New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
HE KNEW A COUNTESS.

THE REWARD OF MERIT IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Talking about the pleasure takes in seeing
| deserved success crown the efforts Of young man
10 rise in the world said the philosopher recently
returned from South Africa, Il am reminded Of an
incident which occurred early last year. when was
in the employ of the South African Chartered Com
pany Mr.. Rhodess private secretary, Mr. Jourdan
was I'll at the time and had to take his place in
Cape Town writing many OF the mighty Cecil's
private letters and improving my mind by observ-
ing the workings of the famous company. One
morning Mr.. Stevens, head Of the Cape Town
branch, called me his Office. and remarked:
oh by the way Mr.. -, there's young fellow
coming here on the Scot on Tuesday; he has been
sent out to Mr Rhodes by the Countess Of -
and Mr.. Rhodes says some one is TO be sent down
TO meet him and bring him up. Now, attend to
this. and don't let there be any mistake, for
heavens sake or Mr.. Rhodes will think I've got
Office full Of idiots
Very good said I. 'Tn go myself Mr.. Stevens
Don't send any else downF shouted Stevens
after me as ! lef: the
Il stopped TO ask. What class is he coming by7'
Don't know said Stevens. that's the whole
thing. my dear fellow. Mr.. Rhodes doesn't even
know himself. He may be first class, second class
or steerage. That's why want you 10 down
and find out
With that ] left the room. I knew that n the
stranger turned out to he first class passenger 1
should be expected Frovel before him. If second
class passenger TO treat him treats ones
valet. IT the poor devil LANDED from steer
age I 10 loaf about the wharf until from the
mere lack of anything to do ] should bring him up
TO the office Of the Cape Town secretary 10 be in
suited: for that worthy has a habit % insulting
people unless they either tnled or wealthy.
When Tuesday morning came had completely
forgotten about the arrival Of this Mr.. Benger
until one of my fellow clerks reused
Of my duty by informing me that the Scot had been
docked four hours. 1 sprang out of my chair.
showed Ave shillings into the hands of the Office
boy and told him TO go down and bring Benger UP
10 the Office. In five minutes the boy was back
It's all right said he to me- this chaps steer
age just met a going up country TO join the
Buluwayo police. and he said Benger was his cabin
mate
q" Poor devil said to myself. come out to ind
a job for / had already that morning written
fifty letters stating that regretted that
there We're vacancies 1T a cigar and lay back
in my chair ponderng what could be done with the
unfortunate Benger save to send him up country 10
Join the police, which is the last refuge when
everything else fails I'm South Africa In the midst
u these reflections I was interrupted by the ring
ing Of the telephone from GrOote Schuur. Mr..
Rhodess residence in Rondebosch
From the other end Of the wire came the gentle
voice Of Ar; Stevens. sweetly saying, What blamed
idiot went down TO meet this man BengeT"
oee oee B0yy Bboy S he sh6gad 5sPtfd didn't tell Won to
go down yourself Can't trust anybody in that
Very sorry I murmured. # anything has gone
Gone wrong" he yelled when he could draw
! fool got into cab. with the bag, and has come
out here to Rondebosch, planked down his luggage
and wants TO know II his rooms ready!
'Awfuly sorry, Mr.: Stevens. I said. meekly,
| and hope my chuckle didn't far the wire.
'AWfuHy SOrrE, etc. thank
lucky stars that Mr.. Rhodes hasn't back from
Nuremberg or he'd lawfully sorry you. You wait
at the Office till / come back
Toward o'clock Stevens returned, placidly fol-
lowed by Benger. once inside the door. with Ben
ger shut out the genial secretary got his fuming
done, and then said: This fool hasn't got a cent
We've got TO keep him here and pay his board until
a billet be found for him. Send a wire to
Kimberley at once and then go and find him a lodg-
ing somewhere and tell him TO be at the Office 9
sharp Tomorrow
THE wire sent, I escorted Benger to his lodging
As we walked up GOVernment-aVe. I asked him
what his trade was and what he had done. The
only answer / could get Nothing
Il next sought to find out what the dickens he
| meant by going out to Mr.. Rhodes's own house
and what Instructions he had received in London.