The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-01-13


THANK Heaven, it is all over! / can
breathe freely-can vaguely grasp
how that one fatal slip of mine, 1t a
moment when the scales in the Trans
vaal were balancing so breathlessly,
might have come near to spelling a ma
tional disaster. Looking back, it all
seems Notwithstanding My hard
earned holiday had worked in the
Cape government office nearly three
years without one-was not due for six
months more. Five minutes before the
ehief of my department called me in and
handed me the locked leather case 1
had not the faintest idea that / was to
be let off those six months and, more
over, to carry a dispatch invested, in
the light of possible events, with an
importance beyond words.
"There it is, You thoroughly UNI
derstand? Straight to the colonial Of
fee, and don't lose sight of il for a
moment. 1t may mean war; it may
mean nothing. Whether or no, a dozen
newspapers in London would pay any
Pd6e to be able to publish it before it
is read in the house of commons-if
ever it is. And II that happened!
Your berth has been booked in the Cape
Castle, and you start tomorrow morn
ing"
That was it, I know 1 went in a
quiyer of indescribable suspense all Che
voyage, partly for fear anyone might
discover what it was I guarded SO jeal-
ously in that corner of my cabin, and
partly because I was free-free to mar
ry Lottie, whose last quivering words
had been: $50, if you must, Brian-if
1t means advancement; but never ex-
pect to see you againl" And here was
Southampton in sight, and in my
pocket the superb blue diamond she
was to wear on u wedding day. What
an exquisite surprised She would know
nothing until the moment when 1
handed in my card.
The n person in the world / had
dared to trust was her brother, Jack
Hamlyn, the oldest and best friend I
had. I had t%elegraphed to his rooms
from Madeira, just limiting that my
luggage was valuable and telling him to
meet the vessel at Southampton; and
even tn that I had taken the ~precaution
to use a crude code that we had con
cocted in the old romantic days at
school. His would be safe company
until the dispatch was delivered, and
then-but the rest was too intoxicat-
ing to bear thinking upon.
AT lastl The Cape Castle had kept
her time almost to the hour. Feeling
just a trihe sick and strange after the
long suspense, I had passed the Gus
toms and stood staring round for a
sight of Jack Hamlyn. The telegram
had surely reached him-he would nm
derstand 1.-THE would be here well in
time? Yesl A few minutes of uncerz
tainty andsthen; "Brian, old fellow
yes, it is you'll" struck on my strained
ear.
eJack!" I spun round almost con
vulsively. Himselfi-and yet some
how, the first thrill over, I felt some
thing like a chill Of disappointment.
Was it that my old chum's hand had
scarcely the old bear-like grip? In the
lamplight, too, he looked curiously
haggard and aged. Istood, with a sort
Of prescience.
Overcome, Brian? I hardly wonder
AL this hmel Oh, aye; I forgot-Tve
given up my beard since you went"
And we both laughed. ''This way; I'm
simply dying TO hear all about it" He
had my arm ia the old impetuous fash
ion new. 'Been waiting hoursl No.
aQt g soul dreams of your having ar
riYed-trust mel Lottie? Er-yes.
she's right enough, I believe"
Believe" I stopped dead. His voice
had trailed off strangely. Jack" I
whispered, huskiIy, eyou look-you,ve
something to tell mel Isn't she-isn't
she Just the same? Her last letter.
swing, of counsel" He laughed 10
boisterously al my whitened face that
the weight slipped of my mind at once.
Nothing had happenedi do you think
I'd deceive you Brian2" he was say
iu sIhe ideal Another he hours Or
S g and you'l have the Joy OF seeing
The old huah dance into her cheeks.
hat what Was il you meant il the cable
Shout"
Twelve houral I'm going on by the
tain-new At once. Imustl IN
sFuctQn aight to colonial office
ser knoN