Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-08-11
yRMONT FREDERICK THURSDAY, AUGUST H. 1904

tain Ben hopes to sail long ere an
other morning breaks upon Bombay.
Each goes 70 the appointed task.
Within the hour messenger is search-
ing for the baron, bearing a note With
out a signature, but which is couched
In language calculated to cause the
Russian to smack his lips with pride
and satisfaction, confident that his
conquest Is nearly completed, the beau.
tiful American girl almost within his
grasp. being unable to resist the
charms of title.
These foreigners have come to the
conclusion that any American beauty
or heiress will give up even the man
few glaring instances of this kind
she loves to grasp corOnet. Perhaps
have made them believe that wav.
They need taking down. and Molly
Tanner Is just the one to champion her
sex, and teach the arstocracy les
son. All American girls are not for
sale. Those whom these foreigners
buy do not represent the true element
of Yankee lassies, but are In them.
selves tainted with that abject rever.
ence for titles so noticeable in Eng.
land and other foreign countries.
1t was just ten minutes of two when
the baron receives this scented billet
doux. lie Is in fashionable club. to
.-..u nc mas gained entry through
letters of introduction, and for pur
poses of his own At the time Id
chances to be engaged in a game OF
billiards with a French gentleman Of
note. travelling In India to see the
country, so 1t is said. although there
are suspicious that he meets the baron
by appointment.
France and Russia are hand in glove.
Their interests do not clash, and both
secretly hate England In the event
| of a general European war, In which
Great Britain received a drubblng,
Turkey and India would be the sp0lls
OF Russia, while Egypt must fall 20
| France These things are talked of in
| India. where the British troops are
| but drop in the bucket compared to
the natives. and every move upon the
chess board Of Europe finds Its respOn.
sive throb over the Indian Ocean. BE.
sides, the popularity Of this position
causes them to see things In different
light
When the baron hns read his note, he
looks pleased, and his French com.
panion laughs aloud.
Success. baron, eh? You are lady.
killer. Who would think It, man
given over to diplomatic Intercourse
such Ms my friend. and yet finds time
for these little amours. congratulate
you. Who is it. mon ami?'
The baron shakes his head, and gen.
tly deposits the perfumcd note in his
inner pocket
"That would be telling, monsieur.
never give my secrets away until | ain
sure The bird tiutters, but | cannot
call it mine until my hand closes
around 1t. Enough to say, ain afra1
tnc DuTOn IL caNpul hI WSt.
"Mon Deu! Is 1t so serious as that?
I had not thought 1t meant so much.
1t is too bad, baron that the event Of
your life should come upon you while
on this trip"
The Russian gives him a look that
means much.
"Never fear, Monsieur Lamar; am
equal to the OCCASION
They drop the subject and knock
the balls about for some time longer
1t is evident, however, that the baron's
letter has broken up his style, for he
plays like an amateur and finally
lrops his cue in disgust, excusing him
self to his friend.
He hardly knows how to pass the
time away until evening, and the hours
must seem like an eternity to his i'm.
patient soul.
During the afternoon he has callers
at his rooms several men come to cou.
fer with him In a mysterious way. 1t
| s evident that the baron has connec.
tlons here In Bombay with powerful
| clique. This makes 1t doubtful wheth-
or the clever little scheme of the
| Americans can be made success. for
some one of these elements may hap-
pen upon the game and discover the
truth. Still, such men as Mynheer Joe
| and Mr.. Grimes can be trusted to
| stand un against all comers and hold
| their own.
Thus the day draws to close. and
The momentous night creeps over the
| hity on the sacred rivera night that
will be fraught with great events to
several of our characters.
All hail the coming of evening with
| Joy, for the hours have dragged to the
last. Even the natives rejoice at the
| setting of the sun. Some of them nre
worshipers of the great fire god, and
| can he seen doing reverence to his de-
scent behind the watery horizon. There
are Mohammedans on their knees.
with their faces toward distant Nee.
"a, oblivious of all save their prayers
accompanied by the most fantastic
bending of the body.
These sights are SO common in all
Eastern countries that the old trav-
eler fails to notice them beyond
casual glance.
Baron Popoff, after his dinner pro.
ceeds to make nn elaborate toilet. He
is always something of a dandy, but
on this particular night he wakes his
mustache with particular care, SO that
the ends stand out like needles.
When ready to sally forth. he sur
| Vows bimsolf i'm tho glass smilps with