Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-03-24
CHAPTER V.
e"IF YOU MUST FIGHT, TArE A MAN OF
YOUR sIZT'

YOUR sIZT -
The fair Molly is taken aback by
this intelligcnce--hcr face shows it;
but she is not the one to remain long
In such a condition of mind. and her
clear laugh serves to brush away the
mist that seems to be gathering over
the little company.
'This is indeed pleaSure-a pecu-
liar coincidence you saved me, and
one in our employ rcscucs you from
the WATER she says.
'Kismet 1t is fate groanS Sandy.
but they pretend not to understand
him, though his meaning is as plain
as daylight.
"You will forgive me for speaking
of you as the poor German casiaway
the peculiar name led me astlay:"
she goes on. just rs if she and Joe
Were alone in the hijou Earlor.
ut is natllral--I am used to it. Be
hold the effect of having a nickname
Saddlcd Oh to one in boyhood. 1t has
followed me everywhere. A waggish
companion corrupted the name Of
nliner' into 'Mynheer and tackled
Joe to it. Long ago gave up in de-
spair the attempt to live the name
down. 'Mynheer Joe it will be to the
end Of the chapter
There is an ocdity about 1t that
strikes her as Sin%ularly pleasant All
her gentleman friends are Mr. or
Colonel" or the Hon. This or That.
Mynheer Joe stands out alone. 1t has
an individuality that marks it above
all others.
And you are the mcsscr"er from
khartoom. You come will news OF
General Gordon?" she continues.
Yes" he replies simply.
"WhHn did YOU last see him."
"On the 26th day of January"
AS long ago rs that? But | forget
what tremendous distance Khar
toom is away. How glad the whole
Civi.zed world will lie to hear from
him" Mynhecr Joe bites his lips, but
says nothing yet. The people love
him so. | have always hoped to meet
linn. of all men. if ever | visited
Egypt, and just to think he has talked
with you, eaten with you, even fought
at your side"
"And died rs close to NJ" as you are
standing at this moment Miss Tan
uer."
Dead. Gordon dcad?" she whis.
pers, aGhast.
I'll is even So" he replies sadly.
Can it be possible? Oh, how terri.
bic it is to believe That grand man is
no more. What shock it will cause
wherever the telegraph can carry it,
she mnrmurS.
"rhat reminds me-" eXcaimS Sandy,
with "A hasty glance at his watch,
that have business before ne. You
will excuse my haste" And, with a
parting salute, he vaniShcS.
Mr.. Grimes is the only one who no,
tees his departure, for The others are
too Interested in what is passing.
"And you saw him fail? You won't
mind telling me the sad story Miss
Tanner pleads.
"If you will be seated, | will relate
It just as | have 10 Sandy. In the
morning all the world will know the
facts. Surely, there have been rumOrs
concerning this thing"
Yes. but people refused to believe
them. They came from untruStwor.
thy sources. and were hardly in before
contradictions came after. We have
all been waiting for positive truth. 1t
comes at last with you. Now tell me,
you who We're with Gordon, how lie
fell"
Mr.. Grimes finds himself nonpn-
titF. and. with ii smile, betakes him
self fIom the bijou parlor back Of the
portiere True, he has no cahleGram
to send just yet. but he fancies he
may make use of the wires later on in
connec ion with private business. At
present ne can amuse h,mself watch
Ing the bright scene in and before
Shepherds, and specializing upon the
strange vicissitudes of fortune that
one day have man in rags and the
next elevate him to Il princely income.
MI. 10 uOL u JHllO'
sopher.
The two left in the coy little parlor
10 not Mss tie S4yer king at all, so
wrapped up is Mynheer Joe IN 1a>lhs hs
companion, and so deeply interested
does Molly become in his narrative.
He tells it modestly, for this man
can never boast of his own exploits.
at the same time hc is by force of cir
cumstances compelled to give facts,
and Molly is at liberty to draw her
own conclusions. AS she already has
a high opinion of Mynheer Joe, she is
apt to make a liberal judge.
How her eyes kndle as she sits
there, spellbound, listening to the
story of Gordon's death 1t is a tale
to thrill the pulses Of all who admire
brave. generous heart, devoted to
the good of his fellowInen. Molly
hardly seems to bnsathe as she drinks
In mis- words This man, in her eyes,
IA also q hero ten times over. Even
had it not been his arm that plucked
her out of the cruel Mediterranean at
Malta. still would she accord him this
exalted position. For has he not been
with Gordon. and does not the re-
aected light of the great chieftain fall
upon him? The man whose sword
avenged the death of Chinese Gordon
can never he aught else but hero in
her eyes.
II takes some time to tell all. for