Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-12-08

ful company in my rambles. Mostl,
these were confined to the neIghbor
hood OF the cove. l never ventureC
beyond Lookout ridge. but there wen
often with OrusOe, and we would sl
upon a rock and talk to each otheI
about our fiENt encounter there, and
the fright he had given me. Every.
body else had gone, gazed and ad.
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
small metal-backed mirror, which I
had found, surprisingly, lying in q
messy cleft between the rocks. II
was thing such as a 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. l was wondering as l 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. I approached
slowly, and, as he did not move,
paused, and held out the mirror.
Il think you must have dropped this
Captain MagnuS\ l found it on the
rocks"
For an instant his face changed,
His evasive eyes were turned to me
search!ngly and sharply. He took
the glass from my hand and slipped IL
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
swimming brightness.
whats your hurry?" he remarked
With a certain insinuating emphasis.
began to tremble.
Il am on my way back to camp,
Captain Magnus. Please let me pass"
ut won't do you no harm if you're
little late. There amt no one there
ieepin' tab, Amt you always a.
'trayin' off with the Honorable? l
lint so pretty, but"
You are impertinent. Let me pass"
"Oh, I'm impertinent, am L? That
means fresh, maybe. Pm a plain man
md don't use frills on my langwidge.
Veil, when l meets little skirt that
axes my eyes there amt no harm in
ettin' her know it, is there? Maybe
he Honorable could say it nicer,-"
With a forward stride he laid
and upon my arm. l shook him off
nd stepped back. Fear clutched nv
hroat. had left my revolver in my
uarters. Oh, the dreadful denseness
these woods, the certainty that no
ildest cry of mine could pierce them!
And then Crusoe, who had been
aiting quietly behind me in the path,
tipped in between us. Every hair
his neck was bristling. The lifted /
PIPER lip snarled unmistakably. He T
ave me swift glance which said, /
Shall l spring?" r
Qaite suddenly the gorilla bandish-
ents Of Captain Magnus came to an r
I'd. ,
Say" he said harshly, "hold back: b
lat dog, will your l don't want to 4
II the cur"
you had better not" returned b
Idly. Il should have to explain how 0