The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-07-25
THE ESCAPE.
ny BARRY PAIN.

The desert was pAaAnlgf II epdHecigs TUT
rished with some sand, dead camel and q
traveller named Smith. There was also q
horizon, with a sunset and few vultures
on il. The vultures were discussing the
probability of Smith lasting out the night.
Two to one Tin eyeballsl was offered against
il.
But FIVE days before, in fit Of UNCOVER ma
bic irritation, Smith mad hurriedly left the
society of the English trader and the Eng
Esh missionary, in the white-walled, primi-
tive village. and, mounted on his camel,
had dashed wildly into the desert. A few
hours later he had repented, and had been
willing TO return. But neither he nor the
camel knew the way. Since then he had sub
sisted on three biscuits, patent tire-lighter,
and a bottle of coffee extract. The camel
had had nothing except a piece out OF
Smiths coat and some sand; that was why
the camel had given up subsisting. Smith
made himself a couch of saddle-bags, with
a pillow of dead camel, and gave himself
ND to reverie An elderly vulture now OF
fered three to one against Smith seeing the
sunrise and was taken twice.
I In his reverie he recalled his past. 1t
was considerate of him, because particular
ly want to tell you about Smiths past, and
this gives me the opportunity.
There was a time when Smith had been
a happy man. Nay, more, he had been
solicitor; and now he was dying in des-
/ ert, starved and half mad, the victim OF
ping-pong Yes, l mean 1t, ping-pong, or
| if you prefer it, table tennis.
His native home las you may have de-
duced from his name) was In sunny Eng
| land There he lived in sunny suburb
and in a sunny villa-electric bells and tiled
| fore-court-only needs to be seen. Pardon
me, lapse into the language OF the house
agents advertisement He had never known
the love of wife or child. He was unmar-
ried That is rather "a pity, because 1t pre-
vents this story from being as pathetic
as it otherwise might have been. Still, one
must speak the truth; but he had the love
of an aunt In that sunny villa he lived
with his aunt, who also was unmarried,
and the long winter evenings hung heavily
on his hands, until the night when he
brought back with him from the city the
game of table tennis, or, II you prefer II,
ping-pong. They became enthusiastic. He
played badly, and shea why, gimlet-eyed
lady-played uncommonly well. Other VII
las procured the game OF ping tennis, or,
if you prefer it, table pong. They played
every night, and also some afternoons. HIS
game improved, and he grew to hate 1t as
he had rarely hated anything.
Just as he HAD decided that he could not
possibly bear it any more, it became popu-
lar again, and the second attack was even
worse than the former. The heather was
alight. All the sunny villas played the
game. and invited each other to help at It,
The conditions of life were arranged to
suit it. They played it morning, noon and
night; and, when they were not playing
it. they were talking it. Smith reached
point when the mere sight OF cellulold Dali
produced nausea; he was tired OF that game
as he had never been tired OF anything
in the whole course of his Life. In the IN
terests of his own society he took de-
cided line
He sold his practice, provided for his
aunt's future, pencled her hurried note,
and left by express for anywhere tie had
got to get to some place where the fata
game was not known. He tried France,
Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain; ne there
found that many OF the people to Whom
he had letters of introduction already played |
the game; the rest got it in as special com |
pliment to himself Nearly frantic, he left |
for the remote and mystical east He avoid |
ed those well-known centers which might |
have suffered from tourist-borne contain
nation. and-there at last-iH the insigniti- |
can't whitewalled and barely civilized VII |
lage of Stroonga Rhakit he knew W. at hap I
piness was The only two white men there |
the English trader and the English mis-
sionary-had never even heard OF the game
The three sat down to matadOr every even
ing. and his horrible mental obsessloD
passed away, and all nature smiled.
a, atI IL.
ing. the tropical version of Carter Paterson
deposited at the hut of the English trader
case containing IA variety of gifts, sent
to him by his friends at home. With eager
hospitality he babe Smith and the mis-
sionary to dine with him that night.
1t was feast indeed The timed oxtail
steamed fragranty; the British champagne
flowed freely: the mixed pickles smoked
on the board And subsequently Smith
smoked with his feet on the mantelpiece.
Come. rouse yourselfl" said the trader;
eve are going to play game which has
been sent me-a game that has won, hear,
great popularity in Eng gland. 1t can be
PLAYED on an ordinary dining-table, and
With one unearthly yell of anguish Smith
dashed from the hut and whistled twice
for hanson. There being no hanson, he
took the nearest camel and fled far into the
desert. 1t was there that relief expedition
found him an hour before sunrise. He was
delirious. His right hand was clutched
tightly, as if it had been grasping racquet
His arm moved in convulsive jerks. lie
made inaudihle observations, and then one
word rang out clearly: "Deuce!'
'sHow truly horrible!" said the mission
ary. as he bent over him. at is the first
time that / have known him to use pro
fame word"
Smith opened his eyes wide and looked
ND at the missionary. With last effort
he murmured family:
"'It's your service
So it was. The elderly vulture chuckled
Black and White.