The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-12-18
CHAPTER II.
Continued

WIN - >A~~o
In his voice:
"NIynheer Joe, for all the world"
| "Sardy, is it you, my dear fellow:
Where under the sun did You drop
from" asks the other, holding out
the hand that has betn used to sEied
mis- eyes from the light, though he
docs not alter his position one rarti-
Gle.
The correspondent scizes hold Of the
hand thus o.rcred in greeting. his very
enthusiasm showing what he leeis 1T
heart.
> "Bless you, old boy, it's good for
Aore eyes 10 see you again, and look
tng as natural aS ever. Never have L
ceased to remember the days of 'auld
lang syne,' when we two did the Niie
IN company. Talk about fate in our
hrst meeting-it doesn't hold candle
10 this. Same old grasp, same old
hoe~ and he works the prodiSals arm
like a pump-handle. While rafting
along in this strain.
"Quartered in Cairo, Sandy-writinG
ND the beauties Of lower Egypt as
winter resort, or have you been ap-
pointed Consul here:' asks the
pther. with a jolly laugh that causes
Mr.. Grimes to wonder what stuff tus
man can be made OF to be so composed
Yand even merry after what ne ms
gone through.
That's not my luck. Still pegSins
away at the old business. Makes both
ends meet and gives me chance to
see the world. But see here. Confound
my stupidity! Here's friend or
yours waiting to meet you, and I've
been monopolizing your time
Mynheer Joe raises himself to sit
ting posture and faces the silver king,
who hesitates for few seconds ana
then comes forward.
Pardon me" he says frankly. "iou
have made q mistake, Sandy. did
not claim to be q friend OF Mynhecr
Joe, only q fellow-countryman, and
one who has heard much about him
and takes q deep interest in his well
fare. Obed Grimes, at your service
Mr. Miner
The explorer possibly catches some
significance back of his words. At
any rate, he looks at the stout gen.
tleman with the fiorid countenance as
though intent upon studying out
problem; but noticing the outstretche1
hand, accepts it in his usual hearty
way. Now and then, during the sub
seQuent interview, while the CORE.
spondent plies him with questions,
Mynheer Joe can be seen to keep
reflective eye upon Mr.. Grimes. Per-
haps lie Is endeavoring to place the
wealthy miner; and yet the latter has
declared they 1ave not met before.
Sandy thinks only Of one thing now.
True, he has been especially pleased
to meet with one he regards so highly;
but his feeling has now given way
to the instinct Of his craft. He has
been educated up to being newspaper
man above all else, and. like all others
of his calling, has Il keen nose to"
news. To be the first ut the Wire
with startling information is the
dream Of Sandy Barlow's daily life.
Here he sees q golden opportunity
for making n ten-strike. The whole
civilized world hangs in suspense
awaiting definite news o. the heroic
Chinese Gordon's fate. Rumors have
been rife almost daily, sometimes &C.
failing his death and again giving ac-
counts of some wonderful victory over
fifty thousand dervishes. as the fellow
ers Of Ell Mahdi are called, his own
force numbering but two thousand.
Like a shuttle-cock. dashed hither
and yon by the battledoors, has this
subject been kept on the 60 for weeks,
and up to this black night in February
90 definite news has been received
which settles Gordon's fate.
Thus Sandy's dreadful impatience
Is explained; the wide-awake CORE
pondent is aroused to the exigencies
If the hour. and for the benefit Of the
6aiting civilized world would seize
md send out an authentic account Of
6e tragedy of ill-fated Khartoom.
mechanically he draws out his note
book and, pencil in hand, prepares to
bake down in shorthand what may be
4aid-a proceeding Mynheer Joe eyes
with q smile.
pardon me, ny friends. but I am
almost starved. When l went to sleep
the captain here said he would have
a meal ready for me when l awoke I
was hungry then, but could not keep
awake only long enough to take cup
of coffee and a bite How is it, cap
tain? Will you keep your word:"
The dusky Ben Hassan Effendi mods
and gives signal with his hands.
Immediately two fellahin appear. One
carries a tray covered with a white
napkin; the other lays q cloth upon
the little round table. Almost like
magic, 5 sayory, steasa.ns zeal fs thus
placed In front Of the hungry Mynheer
Joe, after which the magician waves