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Show T s 7 SERIAL v jj STORY CJ ii ii mi mimmtmrmmammammmmrmmmmmmmmwmm HSV.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.'.V.V. IpTHEl 1 PRIMITIVE $ I I By r 1 I ROBERT AMES BENNET ii: ::i $ ::' . x Illustrations bj j-i RAY WALTERS i - .-.V.V.V.V.. . ... ... . . . J (Copyright, IMl, by A, a JicClurif Co.) SYNOPSIS. Tho story opens with tlio Bhlpw'feck of tho steamer on which Miss Genevieve Leslie, nn Amcrlcnn heiress. Lord Wln-thrope, Wln-thrope, an Kngllshtnnn, unci Tom Blake, n hrus(iio American, were passengers. Tho three were tossed upon nn uninhabited uninhab-ited Island nnd were the only ones not drowned. Blake recovered from n drunken drunk-en stupor. Make, shunned on the boat, because of his roughness, became a hero ns preserver of tho helpless pair. Tho Kngllshman was suing for tho hand of Miss Leslie Blake started to swltn back to the ship to recover what wns loft. Ulnko returned safely. Wlnthropo wasted his last match on u cigarette, for which bo wus scored by Blake. Their first meal was u dead fish. The trio started a ton mile hike for higher land. Thirst attacked at-tacked them. Bluku wus compelled to carry Miss Lesllo on account of wearl-npss. wearl-npss. Ho taunted Wlnthrope. They entered en-tered tho Jungle. Thnt night was pnsscd roosting high In a tree. Tho next morning morn-ing they descended to tho open again. All three constructed hats to shield themselves them-selves from the sun. They then feasted on coeoanuts. tho only procurable food. Miss Lesllo showed n liking for Blake, nut detested his roughness. Led by Blako they established n homo In some cliffs. Blako found a fresh water spring. Miss Lesllo faced an unpleasant situation. They planned their campaign. Blake recovered re-covered his surveyor's magnifying glass, thus Insuring fire. He started a Jungle fire, killing a largo leopard and smothering smoth-ering several cubs. In tho leopard's cavern cav-ern they built a small home. They gained tree until It fell against tho heights. Tho trio secured eggs from the cliffs. Miss Leslie's white skirt was decided upon as a signal. Miss Lesllo made a dress from the leopard skin. Blake's efforts ef-forts to kill antelopes failed. Overhearing Overhear-ing a conversation between Blake and wlnthropo. Miss Leslie becamo frightened. fright-ened. Wlnthropo becamo ill with fovcr. Blako was poisoned by a fish. Jackals attacked tho camp that night, but were driven off by Genevieve. Blako returned, after nearly dying. Blako constructed nn animal trap. It killed a hyona. On a tour the trio discovered honey and oysters. Miss Leslie, wns attacked by a poisonous snake. Blako killed it and saved Its poison poi-son to kill game. CHAPTER XVII. Continued. When ho camo to tho ant-hill, ho found companions and honey allko gone. Ho went on to the cocoanuts. There ho camo upon Wlnthropo strotched flat beside tho skin of honey. hon-ey. Miss Leslie was seated a little way beyond, nervously bending a palm-leaf Into shape for a hat. "I say, Blake," drawled Wlnthropo, "you'vo boon a deuced long tlmo In coming. It was no ond of a taBk to lug the honey " Blako brushed past without replying, reply-ing, nnd wont on until he stood before tho girl. As sho glanced up at him. he hold out tho crimson blossom. "Thought you might like posies," he said, In a hesltntlng voice. Instead of taking tho flower, sho drew back with a gesture of repulsion. repul-sion. "Oh, take It away!" sho exclaimed. Blako flung tho rejected gift on tho ground, and crushed It beneath his heel. "Catch mo making a fool of mysolf again!" he growled. "I I did not mean It that way really I didn't, Mr. Blako. It was the thought of that awful snake." But Blako, cut to tho quick, had turned away far .too angry to hoed what sho said. ' Ho stopped short bo-sldo bo-sldo the Englishman; but only to sling the skin of honey upon his back. Tho load was by no means a light one. oven for his strength. Yet ho caught up tho heavy pot as woll, and made off across tho plain at a pace which tho othors could not hopo to equal. As Wlnthropo rose and camo forward for-ward "to Join Miss Leslie, ho looked about closoly for tho bruised flower. It wns nowhere in sight. "Br beg pardon, MIbs Gonovlovo, but did not Blake drop tho bloom er blossom somewhere about horo?" "Perhaps ho did," replied Miss Leslie. Les-lie. Sho spoko with studied indifference. indiffer-ence. "I ah saw tho fellow exhibit his Impudence." "Yo-os?" "You know, I think it high time tho bounder Is taken down a pog." "Ah, Indeed! Thon why do you not try It?" "Miss Gonovlovo! you know that at present I am physically so much his inferior " "How about mentally?" Though tho girl's eyes were veiled by Utolr inpUes, sho saw Wlnthropo . - i-f, : ' ; i cast titter Blako a look that seemed to her almost florcoly vindictive. "Well ?" he. said, smiling, but watch-lug watch-lug him closely. "Aft, Indeed. 4 Howover, this Is now qulto another matter. Has It not occurred oc-curred to you, my .dear, that this entiro oxperience of ours bIiico that beastly storm is; nvthdr er compromising?" "You you dare say such a thing! I'll go this Instant and tell Mr. Blako! I'll" "Begging your pardon, madam but are you prepared to marry that barbarous bar-barous clodhopper?" "Marry? What do you mean, sir?' "Prcclsoly that. It Is a question of marriage, if you'll pardon me. And, you bco, I flatter myself, that when It comes to the point, It will not bo Hlakc, but myself " "Ah, Indeed! And If I should prefer pre-fer neither of you?" "Begging your pardon I fancy you will honor mo with your hand, my dear. For one thing, you admit that I am a gentleman." "Oh, indeed!" "One moment, please! I am trying to intlmnto to you, as delicately as possible, pos-sible, how er embarrassing you would And It to havo theso littlo occurrences oc-currences above all, to-day's noised abroad to tho vulgar crowd, or oven among your friends " "What do you mean? Whnt do you want?" cried the girl, Blaring at him with a deopenlng fear In her bewildered bewil-dered eyes. "Botlovo me, my dear, It grieves mo to so perturb you; but or love must havo Us way, you know." "You forgot. Thoro Is Mr. Blake." "Ah, to bo suro! But really now, you would not ask, or oven permit him to murder me; and ono is not legally bound, you know, to observo promises prom-ises a pledge of silence, for example "You SneakI You Snam Qentl" when extorted under duress, under violence, you know." MIbs Leslie looked the Englishman up and down, her brown oyes sparkling spar-kling with quick-returning anger. Ho met. her scorn with a smile of smug complacency. "Cad!" sho cried, and turning her back upon him, sho sot out across tho plain after Blake. CHAPTER XVIII. The Eavesdropper Caught. VEN had It not been for her BL doubts of Blake, tho girl's 1w modesty would havo caused her to think twice boforo repeating to him tho Englishman's insulting proposal. pro-posal. Whllo she yet hesitated and delayed, Wlnthropo camo down with a second attack of fever. Blako, who until thon had hold himself sullenly apart from him ns well as from Miss Leslie, at onco softened to a gentler, or, at least, to n more considerate mood. Though his speech and bearing continued morose, ho took upon himself him-self all the duties of night nurse, bo- sides working nnd roraglng severni hours each day. Much to Miss Leslie's surprise, Bho found herself tending tho Invalid through tho daytime almost as though nothing had happened. But everything about this wild and porllous life was so strange and unnatural to her that sho found herself ncceptlng tho most unconvontlonnl relations as a regular consequenco of tho situation. Sho was fovorlshly eager for anything that might occupy her mind; for sho felt that to brood ovor tho future might mean madness. Tho moro thought of tho possibilities was far too terrifying to bo calmly dwelt upon. Though slight, there had boon some little comfort com-fort In tho belief that sho could roly on Wlnthropo. But now she wns loft alono with her doubt and dread. Evon If sho had nothing to fear from Blako, there wero all tho savage dangers of tho coast, and behind those, far worse, tho fovor. A littlo beforo dawn ho dipped two of his new arrow-heads In the sticky ' i 1 i contents of tho clgaretto caso, fittad them carefully to tholr shafts nnd stole away down tho cleft. Dawn found him crouched low In tho grass whoro tho overflow from tho pool ran out Into the plain along Its littlo channel. Ho could seo largo forms moving away from him; then enmo tho flood of crimson crim-son light, nnd ho mndo out that tho figures woro a drove of hugo eland. His oyes flnslica- with oagorness. It wns n long shot; but ho know that no moro was required than to pierce tho skin on any part of his quarry's body. Ho put his lingers botwoon his teeth nnd sent out a plorcing whistle. It was a trick ho had tried moro than onco on deer nnd pronghorn nntclopo. As ho expected, tho eland halted and swung half around. Their ox-llko sides presented n mark hard to miss. . Ho rose and shot as they wero wheeling to fly. Beforo ho could lit hie second arrow to tho string the wholo herd woro running off nt a lumbering gallop. Ho lowered his bow nnd walked after tho anlmnls, smiling with grim anticipation. Ho had seen his arrow strlko against tho sldo of tho young bull nt which ho had aimed. So great was the abundance of meat that Mako worked all tho romnlndor of the day nnd nil night stringing tho flesh on tho curing racks, nnd Miss Lesllo tried out pot after pot of fat and tnllow, until every sparo vessel was filled and she hnd to resort to n hollow In tho rock bcsldo tho spring. Blnko promised to jnako moro pots ns soon ns ho could fetch tho clay, but he had first to dress tho eland hide nnd prepare a new stock of thread and cord from parts of tho animal which ho was careful not to let her seo. Whatever their concern for tho future fu-ture and oven Blake's was keen and blttor tho party, as a party, for tho time being might havo been considered extremely fortunate. Thoy had a shelter shel-ter secure allko from tho weather and from wild beasts; an abundanco of nutritious food, and, as material for clothing, tho bushbuck, hyena and eland hides. To obtain moro skins and moro meat Blako now know would bo a simple matter so long as ho had enough poison left in tho clgaretto caso to moisten tho tips of his arrows. ar-rows. Even Wlnthrope's relapse proved far less serious than might reasonably havo been expected. Tho fovor soon left him and within a few days ho regained re-gained strength enough to caro for himself. Here, however, much to Blnko's perplexity and concern, hlB progress seemed to stop, and all Blake's urging could do no moro than cause him to movo languidly from ono shady spot to another. Ho would receive re-ceive Blake's orders with a smile and a drawling "Yn-ns, to bo sure!" and then absolutely Ignore tho matter. Only in two ways did tho Invalid exhibit ex-hibit any signs of energy. Ho could nnd did eat with a heartiness littlo short of thnt shown by Blake, and ho would Insist upon seeking opportunities to press his nttontlons upon Miss Lesllo. Ho wns careful to avoid all offensive remarks; yet tho veriest commonplace from his Hps was now an offense to tho girl. Whllo he needed her as nurse she had endured his tnlk as part of her duty. But now sho felt thnt sho could no longer do so. Tnklng ac vantage of a tlmo when tho Englishman English-man was, as sho supposed, enjoying a noonday siesta down towards tho barricade, sho went to meet Blako, who had been up on tho cliff for eggs. "Hello!" ho sang out, as ho swung down tho tree, ono hand gripping tho clay pot In which he had gathered the eggs. "What you doing out In tho sun? Get Into tho shade." She stepped Into tho shndo and waited until ho had climbed down tho pile of stones which ho had built for steps at tho foot of tho tree. "Mr. Blako," sho began, "could not I do this work gather tho eggs?" "You could, If I'd let you, MIbs Jenny. ' But It strikes mo you'vo got qulto enough to do. Toll you tho truth, I'd like to mako Win tnko It In hand again. But nil my cussing won't budgo htm an Inch, nnd, you know, when It comes to tho rub, I couldn't wallop a follow who can hardly stand up." "Is he really so weak?" sho murmured. mur-mured. "Well, you know how Sny, you don't mean that you think he's shamming?" "I did not say that I thought so, Mr. Blalto. I do not caro to talk about him. What I wish Is that you will lot mo attend to this work." "Couldn't think of It, Miss Jenny! You're already doing your sharo." "Mr. Blake If you must know I wish to havo a place whoro I can go and bo apart alone." Blako Bcowled. "Alono with that dude! Ho'd soon find enough strength to climb up with you on tho cliff." "I ah Mr. Blake, would ho bo apt to follow mo, If I told you distinctly I should rather bo alono?" "Would ho? Woll, I should rather guess not!" cried Blako. making no nttcmpt to conceal his delight. "I'll givo him a hint that'll mako his hair curl. From now on, nobody climbs up this treo but you, without first asking ask-ing your permission." "Thank you, Mr. Blake! You aro very kind." "Kind to let you do moro work! But Bay, I'll help out all I can on tho othor work. You know, MIbs Jenny a rough fellow Uko ind don't know how to say It, but ho can think it Just tho snmo I'd do anything In tho world for As ho spoko, ho hold on, his rough, powerful hand. Sho shrank back a littlo nnd caught her breath Mi mid-don mid-don fright. But when she met his steady gaze, her fear left her &. quick-ly quick-ly ns It had como. Sho Impulsively thrust out hor hand and ho solzcd It in a grip that brought tho toars to hor "Miss Jonnyl Miss Jenny!" ho mur-mured, mur-mured, uttorly unconscious that ho was hurting her, "you know now that I'm your friend, Miss Jenny!" "Yes, Mr. Blake," sho answored, blushing nnd drawing her hand freo. "I bollevo you nre a friend I bellovo I can trust "You enn, by Jlmlny! But sny," ho continued, blundering with donso stupidity, "do you really moan that? Can you forglvo mo for bolng so con-founded con-founded mcddlcsomo tho other day after tho snake He stopped short, for upon the in-stant in-stant sho wns facing htm, ns on that ovontful day, scarlet with shamo and "How daro you speak of It?" sh H cried. "You're you'ro not a gentle-' gentle-' man!" 'H Beforo ho could roply sho turned and left him, walking rapidly and with hor head hold high. Blako atarod after her In bowildorment. H "Well, what In what In thunder havo I dono now?" ho exclaimed. "La- H dies nro certainly mighty funny! To go off nt a touch and Juat when I .H thought wo wero going to bo chums I . But then, of courso, I'vo tho wholo thing to learn about nico girls Uko lH "I ah must certainly agroo with you thoro, Blake," drawled Wlnthropo, tlH from bosldo tho nearest bush. il Blake turned upon him with savag fury: "You dirty sneak! you gentle- JH man! You'vo boen eavesdropping!" Tho Englishman's yellow faco paled fH to a sallow mottled gray. He had seen tho same look In Blako's oyes twice beforo, and this tlmo Blake waa , far moro angry. sl "You sneak! you sham gent!" re- bI pented tho American, his volco sink- lng ominously. ' Wlnthropo dropped In an abject heap, .as though Blake had struck him , with his club. "No, no!" ho protested, shrilly. "I am a real I am I'm a not" ' "That's it you'ro a not! That's true!" broke in Blake, with sudden. L'l grim humor. "You'ro a nothing. A I LH fellow can't oven wlpo his shoes on uLSH nothing!" Tho change to sarcasm camo as an a immense relief to Wlnthropo. I "Ah, 1 say now, Blake," ho drawled, n pulling together his assuranco tho In- jjl stunt the dangorous light loft Blako's eyes, "I say, now, do you think it fair 'H to pick on a man who is so much your er who is 111 and weak?" (TO UK CONTINUED.) |