The Cairo bulletin., 1904-09-20

mis- seat throughout this little cOlloquy,
but now, when the colonel looked over
to him, as much as to say, take your
answer and come away, for Gods
sake!" he drew his cherpot from his
mouth and spoke.
II have come here" said he, upon
the invitation of friend Of yours. He
has doubtless Informed you of my in
tention In thus intruding on your party.
Let me remind you that person In my
circumstances has exceedingly little to
crate such rudeness. | am Il very
quiet man. as a usual thing, but, my
dear sir. you are either going to oblige
me In the little matter OF which you
are aware or you shall very bitterly
repent that you ever admitted me to
your antechamber."
The president laughed aloud.
"That is the way to speak" said he.
"You are man who is a man. You
know the way to my heart and can do
what you like with me- VIII gou,' he
continued, addressing Geraldine. Twill
you step aside for n few minutes?
shall finish first with your companion,
and some Of the clubs formalities re-
quire to be fulfilled IN private
With these words he opened the door
of small closet into which he shut
the colonel.
Il believe in YOU" he said TO Florizel
as soon as they were alone. "but are
you sure of your friend"
mot SO sure as ] am OF myself,
though he has more cogent reasons
answered Florizel, but sure enough 70
bring him here without alarm. He has
had enough to cure the most tenacious
man of life. He was cashierod the 9th
er day for cheating at cards"
"A good reason, | dare say" replied
the president; ''at least we have anoth-
er in the same case, and feel sure OF
him. Have you also been in the sery-
ice, may | askT'
II have" was the reply, "but ! was
too lazy. left It early"
what is your reason for being tired
of life? pursued the president.
"The same, as near MS can make 1t
out" answered the 'unadulter-
ated laziness."
The president started. dash it." said
he, you must have something better
than that"
Il have no more money" added Flor
izel. "That is also a yeXation without
doubt. 1t brings my sense of idleness
to an acute point"
The president rolled his cigar round
in his mouth for some seconds, direct
ing his gaze straight into the eyes OF
this unusual neophyte, but the prince
supported his scrutiny with unabashed
good temper.
IF | had not n deal Of experience
said the president at last, Il should
turn you off But | know the world,
and this much anyway-that the most
frivolous excuses for suicide are Of
ten the toughest to stand by-and when
/ downright like man, as do you, sir,
| would rather strain the regulation
than deny him."
The prince and the colonel, one after
the other were subjected to long and
particular interrogatory, the prince
alone, but Geraldine in the presence OF
the prince, SO that the president might
observe the countenance of the one
while the other was being warmly
cross examined The result was sat
isfactory, and the president. after hav-
ing booked few details of each case,
produced form of oath to be accepted.
Nothing could be conceived more pas
sive than the obedience promised, or
more stringent than the terms by which
the juror bound himself. The man
who forfeited pledge so awful could
scarcely have rag of honor or any or
the consultations of religion left 10 him.
Florizel signed the document, but not
without n shudder. The colonel fol-
lowed his example with an air of great
depression. Then the president re-
ceived the entry money and without
more ado introduced the two friends
into the smoking room of the Suicide
club.
Ito be continued