The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-08-16
CHATTER Xxx.

Walter Fosters mother learned by
cable that the remains she awaited,
and that reached port almost the day
she got the dispatch. we're u, those
Of her only son. but Of one who had
practically died tor him. Aud even In
the joy 81 that supreme moment IN.
womnn in her turned. after NIL. In pity
to weep for the mp,hrrlr.H lad who
hal been her boys warwest friend In
his hours ~ doubt and darn mess and
despair.
A weak vessel WA "Waliy.' ~ Far.
pnhar had intiHnni.d, aud va easily
cowcd nnd dauntrd that In the dread
81 the punishment accorded the de.
srrl-r he had skulked In di-guis. NJ
Hong hong. leaving all tn. burden Of
sroniing, pleading aud planning fer
him Ia Willard. his Old-iim- chum, who
hnd even less knowledge and expert.
ence Of army official life than himself.
willard -nrly letters Ia Hong. Kong
ave Foster little hope. for ~ first
the only people the recruit could
"sound" were private soldiers like
himself. Then Foster read of the nr.
rival ~ the Sacramento NJ Manila. Of
the presence there OF Maidie Ray. and
then he wrote urging his quoDdam
obum 10 ~ndcayor 20 s-- her, ~ tell
her 81 his desperate straits. 10, Inn
plorc her Ia exert influence TO get him
pnrdoned. and. IN order that she might
know that hi envoy was duly nccred.
tied. he sent Willard his chief treas
urr. that litil. cnrtc-de-visit., togcth'
or with II few imploring lines.
Then not u word anne from willard
for three mortal weeks, but Fosters
daily Visits Ia the bank were NJ lAst
rewarded by n dispatch from HON.
bidding him return nj one" by first
steamer, sending him abundant means
and assuring hum all would he well.
And when the news Of his uwn MUIR
der wns published in the ilong-kong
pnpcrs. without the fnini-s, intima-
tion to the uinciHls of the bank M Ia
his intentions. hc was downward
bound md never heard u word OF Il
all until recognized by an officer
aboard the Qncen ~ the Coptic float
ed into Honotllu hnrbor, There he
was arrested aid turned back.
Among "Bily B%cnton's" fcw effects
no letters. no such picture, had been
found. ,nothnis, in fact, 10 connect
him with iua,rr. Col. Brcnt knew
what had become Of the cnrtc-de-vis-
tie, hut how happened IL In other
hands than those Of Benton? That,
TOO, was not long 10 lie u mysiery.
One day in iaie December n forlorn-
looking fellow begged a drink OF the
bartender AZ the Alhambra on the
Escoltn snid he WINS out Of money.
deserted by his friends, and took occa-
sion to remind the dispenser Of ilnid
rcfrcshmcnt that . few weeks ago
when he had funds and friends both he
had spout many a dollar there. The
bartender waved him away.
awe, give the fcller u drink" said
boys IN blue, IN the %Iarseness OF their
nature aud the language of the ranks.
"What'U sou take, ~Johuny? Have u
with m," and one OF the managers
hnstrncd over and whispered TO some
Of the innnel-shiricd squad. hut to
no purpose.
Tho "boys" were bent on beneyu-
icncc, and beat" though he might be.
The gannt stranger was made well
come, shared their meat and drink,
and, growing speedily confidential IN
his cups, told them that he could tell
u tale some folks would pay well 20
bear, aud then proccededto stifen out
u a CT. <