Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-08-17

looking into the troubled face before
him, thought what a boy Geoff was, in
spite of his five-and-twenty years.
Geoffrey Hurst was junior secretary
to the Queens favorite ambassador at
Florence, and a favorite with all about
him.
At the public school where they had
been together Godfrey hhd been Ste
phen's fag, and the healthful influence
that the elder had over the younger
was never wholly shaken off. So that
Godfrey Hurst, the budding diploma
tist, listened to Stephens opinion with
as much respect as he had done in the
old days, when as a small boy he had
blacked his boots and cooked his break
fast.
AS the two men sat together in the
actors bachelor quarters fOr Stephen
was an actor of some promise) they
presented striking contrast. GeOf
frey's frock coat fitted his tall figure to
perfection, while Stephens well-worn
velvet jacket had truly Bohemian air
that was in keeping with the careless
ease of his surroundings. After a while
Stephen offered cigar case to his
friend, but Geoffrey shook his head; he
had not the heart to smoke.
"a cigar helps me to think" Stephen
said, as he carefully cut the end of
Havana and applied light; then, be-
tween the puffs of smoke, he said slow
ly: when did you first know that this
mission would be given you"
The day before yesterday the chief
sent for me-" Geoffrey answered. HE
said he had some important documents
to send to the foreign office, and had
determined to intrust them to me. He
spoke very kindly of the way l had
served him, and also of the respect he
entertained for my father, altogether
+. making me feel that choosing me as
his emissary was a signal mark of dis
tinction. How little | dreamed of the
pitiable result that was to follow!'
when did you first encounter Ham
monde" stephen questioned.
When l went on board the steamer
at Calais. had not set eyes upon him
since the time we were both staying
at that house in Yorkshire and | ex-
posed him for his cheating at cards.
quite thought then lie would owe me
an eternal grudge for it,"
Stephen frowned. Il had forgotten
the episode" he said, "and that, added
to what we both knew of him in the
old days, renders it the more incompre-
hensible that you should have given
him your confidence"
That is true enough" Godfrey said,
sadly But should not have been so
easily duped had the passage across the
Channel been good one You know
what confoundedly bad sailor am,
and the sea was fearfully choppy. l
was completely knocked over, and
Hammond appeared most cOnsiderate,
advising ME to lie down, and, when |
had done so, bringing me brandy, and
then went to sleep"
"WellY" Stephen said, interrogative-
ly.
well, when | awoke went on deck,
and found we were close upon Dover
harbOr. l felt shattered; my head was
swimming. Hammond paid little heed
to me, and, as soon as the boat touched
the pier, hurried off without waiting
for me to accompany him. 1t was then
that realized that my letter-case was
gone"
There were not many papers, then?
You had no dispatch boX?"
NO; merely IL few letters inclesed in
a small leather case. When first dis
covered my loss | was stunned; then il
flashed upon me that | was George
the papers from me while l slept. The
train was still waiting when | reached
the platform, and caught sight of him
at one of the carriage windows. don't
know what l said in my excitement as
demanded my Pocketbook. He laugh
ed, assuring me he knew nothing of 1t.
l caught at the door of the carriage
and would have torn it open, but he
leaned from the window and pushed
me, so that | staggered back, and |
heard him say to the people about that
i was drunk! Then l was roughly han
died by the porters, and the train
steamed out of the station"
When you came to your senses you
made your way here?" Stephen said.
Yes; my first thought was to come
TO you. l knew you would help me il
you could"
Heavens knows | would. dear boy:
but the question is, what can be done?"
Something must be done, Stephen,
or | shall go mad My honor. my fu-
ture. and-heaven help me-my whole
life's happiness are at stalker
stephen watched him critically.
~ expected that" he said. 80 your
ambition has led you to great heights,
and you have dared to set your heart