The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-17
MYNHEER J0E.
sSsssssssSssSsSS
BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE-
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BoNN Sons
CHAPTER XVIII.
TContinled.1


Thus their first day in India has
passed, and, as we have seen, 1t has
not been without it's adventure. II the
record Is kept up their stay in Bom-
bay must be an eventful one.
One of Joe's first duties upon visiting
the barracks is to deliver a message
from the commandant at Cairo, which
probably contains information respect
ing Baron Popoff; for the officer who
reads it looks very grave, and asks the
American many question concerning
the doings of the Russian, which joe,
fortunately, is in position to answer.
At this time England is greatly dis
turbed over the actions Of Russia's
ruler. He is said to be making prep
arations for pushing south through the
Afghan territory to point where his
troops will be knocking at the door OF
India. A great railroad is about to be
built for strategic purposes, and no
one positively knows where it is aimed
at-meaning no British subject. 9
Hence, the appearance Of a shrewd
Russian diplomat and secret agent,
like the baron, upon the soil OF India,
Is likely to create a sensation. His
name has been connected with numer-
GUS unscrupulous political moves in
Bulgaria and Roumania, and all along
the Balkans, so that it long ago be-
came thoroughly knowE to all the
reading world. Thoce who watch the
moves upon the chessboard Of Europe
can see deep purpose in every action,
however careless it may appear to the
casual looker-on.
Those officers stationed in India
have, of course, a peculiar interest in
everything the White CIR does. They
are threatened by no other nation.
France Is busy in Tonquin and Al
giers; Germany in Central Africa;
Italy in Abyssinia, while Austria has
no foreign policy, and Spain Is cou-
cerned almost wholly in her West In
dia possessions. 1t Is Russia who
stretches her vast domains across the
Atlantic to Pacific, and yearns to reach
the Indian Ocean as well. Year after
year she placates the tribes en- route,
slowly but surely stretching her hand
nearer the prize. The day will GER
tainly come when the fiercest war
Asia has ever known will be fought
on neutra! territory between these two
giants. One has only to travel to In
dia by the overland route, via Herat,
to see the evidences Of Russian en-
croachment. Almost to the gates OF
India the traveller finds here and there
along the road Russian robats, or
small wayside houses of refuge,
erected through charity, where the
weary pilgrim can pass night with
out any charge for the shelter.
No reasonable man doubts that Eng
land must some day be prepared to
fight for her Indian empire; nor is
there any reason to believe but that
she will be able to hold her own
against that cunning foe who would
creep in at the back door while the
mistress is engaged in sweeping ard
garnishing the front Of the house.
Whatever may be the mission Of the
baron to India, now that his presence
is known, it is not likely that he will
be allowed to 60 about without some
sort of secret espionage.
When the evening meal has been dis
posed of, Sandy and Mynheer Joe de-
eide to see what Bombay looks like
after nightfall. So they dress as
quietly as possible, not forgetting to
carry their firearms, as there must al
ways be a certain amount Of danger
traversing the streets alone.
Mr.. Grimes hopes to be all right by
morning, but thinks he had better rest
until then. Molly complains of head
ache, probably the result of her excit-
ing race for assistance, and begs 20
be excused This has :: influence
upon Mynheer Joe in inducing him to
accept Sandy's proposal that they take
q stroll, for he has no desire to spend
the evening alone, Demosthenes CON-
planning of bruises received in his tum-
BILE, which he wishes to bathe.
Peace reigns in the neighborhood OF
the little hostelry near the foot of
Malabar Hill, save in one quarter.
Joe draws the attention of his artist
correspondent comrade to the rear of
the hotel, whence loud voices Of dis
cussion come. The row seems to be
between the bobajee and a mussaljee
under him. The cook berates the scul-
lion and the latter assumes ridicu-
lousy dramatic attitude, with his head
cooked on one side. Sandy eagerly
takes it in. If he could only repro
duce that scene on paper. it would he
q dandy. At any rate, his memory is
good, and he may succeed.
AS they walk on in the soft, balmy
moonlight, the angry voice Of the bo-
bajee continues to float after him. Fin
ally there is a hubbub, and they
know he has launched forth other al
guments than mere words.
1t is not long before they have
reached the native quarter. Perhaps
some unusual festival is taking place;
at any rate, the shops AMI bazars are
lighted up and throngs are on The
street. AS in the densely populated
cities of China. the people Of Bombay
seem to Lave 10 particular time #
rest, unless during the hot part of the
day their enthusiasm dwindles to q
low peg. Nights cooling breezes
bring them all out-of-doors. and the
noise reminds n traveller Of carnival