The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13

TAIN IOlulS, SlIIohihS' "iiN
while others engage in dancing; 1oi
on this night in February the hotel
has given hop
Sandy knows and appreciates Inc
desire of his friend to be observed is
little as possible. and lie manages IT
so that they pass into the hotel with
out undergoing a critical survey. In
deed. the condition of Mynheer Joe is
hardly such as would warrant him ap-
pearing in the presence of ladies. Nat
urally his figure is good, and he makes
fine appearance, but just now LIS
clothing. as he has shown them, has
been badly cut in the awful affair at
Khartoom and from his frequent i'm
mersions in the river shrunk so that
it clings to him like a friend /" Il
brother. Yes, Mynheer Joe is hardly
in a condition to meet the fair girl
whose face he has carried in his men,
ory ever since saving her life at Nal
ia. A man dislikes appearing as q
scarecrow before one whose good opin-
ion he values. No doubt there have
been occasions when lovers have thus
been forced into the presence OF their
sweethearts.
"Now, Mr.. Grimes, bring him back
to this spot as soon as you can,' says
Sandy seating himself at a desk where
he may handle pen and paper.
They leave him there, busily en-
gagged in writing out in long hand
the narrative of Khartoom's fall and
the death of Gordon, which he took
down in shorthand as the story fell
from the lips Of the one survivor OF
that terrible day.
Mr.. Grimes himself leads the way
to his room, which is one of the best
Shepherds affords. Here the traveller
finds a hotel run much more on the
American plan than most caravansa-
ries in European or other foreign
countries. Even in Alexandria the
guest is charged for a candle, for a
piece of soap, for the most trivial serv-
ice in fact. 1t becomes an abomina-
BILE nuisance. No wonder then that
Shepherds is always favorite stop
ping place for all our citizens doing
the wonderful country Of the Nile.
Mr.. Grimes fastens his door, and
then with true hospitality begins to
spread the contents of his trunk before
Mynheer Joe.
Choose anything you please, my
friend. l am only too happy to be
at your service" says the silver king,
blandly, and the messenger from hhar-
toom takes him at his word.
He makes his ablutions, assumes a
modest check suit that fits him remark
ably well, combs his hair and beard,
and in a brief space Of time has eff
fected wonderful change in his ap-
pearance. Then it can be seen that
this nomad, who has wandered all
over the earth with such men as Stan
ley, Schwatka and other adventurous
spirits, is about as fine-looking a man
as one would meet in q month in Lon
don or New York.
He is as brown as berry from
exposure to the hot sun and peculiar
winds of Egypt; but that is the COM
mon fate Of all who dwell beneath
the sky of the tropics. Besides, most
women admire a bronZed warrior,
when compared with the pink-and-
white dandy. Strength and valor are
qualities that appeal to their fancy.
When Mynheer Joe announces his
toilet as completed, Mr.. Grimes, who
has been glancing over a paper he
picked up, looks at his guest. The cX-
preston on his face declares that he
is pleased. and that there is no dan
ger that the explorer may not be fit
to meet the finest ladies in the land.
Mr.. Grimes seems to take peculiar
interest in this protege Of his. lie
watches him when one would not
think he is looking, and there is a
CLEAN in his eyes that might mean
4 good many different things.
IF you are ready, we will 60 down"
he remarks, tossing his paper aside.
The other assents, and together they
descend to the parlOrs of the hotel.
There Mr.. Grimes leaves him in a
small room alone while he goes to
hunt up Sandy.
Mynheer Joe stands there; observing
some attraction seen from the window.
The rustic Of dress causes him to
turn. A lady has glidcd into the room;
her hand is outstretched, and, remem-
bcring the delicate feather fan he no
ticed upon the table, he noticed her
motive in thus entering the bijou par
Ior.
AS he thus turns, she unconsciously
locks up ut him; their eyes meet, and
they are only some four feet apart.
Mynheer Joe starts, and the young
girl utters low. sharp cry, while over
her face there flashes look of sud.
den pleasure She comes even closer;
the hand that was outstretched to
pick up the fan now rests upon his
arm, while her gray eyes bold his own
spellbound.
"At last" she brcathes, 1--WE meet
I have not forgotten you, sir. if you
were ungallant enough to run away
before l could thank you. Perhaps
even now you think me rude-you dc
not remember me-"
you are Molly Tanner" he says
slowly, his eyes still upon her face.
"Ah. You even know my name, an(
all this Willie l have had 10 chance
to thank you for saving my life"
She brings shade OF reproach into
her voice; and he says quickly:
"If YOU knew all, you would no
blame me. l was compelled to hurry
away. At the first opportunity re
turned, but only to learn that tht