The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16
"NNE SHALL BE TAKEN. B"

copvrioM. 1905, bv W. A. M. 0oOde.
The King of England was holding cour

The King OF England was holding court
With an inoongruous disregard OF thin
event, dense fog lay over London. The
policemen at Hyde Park Corner were
verging on desperation.
On all four sides OF them, from tbs
crowded avenues of fashionable traffic
which converge at the approaches to Buck
ingham Palace there was a jolting, threaten
ing mass of vehicles, hopelessly stalled.
Broughams bearing royal guests were
jammed into buses; motors smashed their
headlights against hanson cabs; horses
reared; men swore and women cried. FeaE
and vexation reigned supreme.
Theatre-going London, in broughams OF
in hansoms, already late, fought or begged
its way across, and in spite OF the only
avenue which leads to the Kings palace.
In the relief of more than usually power
full light coachman could be seen brandish-
ing his Lord Chamberain's card and de-
handing right of way.
From the four corners where all London
meets, policemen shouted to each other.
Then out Of the gloom steady streams OF
cabs and carriages, at walking pace, gin
gerly picked their way east and west along
the great thoroughfare of Picoadilly; buses,
for the most part empty. numbered along
behind. Newsboys twisted their late even
ing papers into torches and with these
faring tapers led strangers through the fog.
The congestion was relieved. There
still remained in those streets which run
at right angles to Piccadilly thousand or
more vehicles. waiting to cross, but inter-
section OF the main stream Of traffic was
impossible.
Many Of those In carriages had long
been due at buckingham Palace. With
their heads craned out In the fog, they
watched the procession Of dim lights which
told them that the traffic OF east and west
was still passing and repassing along Picoa-
dilly, barring their way to the Kings palace.
Some got out and walked.
The fog deepened. Horses and vehicles
found themselves on the pavements The
impasse was complete. All traffic ceased.
Cabmen told their fares to find their way
back as best they could; footmen took the
lamps from the carriages and tried to pilot
their mistresses homeward, Handsome
gowns Of great price, meant only for the
Kings court, were draggled in the mud Of
side streets. through which their wearers
wandered in a tiresome search for home,
Some of tho women swore openly before
their servants
From all this one man derived much
comfort
For several hours he had been seated
at the open window OF house facing Park
as Joe Miller's mansion
The electric lights were out The fog
poured in and gleefully deposited Its CRIME
on tapestries bought at whimsical prices
Joe Miller was 30 near the street that he
could overhear the impatient threats and
fearful laments OF fog-bound society,
those whose wealth and rank could affect
almost everything but the elements.
They We're packed like sardines beneath
his window. Many of the voices he knew,
their imprecations, their bitter denuncia-
tons Of everything from coachmen to eli
mate. came no to him through the fog like
the first news OF strike Of virgin gold.
Others. besides himself, were suffering.
The thought afforded temporary distrac-
ton.
Joseph Miller, now a South African mill
ionaire, formerly a ranch hand in Cali
fornia, and his young wife had been in
vited for the first time in their lives to
court that night. When the Lord Cham
berlain's invitation arrived, Joe Miller had
felt pardonable pride in achieving what
others had declared to be impossible.
Moreover it was an immense triumph
for his wife, who, as Miller put it, was
easily pleased with tribes" He liked not
so much to please her as to show that Joe
Miller's wife was al good as any other
mans wife. Therefore, Joe Miller should
not only have been at court that night, but
in the eyes of the world should have been
one Of the most self -satisted of those who
had Won royal favor.
Instead, Joe Miller was hanging out
Of a dark window taking pleasure In the
sorrows OF others. Yet the Rand leader
was known on all sides as a man OF happy
temperament and great sympathies, whose
heart and purse were always at the dis
posal of those in trouble.
A door opened in his room. He shut
the window and switched on the light.
A hospital nurse stood at the entrance TO
the study
you may come now, sir.
Up the broad staircase and through
long passages the nurse and the master
Of the house passed into a room which
contained small cot Beside it stood
another nurse. In front of the fire two
doctors whispered
Joe Miller went straight to the cot. His
rough, weather-beaten hands, never
moulded into shape by even the best mani
curists, clasped nervously, but gently, the
tiny fingers Of his child The big, black
head, with scarcely gray hair In it. bent
anxiously over the boys face.
Jack"
No answer.
Jack It's me! Your dad! It's fardie"
The child tossed uneasily in his fever.
His eyes were open, but apparently he
saw nothing. The powerful hands tight
ened almost insensibly upon the hot little
wrists and fingers.
The pressure brought momentary con-
seriousness. Two blue eyes looked know
ingly into those of Joe Miller
where you been, fardie?" II was
quavering little voice,
I've been waiting for you, sonny. I've
come to tell you that you're TO he good
boy and get well quickly"
where's muvver?"
The irrelevancy OF the question made
Joe Miller start An angry light came
into his eyes.
Mother he said slowly, will be back
soon She had to go out.
There was a long pause. The doctors
slipped out. Both nurses suddenly re-
membered that they had left something in
the adjoining room.
al "A "A a AL