Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-04-28

lis IrSt act, tnercloic, upou uHuhb
himself alone in his room, is to draw
n chair near the window. throw him
self into it, produce a 'igar. strike o
match and start the engine.
AS with all old smokers this pro
duces train of reflection. He goes
back to the moment when he opened
his eyes on board the dahabeah and
met his friends. Sandy and Mr. Grimes.
Then 1t Is easy to follow the track OF
events down to the present, and there
are several places where Joe fingers
tenderly.
What strange series of adventures
he looks back upon.
"And the end is not yet" he mutters,
rs he contemplates the past through
The halo Of the blue smoke that cir.
cles around him, "for, unless I'm
ieucedly mistaken, there's going to be
continuation Of this warfare. 1t
may extend even to India's coral
strand, If this little beast of Il baron
makes up his mind that he's bound to
possess Molly. Right now and here |
make a VOW that such a thing shall
never be. Molly belongs to HIM
The deuce! I'll see him hanged first.
And yet don't undcrratc the fellow.
He's dangerous as dynamite bomb.
and must be handled with extreme
care"
This Is ,Joe's way to dot He Is
known as brave. but careful man,
one not called Hotspur in any sense
of the word. and yet ready to lead
forlorn hope or attempt most peril.
Gus mission. In battle his strong right
arm has been worth half dozen ordi
nary men, and those under whom he
fought have been accustomed to de-
pend on him when difficulties arose.
He smokes and pondcrs.
Somehow the business makes him a
trihc drowsy. and he thinks he might
as we'll lie down for a spell. 1t will be
several hours before day comes. AND
there can be no telling what may oc"
cur to exhaust him ere another oppor
tunity occurs to get any sleep.
Rising. he tOssrs the butt of his ci-
gar out of the window, At the same
time he, stands there and glances
around.
The poor apology for an Egyptian
moon has reached respectable point
up in the heavens, and as Joe looks
out he can see the grand plaza before
him. Beyond are whitewaled houses,
the cleaning donrS of mosques and
nccdlclikc minarcts. from which per.
chance ut sunrise the muezzin will be
calling all the faithful Mussulmnns to
prayer.
Giving yawn he looks down and
notes that the ground is not so far be.
low but what an agile man could
jump TO 1t safely.
Then Mynhccr Joe throws himself
upon the clean bed. 1t feels very COM
Portable and he gives grunt of salts
faction. 1t is not very often a man Of
his calling finds a chance to rest upon
such couch. More generally he lies
upon bed of leaves or the hard side
of IA plank on board some exploring
bo"t. Certainly. Joe has been given
10 cot of roses while with Gordon in
Khartoom. This fact does not pre-
vent traveller used to rouShing 1t
from enjoying Il soft thing when
chance throws 1t in his way.
He finds his senses fading, and then
all becomes blank as sleep OvcrpOwcrS
him. The hour passes on. All Is ST.
lcncc around the famous hosiery save
for the discordant barking of NANCY
ours upon the streetS-a sound every
eolour;icr in the land of Egypt be-
comes accustomed to. rs it is unmcrci.
fully dinned into his ears in every city
Of size.
Mynhcer Joe has moved rcstlcssly
several times. as though his dreams
take him back TO the exciting scenes
at the beleagucred city on the Nile.
Suddenly his eyes fly open. Could
that be the effect of vivid dream or
did he really hear sbilant whisper:
"Mynhecr Joe, awake. Danger
Never in all his life has this man Of
ron nerve been more completely
aroused. He lies there as still as
cock. and yet with his senses and
hcrvcs on the Qui vivc.
IIa. Is that a sound that reaches
him from the direction Of the window?
Gently he raises his head to look.
What he sees in that one glance Is
quite enough to take away an ordi-
"ary mans breath.
To be Continued