Evening star., 1923-04-29

tache. You're sure you haven't seen
him."
Sure. mimicked Felisi.
Il got him. though, through the leg
waited behind a lantana bush until
he was on top of me. and then hadn't
the pluck to shoot him anywhere but
in the leg. I'm glad I didn't. too; he's
all right, and he's got 10 do his work.
It's queer. but YOU positively get to
like man that sticks to you the way
he's stuck to me. 1t becomes a sort
Of CHASTITY game, with unwritten rules
to it-through mangrove swamps and
mabes of underbrush. up over VOL
canic rocks and across rivers with
the worst sort of shark in them. L
was lost, properly lost, and | know
he was. but We kept on. He never
left me-day and night he never
left-me-'
THE white mans eyes were sud-
i denly alert and staring fixedly at
the reed brake on the far side of the
beach. His voice had dropped, then
ceased altogether. His jaw hung
down. Out Of the reed brake on to
the beach limped a man with a rifle
under his arm.
He was hundred yards away, and
looking out to sea- but the man up on
the lookout seemed to shrivel into
himself on the far side of the dilo
trunk.
Ssh, Lie down he breathed.
You all right" whispered Felisi
reassuringly.
The white man seized her roughly
by the wrist and jerked her down be-
side him.
Lie there" ne Missed. 1T is Kan
son. How's the beach,"
Beach. him all right. quavered
Felisi. looking out through the
branches The white man forced her
down to the platform.
You little fool. I mean. is it dry
where we came over it-powdery :
Will 1t show the difference-differ-
ence. savvy?-between a naked foot
your foot and mine? The white man
indicated his long-iegged boots with
a slight movement.
Beach. him all right" pouted
Felisi with the air Of one defeno1ng
her personal property against unfair
aspersion. Him no show dill erence
What's he doing now?
FeIisi peeped out and saw the man
on the beach bending over the dis
turbance in the sand where the white
man had fallen. Fellsi was at loss
The yAry humble child lying beside
her need soothing.
whats he DOING" it repeated
peevishly.
Him go so" said Felisi. dropping
her head with the pantomimic art Of
tn. meke dancer. Him very tired
"Ah." muttered the white man, and
smiled grimly.
Felisi knew that she was commit
ted beyond recall She had taken
sides. and she did not regret her
choice The heart of woman In
stinotively goes out to the fugitive
he Is tho weaker: and when once the
PoIynesian has taken sides. there is
no turning back.
Presently she had to tell him
Him come close up"
The man on the beach was limping
along it's edge. peering into the reed
brake He would come directly under
the dilo tree.
THE white man at Felisis side lay
as still as stone. His jaw was
SET. his muscles tense. Felisfs hand
went out as stealthily as snake
drew the revolver from its holster,
and placed it in his hand. The white
man seemed not to notice IL and still
Law motionless. staring into the twist
ed branches of the dilo tree. but lis
teninR-listening with every nerve to
the soft crunch of approaching foot
steps in sand. They ceased directly
under the platform. Felisi could hear
the beating of her own heart. A
minah bird squawked shrilly in the
branches overhead, and she felt her
wrist crushed in a viselike grip.
| There was the click Of an opening lid.
A match was struck. The pleasant
! smell of good tobacco smoke fioated
up to them on the still air; then the
footsteps passed on.
Wonder he didn't smell me-
| grinned the old man. Its Hanson,
! all right; he smokes Heraldic-Her-
aldic in a good, air-tight box-and a
woody briar." He smacked his lips.
why you no shoot?" demanded
Felisi. "Pouf. bang-him finish"
Not till I'm cornered." answered
| the white man. II don't want to kill
Hanson. He's good fellow. I've got
nothing against him."
FslisI scrambled into - a)Rqus4ting