The Iola register., 1902-06-06

wineglass by the stem-"interested in
vast range of small matters, the tri-
hing affairs of the moment"
mot a bit like New York." Darrell
continued, "and always new to me.
See those young fellows, clerks, sup
pose, going home. Would you see any
so light hearted on Broadway? Why,
every mothers son of them would be
gnawlng his mustache with fierce de-
termination, and If an honest answer
could be had you might ask one ques-
tion of fifty of them in succession and
get the same answer every time. What
are you thinking aboutT I'm think
ing about scheme to get hold of some
money And if two were talking 1t
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 a little more like what
were accustomed to see at home"
n table upon their left.
''You mean," he said, "your Russian
friend and the black whiskered pirate
who is talking to him?"
Darrell nodded.
"Rrom a snatch Of their conversation
which l overheard" said Gordon, "I
Judge that your friend has been losing
money in gambling club and is anx-
ious to return and lose some more.
The other is dissuading him."
-Then beg the pirates pardon" re-
piled Darrell. 81 thought he was try
ing to sell Getchikoff gold brick.
That's what reminded me of New
York" .-...,-..... --.--..
whats his nameT asked Gordon.
Il didn't catch it, --.-..--.--...--..
Ivan Getchikoff," was the reply.
Hes 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 a 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 ut some sort
of duel, didn't hep
Eyes. but ] succeeded i'm lodging It,"
said Darrell, without getting into one
myself, as usually happens over here
when fellow attempts to evade those
little social obligations. No more of
that sort of thing for me. Bob, there's
nothing in it, and nobody knows that
better than do"
Gordon nodded several times slowly
and with glance that may have be-
frayed trace of envy.
you've had adventures in all quar-
ters of the globe" he said, while /
well, married early and settled down,
and I've been thoroughly happy" he
added almost defantly.
81 shant marry" replied Darrell,
1'but shall certainly settle down. In
TACT, have. I've seen good deal of
life In the last ten years. No disslpa-
ton, you understand, or as little as n
man can get along with. And really
1t was all luck. Wherever | went
'Something was bound to happen"
"And II it didn't" rejoined Gordon,
''you made it. | know you, Jack.
know you through and through. Ad-
venture is your natural food. Was it
luck that got you into that last awful
Jig in Wall streetp
mo; but it was luck that got me out
OF it." said Darrell, with laugh. "Up-
on my soul, Bob, was near losing
every cent l had in the world, and
then-well, think it was the winning
A1ra a a
was a wreck when the thing was all
cleaned up. l have the doctors word
for It, and If my mother bribed the
doctor to say it, why, so much the bet
ter for the doctor-and for me If take
his advice. Absolute rest he said,
and he was right. If fire engine goes
by in these days, l turn my back to
avoid the excitement, though there's
nothing nervous in the sight of Paris
engine plodding along. But this man
Getchikon is another proposition. Hell
10. he's getting out his checkbook l
knew it was a gold brick camel Wait
erT'
He took a passing servant by the
sleeve and whispered to him:
''If that Russian gentleman asks you
for a pen and Ink, don't get them. Do
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 oblig.
1ng 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 a condition where a friend
might prevent him from spending his
money foolishly by any device that
seemed adequate. lie swore at the
waiter for returning without the pen,
and 1t was while relieving his feelings
in this way that he first saw Darrell,
to whom his back had been turned
nrlo aot