The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-24
MYNHEER JOE,
SsssSssSSssSsSsS
BY ST. GEORGE RATHB0RNE.,
sssssssssssSssss

CHAPTER VIII. %*Ss


ut shall be as you say, Mynheer
Joe, only 1 must give him to under
stand that the next Similar Of
fense-"
"Yes- the next similar offense-''
"Will not only be followed by dis
pleasure, but something more lasting
You need never fear that this un-
lucky wretch will ever offend again
in the same way. l can guarantee
that, Miss Molly. 1t was all mis-
take, anyhow, which I can explain.
You see, he had a positive idea"
Unfortunately for his peace of mind,
Mynheer Joe gets no further than this.
They are interrupted. The baron and
companion come up and introduce
some subject that all Cairo is talking
about.
Molly looks annoyed, while Mynheer
Joe is secretly fuming. He silently
nurses his wrath, hoping that some
time the chance may come when he
can take it out upon the baron. De-
pend upon it, he will no longer stand
between the other and any vengeance
he may invite; indeed, it would do
him good to watch a man of about
Tanners build use the baron neatly
up. His ideas have changed, you see.
Then Sandy makes his appearance,
and Joe presently finds himself tete-
a-tete with his voluable newspaper
friend.
There are times when one desires
n confdant; even a man likes to pour
his woes into a sympathetic ear. Myn-
beer Joe's life has been such that, as
a general thing, he has been deprived
of this privilege; but he has the feel
ing deep down in his heart all the
same.
In Sandy he sees the friend who may
help him out of the hole. A sugges-
ton will do it, for his brain, usually
30 clear, seems strangely muddled just
at present.
Besides, the war correspondent
knows Molly and her father very well,
having met them in various places.
Perhaps he can discover loophole
of escape, whereby Joe may crawl out
Of his awkward scrape with honor.
Having made up his mind to trust
Sandy, he first of all draws a pledge
from him that he will not reveal a
word of the story or hint at it in any
Of his correspondence; all Of which
Sandy, duly impressed with the gray
ity of the situation, solemnly prom
iSeS.
Then Joe relates the difficulty into
which his impetuosity and love Of fair
play have led him, nor does he forget
to lay due emphasis on the fact that
he fancied and truly believed he was
defending the dear old governor him
self.
Sandy holds in as long as he can,
and at last, doubling up, shakes all
over with laughter. 1t is silent, too,
all but the gurgling sounds as of water
bubbling down q rocky ravine
Mynheer Joe appreciates the situa-
ton, knows he has made a consummate
donkey of himself, and although nat
urally tempted to make use of his
boot, firmly refrains. Two mistakes
do not make a right. Sandy has rea-
son to be merry. And, besides, Joe
realizes that he has need Of advice
from this sagacious writer-this little
man who has, fguratively, waded
knee-deep in gore at battles, search
ing for news.
The great obligation under which
he has, this night, placed Sandy, by
giving him the story of Khartoom's
downfall and Gordon's death, must
serve as a lever to lift him from the
slough of despond. Back of it, Of
course, is Sandy's personal regard for
his fellow-citizen. That goes a great
way. He patiently waits till the other
has had his laugh out.
II must beg your pardon, Joe. Aw-
full trick, that Of yours. Too impul-
sive by half, my dear boy. If you
had known the baron rs I do"
~ would have danced to see him
knocked OUT" cried Mynheer Joe, vim
dictively.
''Ho! You've come to it already, eh
Thought 1t would be that way. Ex-
pect pistols for two between you and
the baron yet. Sly fellow, that man.
They do say he's downed half a dozen
men in affairs of honor, with sword
or pistol"
Mynheer Joe snaps his fingers.
ITO the deuce with the baron! If
he ever comes my way, I'll ring his
beastly neck as I would that of q
chickenT he mutters.
Good! Glad to hear you say so.
Despise the fellow myself And yet,
Joe, he's power in the land, protected
by hired gang that Is paid by Rus.
sian gold. When the time comes, if
it ever does, for you to lay that plotter
out, remember that the moment your
hand touches him it will be a signal
for several desperadoes to leap into
the game, armed, and ready to take
life, If necessary, in order to save the
emissary who is worth so much to
Russia"
Mynheer Joe gives low whistle.
"The deuce! DO you happen to
know these men, Sandy" he asks in
q low tone.
1.-TWO Of them am sure Of. There
is another who battles me- Without
any apparent motive, cast your eyes
across the room. Do you see that
tall, elegant-looking man in full even
ing dress? He is known here as Colo.
mel Taylor, an eX-Confederate officer
In reality, he is a Russian spy, and
one of the things he is paid for is to