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."
He rose from the nail-keg.
"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.
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