The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-01-03
CHAPTER X.

Trevor never tired or watching neF,
never ceased to wonder at recovery
so rapid that Its daily transitions were
| visible. 1t reminded him Of one Of the
marvels Of his boyhood. An old man
had said to him one dawn, Hear the
| corn growing, sonny?" and he laughed.
| whereupOn the granddad had taken
him by one ear and marched him to
the nearest furrow. "Pick out u stalk
and watch it, you little egg-sucker,'
he commanded. "See it grow. If you
can't hear"
Andrea was like that; she was I'M
furling as though In the morning of
new youth. Never had her eyes been
| brighter, never her cheeks so quick
to play with fire. Incidentally, she was
| full Of devil Of mischievous remin-
iscent innuendo.
Its all a great joke now, young
lady," Trevor would defend himself,
| "but if you'd seen what l have of per-
niciOus malaria, you'd keep grave for
a year. I've seen three Swahilis that
had nourlshed mosquitoes from their
youth up, fall like dogs, one after an
other, within mile and half Of an
| infected camp and the best of them
went stone blind for month
ibid you nurse them, White Man?
Did you see them throughW
| These were the questions that drove
him nearest to desperation, but the
CLEAN in the eyes above the demure
mouth from which they issued inva-
riably warned him of the trap in time
He was on his guard; he knew thai
there were things between him and
Andrea that speech would turn into
CHASTITY skeletons walking by day and
which only consistent silence could
entomb. But so deep had grown his
stood her. 1t was not that she was
perverse. but that her pride demanded
constant test Of his loyalty to her
other self-that internal self that had
lain barred. revealed and helpless in
his arms.
| About those things which might have
aroused legitimate curiosity, she
asked few questions. Without word
Of Inquiry she saw him despatch twelve
picked men on some mysterious mis-
sion whose intricacies and Importance
necessitated a preliminary palaver of
an hours duration. Equally silent, she
watched his detailed preparations Of
a well-appolnted safari. Tents were
brushed and set to air; cots and mat
tresses put out for sun-bath; prOvi-
sions Of all sorts packed in one-load
cases; water boiled, filtered and hung
In canvas coolers. Only a few days
before, just such signs as these had
made her heart heavy with unanswer-
able questiOnings. but her illness had
changed all that. The successive mo-
ments Of the throbbing present each
In its turn filled her whole horizon.
She knew instinctively that he had
something big up his sleeve, and that
he would shake 1t out on the slightest
provocation. She also had long men,
ory, and had no difficulty In recalling
his exact boast as to what he would
do when she was well. He was going
to take her In free fight. She was well
now, she reflected; she had never felt
better In her life, and IL there was one
thing she hungered for more than an
other. 1t was the promised combat.
There is no telling how long An
dreas innate stubbornness would have
held out, nor at what point TrevOr's
| ri Tim,
for their wordless contest was inter-
rupted by an event which he had both
foreseen and feared. They were sitting
at table after dinner on q
cloudless night, brilliant under a
full moon. when a far-away sound
came to disturb their purpose
full silence. Trevor Strengthened in his
chair and leaned forward, his whole
body tense in the effort Of listening.
1t came again, ghost Of sound that
gradually assumed substance and
rhythmic form until after five long
minutes 1t was recognizable as the
cadepced rumble Of an African river
chantey.
Instantly Trevor was on his feet. He
issued orders to Bathtub, who imme-
diately began to clear the table and
eliminate every item Of furniture that
would indicate a dual occupancy OF the
white portion Of the camp. They had
dressed that night for dinner, not as a
celebration or any special event, but
because they were both bored with
TOO much time on their hands. Trevor
now excused himself to Andrea and
withdrew to his room. In few min
utes he reappeared CARRIED In his
toughest khaki shirt and trousers. His
face was grave as he advanced on
Andrea with nod toward her hut
"MacCloster will be here in half an
hour" he stated. 81 ask you to go to
your room, close and bar both doors
and stay there until call you"
without waiting for her comment
he turned and left her. She sat on
with narrowed eyes, until she had fin
ished her cigarette. and then, with q
glance around to see If Trevor were
watching. she arose and walked slowly
across the open court of the craal. Ii
her breast was great rebellion al
the curt manner in which he had made
his request. but she had to admit tC
herself. that no other form Of address
coming from him, could have impressed
her SO deeply, moved her SO quickly.
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