Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1920 — WHITE MAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHITE MAN

By George Agnew Chamberlain

Author of "Homo.” "Through Stained Glass.” “John Bogardus.” etc.

CHAPTER Xl.—Arriving there Andrea la attacked by MacCloster, the “other man.'* She repels him, wounding him seriously with a club, and as he falls she hears the whirr of an airplane motor and Is overjoyed when White Man appears. He rescues her, in the act destroying the craal and killing MacCloster. . CHAPTER Xll.—Trevor at first la bitterly angry over Andrea’s disregard of his request to ignore MacCloster, out she explains how the latter’s marvelous voice enthralled her and is forgiven, Trevor recognizing that his life is bound ue with hers whatever betide. They reach home safely, conveyed by MacCloster’a crew, whom Trevor impresses into service. 1 Five' minutes later Trevor reluctantly opened the door on the crool and cried, “Bishop!” One of the three white men sprang to his feet “God bless my soul,” he exclaimed, “where did you come from? When did you get here? My dear chap, what’s happened to your face?" Trevor, forgetful of his damaged appearance, put his hands to his lips guiltily, as though he feared that some mark had clung there to betray their recent occupation; then he remembered his singed and bandaged condition. “Oh, that!” he said. “Nothing —nothing to speak of. Won’t you come in? Til see your companions later.’’ The bishop entered the hut and raised his eyebrows inquiringly as Trevor closed the door. “Mosquitoes?" be murmured and politely didn’t wait for an answer. “Charming quarters. Quite the comfortable thing." Then be caught sight of Andrea who was half;sltting on the corner of the table and swinging her free leg. Once more his eyebrows went up but this time ■with a snap that would have carried them over the back of his head had they not been rooted. “The bishop of Moma; the Honorable Andrea Pellor,’’ said Trevor in businesslike tones. pg “So pleased, my lord,” said Andrea with a smile that turned into a rippling laugh. “I—l beg your pardon,” she stammered, “b —but s—surprise doesn’t go well with your face.” It was true; the bishop’s astonishment seemed to have startled his features separately, scattering them over his countenance at grotesque angles. “Andrea,” he gasped, “Andrea Pellor!” “Yes,” said Trevor, “that’s the name. Now, bishop, if you’ll sit down, I’ll soon be able to satisfy you that the arguments I used to get you here are more than justified.” “Andrea Pellor!” repeated his lordship. “You have it correctly, bishop, assured Trevor. “Won’t you take this chair?” The bishop's eyes gradually gathered to a single focus on Andrea’s face. “Young woman,” he said, “do you know that the entire world has been perturbed for weeks as to your whereabouts? Do you know tHftt your family has been suffering agonies of suspense as to your fate? Do you know that the man to whom you are betrothed has offered a thousand pounds for your discovery alive?” Andrea glanced triumphantly at Trevor. “A thousand pounds,” she murmured. “Alive,” he countered, also murmuring. The bishop rapped on the table with ■his knuckles. “Do you know all these things?” Andrea slipped from the table and stood before her inquisitor. “It’s quite natural!” she said in a clean-cut tone Trevor had never heard her use before, “that you should be a little excited. Of course, I’m dying to hear all the news about the world and dear old Aunty Gwen and things in general, but do let’s sit down. It always seems so greedy to me to gossip standing.” She turned from him to the chair that Trevor held for her and motioned the suddenly tamed prelate to another. His Ups had snapped shut at the shocking aspersion that he came bearing tit-bits on his tongue and he sat down on the extreme edge of the

indicated seat as though byhM pose he would register a continued but silent protest “You wouldn’t think to look at him," said Andrea to Trevor, “that in half an hour he’ll be taking comfort out of that chair and out of a good cigar and out of a long drink." Her eyes laughed at the bishop in just the way to take the edge off her words. He slowly smiled and just as slowly slid back into the depths of the chair; his hands, without the aid of his eyes, found the box of cigars that Trevor held out to him and his Ups formed, in reply to a murmured inquiry, the following words, “A small one, please —not at all mahogany.” Then he turned to Andrea and said in a louder voice, "Now tell me all about it." “There really isn’t much to tell," said Andrea. “I was tired of dancing and climbed down the cliff from the hotel. It must have been about four o’clock in the morning. I found this white man —his real name is Robert Oddman Trevor —tinkering with an airplane and I asked him to take me with him and he did.” She dropped her eyes. “Now he’s agreed to marry me." Trevor turned white-lipped from the door where he had been giving an order to Bathtub. “Andrea,” he said, his eyes blazing with anger, “you will please keep out of this conversation until you are called upon for a few responses." He turned to the bishop. “Please overlook Miss Pellor’s flippancy,” he continued. “There is only one reason why I should marry her an<j she me and that is that we love each other beyond the power of the words to express.” “But, my dear man,” said the bishop. “I know who iiady Andrea is, only too well; the question Is who on earth are you? I take It I’m not wrong in thinking that you have got me here with the idea of persuading me to perform a ceremony which will shower me with lime-light for the -next six months.” “Nine days is the accepted limit," murmured Andrea and added hastily, “I was just speaking to myself.” Trevor ignored her. “Your question,” he said to the bishop, “is a natural one.” He went to the high desk, took certain papers and, flushing slightly, handed them to the bishop, who glanced over them with undisguised Interest.

“So,” he said finally, “you are a retired officer of the Royal Flying Corps, a D. S. O. and you also hold the croix de guerre!” He tapped a devil’s tattoo on the arm of his chair and gradually the furrow on his brow cleared and he smiled. “Unexceptional credentials; but as I am in peril of becoming a very much interested third party, I can not refrain from asking if you are in a position to render such financial comfort to this young lady and to her family as I believe It has reason to expect from her original betrothed." “I am not buying Andrea,” said Trevor quickly. “Millions for herself if she needs them; not a cent of tribute for the family. Not to waste your time further,” he continued, “I wish to say that I consider you entitled to the thousand pounds’ reward offered for her discovery alive and am prepared to hand you the sum in gold at once. If you have any scruples as to taking It personally, there is surely no reason why you should not accept it for your

mission. In return you will marry m immediately by the rites of youi church, which you doubtless will be accepted as legally binding in mj own country. “If you refuse,” said Trevor grimly, “you and your companions will be detained, forcibly if necessary, as witnesses to a ceremony performed In accordance with native custom.” “What I” exclaimed the bishop, aghast. “This Isn’t an argument,” said Trevor dryly; “it’s a proposition, quite

fair and above-board. You take It ox leave it—inside of five minutes.” The bishop turned to Andrea. “Would you—” he stammered and stopped. “I am quite indifferent as tc method,” said Andrea quietly. “No ceremony can add to the Pledge that..]

have made in my heart. He has mj love. He can have my body and sou) for the asking.” The bishop was silent for a moment his eyes fixed on the sudden glow that Illuminated Trevor’s face; then he said, “Well, my dear, that settles it—settles it finally, in fact, that I can’t help but perceive that you are both equally in haste to repent at leisure/ He arose with a resigned sigh. “Five minutes are soon up,” he said to Tre vor. “Will you agree to take time out while I talk to my associates?” “Most certainly,” answered Trevoi gravely and opened the door for hli lordship. In ten minutes the associates were persuaded; In half an hour, with the assistance of the diamond magnate’s engagement ring, Andrea and Trevoi were made man and wife according tc the ancient usage of the Church ol England; and just five minutes aftet that. Bathtub announced dinner. Ii was high time, for in spite of the toast that she had had with her tea, Andrea was faint and pale with hunger. Nothing short of the stimulus in the ex-

citement of being married for the very first time in her life could have saved her from collapse. That was a great and merry dinner. The toasts that were drunk to the bride were many, some hearty, some witty; but the one that stood out above all others was that in which she pledged herself. She stood, glass in hand, and looked down at the kindly encouraging faces of the four men. “Thte, the swan-song of the Honor able Andrea Pellor,” she said in a voice that started a bit gaspingly but soon steadied to a clear flow, “who worshiped false gods flippantly during twenty-five years of her life, who traveled blindfolded through a beautiful world to the .feet of a Calf of Gold and mercifully died on a certain beach at four o’clock of a morning. She drinks With you to Andrea Robert Oddman

Trevor, the happiest woman —the happiest wo—the —’’ Trevor leaped to his feet, put his arm around her and patted her on ths shoulder. “There, there!” he soothed desperately, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Kiss her, you duffer!” roared the three divines in one voice. , (TO BE CONTINUED.)

“Yon Wilf Marry Us Immediately by the Rites of Your Church."