Sir Bartemus Bothamley

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 25

Sir Bartemus Bothamley

(Continued from last week.)

Ngene told them the tale of how she had been taken back to the pa, and there kept almost a prisoner for many days. But there was one young warrior who was set to watch her and accompany her as a guard wherever she went. Ngene told how they had at lust become such good friends that lie bad aided her Io escape; and. to himself escape the wrath of his people, lie had gone to a town on the coast to find work. “Well!” exclaimed Sir Bartemus, pulling his whiskers thoughtfully as soon as she had finished, “and. of course, your people will suspect I am hiding you and will come here to look for you. Probably they are surrounding the house now!” and he shivered apprehensively. “Perhaps,” suggested Tamati hopefully, “it would be a good idea to disguise her.’ Sir Bartemus looked Ngene up and down. Iler skin was fair, and her eyes were light; her hair was a bronzy black that could easily belong to a European girl- ... or a boy, “Let’s make her a boy, he suggested, a twinkle in his eye. Tamati clapped his hands in glee, but Ngene shook her head. “My hair must not be cut off,” she said firmly and decisively. “Well,” remarked Sir Bartemus, “I know it will be no use asking old Mrs. O’Flannagan to help disguise you. M e hud better get up very early in the morning and go in that dreadful trap Io town where someone who knows something about clothes and hair and things like that will be able to make you a different person.” He rang the bell lor Mrs. O’Flannagan and told her t<> ( prepare the spare room for Ngene. “You need not hide in tile barn this time,' lie smiled to Ngene. Morning dawned, and already three people were cantering over the rough roads in the gay gig toward town. It was the first time Ngene had been to a town in her life, and even though it was well after midday before town was reached. and the horse and all of them were very tired, she could not suppress her excitement. It was very difficult for Sir Bartemus to know where Io go, lor it. was the first time he had been to town for several years, so at- last they went into a shop and asked a surprised assistant where a "ladies’ outfitter’ could be found. . , And so at last they came to a quaint shop marked “Madame Rose Montague, in large and fancy letters all across the windows, the importance of which nearly put Tamati Io flight. But after Madame had recovered from her surprise at the three unexpected people who had come to seek her assistance, she became very helpful. , , (To be continued.)