Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-08-11

saw her take step closer To the letter
She had seen it. He rose quietly and
following the shadows of the bushes
that ran down TO the corral, was soon
gone from sight.
Mcricm's trained ears heard his
every move. She made no attempt To
seek closer knowledge of his identity.
Already she had guessed that he was
"a messenger from the Hon. Morrison.
She stopped and picked up the envel-
ope. Tearing ii open, she read the con-
tents easily by the moons brilliant
light
1t was, as she had guessed, from
Baynes:
Il cannot co without seeing you
again. Come To the clearing early to-
morrow morning and say goodby to
me. Come alone"
There was a little more-words that
made her heart beat faster and hap
~ flush mount her check.
1t was still dark when the Hon.
Morrison Baynes set forth for the tryst-
ing place. lie insisted upon having Il
guide saying that he was not sure that
liz could find lis way back 10 the little
clearing.
As matter Of fact. the thought Of
that lonely ride through the darkness
before the sun rose had been too much
for his courage, and he craved COM
pauy.
black, therefore preceded him on
foot. Behind and above him came 10
rak, whom the noise in the camp had
awakened.
1t was n1o'clock before Baynes
drew rein in the clearing. Meriem had
not yet arrived. The black lay down
TO rest. Eaynes lolled in his saddle.
Korak stretched himself comfortably
upon lofty limb, where he could
watch those beneath him without being
seen.
An hour passed. Baynes gave owl
dence of nervousness. K0rak had al
ready guessed that the young English
man had come here 10 meet another.
Presently the sound OF an approach
ing horse came To korak's ears. Me-
rlem was coming. She had almost
reached the clearing before Baynes
became aware Of her presence, and
then as he looked up the foliage part
cd 10 the head and shoulders Of her
mount, and Mcriem rode into view
Bayucs Spurred 10 meet her.
Korak looked searchingly down upon
her, mentally matchmaking the
broad-brimmed hat that hid her fea-
lures from his eyes. She was abreast
the Enslishman now.
Korak saw the man take both her
hands and draw her close 10 his breast.
lie saw the mans face concealed for
a moment beneath the same broad brim
that hid the girls.
When he looked again they had
drawn apart and were conversing earn
estly. Korak could see the man urg-
ing something. II was equally evident
that the girl was holding back. There
were many Of her gestures. and the
way in which she tossed her head up
and to the right, Uplifting her chin,
that reminded Korak strongly of Me
ricm. And then the conversation was
over, and the man took the girl in his
arms again TO kiss her goodby.
She turned and rode toward the
point from which she had come. The
man sat his horse watching her. At
the edge Of the jungle she turned 10
wave him n final farewell.
Tonight" she cried, throwing back
her head as she called the words 10
him across the little distance which
separated them-throwing back her
head and revealing her face for the
first time to the eyes of the Killer in
the tree above.
Korak started as though pierced
through the heart with an arrow. He
trembled and shook like n leaf. lie
closed his eyes. pressing his palms
across them, and then he opened them
again and looked.
But the girl was gone. Only the
waving foliage Of the iungles rim
marked where she had disappeared.
II was impossible! It could not be
truel And yet with his own eyes he
had seen his Mcriem-older a little
with figure more rounded by nearer
maturity, and subtly changed in other
ways; more beautiful than ever, yet
still his little Meriem. Yes, he had
seen the dead alive again; he had seen
his Merie'A n the flesh. She lived
She had not died!
He had seen her-he had seen his
Meriem.-in the arms of another man
And that man sat below him now with
I'm easy reach.
KOrak the Killer fondled his heavy
spear. He played with the grass rope
dangling from his gee string. lie
stroked the hunting knife at his hip
And the man beneath him called TO his
drowsy guide, bent the rein to his
pony's neck and moved off toward the
north.
: Still sat Korak the Killer alone
: among the trees. Now his hands hung
Idly at his sides. His weapons anc
what he had intended were forgotten
2 for the moment. Korak was thinking
He had noted that subtle change In
! Meriem. When last he had seen hei
! she had been his little, half-naket
[ Mangani-wild. savage and uncouth