Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-09-26

on MS lace Was quite Killing. for, as
he presently informed me. as luck
would have 1t. ! had come asking
about vessel lost many years ago.
about which no yestige had ever been
discovered. in the very hour that the
sole survivor OF the luekless Hespa'
sia had been sitting there In the
same chair ! occupied. and telling the
most thrilling tales of his adventures
In the deserts OF Afriea-the most ex-
citing that ever fell from the lips Of
mortal man."
That was quite unique situation
TO sit in the same chair and this
survivor OF the Hespasia wreck had
occupied within the hour. How II
must have stirred your blood and set
your nerves tingling' And then. Just
To think what ro,iicking adventures
he had to tell OF his life in Africa. by
the way. haven't We heard something
in that line before, have an indis-
tinct recollection of listening to some
very entertaining "reminiscences that
riyaied the feats OF old Munchausen.
Perhaps. after all. il was only a
dream"
Plainly. then. you think the old
boy has been up to his tricks. and
spinning his yarns To a fresh audi
ence," Artemus remarked.
Il confess that thought cams TO
me-"
We'll. IL struck me that way-at
first"
"Ah, then you found occasion to
change your mind:'
Il did"
And it wasn't the osreF" breath
'lessly.
Not bit OF it,
Then Charlie gave vent to a
whistle.
There were two Rlehmonds In the
heId.
The man they know as Capt. Brand
had rival for the honors.
II was growing decidedly interest
his friend had certainly stumbled
upon news OF Importance.
Here. then. was Mate Ben Hazcn.
come TO the surface after his long cx.
lie.
Yes. it was a grand stroke OF
luck.
They could doubtless easily prevail
upon the mate to meet the impostcr
face TO face. and tear away the mask
with which he had NIL this time con.
ccalcd his identity.
Surely he would be willing to do
this for the sake Of his old captains
daughter.
No wonder Charlie felt pleased.
Aa .dN. a.
gIna to look like business. declare" :"
Very much So.' remarked Artcmus.
Il can readily see there Is some
great fun In prospect II we can bring
these two wonderful African travellers
into contact
"oh! sloriouH!"
And II we can get the mate to de.
nouncc this old ogre. our end Is
gained"
who Is to dcnouncc him?"
why. Ben Hazcn, the mate. of
course"
"Ah! where will you find him7"
Il thought-thnt Is. l understood.
or. at least. I took II for granted. you
had found him.
.Artomus slowly shook his head In
the most tnntaiizing manner.
Il never raid So
Then l jumped Mt conclusions. and
was wrong?'
"You WERE
III Ben Hazcn is out OF tho aucs.
tion. suppose this is one of the crew
who has turned up?"
Artcmus lay back In his chair, with
thumbs in the armholcs of his vest.
His attitude was consequential and
triumphant: 1t plainly gave warning
that he was about to fire vollcy.
Guess again"
81 am at my wits ends
How about the genuine Simon
Pure captain?"
Charlie caught his breath.
Good Heavens! that would be
the most stupendous thing on record
- coincidence without parallel. But
see here" as he detected n quizzical
CLEAN in the others fun-loving eyes,
this is too serious n thing to joke
about, you know. my dear fellow"
you bet 1t is
And you are in dead earnest?"
Never more so in all my life
cross my heart II 1t isn't So
Then Charlie realized that he could
believe him.
Tell me-" he said. eagerly, were
you incredulous at first?"
Rather"
"And how did you set about prov
ing matters?"
Il saw only one way-that was to
look up this new claimant for the
honors."
you did it?"
81 had to. You see. couldn't rid
myself of the idea that 1t might after
all be Macauley, our ogre, spinning
his spider web
THAT would have struck me the
first thing"
"Well, with me it was somewhat
different, for the case stood out so
clearly. You see. he came to the
agency in company with the captain
of the English steamer that picked
him up in small boat off
the coast of Africa-he having at
last escaped from the Arabs who held
him prisoner so many years.
This steamer was bound from
| Cane Town to New York, and had