Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-22

uuuEHdlilDlo ocDCNOicOco. Iac WlS.lcu io
ono III. never knowing who might be
wanting bed and board one day, and, for
like reason, he would NEEDLE with no
mans business deeper than q prudent care
for tho good name Of hls house demanded.
He was not going, therefore, so far as nc
tually 10 warn the American OF his dan
ger, but while ho chartered he busted him
self about his guests clothes with so o.
tcntatious display OF rrdlffcrcnce that It
could not escape tho cUlonels perception
that he was seriously concerned about
something.
The Amoriosn met his cousiderate host,
however, with no more display of interest
than he himself had shown.
Vol, It's no business of mine TO catch
prisoners, he murmured slccpily, but
can report tomorrow at Brest what they
say"
"why, you are not going 20 leave us
yet, colonel" cried the host with well
feigned surprise,
YES, my friend, must. IT'S useless
TO wait longer ON tho weather. I shnll
start this morning by land Have you q
horse fit to carry n big mhn?"
II havo ono 1T for king, though. to
he sure, that is not saying much nova
days"
Every we'll; will stnrt In an hour"
1t was olenr enough that Fnngeport
would not hold tho American much lon
scr, and equally clear that the sooner no
explained his conduct OF the affair to tho
representative Mt Brest tho easier he would
sleep.
In an hour no was In tho saddle. bow
ing his head TO tho gale, and explaining
to himself. as his horse picked its way
sturdily after tho guide, that he was doing
his duty to tho countess, Before anything
further could bo dono for her he must let
the affair blow itself out little, and mean
whlle--so no assured his self roproaoh--
his place WINS at Furochol's side. lIo must
SEQ the follow well nflont, and then ho
could easily return Ivy tho time tho count
Css was fit 10 lnovo md hnd means to
place her beyond her husbands reach.
Tho journey was mndo without advcn.
turc and quite as quickly as tho American
could desire, for, TO toll tho truth, Brest
was no agreeable dwelling place at this
tiino. Every ono was blaming every ono
but himself for the late disaster, every one
was quarreling over tho scanty stores the
dcnudod arsenal could furnish, and every
ono distrustud bis nclghbor. Even tho rep
rcsontntlvo himself was still far from easy
about his head Constantly pressed from
Paris To complete the refltting OF tho feet
and retrieve his defeat. hnrassod by mu-
tinous spirit which he himself had created
hampcrcd by tho wounded, and exasper.
atud by intrnotabic and inefficient subor.
dinntos, he was in an ugly and vindlotiye
mood a couple OF captains were in prls-
on, and half dozen others had boon cash.
Tered The American was pardnnably anx.
ious.
His fears, however, proved groundlcss
IIo was received with offuslun, even hand
sumcly conplimented IN the success Of
his mission, and no questions were nskcd
Thu representative was frankly delighted
with his new captain.
Indeed Mt the pitch Of Generalization
that the naval service had reached, no
man could lave been mora to his mind
thnn the old prlyatoer, ana tho American
arrived to find rnrochol among the most
prominent figures In Brust.
lie had seized MT once the now ideas OF
the administration and, secure IN tho
reputation Of his cnormitles, had preached
nnd practiced them horucally. His own
ship already displayed tho effect Of hls old
fashioned methods and was easily to be
picked ont from tho rest OF tho shattered
outside ut their mornings Just Ms they
had come In; others, in n more forward
state, wore still choking tho docks where
they had been laid up to prevent their
sinking.
The rest and Fnrochol's among tho
number, crowded tho basin. On most of
these the work of roiltting was proceed.
Ing, but with tho languor Of exhausted
spirits Incompetent officers and made
qunto material, and TO complete the feel.
Ing of depression that tho scene aroused
high over all the last OF the gallo was max.
ing its dlspiriting moan.
In one place, however, rattle OF nc.
tivlty sooined TO bc making head against
tho paralysis and could leave no room
for doubt In tho Americans mind rs to
where wns tho vessel no wanted. 1t was
one Of those heavy frigntes 40 highly 70.
ghrdcd in the French setvico-a cut down
soyonty-four.
She was lying somo way out In tho ha-
sin, almost ready for sea- or us nearly SO
as French ship could hope to DO in those
days, and II was here tho American found
his mnn-storming in tho midst of q gang
! OF riggcrs, with u rattan In his hand.
Allow and nloft, us Is usual at such times,
was wilderness of confusion. Lighters
| woro alongside dlscharging stores among
the spare spars and cortnge that numbered
tho deck, guns were lying about unmount.
cd, Just as thoy had been received from
store, and grecn hands were being driven
hither md thithor by subordinate officers,
whose chief idea of duty was not to be
caught at standstlll by thor fcrocious
commander. Every ono was working dcs.
pcrntely, though with an air of having
ono eye for his Job and tho other for tho
| captain.
As for him, II was clear that no had a
| finger In every onc's business. Indeed, ms
II bent on doing everything with his own
hands, ho was dressed In slops little better
or cleaner than those Of his crow, and the
only sign Of his rank that he carried was
hat extrayngnntly laced with gold and
truoulently cooked.
/ So incongruously clad and swelling as
I no was with his now dignity, any otbor
man would havo appeared but luIicrous
I swaggorer, but with Farochol 1t was dif.
/ fcrcnt, md when tho American had given
! his nnnc to the sentry Mt tho gangyyay.
and was conducted to tho captain, it no.
CURED all his posing to conceal tho mis-.
/ giving no felt.
ltwas easy to SEQ tho man was changed.
that no WINS exulting In position which
was bringing his ambition closer TO his
/ grasp, and tho American, seeing how dan.