The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-04
George fockharf Darts.

Ex-UnIted States Consul at Martinique. w. l.


saw, seated off I'm one corner, Jack Dins-
more Now Dinsmore was, and is yet for
that matter, "A particular friend OF mine.
lie is "A capital fellow, whole-soulcd aud
good-natured. with not only an NJ. ID. at
tached TO his name. but enjoys a lucra-
tive practice steadily on the increase.
There he sat. behind b. A. s.. iiitently
buri Il, as IL were, In the contents OF "A
paper and from where I stood i could
plainly discern the picture OF a steam
ship on the back Of 1t. II looked suspi-
cious and / wondered what was up, and
II he were going away. 1t certainly gave
me that impression az any rate. l de-
cided I would find out II possible and
stepping across the room approached him
with "a, Hello old chap What's new?"
Hello Ted. How are you?" he answer
ed. looking up with a twinkle in his
eyes.
Now / never liked the name OF Ted. He
heard "A girl call me that once and
thought IL was good one on md IL al
ways had tendency 10 make me feel
small-sort of Kid name you know.
Sit down though, won't your he con-
tinued. Have a nip?-it will do you
good I'm sure. Bye the bye" he ratified
on. where in the world have you been
hiding yourself OF late?-you must have
a beastly time trying to while away the
hours with nothing on your hands but
time and money, eh?''
"Well-yes," | answered, pulling up
chair to the opposite side of the table,
time does hang heavy sometimes-and
/ say Jack. do you know / believe I'm
getting blase-dont [ laugh-but Miss Starr
told me so the other night and that COM
ing from her-why. old chap. she's blase
and pascifcness, personihed-you know
that
why don't you take a change then
get out OF New York go somewhere
50 anywhere" he retorted. at the same
time blowing huge volume OF smoke
into my face. causing me to cough.
Jack always az smoke such
handling that paper. 'and I was about 10
question him about IL when he broke in
with.
Now look here Ted, How would a trip
10 the tropics--the West Indies strike
you? IL would be good for that cough OF
yours-a three months trip. you know.
I'm going TO start next week for Mar
Unique TO study some new cases In "Ele-
phantiasis" that have appeared there
and old chap nothing would please me
better than TO have you along with me.
providing, of course--that is. IL you could
content yourself with an old fogy like
me. Ever been there?
NO" ! answered.
"Well what do you think about it?"
II don't now I'm surev'
And who does pray, IL not your"
Even that L can't say" L answered,
for we'll
Now look here" he interrupted.
think IL over-you must excuse me now,
I've "a call To make. AS ] say, think II
over Ted-drop me a line here tomorrow
morning-if you get up early enough, drop
i'm at the office on your way down town.
Hows that? And now goodbye
"Oh-all right" l responded. Yes, I'll
think IL over and let you know tomorrow
SO long! Sorry you have to be off so
soon"
After he had gone I sat and thought.
The Il. a. s. remained untouched for
some Is minutes, which i'm itself was
strange. i thought the proposition OF
Jacks oyer-tumbled il over, and meta
phorically speaking. picked IL up and
looked at IL. The West Indies! Martin
ique! That little French island! But
why not? Why not escape this hum-drum
existence of yellow, pink and blue tights
and late suppers for "A month or two-and
yeti No. 1 couldn't leave her-and-oh.
we'll what's the use! She will marry. that
little French count anyway. with his big
castle, "a family crest and five hundred
thousand I'm debts. | wouldn't let her
know / care-why I'd rather drink kero-
sene cocktails I'm Arizona than that! Yes!
Yes I'd go! and acting upon the impulse
golden-haired head might cause me TO
change my mind. called the waiter for
pen, ink and paper and scribbled Jack
my ultlmatum. Then / pulled on my
topcost. put on my hat, left the club,
walked slowly down Broadway TO my
rooms, turned I'm and slept like top.
The next morning, l sauntered through
Thirty-Second street to Jacks Office.
There were lot OF people there already
strange, eh, how early people haunt a
PHYSICIANS office? Jack was not in
sight so | sat down next TO n child whom
| strongly suspected OF having the mes-
sles, or something similar. and waited
Presently the door opened and he appear
ed from his private office and came up
to me.
Received your note old chap. and glad
to know you've grown sensible again
concluded 10 shake the frivolities of life
Tor time and all that" he said, taking
my hand in vice-like grip, coming, I
suppose from constant use OF the saw
I'm taking off peoples arms and legs.
Haven't time TO talk 20 you about IL
now" he continued-"get your luggage
ready however. and we will start Tues
day next by the Pretoria-and now, SO
long"
Before / knew Il. or before had time
TO utter a word, l found myself walking
down the steps leading 10 the street on
my way, so TO speak, TO the west Indies.
Strange what persuasiveness doctors
have.
After ten days. most OF the time.
which / spent below in a very small cab
in on very large ocean, while Jack talk
ed. laughed and had "A good time in gem
eral with the passengers, We arrived az
Martinique. They speak French and n
patois there, and my command OF those
languages was decidedly limited, at any
rate 1 could say "Jo vous aime,' which
means II love YOU" and when I asked
Jack about it he said IL was enough To
get me into trouble at least.
Right at this point OF my story it might
be we'll to give you an idea OF the sort
OF character Dinsmore was. Imagine, if
you can. q strapping fellow, broad should
cred. with blonde hair and beard. PAIR
Of eyes denoting a mixture Of wisdom
and kindness. and I might say, just q
dash Of mischief peeping out OF them
also. For myself I will give sort Of n
contrary description. m not broad
shouldered. not strappng fellow. tho
light of wisdom does not shine percepti-
hly out of my eyes. Vet there may be a
dash of mischief lurking I'm them some-
where.
After landing We went to the hotel and