The San Francisco call., 1904-07-17
Copyright by S. S. Mcclure Coz

~IR LEMUEL JONES. c. I. E,
~ was Chief Commissioner Of Bur-
Z NAH. Lawrence Jones. captain
Of the tramp steamer Newcastle
Maid. was his brother. More than that,
they were twins. as like as two drops OF
water. It was kismet that Sir Lemuel
should rise 10 be Chief Commissioner,
while il was Larry's own fault that he
was only captain Of a freighter. But
they both enjoyed themselves. each
after his kind.
one morning in November the New
castle Maid glided up the Irawadi and
swung TO mOOrings just off the main
wharf at RangOon- Larry had not seen
his brother for years. and for the mat
ter Of that did not care if many more
years passed before he saw him. Their
paths ran at right angles. He was
there for a cargo Of rice, not to renew
family ties.
1t was because the chief engineer of
the Newcastle Maid was a man after
his own heart that he said before going
ashore: I don't want TO set into
gale here. for I've had - letter from
the owners over that last break made
ia Calcutta; if I come off seas over
just lock me in the cabin and don't let
me out No matter what I say, keep
me there until I'm braced up"
Then the captain A.ent ashore
he took Crive out through the can
lonments. AS he bowled along in he
DC gharry new experience came to
him. Gentlemen lifted their hats, and
ladies driving in their carriages smiled
and bowed in the most gracious man
ner.
Il wonder II there's anything stick
ing 10 my face" thought Larry. and he
passed his hand carefully over its
rounded surface; it seemed all right.
But still they kept it up-everybody
he met. and one officer, galloping by on
his pony. took a pull at the animals
head and shouted. Are you coming to
the club tonight. sir?"
No" rOared the captain; for he
hadn't the faintest idea Of going to a
club without an invitation.
They'll be awfully disappointed, 8"
came the echo Of the officers voice as
the ghsrry opened up q gap between
them.
Very kind" muttered Larry; but
] fancy they'll get over it. Must have
taken me for somebody else"
The next minute Larry was busy
staring open-mouthed at the image of
himself sitting in a carriage just in
front The carriage was turning out
Of compound and blocked the road,
so that his own driver was forced TO
stop He recognized the other man
1t was Sir Lemuel. his twin brother.
The recognition was mutual The
Commissioner bowed quite coIdly as
the captain called out, How are YOU
Lemuel?"
Then the big Waller horses whipped
the carriage down the road at a slash
Ing gait, and Larry was left alone.
so that's why they've been taking
on their hats TO me-" he unused. They
take me for Sir Lemuel. Great time
ne must have ruling these yellow mig
gers out here. I'd like 70 be in his
shoes just for a day. to see how II feels
10 be King Of Burmah."
All the way back TO the hotel he was
thinking about 1t. Arrived there. he
wrote a note addressed to the chief
commissioner and sent II off by a na-
tive. That Will bring him." he NUT
tered; he always was a bit afraid Of
me"
II was six o'clock when Sir I,ennuel
arrived in his carriage. There WAS a
great scurrying about Of servants and
no end Of salaaming the Lat Sahib":
for 1t was not often the chief commits
siOner honored the hotel with his pres-
ence- He was shown to Captain Jones
room.
Take a seat. Lem" said Captain
Larry, cheerfully. Il wanted to see
you and thought you'd rather come
here than receive me at Government
House"
Please be brief, then" said Sir Lem
uel, in his most dignified manner. "I
have to attend a dinner at the club To-
night in honor Of the return of our
judicial commissioner"
"Oh, Sir Lemuel will be there in
time for that" chuckled the CAPTAIN
But first Lem, for the sake of old
times. / want you to drink glass Of
wine with me. You know we took a
drink together pretty often the first
year OF our existence" Then he
broke out into a loud sailor Iapgh
that irritated the Commissioner
while ! can't approve OF drinking
10 the extent you have carried It" said
Sir Lemuel with judicial severity
''stiIl I can't refuse glass proffered
by my brother"
Your twin brother" broke IN
Larry. "of whom you've always beer
SO fond, you know"
I really mus be going, SO please
tell me why you've sent for me-" But
when he had drunk the glass Of wine
he gave up all idea of going any
whero-for il was drugged.
Then Captain Larry stripped his
brother, peeled the august body OF
the commissioner as one would strip
a willow. and draped him In his own
sailor outfit. You're a groggy-look-
ing captain" he said. as he tried to
brace the figure .uD Ia q big chais'