The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08
McMANS AT FOLLY BRIDGE ~s ss n" By RUDYARD KPLNG.


After ALL" said one cheeriiy. as they
sat down on their bedding rolled in the
gathering dust what does Il matter. old
man? You're bound to be Stelienbosched
in three days"
Now. SteIienbosch il not a name to use
lightly, for there go the men who-have
not done quite so well; and the r. s. O's
face clouded as ne asked for an explana-
ton.
Haven't you stopped McManusY' said
one. who knew his man.
Who's McManus7"
"Oh. I'm sorry. Never mind--you'il find
out before Tuesday"
The only person I've stopped was that
civilian, who hadn't got his pass signed
by Smith / can't accept a verbal message
across the Orange river"
quite right. You'll be getting all your
messages from Bloemfontein In a little
while. I wouldn't be In your shoes for
trifie."
Il don't think McManus minds much.
though" the colonial captain stru,s in
soothingiy. II spoke to him just now.
He says he is going on"
TN take dashed good care he doesn't"
said the r. s. o., exploding. This was
something he could understand.
Yes: he's going on the train when
she comes in; so you'n have another
chang. You see. II you stop him as he
gets In j suppose he will go back to
Cape Town. and he'll tell the Little Man
why. He's rather busy, and he won't
be able to come again"
"But-confound IT all--does he expect
the whole blessed Orange Free State to
wait on his business?"
1T would be rather a bad Job IL she
dfdn't-iust now. He's the head Of the
Corporate Equatorial Banking Corpora
ton. and he has been called up to Bloem-
fontefn rather urgently TO put the fin-
ances OF the place straight. He isn't GO
ing up for pleasure. YOU know"
Somebody lit a pipe: and in the hush
you could hear the great river running
through the dry hills. far away voice
on the construction engine. backed close
up to the bridge, called to some one under
a staging:
"McManus goin' Up to Bloemfontein to-
night?'
"Ye-es"
That means business--thank Cod"
"Why-yr
why? Cause they don't care one scar
let weir for the whole army--the Beers
don't. They reckon they can get them
withdrawn II they win the game in Lon
don, but reopenin, the bank Mt Bloem-
fontein means business. That's why II
teaches the Dutch more than twenty bat
ties. Wonder they don't try to cut the
line and nab him tonight
The silence by the CANCERS hut contin-
ued unbroken for twenty puffs.
And he did wait outside Smiths door
while Smith was washing-because | saw
MIN ] wouldn't have done it." said an
imperial officer. slowly but / suppose
he wished to see precisely what sort of
fools We can be when we go In for war"
And you've told him to walk two miles
back and two miles here again" said the
New Zealander, ITO get Smiths sigma
ture."
And there's no guarantees Smith uyor,t
be having haircut and shampoo when he
reaches there" the colonial captain add
ed I'VE knew In Cape Town a week ago
McManus had been called up. But. of
course, II he hasn't Smiths signature
that settles it,"
What does II matter? lie. the brute
froltc round the kopjes TIL Smiths dry.
He's only the boss of the biggest hank
in the country. Who cares for how much
they want him at Rlne mfnnteira Ia NJ.