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Show 7 SERIAL V J2 STORY QsJ ';x-:-'x-x-:-x INTOTHEl PRIMITIVE I I By CZ 1 iji ROBERT AMES BENNET :j! ., . . T llluslrallons bj jj: !: RAY WALTERS o Kb :-:-:;:x:-:::w MUnHMBMBMMVMIUian (Copyright, 1904. by A. C. UcClurg dt Co.) synopsis. The story opes with the shipwreck of the ntennicr on which Miss Genevieve Lesllo, nn American heiress, Lord Win-thrope, Win-thrope, un Englishman, and Tom Make, u brusque American, were passengers, Tho three were tossed upon an uninhabited uninhab-ited Island and were the only ones not drowned. Make recovered from a drunken drunk-en stupor, Ulake, shunned on the boat, because of his roughness, became u hero as preserver of the helpless pulr. The Englishman was suing for tho hand of Miss Leslie. Blake started to swim back" to the ship to recover what was left, niake returned safely. Wlnthropo wasted his last match on a cigarette, for which he was scored by Ulake. Their first meal was a dead fish. The trio Blarted n ten mile hike for higher land. Thirst attacked at-tacked them. Tllake was compelled to carry Miss Leslie on account of weariness. weari-ness. Ho taunted Wlnthrope. They entered en-tered the Jungle. That night was passed roosting high In a tree. Tho next morning morn-ing they descended to the open aKuln. All three constructed hats to shield themselves them-selves from the sun. They then feasted on coeounuts, tho only procurable food. Miss Leslie showed a liking for niake. hut detested his roughness. Led by Blake they established a home In some cliffs. CHAPTER VI Continued. Along tho Bouth side of tho cliff the sea extended In twice as far as on tho north. From tho end of tho talus tho coast trended off four or five miles to the south-southwest in n shallow bight, whoso southern extremity was hounded by a second limestone headland. head-land. This rldgo ran Inland parallel to tho first, and from a point some little lit-tle distance back from the shore was covered with a growth of leafless trees. notwoon the two ridges lay a plain, open i&mg the shore, but n short distance dis-tance Inland covered with a Junglo of tall yellow grass, above which, here and there, rose tho tops of scrubby, scrub-by, leafless trees and the gracoful crests of slendor-ahnfted palms. Blake's attention was drawn to tho latter by that feeling of artificiality which their exotic appearance so often wukens In tho mind of tho northern-brod northern-brod man oven after long residence In the tropics. But In a moment he turned away with a growl. "More of those darned feather-dusters'." Ho was not looking for palms. Tho last ragged bit of cloud, with Its showery accompaniment, drifted past before tho broezo which followed the squall, and tho ond of the storm was proclaimed by a deafening chorus of squawks and screams nlong tho higher ledges of the cliff. Staring upward, up-ward, Blake for the first time observed that the face of tho cliff swarmed with Beafowl, "That's luck!" ho muttered. "Guesa I haven't forgot how to rob nests. Bet our flno lndy'll shy at sucking them raw! All tho aamo, she'll have to If I don't run across other rock than this, poor girl!" He advanced again along the talus, and did not atop until he reached tho sand beach. Thoro ho halted to mnko a careful examination, not only of tho loose dobrls, but of tho solid rock nbovo. Finding no sign of flint or quartz, ho growled out a curse and backed off along tho beach to get a view of tho cliff top. From a point a llttlo beyond him, outward to tho extremity ex-tremity of the headland, ho could seo that the upper ledges and the crest of tho cliff, as well, were fairly crowded with seafowl and tholr nests. His smllo of satisfaction broadened when ho glanced Inland and saw, loss thnn half a mllo distant, a wooded cleft which apparently ran up to the summit of tho rldgo. From a point near tho top a gigantic baobab tree towered up against tho skyline like a Brobdlngnaglan cabbage. "Say, wo may have a run for our money, after all," ho murmured. "Shade, and tio ond of grub, and, by tho green of thoso trees, a spring limestone water at that. Noxt thing, I'll find a Hint!" Ho slnpport his leg, and both sound and feeling reminded him that tils clothes wore drenched. "Guess wo'll wait about that flint," ho said, and ho made for a clump ot thorn scrub a little way inland. As tho tall graBs did not grow hero within n mllo of tho shore, there was 'othlng to obstruct him. Tho creeping laiita which during the rainy season had matted over tho sandy soil woro now loafless and wlthorcd by tho heat of tho dry season. Even the thorn scrub was half bare, of leaves. Blake walked a round tho clump to tho shadiest side, and began to strip, in quick succession ono garment aftor another was flung across a branch where tho sun would strike It. Last of all, tho shoes woro emptied of rain-wator rain-wator and sot out to dry. Without a pause, ho then gave himself a quick, light rub-down, JuBt sufficient to Invigorate In-vigorate tho skin without starting the porsplration. Physically tho man wns magnificent. His muscles wore wiry and compact, rather than bulky, and as ho moved they played beneath his white skin with tho smoothness nnd ease of a tiger's. Aftor tho rub-down ho squatted on hia heels and spent somo tlmo trying to bond his pnlm-loaf hat back into shnpo. When ho had placed this also out In tho sun he found himself beginning be-ginning to yawn. Tho dry, sultry air had made him drowsy. A touch with his bare foot showed him that the snnd beneath tho thorn bush had already al-ready absorbed the rain nnd offered a dry surfaco. Ho glanced around, drew his club nearer and stretched himself out for a nap. CHAPTER VIII. The Club Age. T was past two o'clock when -czjp tho sun, striking In where Blake lay outstretched, began be-gan to scorch ono of his legs. Ho stirred uneasily, and sat upright. Like n sailor, ho was wide awako tho moment mo-ment he opened his eyes. Ho stood up nnd peered around through the half leaflosB branches. Over tho wator thousands of gulls and terns, boobies and cormorants wore skimming and diving, while nbovo them a number of graceful frigate birds those swnrt, scarlet-throated pirates pi-rates of tho air hung poised, ready to swoop down nnd rob tho weaker birds of tholr fish. All about the headland and tho surrounding wnter was life In fullest action. Even from where he stood Blake could hear tho harsh clamor of tho Beafowl. In marked contrast to this scene tho plain was apparently lifeless. When Blako roso, a small brown lizard darted awny across tho sand. Other- "You Beastly Cadi" wise there wns neither sight nor sound of a living creuturs. Blake pondered pon-dered this as he gathered his clothes Into the shade unci began to dress. "Looks like tho siesta Is the all-round all-round stylo In this God-forsaken hole," ho grumbled. "Haven't seen so much as a rabbit, nor oven one land bird. May bo a drought no; must bo the dry season Whoe, these things are hot! I'm thirsty as a shark. Now, whore's that softy and her ladyship? 'Fraid she's In for a tough tlmo I" Ho drew on his shoes with a Jerk, growled at their stiffness, and, club in hand, stepped clear of tho brush to look for his companions. Tho first glnnco nlong the foot of tho cliff showed him Wlnthropo lying under tho shade of tho overhanging ledges, n fow yards beyond tho sand beach. Of Miss Leslie there was no sign. Half alarmed by this, Blako started for tho bench with his swinging stride. Wlnthropo Wln-thropo was awako, and on Blako's approach, ap-proach, sat up to greet him. "Hello!" ho called. "Whoro havo you boon nil this tlmo?" "'Sleep. Whoro's Miss Lesllo?" "Sho's around tho point," Blako grinned mockingly. "Indeed! But I fuwncy she won't bo for loug." Ho would havo passed on, but Win-trope Win-trope stepped beforo him. "Don't go out thoro, Blako," ho protested. pro-tested. "I ah think It would bo better bet-ter If I wont." "Why?" demanded Blake. Wlnthropo hesitated; but nn Impatient Impa-tient movemont by Blake forced an answer: "Woll, you romombor, this morning, tolling us to dry our clothes." "Yes; I remember," said Blako. "So you want to servo as lady's valet?" Wlnthropo's "plump faco turned a sickly yellow, "I ah vnlot? What do you moan, sir? I protcBt I do not understand you!" ho stammered. But In tho midst, catching Bight of Blako's bowlldercd stare, ho suddonly flushed crimson, nnd burst out in unrestrained nngcr: "You you bounder you beastly cadt Any man with nn ounco of decency " Blako uttered a Jeering laugh "Wow! Hark, how tho BrltlBh Hon r-r-ronrs when his tail's twisted!" "You beastly cad!" ropeatod tho Englishman, now purplo with rage. Blako's unpleasant pleasantry gave place to a scowl. His Jaw thrust out llko a bulldog's, and ho bent towards Wlnthropo with a menacing look. For a moment tho Englishman fncod him, sustained by his nnger. But thoro was a steely light In Hlnko's eyes that he could nqt withstand. Wlnthropo's do-flant do-flant staro wavorod 1 nnd fell. Ho shrank back, tho color fast obblng from his checks. "Ugh!" growled Blnke. "Guess you won't bint nny more about cads! You dimmed hypocrlto! Maybe I'm not on to how you've been hanging around Miss Leslie Just because sho's an heiress. Anything Is fair enough for you swellB. But let n fellow so much as open his mouth about your oxaltod sot, and it's perfectly dreadful, you know!" He paused for a reply. Wlnthrope only drow back n Btop farther and eyed him with a furtive, sidelong glance. This brought Blake back to his mocking Jeer. "You'll learn, Pat, me b'y. Thero's lots of thlngs'll show up different to you before we got through this picnic. For ono thing, I'm boss here president, congress and supremo court. Understand?" "By what right, may I ask?" murmured mur-mured Wlnthrope. "Right!" answered BInko. "That hasn't anything to do with tho question ques-tion It's might. Back in civilized parts your little crowd has tho drop on my big crowd and runs things to suit themselves. But hero we're sort of reverted to prlmltlvo society. This happens to be tho Club Ago and I'm tho Man with the Big Stick. Seo?" "I myself sympathize with the lower classes, Mr. Blako. Above nil, I think It barbarous tho way they punish ono who Is forced by circumstances to appropriate part of tho Ill-gotten gains of the rich upstarts. But do you believe, be-lieve, Mr. Blako, that bruto strength " "You bet! Now shut up. Where'ro the cocoanuts?" Wlnthropo picked up two nuts and handed thein over. "There were only live," ho ox-plained. ox-plained. "All right. I'm no captuin of Industry." In-dustry." "Ah, true; you said we had reverted to barbarism," rejoined Wlnthropo, venturing an nttompt at sarcasm. "Lucky for you!" retorted Blako. "But where'a Miss Leslie all this tlmo? Her clothes must havo dried hours ago." "They did. Wo had luncheon togeth-er togeth-er just this side of tho point." "Oh, you did! Then why shouldn't I go for her?" "I I there was a shaded pool around the point, and she thought n dip In the salt water would refresh her. She wont not moro than half an hour ago." "So that's it. Well, while I eat you go and call her and say, you keep this side the point. I'm looking out for Miss Leslie now." Wlnthrope hurried away, clenching his fists nnd almost weeping with Impotent Im-potent rage. Truly, mnttors woro now vory dlfforent from what they had been aboard ship. Fortunately he had not gono a dozen steps before Mlj3 Leslie appeared around tho corner of the cliff. Ho was scrambling nlong over tho looso stones of tho slope without the slightest consideration for his anklo. Tho girl, moro thoughtful, waved to him to wait for hor whoro ho was. As sho nppronchod, Blako's frown gave place to a look that mnde his faco positively pleasant. Ho had already al-ready drained tho cocoanuts; now ho proceeded to smash the shells Into smnll bits, that ho might ent the meat, and at the same tlmo keep his gaze : on tho girl. Tho cliff foot being woll shaded by the towering wall of rock, sho hud taken oft his coat and was carrying it on her arm; so that thoro was. nothing to mar the effect of hor dainty openwork waist, with Its elbow sleeves and gracoful collar nnd tho filmy veil of laco over tho shoulders and bosom. Hor skirt had been washed clean by tho rain, and sho had man-ngod man-ngod to 8trc:h it Into shape beforo drying. Refreshoa by a nap in tho forenoon and by her aalt-wntor dip, alio showed moro vivacity than at any tlmo that Wlnthropo could romombor during their acquaintance. Hor suffering during dur-ing and since the storm had loft Its mark In tho dark circles beneath hor hazel oyos, but this in . no wlso losaoned tholr brightness; while tho elasticity of hor stop showed that sho had qulto recovorod hor woll-bred ease und grnco of movement. She bowed and smiled to the two men Impartially. "Good-afternoon, gentlemen." "Snmo to you, Miss Leslie 1" ro-spendod ro-spendod Blake, staring at her with frank admiration. "You look fresh as a daisy." Gonial and sincere ns wns his tono, tho familiarity jficd on hor sensitive cnr. Sho colored as she turned from "Is thoro anything now, Mr. Win-thropo?" Win-thropo?" alio nskod. "I'm afraid not, Miss Gcncvlevo. Llko ourselves, Blako took a nap." "Yes; but Blnko first took a squint at tho scenery. Just see If you'vo got everything, and fix your hats. We'll bo In tho Biin for halt a mllo or so. jH Bottor got on tho coat, Miss LobIIo. It's hotter than yesterday." "Permit me," said Wlnthropo. Blako watched whllo tho English-man English-man held tho coat for tho girl and rather fussily ralsod the collar about H hor neck and turned back tho sloovoa, which extended boyond tho tips of her flngors. The American's faco wai stolid; but his glanco took In every lit-tlo lit-tlo look and act of his companions. Ho wns not altogether unvcrsod In tho ways of good society, and It seemed to him thnt tho Englishman was somo-what somo-what ovorasslduous In his attentions. "All ready, Blako' romarkod Win thropo, finally, with a last lingering '"Bout tlmo!" grunted Blake. "Yqu're fussy as a tailor. Got tho flask and clgnrotto caso and the "All safe, sir or all safe, Blako." "Then you two follow mo slow enough not to worry thnt anklo. I don't want any moro ot tho pack-mule In mine." "Whoro nre wo going, Mr. Blake? exclaimed Miss Lesllo. "You will not leavo us again!" "It's only a half-mllo, Miss Jenny, Hj Thero's a break in tho rldgo. I'm go Ing on ahead to find If It's hard to Hfl climb." "But why should bo climb?" "Food, for ono thing. You seo, this end of tho cliff Is covered with son blrdB. Another thing, I expect to strlko a spring." "Oh, I hopo you dol Tho water la tho rain pools Is nlrondy warm." (TO BIS CONTINUED.) ' H |