Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-07-20

particularly enthusiastic over
his post. 1t was financial rea-
cons rather than inclination that kept
him there. Indeed, had the financial
part Of the equation been less imper-
ative, he would have packed up his
few belongings, said goodbye to Potl-
phar-the sole person on the coast, by
the way, to whom he would have
cared to say good-bye-and embarked
in one Of the fruit steamers for God s
country
From purely consular standpoint,
Antigua was not an exciting post,
From the standpoint Of nature it was
quite, the reverse. In the years he had
dwelt in the tumbledown, wormeaten
shack which served as consulate, he
had passed through two earthquakes, a
volcanic eruption, several epidemics of
yellow fever and hurricanes so numer-
tous that he had long since lost count
of them. If he had grown somewhat
skeptical Of Antigua as place Of
abode, 1t must be admitted that he had
some. reason on his side.
But ON the particular afternoon An
HgIia was displaying her best side.
Potiphar's dinner had been excellent,
and with black cigar between his
teeth, the consu. lolled on the veranda,
enjoying the cool, sweet breeze that
came in from the water. The palm
frees rhythmically swayed their tufted
heads to and fro; the blue sky was
decked with feecy white clouds; the
bluer water Of the bay sparkled irri-
descently in the sun and tinkled pleas
antly ON the pebbly beach.
The consul, with his feet elevated to
the veranda rail, succumbed to all the
soothing influences about him and
nodded somnolently. Occasionally he
reused himself to puff the black cigar;
but the intervals between his pufings
grew longer and longer, until the spark
on the cigar had died to crisp white
ash. The consul slept
When. he opened his eyes 1t was late
afternoon, for the shadows of the
palms were stretching out toward the
water. He blinked his heavy eyes, and
suddenly became conscious Of being
watched. He turned. In a chair drawn
close beside him was man-such
Ggure Of man! The face-evidently
young-had long been stranger to a
Tazor; the hair was long and matted;
a torn felt hat .perched jauntily on one
side Of the head for clothes there was
soiled shirt and faded, tattered
trousers and the feet were encased in
the remnants Of pair Of canvas shoes.
This was the sorriest specimen Of
Neachcomber he had ever encountered.
thought the consul drowsily as he
rubbed his eyes.
When he rubbed his eyes he fully
expected the fantastic apparation to
disappear, but when he looked again
1t 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 the thunder did you come
from" he said. Il didn't know there
was an English-speaking white man
nearer than the plantation-tha is, not
one that would want to come here to
the consulate" he amended.
The man grlnned his appreciation of
the consul's last clause.
ooh, guess I'm on the beach, all
eight" he said easily.
The consul looked him over again.
and found no cause to dispute this
statement.
"Wellw he said in a tone which
clearly implied that If the other had
any business with him he had better
come to it at once.
Whatever the business that had
brought him thither, the man was evil
IDENTIFY at loss how to begin. He re-
moved the disreputable hat, and ran
bis hand thoughtfully several times
through the tangled mat Of hair. His
brows were drawn into a perplexed
1rown. Finally, he leaned toward the
consul, coughed and said:
my name Is Robert Brant"
"Ah! THAT Is Important" said the
consul dryly.
yours is Grayson, believe the
man pursued.
The consul nodded indolently.
II believe. Mr.. Grayson," the man
went on, that, as consul here, you
look up lost things for American citi-
Eens sojourning In this country-fnd
'em for the parties who have lost 'em,
don'I you?"
Nm" said the consul, chat duty
1sn't specified in the regulations. How
ever, when such cases present them
selves we do our poor best in the mat
ter"
II see," said Brant. "Er-would you
be willing to help me find something
I've lostY'
"What have you lost?" said the con-
sui, eying him keenly
Brant leaned forward still further in