Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-11-26

FIJI company In my rambles. Mostly
these were confined TO the aeiLAbor
hood of the cove. never ventured
beyond Lookout ridge, but there | went
often with Crusoe, and we would ST
upon rock and talk to each other
about our first encounter there, and
the fright he had given me. Every
body else had gone, gazed and adj
mired. But the only constant pilgrim,
besides myself, was, of all people,
Captain Magnus. The captains unex-
pected ardor for scenery carried him
thither whenever he had half an hour
to spare from the work In the cave.
Needless to say, Crusoe and | timed
our visits so as not to conflict with
his.
One day, as Crusoe and came down
from the ridge. we met Captain Mag
nus ascending. had In my hand a
small metal-backed mirror, which
had found, surprisingly, lying in a
messy cleft between the rocks. 1t
was thing such as man might car
ry In his pocket, though on the island
1t seemed unlikely that anyone would
do SO. ! at once attributed the mir
ror to Captain Magnus, for knew that
no one else had been on the ridge for
days ! was wondering as ! walked
along whether by some sublime law
of compensation the captain really
thought himself beautiful, and sought
this retired spot TO admire not the
view but his own physiognomy.
When the captain saw me he stopped
full In the path. There was growth
Of fern on either side. l approached
slowly, and, as he did not move,
paused, and held out the mirror.
i think you must have dropped this,
Captain Magnus. / found 1t on the
rocks
For an instant his face changed.
His eyasiye eyes We're turned to me
searchingly and sharply. He took
the glass from my hand and slipped 1t
into his pocket. / made movement
to pass on, then stopped. with faint
dawning of discomfort. For the heavy
figure of the captain still blocked the
path.
A dark flush had come into the mans
face. His yellow teeth showed be-
tween his parted lips His eyes had a
swimming brightness.
Whats your hurryy" he remarked,
with a certain insinuating emphasis.
/ began to tremble.
II am on my way back to camp,
Captain Magnus. Please let me pass"
sit won't do you no harm II you're
little late. There amt no one there
keepin' tab. Amt you always a.
strayin' off with the Honorable? I
amt so pretty, but
"You are impertinent. Let me pass"
"Oh, I'm mpertinent, am /? That
means fresh. maybe. I'm plain man
and don't use frills on my langwidge.
Well, when | meets little skirt that
takes my eyes there amt no harm in
lettin' her know it, Is there? Maybe
the Honorable could say 1t nicer"
With a forward stride he laid
hand upon my arm. shook him off
and stepped back. Fear clutched my
throat, ! had left my revolver in my
quarters. Oh, the dreadful denseness
of these woods, the certainty that no
widest cry of mine could pierce them
And then Crusoe, who had been
waiting quietly behind me in the path,
slipped In between us. Every hair
on his neck was bristling. The lifted
upper lip snarled Enthusiastically. He
gave me a swift glance which said.
"Shall | spring."
Quite suddenly the gorilla blandish-
ments OF Captain Magnus came to an
end.
Say" he said harshly, "hold back
that dog, will you? | don't want to
kill the cur"
you had better not" | returned
coldly. II should have to explain how