Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-03

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''Great ScottP' he rodred. "You ldzp.
idle eyoatng ptlldtnr' !
for he was choleric, although not cross
grained. Under stern face and rough
manner he had a kindly nature far
down, for he did not wear his heart
upon his sleeve, certainly not for an
erring subordinate, as he considered
me just then. =
l felt rather sheepish and uncomfort-
able as appeared before the great
man. The general was tall in stature,
very thin and straight, while bis
strong, weather beaten face-the deep
bronze contrasting sharply with the
bristling white mustachios and long,
projecting eyebrows, over fierce. steely
blue eyes-commanded respect.
He began on me at once. by the
Lord Harry. this won't do. WoodP' he
cried, with amazing ,volubility and
force. What have you got to say for
yourself? Slept later OF course you
will sleep late II you waste the night
flirting and philandering with that lit
tie madcap devil. Frida Fairholme. But,
I tell you, l WONT have the business Of
this Office neglected. Now you are late
for parade. and you know insist upon
punctuality. And | practice what l
preach. | was here as the clock struck
10 this morning. and I'd already been
to Hodnslow and back on my bike
But there. you'll end by putting me out
Of temper. Don't do 1t again."
II won't, Sir Charles" said meekly.
yet wondering why I. man Of mil
lions, submitted to such slavery. and ]
turned to 60.
"Ah, by the way. Wood, bring me
that report of yours. will you, on the
defense of the Canadian frontier? It
is ready. presume" g.
"Well, no. Sir Charles. not quite.
have been delayed BY
"Great Scottp' he roared, instantly
blazing up into white heat. "You Lazy,
Idle young villain! ! believe you want
to drive me mad. .. You know as well
as l do. that the foreign Office Is press
ing for the paper. that ! promised 1t to
Lord Salisbury within q week, and
here you. you Oh. 60 away! I want
none of your excuses. I've had enough
of you. You shan't stay here, bringing
discredit on the Office. I'll have none
of II. You shall 60 back to your grovel.
Ing, guard mounting routine. and when
you are grizzling your soul out In that
beastly tropical hole. Bermuda, you
may be sorry for the chance you've lost.
Go away. l say. I've done with you.
I hate the very sight Of you"
And | went. meaning in my rage
for l, too. had become furiously angry
to take him at bis word and walk
straight out of the house. But custom
Is strong. The spirit of subordination,
Of obedience, the soldierly sense Of
duty, when once imbibed, are not to be
shaken off In a second. When ! re-
gained my desk and saw the papers
there, I remembered that was bound
in honor to fulfill my obligations. My
chief had, no doubt. gone too far, but
that did not release me. Before took
any further steps must first com.
plete my work.
There was not much wanting to f1n-
ish my report on the Canadian from
tier, and I did 1t out Of hand. Then l
sent it In to the chief and prepared to
tackle the second set Of papers. which
proved to be scheme. marked strict
" confidential" for combined attack
upon New York by sea and land. (Our
political relations at that particular
moment were greatly strained. There
were rumors Of grave disagreement, If
nothing worse) But now noticed the
word speak" and knew that l must
take verbal instructions before i set to
work. | must face my irascible chief
again, and | had no great fancy for 1t.
However, 1t must come sooner. or lat
er. so | scribbled a few words on q
sheet Of foolscap and went In.
The general was at his standing desk
Che seldom sat DOWN pouring over my
other report, but be looked round as
entered and nodded pleasantly. Bright
sunshine had already succeeded the al
ways fugitive storms In his hasty
temperament.
"This will do first rate. Wood. There
are only one or two points that need
and we went over the
items together.
Then / asked him about the other
matter, and soon heard all wanted to
know. l can set down nothing OF this
here. for the whole affair was very
secret and particular-of vital interest
To two great countries-and Sir Charles
it on me very earnestly that
the paper and plans must on no &C.
count pass out Of my possession
"You may have to work on the
scheme at your own diggings, for 1t
must 20 In by the end Of the week. But
pray be most careful. Lock up the
papers in your dispatch box at night
and keep the thing entirely private"
1T is just possible that you may wish
to give the job to some one else, gen.
eral. as l shall hardly be here to com
plete it." l said, rather stiff1y. and
with that l handed him the sheet OF
foolscap which contained my resigna-
ton.
"Why, Wood, hang it all, you don't