The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-11
NUMBER 81.

ltE duiiucAa ~ extraordinary. true,
one can ilsh there from morning un-
tiI night. " one Ia 80 disposed; and ~
one has che good fortune to be o bot
anist, there Ia an ineXhaustiblr field
open for study II Il also true thst
Nampoung Ia only 20 miles or su, as
the crow flies. from Bhsmo, and whrn
ono has been in the wilds, aud out
Of touch of civilization for months
at a time. BhAme Is by no means
place TO be despiaed. So thought
Gregory, OF the One Hundred aud
Twcniy.third regiment, ss he threw
his line into the pool below him.
''It's worse than Q dogs liie." he
said to himself, as he looked AZ the
ford n hundred yards or 20 30 his
right, where, at the moment, his sub
aitcrn was engaged levying toll up
on some YunnAn merchants who
were carrying cotton on pack mules
into China. After that he glanced
behind him at the little cluster OF
buildings on che hill. and groaned
once more. ~ wonder what they arc
doing in England" he continued.
Trout fishing has just begun, and I
can imagine the dear old governor at
the Long pool. rod In hand. The
girls win stroll down In the after
noon TO find out what sport he has
had, and they'll walk home across
the park with him, while the mater
wilt probably meet them half way.
And here am In this God-fOrsaken
hole with nothing TO do but TO keep
an eye on that ford there. Bhamo
IL better than this, Mandalay ~ bct-
ter than Bhamo, aud Rangooa ~ bet
ter than either. ChivyyinR dakus Is
Paradise compared with this sort OF
thing. Anyhow. I'm tired Of fishing"
lie began 10 take his rod 10 pieces
preparatory 90 returning to his
quarters ON the hill lie had just un-
shipped the last joint, when he he
came aware that one Of his men was
approaching him Ne inquired his
business. and was informed Ia return
that Dempsey. his sub would be
glad 10 scc him az the ford Hand
ing his rod 90 the man he set on in
the direction OF the crossing In qucs-
tion, 10 become aware, as he Hp-
preached e., of a diyrrputable figure
propped up against tree on the
nearer bank
whats the matter, Dempsey"
he inquired What on earth have
you got there, man."
"Wcll that's more than can saw
the other replied. Hes evidently .
white man, and I fancy an English
man. Al home wc should call him a
scarecrow lie turned mp from across
the ford Just now, and tnmbicd down
in the middle nf the stream like q
shot rabbit Never saw such q thing
before. Hes not pretty sight. Is
hc?"
Poor devil" said Gregory. He
seems To bc on his last legs won
der who the deuce he il, and what
brought him into this condition"
I've searched, and there's nothing
about to tell u.s." said Dempsey.
"Whnt do you think We had hctisr
do with him?"
Get him up the hill" said his su-
pcrinr, without hesitation when
he's hit stronger we'll have his
story out of him. ill het u few
years pay II will he interesting
A file Of men were called, and the
mysterious stranger was carried Mp
to the residence ot the English OIL
GERS. Il was plain to the least oh
scrynnt that he was IN very serious
condition. Such clothes as he pos
sessed were in rags; his face was
plnched with starvation, and more
over he was quite unconscious.
When his bearers, accompanied by
the two Enrlishmcn. reached the
cluster Of huts. he was carried Ia Il
small room at the end Of the officers
bungalow and placed upon the bed.
After little brandy had been adj
miniHtered, he recovered conscious
ness and looked about him. Heav-
ing a sigh Of relief, he inquired
where he might he.
"You are AZ NampounF." said
Gregory, "aEd you ought to thank
your stara that you arc not In King
dom Come. II ever man was near
II, you have beer. We won't ask you
for your story now; however, later
on. you shall bukh to your hearts
content Now / am going 10 give
you something 10 eat. You look Ia II
you want Il badly enough"
Gregory looked at Dempsey and
made sign, whereupon the other
withdrew, TO presently return carry
ing bowl Of soup. The stranger
drank II Tavenously, and then lay
back and closed his eyes once more.
He would have been a clever man
who could have recognized in the
emaciated being upon the bed, the
spruce, well.cared-for individual who
was known to the Hotel Of the Three
Desires In Singapore as Gldeos
Hayle.
You'd better rest awhile now"
said Gregory, "and then perhaps
you'll feel equal 60 joining nv at
ness, or whatever you like to call H."
Thanks, very much,' the man re-
piled, with the conventional utter
ance of an English gentleman, which
was not lost upon his audience. Il
hope ! shall feel up to it,"
"Whoeyer the fellow is." said
Gregory, as they passed along the
verandR a few minutes later, "he has
evidently seen better days. Poor
beggar, wonder where he's been.
and what he has been up to2"
eve shall soon tind out" Dempsey
answered. "All he said when we
fishcd him out Of the water was at
last and then he tainted clean
away. | am not more curious than
my ncigh5ors, but don't mind adj
mitting that am anxious 10 hear
what he has 60 say for himself. Talk
about Nip Van Wrinkle. why, he is nnt
In Il with this fellow. He could give
him points and beat him hollow"
TITO BE coHtinued.i