The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-04-01
CHAPTER "


TUE old woman upon The throne
Il began 10 cacklo ssTribly and a.
tho freight dancod on her witherod
faeo and brought into bold relief her
SHARP. black. piercing eyes he si-lcod
with the rcpulsion he felt Tor her.
The maid al his side spoke, She
appeared 10 be pleading With The old
woman. First she pointed 20 him,
And then rhe struck her breast with
( her clcnched hands Finally the old
woman tottercd 20 her feet
lie saw that abe was % great
height. The flesh Was wasted from
her bones. She stood. a Eaunt, stark.
skeleton like creature before him.
Her hair was long and thin and gray
commandlugiy she put out her
arm and pointed 20 her feet, The
maid Al his side urged him forward
Plainly. with her eyes. she implorod
him 20 obey the old woman who
stood before him.
The gesture from this queen Of a
strange tribe was all too plain 60
Clark lie was commanded 20 ap.
preach and TO kneel az her feet. A.
nc did 90. he glanced back az the
maiden who bsfriended him and saw
tn her eyes a took OF fear.
Mastering an the courage be pos.
sessed. downing the repulsian he felt
Tor this witheFed old creature, Clark
vose and weakly climbed the dais
uEtii he stood one step below the
ruler
lie looked W AZ her and 70 his
horror saw that she was Erlmaelng AZ
him Ia an effort 20 smile.
Never had he seen anything more
terrible. In Seattle. a. a vaudeville
/ performances. this grimaca would
have made him laugh. Now. that
Z u was directed ~ him. In this wild.
lonely isle. somewhere on the bosom
Of tho Pacific. amid a strange race
% people. women predomlnailnE.
Clark trsmbled IN fear.
Tho queen reached out her with.
cred arms and placed ciaw.like hands
on his bead. lie WINGED a. her touch.
she slroked his hair. She caclSled
something meant for delight. Like
child with new toy she played
with him before that muliltuds.
/ Now her long. thin finFers. cold az
The ssa. clasped his shoulder. and
felt Of his flesh. She laughed whsn
Il yielded 20 her touch. Clark was
in panic. not knowing whether 20
face the ordeal or flee.
I A. tie queen csressed him the Eiri
behind him. the maid who had no
doub; claimed him for her own.
walled in grief.
This increased Clark's panic. IL
confirmed his impression tina, the
queen had taken fancy 10 him he.
tween tho dominion Of tho two he
would have much preferred tho Eirl
who had rescued him.
Clark glanced over his shoulder AZ
The crowd % subjects. lie hair cz.
lpocted 20 sec them grin AZ his terror.
at his discontinue. But no. They
stood Ia solemn silence. their faces
raised 10 the throne. their eyes shin.
ING In the fire light.
I Everything this giant old hag upon
the throne dld me, with all serious.
ness and respect. Clark knew thea
that no must IN no way offend her
To do 50 would probably mean DEAF
might mean dumping in that fiery
pit. perhaps n sacrifice 10 tho gods
an appeRaemsnt OF injured pride on
thu rulers part.
Now Tho queen descended A ster
and stood close 70 him. He stasst
In dread repulsioa az the akin OF the
snake which wound round and round
her wasted figure. lie dared not
look up into her wrinkled face les,
he show By some act tina, he detested
her.
The queen munhied a sort OF IN.
eaniatIon that came deep and rasp,
Ing from her chest. then put her
arms about hun and drew him 70 her
breast.
Clark. 10 Tho Strip Of those cold.
clammy hands, was shocked at thei
touch into resistance. but he va,
helpless.
Despite her age and hREgard ap
pearance. Clark found himself In ths
grip OF a woman OF superhumau
strength. lie strained until he wa,
faint and then yielded 10 her arms
\ There. cnraged. indignant. yet fear.
full he was forced 10 permit her "a
carcsg him.
AZ her feet the maiden who had
bcfriendcd him Frustrated harreli.
Clark. oct OF the corner OF his eye
watched her srovei. tear her hair
gnaah her teeth. beat her fists on
the ground.
Over tho assemblage. Clark noted
there had fallen an ominous silence
Tho queen released him from her
arms. lie stepped back. She held
out her arms and beckoned 10 him
Io turned away. She cried out. Hc
drew farther way. Again sho i'm
plored him by gesture TO seek her
embrace. He covered. turned away
would have fled. But a wild cry from
inc queen startled him.
lie looked at her in establishment.
Foam flccked her lips. Her eyes be
came balls OF fire. She wheeled
stopped. sna.chcd up long lash OF
supple bamboo and. whipping II wild.
~ about her. began TO descend her
throne.
The crowd moaned. Clark bent for
tho blow. He saw that he was "a
pay the penalty of spurnlng the love
/. Of the ruler OF this island.
Fright showed in his eyes. but In
his heart there surged n great glad.
ness. Rather would he be whipped
than live with this old bag on the
throne.
He closed his eyes now. He
wanted TO bear his punishment like