Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-07


mot bit like New York." Darrell
continued, "and always new to me.
See those young fellows. clerks, sup
pose, going home. Would you see any
50 light hearted on Broadway Why,
every mothers son OF them would be
gnawing his mustache with fierce de-
termination, and II an honest answer
could be had you might ask one cues
ton 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 II two were talking II
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 pause be-
fore he added In an altered and much
lower tone:
Now, that's q little more like what
we're accustomed to see at home"
Gordon turned n cautious eye toward
a table upon their left.
You mean" he said, "your Russian
friend and the black whiskered pirate
who is talking to him?"
Darrell nodded.
From a snatch OF their conversation
which 1 overheard" said Gordon. 'I
judge that your friend has been losing
money in gambling club and is anx-
ious 20 return and lose some more.
The other Is dissuading him."
Then 1 beg the pirates pardon" re-
lRs.1 ar
ing TO sell Getchikoff a gold brick.
That's what reminded me of New
York"
Whats his name2" asked Gordon.
II 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. l met him
through Braybrook OF the British en-
bassy. He seems TO be 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 at some sort
OF duel, didn't hep
Eyes, but ! succeeded in 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 or thing for me. Bob, there's
nothing In II, and nobody knows that
better than do"
Gordon nodded several times slowly
and with glance that may have be-
trayed a trace OF envy.
you've had adventures In all quar-
tiers OF the globe" he said. while /
well, / married early and settled down.
and I've been thoroughly happy" he
added almost dehantly.
Il shan't marry" replied Darrell
but shall certainly settle down. In
fact, l have. I've seen = good dead OF
Life In the last ten years. No dissipa-
ton, you understand. or as little as a
man can get along with. And really
1t was all luck. Wherever / Went
something was bound TO happen"
"And If 1t didn't" rejoined Gordon.
you made it. l know you. Jack. /
know you through and through. Ad-
venture is your natural food. Was II
luck that got you into that last awful
jig in Wall street"
mo; but it was luck that got me out
or It" said Darrell. with laugh. 'Up-
on my soul, Bob. was near losing
every cent ] had in the world. and
then-well. think 1t was the winning
that broke Use down. At any rate, /
was a wreck when the thing was all
cleaned up. I have the Doctors word
for 1t, and If my mother bribed the
doctor to say it. why, so much the bet
ter Tor the doctor-and for me If take
his advice. Absolute rest he said.
and he was right II fire engine goes
Dy In these days, I turn my back 60
avoid the excitement, though there's
nothing nervous In the sight OF a Paris
engine Flooding along. But this man
Getchikon is another proposition. Hell
10, he's getting out his checkbookI
knew it was gold brick camel Wait
err
BE took a passing servant by the
sleeve and whispered to him:
IF that Russian gentleman asks you
Tor pen and ink, don't get them. Do
you comprehend This for yourself"
And he put some money into the fell
lows hand.
ALL 5CCO4uS WAS
asking for writing tools, and the oblig
ing servitor was promising to fetch
them instantly. But he did not do it.
Getchikofr 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. he swore at the
waiter for returning without the pen,
and IL was while relieving his feelings
in this way that he first saw Darrell,
to whom his back had been turned
when the two Americans sat down.
Arising unsteadily, he approached their
table, with extended hand.
Darrell slowly raised his eyes, with a
glance OF mild curiosity quite charac-
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