The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-01-23
WOURALI.

you ike, SalQ Mackay, ':DuC Il Tell
I you that for day and night have
known what it is to be dead"
20, come, Mac, that's too much. The
major has given lis some pretty tall
snes, but we can't quite swallow that. y
Perhaps" suggested the major,
"Mackay refers to a state of alcoholic
saturation. have heard"
"Shut up, major" interrupted High
Geld. t'Don't be FEEBLE
30, all right" said Mackay. "Only
you said it was my turn for yarn;
out, of course, if
'sFire away, Mac; never mind the
his own tales are bested. Well be-
lieve you. Observe the child-like innO-
cence of our countenances."
Every we'll, then, you shall have the
yarn. 1t happened out in British
Guiana. Phil Egerton and I had been
knocking about that district in yacht.
Phil was bit Of scientist; had dab
bled in the ologies when he was at OK
ford, and he found something to in
terest him in the shallow waters round
the coast. The buckets Of mud and
Shiny things he fished up weren't very
exciting for me, so put in a good deal
of time hanging round the bars and
billiard rooms of Georgetown. Poker
is a good game in the other hemis-
phere. You fellows don't rise to it's
possibilities here.'
''Take you on a half-a-sov. ante
interrupted the Major.
''No, thanks, Major. You've been
there, I know. I bar you"
Il don't think I could mention a
place." continued Mackey, 'that I've
spent more than month in myself
without contriving to make a fool OF
myself over some girl. She was a
barmaid this time, and she was
pretty. We called her ssThe Queen"
and 1 never knew her by any other
name. What nationality she be-
longed to can't tell you. I think she
had a dash Of most Of them in her;
but English, Spanish and Indian were,
perhaps, the most prominent-English
in business, Spanish il. love, but pure,
undiluted Indian in hate. She was q
dangerous mixture, but you've no no.
ton how fascinating! wasn't by any
means the only fellow who succumbed
to her charms; but I believe was the
only one she cared a gin cocktail about.
You'll admit that the position had it's
dangers. OF course, I knew perfectly
we'll that was making an ass Of N.Y.
self; but I couldn't help it. The only
thing for me to do was to bolt. If l
stayed another week should marry
her, and then there'd be the deuce to
pay
look here, Egerton,' I said, one
night, you've got to take me away
from here. Leave those COMPOUNDED
weeds of yours, and let's weigh anchor
and be off,
"'What's the matter, Mac? said Egg
erton. Got the fidgets? Pm sorry,
old man, but I've discovered a new
species among these said weeds, and
want to work it up
"'Well, Phil, my boy, if you won't
leave, you'll have to be my best man,
that's ALL
'aThat frightened him. bit. I told
him the whole story, and he saw there
was no time to be lost if he was to be
saved. Phil Egerton knew me pretty
we'll in those days.
"T'll tell you what We'll do, Mac,
he said. You know Wilson, the sugar
planter. He tells me there is some cap
ital shooting to be had in the interior;
any amount Of birds and a stray
chance at a jaguar or two. He's 60
ing to have a month Of it, and has
asked me to join him. We can take
the yachts boat and go up to Dema-
rara until we strike the woods. What
do you say?'
"'Anything you like, so long as you
get me out of this NESS
1--WE went in the morning and saw
Wilson about it. He was delighted
and said he would start as soon as we
could get ready.
"Of course, any sensible man in my
position would have had the common
prudence to employ the intervening
time in cleaning his guns and looking
out various odds and ends for the ex
petition; but, as I tell you, where wo
men are concerned, I'm not to be
I went to see THE Queen and natural
ly she wormed the whole thing out Of
me.
"Phil.' said, when I got back, ii
we can't start tomorrow, we needn't
start at all. 1t would spoil the party
if took wife with me!'
we IL SLd1L IL yOu 1lhc
Mac I'm ready; and if Wilson isn't
he can follow us. But what's the hur
ry? You haven't told her you're 60
ing, have you?'
Eyes, I have; and that's why i,
won't do for me to stay here any long
err
"'Well, Mac, of all the laundering
idiots it has been my privilege t
know, I do think you're about the big
gest. Why on earth can't you vanish
quietly, and leave her to find out abou
it afterwards?
"T meant to; but when I started
talking to her, out it came.'
".What possessed you to go there a
all to-day?
You couldn't have kept away yourself
if you had been in my place.
"sYou had a scene, suppose?'
"'Well, slightly. She accused me O
wanting to get rid of her, trying to rul
away, in fact; and, as it was perfect.
true, I fancy I didn't show up yer,
we'll in the argument that followed
"'Oh, you great, bearded infant; pu
your hat on, and We'll go and see Viii
son at once
f eve started next morning. I wa
feeling bit hipped, Of course, but tn
others were jolly enough.