Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

a black cigar between his teeth the consul
lolled on the veranda, enjoying the cool,
sweet breeze that came in from the water.
The palm trees rhythmically swayed their
tufted heads to and fro; the blue sky was
fiecked with fieecy white clouds; the bluer
water of the bay sparkled iridescent1y in
the sun and tinkled pleasantly on the peb-
bly, beach.
The consul, with his feet elevated to the
veranda rail, suceumbed to all the soothing
influences about him and nodded somno-
lently Occasionally he reused himself to
Duff the black cigar; but the intervals be-
tween his puffings grew longer and longer,
until the spark on the cigar mad cleo 10
crisp white ash. The consul slept.
When he opened his eyes It was late after
noon. for the shadows of the palms were
stretching out toward the water He blinked
his heavy eyes, and suddenly became con-
scious of being watched. He turned. In
chair drawn close beside him was a man
such a figure of a man. The face-evi-
IDENTIFY young-had long been stranger to
razor: the hair was long and matted;
torn felt hat perched jauntily ON one side
of the head; for clothes there was a soiled
shirt and faded, catered trousers, and the
feet were incased in the remnants of a pair
of canvas shoes. This was the sorriest speci-
men of beach-comber he had ever encoun-
tered. thought the consul drowsily as he
rubbed his eyes.
When he rubbed his eyes he fully ex-
pected the fantastic apparition to diSap-
pear. but when he looked again it was still
there. So he Strengthened himself in his
chair and said. "Hello!'
How do you do?" said the man.
The consul sat up.
Where in thunder did you come from?"
he said. Il didn't know there was an Eng
lish-speaking white man nearer than the
plantdtion-that is, not one that would want
TO come here to the consulate" he amended.
The man grinned his appreciation of the
consuis last clause.
"Oh. l guess I'm on the beach all right"
he said easily.
The consul looked him over again, and
found no cause to dispute this statement
''Well.'' he said I'm a tone which clearly
implied that If the other had any business
with him he had better come to 1t at once.
Whatever the business that had brought
him thther, the man was evidently at loss
how to begin. He removed the disreputable
hat, and ran his hand thoughtfully several
times through the tangled mat of hair. His
brows were drawn into a perplexed frown.
Finahy. he leaned toward the consul
coughed and said:
My name is Robert Brant"
"Ah! That is important, said the consul
drily.
yours Is Grayson, I believe" the man
pursued
The consul nodded indoIently
Il believe, Mr.. Grayson," the man went
on, that. as consul here you look up lost
things for American citizens sojourning in
this country-fnd EN- for the parties who
have lost EN-, don't your
III m said the consul that duty isn't
specified in the regulations. However, when
such cases present themselves we do cur
poor best in the matter"
II see said Brant. ''Er-would YOU be
willing to help me find something I've
lostf''
What have you lost?' said the consul
eyeing him keenly.
Brant leaned forward still further in the
chair. His dark eyes returned the consuls
scrutiny unflinchngly.
My manhood, he said, not without ef-'
fort.
For moment the consul thought the man
was stark mad: but the steady eyes, the
absence of all nervous symptoms quashed
this suspicion Immediately.
Il suppose you haven't the least idea
where you mislaid it, said Grayson ironic-
ally
The man smiled 1t was an illuminating
smile. II transformed the unkempt fea-
lures. The consul much against his dis
erection. was aware of a sneaking liking for
this derelct.
II wasn't always like this, you know
said Brant with his eyes fixed on one of the
bursting shoes. i came down here
gineer. The mines brought me. 1t would
be too long and too tedious TO tell how l
went down the scale. My appearance rep
resents quite thoroughly my present condi-
tion. This country plays man some pretty
scurvy tricks. doesn't it?''
He raised his eyes to the consurs and
smiled again
Il didn't mean to be making excuses for
myself he said. apologetically.
That's all right" said the consul, gen.
erously. Fire away
when I came down here from the