Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-03-03
CHAPTER III.

7 Eye looks into eye as Sandy Barlow
stands there; then the correspondent
exclaims, with ring of satisfaction
In bis voice:
ix"Mynheer Joe. for all the world"
f"Sandy, is it you, my dear fellow
Where under the sun did you drop
trom?" asks the other, holding out
the hand that has been used to shie5
bis eyes from the light, though he
does not alter his position one parti
Gle.
The correspondent seizes hold Of the
hand thus offered in greeting, his very
enthusiasm showing what he feels at
heart.
E"Bless you, old boy, it's good for
sore eyes to see you again, and look
Ing as natural as ever. Never have
ceased to remember the days of 'auld
lang syne,' when we two did the Nile
In company. Talk about fate in our
FIRST meeting-it doesn't hold candle
to this! Same old grasp, same old
Joew and he works the prodigars arm
like a pump-handle, while rafting
Wong In this strain.
."Quartered in Cairo, Sandy writing
Up the beauties of lower Egypt as Il
winter resort, or have you been ap.
bointed Consul herc?' asks the
pther, with a jolly laugh that causes
Mr.. Grimes to wonder what stuff this
man can be made of TO be so composed
and even merry after what he has
gone through.
'tThats not my luck. Still pegginG
away at the old business. Makes both
ends meet and gives me chance TO
see the world. But see here, Confound
my stupidity! Here's a friend Of
yours waiting to meet you, and I've
been monopolizing your time
Mynheer Joe raises himself to sit.
ting posture and faces the silver king,
who hesitates for Il few seconds and
then comes forward.
pardon me-" he says frankly. You
have made a mistake. Sandy. l did
not claim to he friend of Mynhecr
Joe. only a fellow-countryman, and
one who has heard much about him
and takes a deep interest in his well
fare. Obed Grimes at your service,
Mr.. Miner
The explorer possibly catches some
significance back of his words. At
any rate, he looks at the stout gen.
tleman with the tlorid countcnancc as
though intent upon studying out
problem; but noticing the outsretched
hand, accepts it in his usual hearty
way. Now and then, during the sub.
sequent Interview, while the corre'
spondent plies him with questions
Mynheer Joe can be seen to keep a
reflective eye upon Mr.. Crimes Per
haps he Is endeavoring to place the
wealthy miner; and yet the latter has
declared they have not met before.
Sandy thinks only of one thing now.
True. he has been especially pleased
to meet with one lie regards so highly;
but his feeling has now given way
to the instinct of his craft. lie has
been educated up to being newspaper
man above all else, and, like all others
of his calling, has Il keen nose for
news. To be the first Mt the wire
with startling information is the
dream Of Sandy Barlow's daily life.
Here he secs a golden opportunity
for making a ten-strike. The whole
civilized world hangs IN suspense
awaiting definite news of the heroic
Chinese Gordon's fate. Rumors have
been rife almost daily sometimes de.
failing his death and again giving aC.
counts of some wonderful victory over
ffty thousand dervishcS, as the follow
ers Of FL Mahdi are called, his own
force numbering but two thousand.
Like q shuttl cock, dashed hithcr
and yon Try fire fyattledoorS, has this
subject been kept on the go for weeks,
and up to this black night in February
no definite news has been received
which settles GordOn's fate
Thus Sandy's dreadful impatience
Is explained; the wide-awake colre-
Bpondent is aroused to the eXigencies
Of the hour and for the benefit of the
waiting civilized world would seize
and send out an authentic account OF
the tragedy of Inflated Khartoom.
Mechanically he draws out his note
book and pencil in hand, prepares to
take down in shorthand what may be
baid-a proceeding Mynheer Joe eyes
with smile.
pardon me, my friends, but / am
almost starved. When | went to sleep
the captain here said he would have
= meal ready for me when | awoke. l
was hungry then. but could not keep
awake only long enough to take cup
Of coffee and Il bite. How is it, cap
tain? VIII you keep your word?'
The dusky Ben Hassan Effendi mods
ind gives signal with his hands.
Immediately two fellahin appear One
carries n tray covered with q white
napkin; the other lays a cloth Upon
the little round table. Almost like
magic, q savory, stGamlng meal is thus
placed in fronr of the hungry Mynheer
Joe, after which the magician waves
bis hands, and his followers vanish
rs If into thin air.
"Your pardon, gentlemen. | have
tasted for some days now, and the
eroma arising from this spread is too
much for me to withstand. Captain,
bow long have l slept"
"Twenty-seven hours, gentlemen"
gravely announces the old reis.
"Incredible" exclaims Mr.. Grimes.
, "EaI nv bow Joye, You NAV 90