The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-16
I MAN OF ACTION.

anchored off Tangier It was about
 eleven o'clock in the morning, and her
 owner, Lady Violet Denham, pretty girl of some tWenty-three years, re- clined in luxurious deck chair, chat | ting to middle aged lady who was in- dustrously knitting by her side. Lady Violet let her glance idly on the white patch of nat-roofed houses that | staggered from the shore away to the higher ground.
 Didn't that guide man say he would | take us to see the market to-day?' , Mrs. Rollofield looked toward the shore, and pointed with her knitting needle to a boat that had just pushed off from the little jetty, That looks like the creature, doesn't it?"
 Lady Vi rose from her seat and leaned over the taffrail.
 Well. I hope he'll be able to show us something to distract our thoughts" she said.
 Mrs. Rollofield laughed.
 My dear Violet here you are, d young lady of title, absolutely your own mistress, large fortune, and you sue ceed in doing nothing but bore yourself! Why on earth don't you marry? What ever husband turns out eventually to be. he is, at least, temporary diver sion."
 Lady Vi was gazing thoughtfuly out at sea. She turned to Mrs. Rolotield with sudden look of resolution.
 T will" she declared. "We'll leave for Cairo o-morrow."
 A slight look of perplexity crossed Mrs. Rollofeld's face.
 "Cairo!" she murmured retlectively. "Oh that's where that engineering man has gone; the man who is forever en- gagged in big schemes" She paused and looked up at Lady Vi. DO you think you would like him for hus- band, dear?"
 Hes man; does big things; is worker!'' exclaimed Lady Vi.
 "M!" said Mrs. Rollofield, refec- lively. Personally l should have pre- ferred the duke I suppose he proposed to you?"
 Lady Vi nodded thoughtfully.
 "Then what's the matter with him?" continued Mrs. Rollofeld. "I confess I find him desperately amusing"
 That's just it--be is amusing and nothing else good looking idler, who has never done a useful thing in his life-too lazy even to be emotional. You know how he nirted with that American girl, Mamie Carlson? Well, he actually had the audacity to propose to me the same evening that he sat out five dances with her. He remarked that it was a pity and that he would ask me again next week! I settled it definitely by setting out with the yacht on this trip" She turned around to Mrs. Rollofield And I expect I shall settle it still more definitely by my vis- it to Cairo!"
 Did the worker-the man who does big things-get as far as that?' asked Mrs. Rolofleld in mind surprise.
 "He didn't quite dare,' said Lady Vii olet with soft laugh.
 I wish the duke had taken to build ing railways and damming Niles and that sort of thing but then l suppose he wouldn't have been so amusing" said Mrs. Rollofeld with a sigh Come, Violet here's the guide along side"
 An hour later they were in the won derful Soko at Tanger, being shown round by the guide. They bought sev- eral curios at fabulous prices. Lady Violet was just lingering murderous- looking knife when an exclamation from Mrs. Rollofeld caused her to turn her head.
 She saw man, an Englishman, dressed in naval uniform, watching them with an amused smile from few yards distance. As their eyes met he strolled forward and saluted
 Lady Violet was too much amazed to speak for a moment. She dropped the knife on the stall, her eyes taking in every detail of the newcomers appear ance. Then she laughed.
 That is absurd.' she said. Alto l gether,' he agreed. "It approaches the | grotesque."
 "1 set out specially in my yacht to you" she cried.
 Iris not in mortaIs to command success, he quot ed; "and the more de- the end, the least likelihood | there is of its being achieved
 But. my dear duke" why are you in naval uniform"
 Mere accident! You see, I got down [ to Gib., and found my cousin, George | Alesham, was there. He's a service man, in command of destroyer. He l was doing run across here, and volun- -eered to take me. On the way over we found the Straits a bit rough, and l got my pretty clothes all wet and 5poilt So Cousin George fitted me out n some spare rig of his. and here I am
 Mrs, Rollofield saw an opportunity
 You will have time to lunch on the yacht? We are just going back"
 Shall I have time?' he said, with a good humored smile. "Old George is in he Continental now-I left him to or Ter lunch.'
 "I think you will have time, particu- arly if the commander comes, too. They can't sail without him." Mrs. said.
 The duke went and fetched Cousin George, who was agreeably surprised at he new arrangement. Then the whole party went off to the yacht and had a very jolly lunch. Afterward the com nander stayed down in the drawing ! 'oom and chatted with Mrs. Rollofield. | So there was nothing else left for the