Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-02-18

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YOU"
"There was no great need Of haste
You were the first one l thought OF
when old Tanner brought me the news.
You know him?"
Like q book! Gruff old party; love-
" daughter, Molly. Go on. What was
his news. Is England aroused at last
to the emergency?
"Just the contrary. Listen to what
I say: Old Tanner tells me his daha-
beah, or house boat, has just come
down the river; they left 1t some two
hundred miles above and FASTENED on
by railroad to Cairo. This evening 1t
arrived, and the reiS, or captain,
called upon him at the hotel here with
certain news that has given Tanner
some uneasiness. He was puzzled to
know what to make OF it. and, seeing
me, put the whole case in my hands.
/ | have promised to go down to the
| boat and interview the man who Is
now asleep on board-a man they
| picked I'D afoat on the river far above
and who they imagine Is some sort
Of q messenger sent down from khar-
toom by General Gordon
Sandy Barlow is out of his chair
like a shot, all eagcrness and anima-
tiOn.
Come on. he exclaimed. I'm In
this game. Great Caesar! If l can
get the only authentic account of that
event! What keeps you, man.?
I'm not ready to go yet. Don't
make scene, Sandy. and above all,
whisper not word OF the truth. The
False Prophet has many friends in
Cairo who would like nothing better
than chance at this person who
comes from the south, with scimiter
or yataghan. Sit down again while
we talk it over"
Sandy has hard work subduinG his
intense cagerness to discover the truth,
but he is equal to great emergencies,
and finally sinks back in his chair.
AS for Mr.. Grimes, the silver king.
he straddles II rattan seat and rests
careless manner Imaginable.
what did the old orator seem to
think of his men picking up n paSsen
ser?" asks Sandy.
He was wrathy ut first. until he
found the man was Il Frank, or for.
eigner. That made ii all right. lie
hates these swarthy natives
fellah and Arab
~Yes, | have heard him whisper gen
tie words about them in his own pc
culiar way. Lovely soft voice the
Honorable Demosthenes has. Reminds
me of n steam foghorn."
Hush, Here comes his dau$hter,'
"AIiss Molly, for all the world" NUT,
ters the correspondent between his
teeth.
a vision in white floats up to where
they are seated. and both men spring
TO their feet. This American girl is
fair. fresh picture-a healthy daugh-
ter of the land across the sea. She
Is not actually beautiful. but there
Is n charm about face and manner
that draws host of friends to her
side. Mollie Tanner IS Il taking girl,
vivacious, quick, derheartcd true.
You can read her constancy in the
clear frank. fearless gray eyes. Lucky
the man who wins her heart. 1t will
be for all time.
"Oh, Mr.. Grimes, | have been look.
ng for you everywhere! l feared you
had gone" eXclaims the Young lady,
laying white hand, which shows
some traces of sunburn, on the arm
Of the mining king.
Fortune favors me. Miss Molly. In
what way can | do you a service"
"You see the governor has just been
telling me all about that poor man
On board our boat, and feel SO sorry.
| would like to know whether there is
anything l can do for him."
Some people might be shocked to
hear Molly Tanner thus designate her
parent, but the word is uttered with
such tenderness that the sam" per.
sons would secretly listen in the hope
Of hearing it again.
Mr. Grimes and the correspondent
exchange glances, and then smile.
Really, until we have seen the
rarty, we cannot exactly say" begins
she former.
That's Just it! Why not allow me
to accompany you to the boatE"
The girl speaks eagerly. rs though
she has quite set her heart upon it.
Your father would not consent"
Leave that to mel can manage
him"
And reckon you're about the only
one who can. Miss Molly. Outside of
that l don't believe it would be safe.
! You see, to reach the river where the
boat Is tied up, we have to pass
through one of the worst quarters of
! The city called Musr. and with n lady
In our company, there might be trou-
BILE. No, l am sorry to refuse, but |
must positively decline to accept the
! responsibility"
Molly Tanner does not pout, but
laughs, proving that while the old
governor has done his best to spoil
her, he has not yet succeeded.
"Very well. l shall not insist, Mr..
Grimes: but when you return, promise
to let me know how the young Ger.
man pilgrim is" she says.
"Who said he Is German; your
father did not say anything of that
sort to me?" declares the stout silver
King, in some surprise.
Perhaps I only judged 1t from his