davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Shaffer Quits
Bank Position

Resignation ~ Ralph shaffer a.
vice president of the Puget Sound
National bank - he may resume
active management 81 the Shat
fer Terminals vas announced Fri
day. lie viii oontinus a. q mem
Der 81 the banks board 81 III
rcctofs.
In connection with his resignA-
ton. shaff,r issued the follow
ing statement:
.On account ~ the greatly In
creAsing volume 81 new shipping
and industrial business that Ia
coming 10 Tacoma and Puget
Sound. which volums I am ION
WINGED will inereas~ tremendously
during the next fss years. have
requested my associates u the
board Of directors ~ the Puget
Sound National bank 10 accept my
resignation az an active officer In
order that may resume active
management of the shnffsr Ter
ninals, Inc. and devote my fun
tin. 10 the requirements % this
nsa business expansion. have
fcontinu.d on Page 10. Column 81
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

Mayor Harry Cain sAid FRIDAY
noon thai fhs bard ~ contracts
and awards would meet later In
ihs day 10 settle the police pfo~l
ear.pA5dy Nsgon bld question:
Tns board he'd ons postponed
meeting Thursday afternoon. and.
t~f0rs u vas concluded. called
safety Comsnisssonsr Eastwood N
70 prez@nt hls arguments In sup
port 81 hls recommendation.
EzztNOoda reeonmsn q ztlo n
tnat the board accept ths Irwin
Jones Motor Co. bid d tf.t75fz
for five Dodge sedans and "a
s4iss for two Dodge PADDY
wagons Nas the basis for a lengthy
hearing before ths board just b.
fore Christmas
Al the meeting Thursday after
noon. Eastwood festatsd his desire
To purchase all Dodge equipment.
However. Controllers swayzs
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Blast Damages
Three Buildings

An explosion Of accumulated gas
in a plugged nus shortly After 8
a m. Friday caused minor dam
az. 10 three buildings IN IN. heart
Of the downtown shopping area.
The blast occurred whsn a small
FIR. started In q ne~iy-instslisd
range in tn. Model Grill. siz Com
nneros, set of the pent-up gas
Worst damage occurred at the
Adair xomens apparel shop. sis
AdVsy. and plaster was
Knocked off the wall Of the sd-
joining Eastern Quitting Co.
BIB Broadway.
At the Adsir shop. large.
round patch Of plaster vss blown
off the wall. and the bfast tore out
several bricks in the center Of the
patch. giving the appearance Of a
bulls<ys. Part Of the tile facade
Of the building outside bulged out
from the force Of the blast
George cecoyieh. manager Of
the cafe. said q small fire had been
started in the stoye The stove
was connected with a flus which
had not been used for years. and
evidently vas plugged up. he said.
Some plaster was blown off the
wall Of the Kitchen. but damage
vas slight and would not affect
Fridays opening. he saic-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
BULLETINS

sIGHy 49, Important nsgsiis-
tions uhieh viii affect vitality
Frances domestic sfztu. and h<r
relation. With m. ss,s powers
~sfs aid tonight % b~ In
progress between Frame and
Germany.
wAsHrscros IN. war Do.
parfmsnt announced today that
after careful Consideration" -
the protest by Sidney Hlilman.
national defense labor commits
s!onsr. that award ~ a 1900
600 contract 70 the Ford Motor
company for l.5oo pygmis
tr8ekx~ would D. allowed 70
stand
sOFIA-Foreixn Affairs Min
lister Ivan Popof ..s reported
TO have .dsised kinx Boris To-
dss that thu parliamentary for
slxn affairs COMMITTEES had
Overwhelmingly releeted a pro-
pe-zl that Bulgaria adhere To
the ssis and sign the tri-psssr
agreement
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Food Poisons
Four Women

A sudden wave Of food-poison-
ing cases left four women hospital
lied in Tacoma Friday, while au-
thorities were puzzled by the lack
Of further victims.
Three Of the women became vio-
lently i'll, evidently from ptomaine
poisoning. several hours after eat
ing Christmas dinner leftovers dur
ing a family party.
Three other members at the
same luncheon. who also ate sliced
turkey. dressing and cranberry
sauce. were not affected.
All the victims were in St.
Joseph's hospital. Mrs Lee Greed.
p. 6e4s So. Junett st, Mrs.
Georgia Clemens. -. Of Yakima,
and Mrs. elena Collamore. ~. es45
Montgomery ave. were stricken
after dining at the latter's home.
The fourth victim was Mrs.
Mary Gsngidino. 6sl4 SO. PARK
ave. who became IN about 80
a. m. Friday at her home and wa,
hospitslizsd. She also was suf.
fering from food poisoning. at.
tendsnts ssid. Mrs Gsngidino was
not a member Of the csilsmors
group.
Elmer Collamore said that he
and his son. Arthur. and daughter
Arieen. H. also psrtook Of the
post-holiday lunch. but were not
affected. The SIX ate together
about 2:30 p m. and about 9
p n. his wife, her sister. Mira
Clemens. and their daughter. Mrs
Greed. were seized with ersmps
and nausea.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
ST. Paul Mill
May Reopen
Next Monday
Saturday Voting
Decides Whether
Strike Will End

Subject to the union mem
bership vote Saturday. negoti-
ations TO end the strike at the
st. Paul & Tacoma Lumber
Co. plant have been concluded
and it is expected the big
sawmill will resume opera
tons Monday.
The plants 200 employees have
been idle three weeks. All are
members Of local No. Q. Inter
national woodworksrs Of America
tCIo).
Under terms Of the tentative
peace, the union gained a closed
shop and reinstatement Of IL
members who had been previously
discharged.
Wages and hours were not COW
cred. but II In agreed that nego-
tiations on that point will be COM
menced as soon a. the mill opens
VIII Vote Saturday
Members Of III. union will meet
at their headquarters. ii3 So. 18th
At. and vote at p. m. Saturday
on acceptance Of the settlement
plan recommended by unlonists
officials.
Opening of the ssvmill here.
and the logging camps serving IL,
will enable release Of some three
million feet Of lumber slated for
national defense purposes. mill
officials disclosed.
The striking union il divided into
a group Of about 500 men who
work In the oompany's sprawling
tidefiat sswmill. and some 500
loggers employed In It's several
camps. The millworkers are ex-
pected 10 report for work Monday.
while the loggsrs are expected To
return 10 the woods soon after
the first Of the year.
Called Holiday"
UniOnists called stop-work
holiday" on Dec. 8 in protest 81
discharge Of several union officials
and others. A strike vote WAS
taken. but sealed without being
tailed. The original holiday" de-
mands were enlarged soon there
after and the shutdown has con-
tnued until IN. present
The negotiating committee IN
Guided y G. Griggs II. president
Of the company. COrydOn Wagner.
vice president. Harry NAubsrt.
personnel manager: Richard Fran
cis. regional director of the Go,
James Mcdonald loggsrs repre-
sentat tive. Oscar Johnson. local
president II the union. and "a ).
Jackson L. s. department d lsDor
coneillst tor.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

as she returned for Christmas
vacation. the romance simply
wouldn't be delayed.
Assessor Smith said he and Mrs
Smith thought they had persuaded
the young people 10 wait until
the end of the semester, Christ
mas night they had guests from
both Seattle and Tacoma at their
home, ST. So. G st.
Then TO the surprise Of the
elder smiths. he said. rs the
last Of the guests left the
party. so did Miss Smith and
Mr.. Sherer. They caught the
late train for the south and
were due In the bay city Fri
day.
Since California also requires a
three-day delay before issuance
of marriage licenses. Miss Smith
will stay at the home OF her girl
hood ohum, now Mrs Ann Lind
strom, at whose San Francisco
home she met Sherer last summer.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
State Shows Surplus
In Cash Balance

Ire states cash balance showed
it's customary end Of me month
surplusss Friday. the general fund
rlklng 10 81 .zss SIS and all - funds
reaching a total Of SIS. go $40.
Income for the week wss sz2sz =
$50 and expenditures ssso.i5s. On
Jan. !. State Treasurer Phil H.
Gallagher will call IN a million and
a half dollars worth Of registered
general fund warrants
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Cuardsnnen
Saved From
Stormy Sea
Landed Solely
After IS Hours
In Tiny Boats

SAN FRANCISCO Surf
men Of Point Arena llfesaving
station drove a surfboat twice
through mountainous waves
off the Mondocino coast FRI
day Ia land 10 coast guards
men who had been rescued
after floating for 10 hours in
storm tossed seas in two tiny
boats.
Tho surfmen made two trips
out To tho coast guard cutter
Ariadns and hack Ia shore 10 land
their mates. who had bsen missing
At sea from Christmas eve mid
night until hate Thursday. There
was danger IN svefy foot of the
hsif.mils journey az tho suffmen
drove into ssas whipped by tbs
storms hatisring thu California
coast There wss danger ioa In
the return journey with thu waves
Nut tire sarfwes made ~
trips successfully n slightly
les thss iva hsuvs ~ hard
wssk.
Tho AriAins took tina 10 men
aboard during the night after ths
companion cutter aha~nes. guided
by q sharp.sysd landsman. had
found them In their hfsbast and
their surftsoat. which wefs tied 10.
gs,hsr. trying 20 make way under
sail -four miles ~s.t u Fort isrsga
After making tho men comfort.
able and attending 10 the injuries
suffered by two ~ them ~hlls
they ~sFs az ths mercy Of tina
winds and tina waves. the Ariatns
st sat for Arena Cove and stood
of the share awaiting q chance 10
land the rescued group
All ton we're suffering from "a.
posture and two has slight inIvftss
when tho cutter Shawnee picked
up their motorized surfbass sua
their non slnhahl. life boat off the
eosst far north of Point Arena
just bsfors darkness Thursday
Tn. 10 had set out from Point
Arena a. midnight Christmas eve
10 20 10 ibs ala ~ tina schooner
htansood and had BEEN unshls 70
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
2 Candidates
For Speaker
Confident
Tacoma Legislators
Battling for
No. | House Choir

Only a political yogi could
know for sure, but each of
Pierce county's two candi-
dates for speaker of the 1941
legislatures house Of repre-
sentatives is playing a hunch
he will win.
They are Rep. Tack Nane, South
Tacoma real estate dealer t2gth
districO. and Rep. Hugh RosseIini.
local attorney who lives on Nc
Kinley hill (2sth districp.
Says Rosselini. who in the past
three weeks has oampaigned
among legislators in all the states
80 counties:
II have % votes pledged. and
expect 10 win. think It's be
tween Martin and myself" He
means Rep. Fred Martin. OF Rock
port in Skagit county. 10th dis
trict.)
Says vane, rules committee
man at the last session:
Il have enough votes pledged
10 he very confident. II Rosy
The means Rosellini) would with
draw. I'D he n cinch 10 win the
office for Pierce county"
Principal candidates at this
writing appear to be the three
mentioned and Rep. I'd Reilly.
Spokane, majority leader at the
last session and former speaker
Reilly. a friend Of Gov. Clarence
Martin. has supporters among the
conservative Democrats and II
favored by some Republicans. who
will be in the minority as a party
group.
Democratic members Of the
house have agreed 10 select their
candidate for speaker In = secret
caucus just before the session
opens. Election by such a caucus
would be tantamount 10 election
by he house unless some subse-
quently should revolt" and vote
with Republicans.
Meanwhile, other local members
and the Pierce county public has
hopes. Last speaker from Pierce
was Guy Kelly In 1917.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Dispute Over Police Auto Equipment
Purchase Seems Near Settlement

had raised a question Whistler ~
board would Dc justified In accept
ING ina recommendation for Z BID
- PER cent higher than ths iosest
Bia Ton the five se<isnsl.
Lo1 bidder 10 Titus Motor Co.
which offered FIVE - iuzs FORD
bodies. gaipped with s3-horsp-
power Mercury motors. a. = total
prce of ts.s5isz. Ths Dodge ~
Included an extra charge for IN
stAilation Of fluid drive 10 IL
units
other b.ds IN the group N
cissaed, for sedsns; Munson Motor
Co. Oidsmobiies with hydromatte
drive. H.ss<.7s: Alien Motor Co.
studeb4kers. s<.2i0.So: and Muel-
Ter Harklns Motor Co. BuickA
IS. O39.3o. IrTin-Jones bid the tw'o
paddy wagons ~ sl.34i.s4: Inter-
national Motor Truck Co. IL
3ss.sl
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
BY RALPH SMITH

Modern romance is a precipitate
thing which will not wait for ad-
vice from elders, County Assessor
Fred A. Smith unused Friday as
he revealed that his 20-year-old
daughter, Shelby Weldon Smith,
had chosen the elopement method
and will be married in San Fran
cisco early next week.
Miss Smith was a junior at
Whitman college in Walla Walls
and had been urged by her parents
TO finish college-or at least the
present semester.
But when the young man,
j. Frederick Sherer, a hard
ware merchant she had met
last summer while visiting the
Golden Gate exposition, ar
rived at the Smith home just
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Women Killed in
history Plunge

sEA1TI-E Mfs- janet biatsf.
Is. cashier for a hfs inAafsnes
agency office here. fell 70 h<f
dsath Thursday night from hsf
18TH floor office IN the Vance
building In downtown Seattle she
ia survived By a daughter. Peggy
Ann. 70. Seattle nurse, and a son.
BIZ, stationed ct the Pensacola.
Fla, naval air station
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Two Candidates Aim
To Be Seattle Mayor

>EATTLE-F'iling Of candidates
for mayor o. Seattle opened FIN
DAY. Three city council positions
Will also De filled through the
municipal primary next Fen. IS
and the general election March Il.
King County Clerk Carroll
Carter ard Auditor Earl Ailhkin
were the first % file 70 succeed
Mayor Arthur p. Lsnglie, COVER
nor-elect-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

TIII-AHODhs ore. = a uaftor
slipped off a truck on the a. A y.
Timber Co. operations on the VII
son river road near here Tsursdsy
night and crushed 70 death Walter
Vensrd. 81. logger He 10 survived
by his wife in Tacoma.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

bHGNthtOS Bee0nd dsFFss
murder charges we're on fiis vi.
day against Albert issxstfsm. 10.
foster son 81 A Walter Berg.
sirom. sha died Sunday night II
r1ptnrsd sgleen after . fishf
sith ths by Bal sas ordered
sst al $40 100.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

AfuEss--fhs Gfs~k~ we're sid
FRIDAY 20 b sontinsinx thssr slsw.
steady advance. on ali fronts 10
Aih.als. Activity On th@ north
Aibanisn frenf IN ths L4ks oear.is
ssetgr -ss reported tor the firss
tims IN ssssrsl days
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
SHIP LOADS SCRAP HERE
DEFY|NG j. s. MbARGQ
War Material
Is Headed
For Japan
U. s. Export BON
Dodgsd by Melt
ing Scrop Mslol

Defyinr the prssi Dental
proclamation forbiddlng en-
ports os scrap iron 10 Japan.
the Japanese steamer Tossed
Maru vas loading "a carloads
Of cast-scrsp here Friday.
t.orsnis In the u. = smhasee
Y tse fact that ths ns9 ssIpm>ss
~ scrap metal hss n~~n uelts<o
inis "hslists castings wnseA are
both easier - n.a1ie ssd slmat-
,snenusiy eireamssas The h<a ~
exports a hsls rs~ Strap metal
n 80 s~ssespsss~ shss sp~vs
II Ne state sspsss~sss's 60
hasss WOOD ~ sstsss~a -
ps~s~ss essst~s ~ ~ ss1uHs
isse~ss.~. SO ssese~y - 49,
ssusd~a ~ rssse seAsv -
hes e.ss..
rhe s~ss~i y ~ fisse 49,
sssss sssvt~s 10 several yeass
Toe ~hssh pshstrssv - -
sssssse6. SD. isssswsassss -
~ s~r wssssssses. sssss 80
isssssssy ~ h~es sssAt11s. -
Ne rsssst~.
The shipment originated "a ~
Colorado FusI & fsnn Co. ~ Nm.
nsa'ss. Chic. and same s~ss ~
tram
n " understood ths shipsnsus y
consigned 10 Misssi = Co ~
rese Msru. operated ~ ~
ysmsshiia lins. ard Z fseqs,>as
visitor IN this part. wss isss hsse
Oct "a
sspsse~s issssssses $50
snssitss~s ~sshs sss ss<ss-
ssssd 10 ~ In pss>s1sg 49,
foe ss~e,. go n h sss1psssas1
from vetsahts ssus~ss 10y 80
psstsg ssssswssiDy htuh pssses
sss sss ps~>sss saipausss -
nssssed ssssD nsrssl.
Ths Tnssi nsrs arrives hsss
earlier this weak sfsfosseisd 10 mSs-
terry. and 10 h~fthsa ., rsst of re-
coma isrrnlasls
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Isle in South
Pacific Shelled

MELBOURNE. Australia
An enemy sea raider. flying
tbs Japanese flag. heavily
ahslled Sauru. one II the GIl-
bert islands in the South Pa
clfle. FRIDAY. Prime Minister
Robert Gordon Msnxiss an
noancsd.
Th~ snip had . Jsp~nsss mama.
II ~as said rhs snsiIias esuss1
eonsidss.bis damage. bat 10 CO.
tssisi~s
MARS. sasaestmss ensDn1
rsssssss Istas1. b . fssmss
ss>swsas ps.~~>ssss sstmsa1s-
f~ssd ~ Gssss nessais us6es
. f>sass ~ ssstsss ssan1nseI
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

WIN DIV VIE fnhses tsh''h ~
Tacoma on the last lap Of trip
that brought him up the Pacific
coast after stops In Detroit and
Florida. lie Ia leaving shortly 70
return 10 Fairbanks. Alaska. base
for his commercial air service
Remembered locally for the
time he spent as student al
c. y. s.. AZ a graduate Of Lincoln
high school. and later As operator
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
British, Germans
Resume Air War
DUllETIN

BIDApFsT--As sneonfirrsssi
report circulated FRIDAY that
German tresp@ have esse~n-
frsted on the Danube river %
the Hapanisa -Jugssi.s frsnt,ss
Just nsrfh ~ th~ BsiE ariss ber-
der and another report asserted
that The G.nsalss minister 10
MesesS. origors osfsns.. has
b~.a ordered hack 10 Bosbsrsst
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

Stadium High School Alumni
association elected James Psulson
president Thursday night. Other
new officers are Jack Bird. vice
president. and Eleanor stringfel-
low. secretary.
Mr.. and Mrs. {. A. ErdahI left
by plane Friday morning from
Boeing field for Portland. In Port
land Erdahl will represent the Ia
coma Chamber Of Commerce and
the South Tacoma Business Mems
club at L. S. public roads
meeting.
Detective Captain Cuff Osborne,
head Of the sleuthing staff Of the
Tacoma police force, was back al
his desk Thursday al the end Of
his vacstion-period. which be spent
in Tacoma and Seattle.
Harold Drane has been elected
president Of the Junior Arlington
Improvement club Other officers
are Paul Cuff. vice president; Dor
othy AIthuser. secretary Bob Las
ley, treasurer. and Warren L-asiey,
sergeant-st-srms
MFR. and Mrs. Wesley LAngiow
and daughter left Friday for
visit in California cities They plan
TO take IN the Pasadena Rose Bowl
football game Jan. /
Presiding Judge r. ID. Hodge vas
added Thursday 10 the list from
the Pierce county courthouse who
have been put out Of commission
BY colds and Flu"
Allan Petrieh's pink-banoeo e.
esrs proclaimins It's boy are
being distributed; Mother Carol
Petrich is receiving visitors ~ the
CONTINUED or Page Is, Column ~
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

IOsDOs-German bombs
crashed into a hospital IN q
town not far from London
Friday. inIuring a nurse and
three patients. The raid be-
gan after German long-range
guns along the French coast
and British raids on invasion
ports had broken a three-day
unofficial Christmas truce.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
BERLIN-The official news

BERLIs-The official news
agency charged Great Britain
Friday with ending an unoffi-
eial Christmas truce by bomb
ing airdrornes. harbor works
and cities in German-oceupied
France. Later, II vas added.
German long-range guns on
the French coast bombarded
shipping in the English chan
mel with good results"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
WEATHER FORECAST

Occasional rain tonight and Fri
dsy. Temperatures: High, IS; low,
a.. Sun rises, 1855; sets, 4;zs.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28
Former Tacoman Heads Own
Flying Service in Far North

Back in Tacoma Frank Pollock, founder OF the we'll
known Alaskan flying service bearing his name meet.
ing many friends and acquaintance during the holidays
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

mOsnDG. Nash. Mayor car.
ford W E0Aen. 81. died here lais
Thursday after a aonE liissss. DF
Rotten ~as q hfs tnssaber ~ tss
Washington State Dsniai sssociss
tiDn. sns hsd nssd here ~ years
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-28

bANk IHANsAfTfONs
aesma ............a o. szs 90
Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-03-29
MissOuIa Woman
Reelected Regent
Of Montana d. A. r.

Mrs. c. E Dobson of Missoula was
reelected regent of the Montana So
ciety Of the Daughters of the American
Revolution at the closing session Of
conda few days ago
Helena was selected as the conven-
ton city for 194l. The Orofina chapter
will be the host group.
Mrs. Lewis B. Smith of Livingston
was reelected vice regent, and Mrs.
NJ. B. Morrow of Missoula was re-elect-
ed secretary.
Other officers elected are Mrs. T. E
Leubben, Dillon, treasurer; Mrs. David
Walker, Anaconda, registrar; Mrs: G..
A. Keppner, Butte, historian, and Mrs.
A. w. Hollensteiner, Kalispell, librarian.
Members Of the Helena chapter will Sc
lect the chaplain.
Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-03-29

coarse sacking enclosing his now naked
body from head to foot.
All Karishimbi packed the river walls
at dawn, for all KariShimbi knew that
a queen was TO be flung to the croco-
dileS.
Some glowed in the anticipation of
the mornings simple pleasure and
tossed gobbets of meat to the beasts
TO whet their appetites and make
them livelier for the great moment.
Others felt shame, more hot anger
against the uSurperS for this outrage
against royal blood, yet in all fear
shackled the desire to tear the evil
doors to pieces.
Ba-Chwene, the new Kai, gloried in
it. He sat in cloth Of gold upon the
high. jutting tower of the palace that
was in one, royal box and execution
gallows, more bloated and beaming
than nature had made him. Even the
loathing of his subjects was satisfac-
ton to such gross pride as his: for
this was the moment of moments
when he showed them that however
they felt about it, his alone was the
power that counted. Having removed
their king, and, greater wonder still,
! killed Savaran, he was now to destroy
all the hopes of the rightful royal line
.
He looked lovingly at the ingenious
well out over the wall. 1t was built
like a see-saw and it gave him a
kittenish delight that for royal blood
etiquet demanded that his alone should
be the hand that pulled the lever
tipping it up and sending the sack
shooting well out to the middle of the
river below.
He smacked his fat lips as he thought
of the sack wriggling-for she would
be still alive-until it hit the water
with a great splash that would be
nothing to the tumult of foam as the
crocs charged and fought for it in
body.
Seleka the Wazir, came cringing and
| busting, a mean and muffled figure
with flannel round its head, squeak
ing apologies because sudden attack
of earache had made him late. Ba-
Chwene had scarcely thought or glance
to waste on him. His gooseberry eyes
were popping with glee as he watched
the tall and raking figure of the
Taureg eunuch bringing forward the
sack. Slight though the victim was.
she would undoubtedly give them
sport, for her wriggling and kicking
already looked violent enough to burst
way out.
"Onto the execution plank-quick!
Quick!" BaChwene painted, stumbling
from the ivory stool in his eagernesS
to pull over the lever and release the
chute.
The tall eunuch dumped the sack
onto the chute with violence that
made its inmate fight like a mad
thing He must have been clumsy in
other ways, too. for even as Ba-
Chwene flung over the lever and the
see-saw sprung up, the cords at the
sack mouth flew asunder and head
thrust itself out-a bald, weakened,
shifty but unmistakable head.
"Seleka!" BaChwene screamed, and
stood paralyzed and agape as the sack
shot beyond the wall and downwards
and began to whirl towards the river.
And as it whirled the sack and its
contents parted company in midair.
SO that every startled eye along the
walls saw what there was to be seem
not the body of a queen. but the
scrimshank figure of Seleka curving
and twisting down towards the croco-
diles.
As the waxir struck the water and
the great beasts surged together to