The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-19


full of life and color"
Interesting because interested" re-
Joined Gordon, slowly twirllng his
wineglass by the stem--'interested In
vast range of small matters. the Jtri-
fling affairs Of the moment"
"Not a bit like New York." Darrell
continued, land always new to me.
See those young fellows, clerks, sup
pose, going home. Would you see any
so light hearted on Broadway? Why,
every mothers son Of them would be
gnawing his mustache with fierce de-
termination, and If an honest answer
could be had you might ask one ques-
ton Of fifty OF them In succession and
get the same answer every time. What
are you thinking aboutY I'm think
ing about scheme to get hold of some
money And If two We're talking it
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
fore he added in an altered and much
lower tone:
"Now. that's little more like what
we're accustomed to see at home"
Gordon turned cautious eye toward
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 | overheard" said Gordon, Il
Judge that your friend has been losing
money In a gambling club and Is anx-
ioua to return and lose some more.
The other Is dissuadlng him."
''Then beg the pirates pardon" re-
piled Darrell. II thought he was try
ing to sell Getchikotf gold brick.
That's what reminded me of New
York.
"What's his nameT' asked Gordon.
IL didn't catch it,"
Ivan Getchikof," was the reply.
Hes the son of the governor general
of Stavropol, In the Caucasus, and colo
mel In the cars army. ] met him
through Braybrook of the British en-
bassy. He seems to be a 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 Mt some sort
of duel, didn't be-
"Yes, 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 OF thing for me. Bob, there's
nothing In 1t. aud nobody knows that
better than do"
Gordon nodded several times slowly
and with glance that may have be-
trayed 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 deiiantly.
II shan't marry" replied Darrell.
but | shall certainly settle down. In
fact have. I've seen a good deal OF
life in the last ten years. No dissipa-
ton, you understand. or as little as q
man can get along with. And really
it was all luck. Wherever ! went
something was bound to happen"
And II 1t didn't" rejoined Gordon.
"you made IL. | know you. Jack.
know you through and through. Nd
venture is your natural food. Was 1t
luck that got you into that last awful
jig In Wall street,
"No; but 1t was luck that got me out
OF IT," said Darrell, with n laugh. Up
on my soul. Bob, was near losing
every cent | had In the world. and
then-well. I think 1t was the winning
that broke me down. At any rate, |
was a wreck when the thing was all
cleaned up. have the doctors word
for II. and II my mother bribed the
doctor to say II. why. SO much the bet
ter for the doctor-and for me II take
his advice. Absolute rest he said.
and he was right. IL fire engine goes
by I'm these days. turn my back TO
avoid the excitement. though there's
nothing nervous in the sight OF Paris
engine Flooding along. But this man
Getchikoff is another proposition. Hell
10. he's getting out his checkbOok!
knew IL was gold brick game! Wait
err
lie took a passing servant by the
sleeve and whispered 10 him:
IF that Russian gentleman asks you
for a pen and ink. don't get them. DO
you comprehend This for yourself"
And he put some money into the fel-
lows hand.
Ten seconds later Cetchlk0f was
asking for writing tools. and the oblig-
ing servitor was promising to fetch
them instantly. But he did not do It.
GctchikOf 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