wall, nor did he lose even a
moment in following her lead. Once
in the jungle he struck out directly
eastward.
A few miles south of him, Jane Clay
ton lay painting among the branches of
tree in which she had taken refuge
from a prowling and hungry lioness.
Her escape from the village had been
much easier than she had anticipated
The knife which she had used to cut
her way through the brush wall of
the hut to freedom, she had found
sticking in the wall Of her prison,
doubtless left there by accident when
former tenant had vacated the prem
ises.
For an hour she had followed the
old game trail toward the south, until
there fell upon her trained hearing the
stealthy padding of stalking beast
behind her. The nearest tree gave hel
instant sanctuary, for she was toe
wise in the ways of the jungle tc
chance her safety for moment aftel
discovering that she was being hunted
Werper, with better success, trav.
eled slowly onward until dawn, when,
to his chagrin, he discovered mount.
ed Arab upon his trail. 1t was one OF
Achmet Zek's minions, many of whom
We're scattered in all directions through
the forest, searching for the fugitive
Belgian.
Jane Clayton's escape had not yet
been discovered when Achmet Eek and
his searchers set forth to Overhaui
Werper.
With the discovery Of the Arab close
behind him, the Belgian hid in the
foliage Of leafy bush. Here the trail
ran straight for considerable dis
lance, and down the shady forest aisle
beneath the overarching branches OF
the trees, rode the white-robed figure
Of the pursuer.
Nearer and nearer he came. Wer
per crouched closer to the ground be
hind the leaves Of his hiding place
Across the trail vine moved. Wer
per's eyes instantly conferred upon the
foliage in the depths of the jungle
Again the vine moved. In the mind OF
the Belgian only the presence of a
sinister and malevolent force could &C.
count for the phenomenon.
The mans eyes bored steadily into
the screen of leaves upon the opposite
side of the trail. Gradually a forms
took shape beyond them-a tawny
form, grim and terrible, with yellow.
green eyes ,glaring fearsomely across
the narrow trail straight into his.
Werper could have screamed in
fright, but up the trail was coming the
messenger of another death, equally
sure and no less terrible. He re.
manned silent, almost paralyzed by
fear. The Arab approached. Across
the trail from Werper the lion
crouched for the spring, when sudden.
ly his attention was attracted toward
the horseman.
The Belgian saw the massive head
turn in the direction of the raider
and his heart all but ceased it's beat.
ing as he waited the result of this in.
terruption. At walk the horseman
approached. Werper shuddered and
half rose. At the same instant the lion
sprang from his place of concealment.
full upon the mounted man. The horse.
with a shrill neigh of terror, shrank
sideways almost upon the Belgian, the
lion dragged the helpless Arab from
his saddle, and the horse leaped back
into the trail and flew away toward