The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ROAD TO INDIA.

| THE ROAD TO INDIA.
Once more in Cairo they proceed to
look after various duties that call for
attention, Mr. Grimes going one way,
Sandy to send his long-delayed tele-
gram securing passage on the good
steamer Alhambra, while Mynheer
Joe goes at once to Shepherds, where
he has, later on, an appointment with
several diplomatic representatives of
the British Government, who desire
the fullest particulars he can give
concerning the sad event that recently
happened at Kbartoom.
From q window of the hotel pair
of anxious eyes note his coming. A
| futtering white handkerchief attracts
his attention, and he sees the face
of Molly. She waves again and he
bows. A tremendous load is taken off
her mind. She has suffered keenly in
the suspense that has weighed upon
her ever since she heard the voices
below in the court and learned from
her father that Mynheer Joe had gone
to fight q duel with the Russian bar
on.
Joe does not see her until evening,
and then her look Of eager interest
tells him that she is acquainted with
all. He fushes with a feeling akin
to shame.
"You seem to have come out Of your
difficulty with credit, Mynheer Joe,"
she murmurs, as she walks at his
side.
"Who told you about it, Miss Mol
ly"
81 heard you leaving, and my father
told me there was about to be some
sort of an affair of honor, he called it."
II am sorry you heard Of it," he
says.
"You have the glory Of being the
victor"
There is a slight ting of bitterness
in her voice which be feels keenly.
1T is a glory I never sought. I
have not paraded it about Cairo. Be-
ing the challenged party 1 was COM
PEELED to fight, or let that man, whom
1 despise, believe I feared him"
"And what was it al abo ltT"
"He insulted my flag to my face. I
am an American and resented the in
suit by tossing a glass Of wine in his
face. Then came the challenge. We
had it out with swords under the
palms, and hope it S done with"
But 1 have always heard the baron
had no equal as a swordsman," she
says quickly.
Mynheer Joe smiles.
"Still, good fortune attended me, and
that sometimes makes up for lack Of
skill, you know" he replies; but Mol
ly believes he has not told the whole
story, and privately makes up her
mind to question Sandy at the very
earliest opportunity that offers.
Il have not seen the baron to-day"
looking him steadily in the eyes.
"You did not kill him, hope" with
shudder.
"Oh, no! Merely puncture through
the shoulder of his sword-arm that
will keep him quiet for a few days,
perhaps. Mr.. Grimes"
"Well, what about Mr.. Grimes"
seeing that he hesitates to SO on.
He declared it would have been
better for the whole of US if the baron
had gone down in the duel; but I as
sure you l have no desire to see his
blood on my hands. Let us talk of
something more agreeable, Miss Mol
ly."
II understand he intends going to
India on the same steamer with u.s."
I'VE will ferrently hope and pray
that something may occur to make
him change his mind before we start"
says the traveller, not thinking it good
policy to say anything about Sandy's
little scheme until they see whether it
turns out to be a success or not.
Ito be Continued