Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-26

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animated. various,
full of life and color.''
Interesting because Interested" re-
Joined Gordon, slowly twirling his
wineglass by the stem-"interested in
a vast range of small matters, the tri-
fling affairs Of the moment"
Not bit like New York." Darrell
continued, land always new to me.
See those young fellows, clerks, sup.
pose, going home. Would you see any
30 light hearted ON Broadway? Why,
every mothers son Of them would be
gnawing his mustache with fierce de-
termination, and IL an honest answer
could be had you might ask one ques.
ton Of fifty Of them in succession and
get the same answer every time. What
are you thinking about? I'm think
Ing about scheme to get hold of some
money. And II two were talking II
would be Of business-of girls, perhaps,
once in awhile, but Of business nine
times in ten. Look at the people sit
ting around these tables
Darrell shifted his glance with the
last words, and there was a pause be-
fore he added in an altered and much
lower tone:
"Now, that's little more like what
were accustomed to see at home"
Gordon turned a cautious eye toward
a table upon their left.
You mean," he said. "your Russian
friend and the black whiskered pirate
who is talking to him"
Darrell nodded.
From snatch Of their conversation
which overheard" said Gordon, "I
Judge that your friend has been losing
money in a gambling club and is anx-
i0us to return and lose some more.
The other is dissuading him."
"Then beg the pirates pardon" re-
piled Darrell. II thought he was try
Ing to sell Getchikoff gold brick.
That's what reminded me of New
York"
What's his name7" asked Gordon.
u didn't catch It."
Ivan Getchikoff," was the reply.
"He's the son of the governor general
of Stavropol, in the Caucasus, and colo
mel in the cars army. met him
through Braybrook of the British en-
bassy. He seems to be gentleman,
but he's no friend of mine. His So
ciety is little too thrilling for me in
my present state of nerves."
Wanted you to assist at some sort
Of duel, didn't hep
"Yes, but succeeded in lodging It,"
said Darrell, without getting into one
myself, as usually happens over here
when a fellow attempts to evade those
little social obligations. No more of
that sort Of thing for me. Bob, there's
nothing In 1t, and nobody knows that
bel than do"
fdon, nodded several times slowly
ayf with glance that may have be-
VI fed a trace of envy.
you've had adventures in all quar-
b Of the globe" he said, while L
Is ELI, / married early and settled down,
ss~hd I've been thoroughly happy" he
added almost defiantly.
Il shan't marry" replied Darrell,
"but ! shall certainly settle down. In
fact, have. I've seen a good deal Of
life in the last ten years. No dissipa-
ton, you understand, or as little as a
man can get along with. And really
1t was oil luck. Wherever I went
something was bound to happen"
"And If it didn't" rejoined Gordon,
"you made 1t. l know you. Jack. l
know you through and through. Ad-
venture is your natural food. Was it
luck that got you into that last awful
Jig in Wall streetY
"No; but it was luck that got me out
Of it." said Darrell, with laugh. up
on my soul, Bob. was near losing
every cent had In the world, and
then-well, think it was the winning
that broke me down. At any rate, /
was wreck when the thing was all
cleaned up. have the Doctors word
for 1t, and II my mother bribed the
doctor to say 1t, why, SO much the bet
ter for the doctor-and for me IL take
his advice. Absolute rest he said
and he was right. II a fire engine goes
by In these days, I turn my back to
avoid the excitement though there's
nothing nervous in the sight of Paris
engine plodding along. But this man
Getchikoff is another proposition. Hell
10. he's getting out his checkbook!
knew it was q gold brick game! Wait.
f.. err,
He took passing servant by the
sleeve and whispered to him:
III that Russian gentleman asks you
for pen and ink, don't get them. Dc
you comprehend? This for yourself"
And he put some money into the fel
lows hand.
Ten seconds later Getchikoff was
asking for writing tools, and the obng
Ing servitor was promising to fetch
them instantly. But he did not do 1t.
Getchikoff had been drinking more
wine than was good for him and had
passed into condition where FRIEND
might prevent him from spending his
money foolishly by any device tina,
seemed adequate. He swore at thu
waiter for returning without the pen
and 1t was while relieving his feeling.
IN this way that he first saw Darrell
to whom his back had been turne<
when the two Americans sat down