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Show S ' SERIAL?1 La STORY V J ... ,. ,- ' - . Wf Hi in1 mi i.i hwiiwhu t iwvaimnvjmwvrrH ' . " i P? rs n: I By I 1 i;i ROBERT AMES BENNET .;! i;i . ;:i Illustrations by i RAY WALTERS jij tli i . t-Y H'.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.'.V.V.V.V.'.V.ViV. Ai: . "i (Copyright, I SOI, by A, O. licUurtf A Co.) SYNOPSIS. The story opens with tho shipwreck of tho steamer on which Miss Gunevlevo Leslie, mi American heiress, Lord Win thrope, an Englishman, and Tom Blake. brusque American, were passengers. The thro were tossed upon hh uninhabited uninhab-ited Island and wem t ho only ones not drowned. Dlike recovered from a drunk n stupor, Blake, shunned on the boat, because of his roughness, became a hero ps preserver of tho helpless pair. The Englishman wns suing for thn hand of Miss Leslie, Blako started to swim haek to the ship to recover what was left. Blake returned safely. Wlnthropo wanted his last ninteh on a cigarette, for widen he was scored by Blake. Their first meal was a dead fish. The trio started a ten ' mile hike for higher land, Thirst attacked at-tacked them. Blake was compelled to carry Miss Leslie on account of weariness. weari-ness. He taunt oil WInthrope. They entered en-tered the Jungle. That night was passed roosting high In a tree. Tho next morning morn-ing they dest ended to the open again. All three constructed lints to shield themselves them-selves from the sun. They then feasted on cocoanuts, tho only procurable food Miss Leslie showed a llklns for Blake, cut detested his roughness. Led by Bln'o they established a home In some cliffs. J Hake found u fresh water spring. Mlis .slle faced an unpleasant situation, hey planned their campaign. Blake recovered re-covered his surveyor's magnifying glass, thus Insuring fire. Iln started a jungle fire, killing a large leopard and smolh- rlng several cubs. In the leopard's cavern cav-ern they built a small home. Thev gnlned the cliffs by burning the bottom of a tree until It felt against the heights. Tho trio secured eggs from the cliffs. Miss Leslie's whlto skirt was decided upon as a signal. Miss Leslie made a dress from the leopard skin. Blako's efforts ef-forts to kill antelopes failed, CHAPTER XIII. Continued. Tho ono dlfllculty was to reach tho lower branches. She could hardly touch thorn with her flnger-tlps. Hut . her barburlc costumo must hnvo In- , spired her. She listened for a mo ment, and hearing no sound to lndlcato tho return of tho men, clasped tho upper sldo of the trunk with hor hands and knees, and mado an en-( en-( ergotic attempt to climb. Tho posturo was far from dignified, but the girl's eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she found herself slowly mounting. When, flushed and breathless, she gained a foothold among the branches, she looked down at the ground, nnd permitted horsolf a merry little gigglo such as sho had not indulged In sinco leaving boarding-school. She had actually climbed a tree! Sho would how Mr. Blake that sho was not so helpleen as he fancied. At the thought, she clambered on up, finding that the branches mado convenient steps. Sho did not look back, and the screen of trcetops beneath be-neath saved her from any sense of giddiness. As her head camo nbovo the levol of the cliff, she peered . through tho foliage, and saw the signal sig-nal flag far over near tho end of tho headland. The big pleco of white tick stood out bravely against "the blue sky, all tho more conspicuous for tho flocks of frightened scarowj which wheeled above and around It. Surprlsod that she did not see the then, Mlos Leslie started to draw hor-elf hor-elf up over the cliff edge. Sho heard W'inthrope's voice a few yatds away to her left. A suddon realization that the Englishman- .might conidor her exploit ill-bred caused' her to' sink tack out of 'sight. -" '" She was hesitating whether to descend de-scend or to climb on up, when Win-thrope's Win-thrope's peevish whine was cut short j fey a loud and angry retort from Blake. Krery word came to .the girl's ears i with the force of a blow. "You do, do you? Well, J'd like to know whore In holl you come in. 8ho's not your sistor, nor your mother, nor your aunt, and If she's your sweetheart, sweet-heart, you've both been damnod close-mouthed close-mouthed over It." fs There was an Irritable, rasping murmur from WInthrope, and again tamo Blake's loud retort. "Look hero, foung man, don't you forgot you callod me a cud onoe before. I can stand a good deal from a sick man; but I'll five It to you straight, you'd better cut that out. Oall me a brute or a savage, If that'll lot off your steam; but, understand, un-derstand, I'm none of your English kinds." Aialn WInthrope spoke, this time In a fretful whine. Dlako replied with less anger: "That's so; and I'm going to show you that I'm the real thjng when It comes to being a sport.- Give you my word, I'll mako uo move till you'ro through tho fever and on your legs again. What I'll do then depends on my own, swoet will, nnd don't you forgot it. I'm' not after her fortune. It's tho lady herself that tnkos my fancy. Kemom-bor Kemom-bor what I said to you when you called mo a cad tiie other time. You had your turn aboard ship. Now I can do as I please; and that's what I'm going to do, If I have to kick you over the cliff end first, to shut off your pesky interference." Tho girl crouched back into the withered follngo. dazed with terror. Again she heard lllake speak. Uo had droppod Into a bitter sncor. "No chance? It's no nerve, you mean. You could brain me, easy enough, any night Just walk up with a club when I'm asleep. Trouble Is, you're like most other under dog3 'frnld that If you licked your boss, thero'd bo no soup bones. So I guess I'm slated to stay boss of this colony grand Poo Hah and Mikado, all In ono. Understand? You mind your dwn business, and don't go to interfering inter-fering with mo any more! . . . Now, If you've stared enough at tho lady's skirt" Tho threat of discovory stung tho girl to instant action. With almost frantic haste, sho scrambled down to tho lower branches, and sprang to tho ground. Sho had novor ventured such a leap even in childhood. Sho struck lightly but without proper balanco, nnd pitched over sideways. Her hnnda chanced to alight upon the romnunts oL. leopard skin. Great as was her fear, sho stopped to gather all together to-gether In the edge of her skirt before darting up tho cleft. At the baobab sho turned and gazed back along the cliff edge. Heforo sho "Now, Don't Got Mad. Worst Thing in tho World for Malaria." had time to draw a second breath, she caught a glimpso of Blako's palm-loaf hat, near tho crown of tho ladder trco. "O-o-hl he didn't .see mol" sho murmured. Her frantic strength vanished, van-ished, and a deathly sickness came upon hor. Sho folt horsolf going, and sought to kneel to oaso tho fall. She was roused from tho swoon by Blako's rosonant shout: "Hey, Miss Jonny! whero aro you? Wo'vo got your laundry on the pole in' fine shape!" Tho girl's flaccid limbs grow tonso, and her body quivered with a shudder of dread and loathing. Yet sho sot her little whlto teeth, and forced herself to rise and go out to face the men. Both- met her look with a blank stare of consternation. "What, Is It, Miss Genevieve?" cried. WInthrope. "You'ro white as' chalk!" "It's tho fever!" growled Blake. "Slip's in the cold .stage . Got n pot.on. Wo'll" "No, no; It's Hot thatl It's only I've -.been frightened!'.' - "Frightened?"., . ... "By a a dreadful beasti" "Beast!" 'repeated Blake, and his palo oyes flashed as ho sprangacross to whore his bow apd arrows tpd his club leaned against, the baobab. .'Til havo no beasts nosing around my dooryard! Must'be'that skulking :llon I hoard last night. I'll show him!" Ho caught up his weapons and stalked off down the cleft. "By Jove!" oxclalnied WInthrope; "tho man really must be mad. Call him back, Miss Genevieve. If anything any-thing should happen to him " "If only thoro, might!" gasped tho girl. "Why, what do you mean?" She burst Into a hystorlcal laugh. "Oh! oh! It's such a Joke such a Joke! At least ho's not a hyena oh, no; a brave beast! Hoar him shout! And he actually thinko It's a lion! But It Isn't it's himself! Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall I do?" "Miss Genevieve, what do you mean? Be calm, pray, be calm!" "Calm! when I heard what ho said? YeB; I' heard evory word! In tho top of the tree " "In the tree? Heavens! - Miss or Miss Genevieve)." stammered Win- thropo, his face paling. "Did you did you hoar all?" "Everything everything he soldi What shall I do? I am so frlghtenod! What shall I do?" "Everything he said?" ochoed WInthrope. WIn-thrope. "You spoke too low for mo to hoar; but I'm sure you faced him Uko a gentleman gen-tleman I must believe It of you " Wlnthropo drew In a deep broath. "Ah, yes; I did, Miss Gcnevlove I assure as-sure you. The beast! Yet you see the plight I nm In. It It a nasty muddlo Indeed It is! But what can I do? Ho Is strong as a gorilla. Really, thero Is only ono way no doubt you henrd him taunt me over it. I assuro you I should not bo afraid but It would bo so horrid so cold-blooded. As a gentleman, gen-tleman, you know " "No; it is not that!" broko in tho girl. "Ho Is right. Neither of us has tho courage even when ho is asleep." "My dear Miss Genevieve, this boast Instinct to kill" "Yes; but think of him. If he Is a beast, he Is at least a brave one. Whllo we wo haven't the courago of rabbits. I thought you called yoursolf nn English gentleman. Are you going to stand by, and not lift a flngor?" "Hcnlly, now, Miss Genovlcvo, to murder a man " "Sclf-dofcnso Is not a crime self-preservation. self-preservation. If you havo a spark of manhood " "My dear" "For Heaven's sake, If you can't do nnythlng, at least keep still! Oh, I'm sure I shall go mad! If only I had been drowned!" "Ah, yes, to be sure But really now, what you ask Is a good deal for a man to risk. The fellow might wako up and murder mo! Should I tako the risk, might I or expoct some manifestation of your gratitude, Mls.i Gonovlove?" "Of courso! of courso! I should always al-ways " "I ah refer to tho the bestowal of your hand." "My hand? I Would you bargain for my esteem? I thought you a gentleman!" gen-tleman!" "To bo suro to be sure! Who says I am not? But all Is fair In love and war, you know. Your choice is quite free. I tako It, you will not consider his er proposals. But If you do not wish my aid, you havo another way of escape that is at least other women have dono it." Tho girl gazed at him, hor oyoB .dilating with horror as sho realized his moaniug. "No, no; not that!" she gasped. "I want to live I've a right to livo! Why, I'm only Just 22 I" "Hush!" cautioned Wlnthropo. "Ho's coming back Be calm! Thoro will bo time until I got over this vllo mnlarla. It may bo that he himself will havo tho fever." "He will not have tho fever," replied re-plied tho girl, in ft hopeless tone, and sho leaned back listlessly against the baobab, as Blake swung himself up, frowning and sullen, and flung his weapons from him. "Bah!" ho grumbled, "I told you that bruto was a sneak. I've chased clean down to tho pool and Into the open, and not a smell of him. Must havo hiked off into the tall grass the mlnuto ho heard me." "If only ho had gono off f0r good!" murmured Miss Leslie. "Maybo ho has; though you never can count on a sneak.. Even you might be able to shoo him off noxt tlmo; but, like as not, ho'd come along when we were all out calling, and clean out our commissary. Guess I'll set to and run up n barricade down there' whero tho gully Is narrowest. Thero'ro shoals of dead thorn-brush to the right of the pool." "Ah, yes; I fancy the vultures will be so vexed when thoy And your hedge In tho way," remarked WInthrope. "My! how smart we're gottlng!" retorted re-torted Blake. "Don't worry, though. We'll stow tho stuff In Miss Jenny's boudoir, and I." guesk the .blrdlcs'U be pollto enough to keep out." " "I must Bay, Blake, I do not see why you should wish to drag us away from here." ' "There's lota, -of things you don't see, Win, my b'y Jokes, for instance. But what could you expeoW you'ro English Now, don't got mad. Worst thing- in tho world for' mar'ariii'' ' ' "Ono would fancy you could see that I am not angry. - I've a splitting headache, and my' back hurts. I am ill." Blake looked him over critically, and nodded. "That's no Ho, old man. You'ro entitled to a hospital chock all right. MIbs Jonny, wo'll appoint you chief nurse. Mako him comfortable as you can, and give him hot broth whenever when-ever ho'll take It. You can do your sewing on the side. Whenever you need help, call on mo. I'm going to begin be-gin that barricade." CHAPTER XIV. Fever and Fir and Fear. lljw VbnllWtr," WBS . B-im tossing and groaning on tho TL bed of leavos which Miss Leslie had heaped beneath hli canopy. Though not delirious, his high tempera ture, coupled with the pains which racked overy nerve and bone In hla body, ren'dered him light-headed. He would catch himself up In tho midst of sbmo rambling nonsoneo to Inqulro anxlouBly whothor lie had said anything any-thing silly or strango. On bolng reas sured upon this, ho would relax again; aud, as likely as not, break Into a babyish wall over his aches and pains. Blako shook his head when he loarned that tho attack had not been preceded by a chill. "Guess he's In for a hot tlmo," he aald. "There 1b moro'n ono kind of malarial fever. Somo aro a whole lot Uko typhus," "Typhus? What Is that?" asked MIbh Leslie. "Sort of rapid flro, doublo nctfon typhoid. Not that I think Win's got It only malaria. What gets mo la that we'vo only been horo theso few days, and yet It looks Uko he's got the con tlnuous, no-chill kind." "Then you think ho will be very 111?' "Woll, I guess ho'll think so. It ought to run out in a week or ton days, though. Wo'vo had good water, nnd It usually takes time for malaria to soak in deep. Now, don't worry, Miss Jenny. It'll do him no good, and you a lot of harm. Tako things easy as you can, for you've got to keep up your strength. If you don't, you'll be down yoursolf before Win Is up." "Ill while he Is helpless and un able--- Oh, no; that cannot bo! I must not glvo way to tho fevor until" "Don't worry. You'll likely Btavo It off for a couplo of weeks or so. You'ro lively yot, and that's a good sign. I know Win was In for It when he bo-gnu bo-gnu to grouch and loaf and do tho baby act. I haven't much use for dudes in gcnoral, and English dudoa in particular; but I'll admit that, while Win's soft enoush In snots, he' not nil mush and milk." "Thank you, Mr. Blake." "You'ro welcomo. I couldn't say loss, Boeing that Win can't speak for himself. Now you tumble In and get a good sleep. I'll go on as night nurse, and work at tho barricade Bamo time. You'ro not going to do any night-nursing. night-nursing. I can gather the thefrn-brusb in the afternoons, and pllo It up at night." In the morning MIbs Leslie found that Blake had built a substantial canopy ovor the Invalid, In place of tho first ramshackle structure. "It's best for him to be out In tho air," ho explained; "so I fixed this up to keep oft the dew. But whenever It rains, we'll havo to toto him Inside' "Ah, yes; to bo sure. How Is he?" murmured the girl. "He's about tho same this morning. But he got a little sloop. Koep him dosed with all the hot broth ho'll take. And say, roust mo out nt noon. I've had my breakfast. Now I'll have a snooze. So long!" He nodded, and crawled undor tlx shade of tho nenrost bush, too drowoj to observe her look of dismay, (TO BE3 CONTINUED.) |