The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-29

tous SOUNDS that greet the ear In this
quarter are. indeed, refreshing. after
experiencing the dead hush that hangs
over the main city, although hitherto
Sandy and the silver king have been
rather inclined to consider all the clap
trap bore. Comparisons may be obi
GUS, but they open the eyes to true
appreciation Of things.
Generally speaking, it is the trav-
eler who has broad views of life and
the stay-at-home whose ideas are as
narrow as the little world his eyes
daily rest upon.
Passing through the square. the lit.
tie party. having dismissed their LIGHT:
bearer, draw up at Shepherds Hotel.
Here, as usual, there are scenes of
gayety; it is the central attraction of
the whole plaza. Lights CLEAN. voices
are heard. laughter and music float
upon the balmy air. Men throng GER
tain points, smoking, and chatting,
while others engage in dancing; for
on this night in February the hotel
has given "hop."
oduuH huOWS anu dPpACSAa1Co shS
desire 6f his friend to be observed as
little as possible. and he manages 1t
SO that they pass into the hotel with
out undergoing a critical survey. In
deed. the condition Of Mynheer Joe is
hardly such as would warrant him ap-
pearing in the presence of ladies. Nat
urally his figure is good. and he makes
q fine appearance, but just now his
clothing, as he has shown them, has
been badly cut in the awful affair at
Khartoom and from his frequent i'm.
mersions in the river shrunk SO that
1t clings to him like friend and a
brother. Yes. Mynheer Joe is hardly
In a condition to meet the fair girl
whose face he has carried in his MEN,
DRY ever since saving her life at NAL
ia. A man dislikes appearing as a
scarecrow before one whose good opin-
ion he values. No doubt there have
been occasions when levers have thus
been forced into the presence Of their
sweethearts.
"Now. Mr.. Grimes, bring him back
to this spot-as soon as you can." says
Sandy. seating himself at a desk where
he may handle pen and paper.
They leave him there. busily en-
gagged in writing out in long hand"
the narrative of Khartoom's fall and
the death of Gordon. which he took
down in shorthand as the story fell
from the lips Of the one survivor Of
that terrible day.
Mr.. Grimes himself leads the way
to his room. which is one of the best
Shepherds affords. Here the traveller
finds a hotel run much more on the
American plan than most caravansa-
ries in European or other foreign
countries. Even in Alexandria the
guest is charged for candle, for a
piece Of soap. for the most trivial serv-
ice in fact. 1t becomes an abomina-
BILE nuisance. No wonder then that
Shepherds is always favorite stop
ping place for all our citizens doing
the wonderful country Of the Nile.-
Mr.. Grimes fastens his door. and
then with true hospitality begins to
spread the contents of his trunk before
Mynheer Joe.
Choose anything you please. my
friend. I am only too happy to be
at your service" says the silver king,
blandly, and the messenger from Khar-
toom takes him at his word.
He makes his ablutions, assumes a
modest check suit that fits him remark
ably well, combs his hair and beard.
and in a brief space of time has eff
fected wonderful change in his ap-
pearance. Then it can be seen that
this nomad, who has wandered all
over the earth with such men as Stan
ley, Schwatka and other adventurous
spirits, is about as fine-looking a man
as one would meet in a month in Lon
don or New York.
He is as brown as a berry from
exposure to the hot sun and peculiar
winds of Egypt; but that is the COM
mon fate of all who dwell beneath
the sky Of the tropics. Besides, most
women admire a bronzed warrior.
when compared with the pink-and-
white dandy. Strength and valor are
qualities that appeal to their fancy.
When Mynheer Joe announces his
toilet as completed. Mr.. Grimes, who
has been glancing over a paper he
picked up, looks at his guest. The ex.
preston on his face declares that he
is pleased. and that there is no dan
ger that the explorer may not be fit
TO meet the finest ladies in the land.
Mr.. Grimes seems to take a peculiar
interest in this protege Of his. He
watches him when one would not
think he is looking. and there is a
CLEAN in his eyes that might mean
a good many different things.
IF you are ready. we will go down.
he remarks. tossing his paper aside.
The other assents. and together they
descend to the parlors of the hotel.
There Mr.. Grimes leaves him in a
small room alone while he goes to
hunt up Sandy.
Mynheer Joe stands there. observing