“But the Great Panjandrum discovered my hiding place. The Queen declared that I was protected by all that was sacred in their religion, but the Great Panjandrum proved by the cannibal Bible that only cannibals were entitled to its protection. He said they would roast a man, and if I would eat him and pick his bones I might go free. I declined, for I am rather particular about my diet.
“Then the Great Panjandrum seized an axe and struck at the foot of the tree. Others followed his wicked example and it soon began to totter. They next tied a rope about the trunk of the tree. The plotters were sixteen in number--I counted them. They stood in line, tugging at the rope.
“Lola-Akwa stood far back awaiting the terrible moment of my death. I could see that her eyes were filled with tears. The tree fell, and I went flying through the air--to certain death!
“When I came to, I found myself clasped in Lola-Akwa's arms. 'Where am I?' I asked. 'Look' she said. I did, and learned the wonderful truth.
“The Great Tree had fallen upon the Great Panjandrum and his fifteen conspirators and killed them all.”
For a moment there was silence, then a chorus of voices exclaimed: “Did you marry the Queen?”
The stranger pressed his hand upon his forehead.
“No. If I remember correctly some one held an ace and took my Queen.”
“I'm hungry. I would like some supper and a bed for the night. To-morrow I will embrace my only living relative. Is there a boarding house in town?”
“Somethin' better'n that,” said Abner. “We've got a Hotel--the Hawkins House. Mrs. Hawkins keeps it. I'm going along that way and I'll interduce you. She's a pretty good talker herself,” and Abner winked with both eyes as they went out.
“Well,” said Benoni, as the door closed after them. “The Bible says Ananias was a pretty good story teller, but that gentleman seems to have added some modern improvements.”
“And if Mrs. Hawkins is smart she'll make him pay in advance.”
The door was thrown open full width and two men rushed in.
“He's tall--black clothes--had on a straw hat--”
“He's a lunatic--just escaped from the asylum. We tracked him to this town--”
“He's gone to the hotel,” said Bob Wood. “You can nab him easy there. I'll show you the way.”