Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-05-19

We were mutually introduced. l
traveller in news, and he a traveller in
in what? That had to find out.
"Have you ever been in the United
States, Mr.. Bombarnac?" he asked.
''No, Monsieur Ephrinell."
"You- will come to our country some
day. Then you will not forget to explore
the establishment OF Strong. Bulbul &
Cop
Explore itY'
"You will see one Of the most remark
able industrial establishments OF the New
Continent. Imagine a colossal work
shop, immense buildings for the mount
ing and adjusting Of the pieces, steam
engine of fifteen hundred horse power.
ventilators making six hundred revolu-
tions a minute, boilers consuming hun
dred tons Of coal day, chimney stack
four hundred and fifty feet high, vasl
outhouses for the storage of our goods.
which we send to the five parts of the
world, a general manager, two sub-man-
ayers, four secretaries, eight under Sec
retaries, staff Of five hundred clerks and
nine hundred workmen, a whole regiment
of travellers like your servant, working
in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Aus
traliasia, in short, a turnover exceeding
annually one hundred million dollars!
And all that, Mr.. Bombarnac, for making
millions of-yes, 1 said millions"
At this moment the train commenced to
slow under the action of its automatic
brakes, and he stopped. Our conversa-
tion is interrupted. 1 lower the window
on my side, and open the door, being de-
sirous of stretching my legs.
As soon as the bell begins to ring
return to our carriage, and when 1 have
shut the door notice that my place is
taken. Yes! Facing the American, a
lady has installed herself with that
Anglo-Saxon GOODNESS which is as unlim-
tied as the infinite. Ny French gal
lantry prevents me from claiming my
corner, and 1 sit down beside this person,
who makes no attempt at apology.
Ephrinell seems to be asleep, and that
stops my knowing what it is that Strong,
Bulbul & Co. Of New York manufacture
by the million.
1t was nearly midnight. WEAKNESS in
vited me to sleep, and yet, like good re-
porter, must sleep with one eye and one
ear open.
In this way l heard the shouts of
Geran, Varvara. Oudjarry, Kiourdamid,
kourdane, then Karasoul, Navagi. I sat
up, but as 1 no longer occupied the cor
ner from which had been so eavalierly
evicted, it was impossible for me to look
through the window.
And then l began to ask what is hid
den beneath this mass of wells and wraps
and petticoats which has usurped my
place. Is this lady going to be my COM
panion all the way to the terminus OF
the Grand Transasiatic? Shall l ex-
change a sympathetic salute with her in
| the streets of Pekin?
/ must gradually have fallen sound
asleep. Withdrawn from exterior infu
ences, 1 did not even hear the stentoriar
respiration Of the Yankee.
"Baku. Baku!'
| The word, repeated as the train stop
ped, awoke me. 1t was seven o'clock il
| the morning.
| CHAPTER III.
The boat did not start until thres
o'clock in the afternoon. Those of m,
companions who intended to cross th'
Caspian hurried off to the harbor,
being necessary to engage a cabin, or t,
| mark ones place in the steamers saloon
Ephrinell precipitately left me with thes
words:
ST have not an instant to lose. I mus
see about the transport Of my baggage.
Have you muchT'
"Forty-two cases."
'.Forty-two casesw I exclaimed.
If he had had a voyage Of eight days
had to cross the Atlantic instead of tn
-
greater hurry. He did not think Of OF
fering his hand to assist our companion
il descending from the carriage. l too
his place. The lady leaned on my arr
and jumped-no, gently put her foot O.
the ground. My reward was a than
you, sir, uttered in a hard, dry, unmis
taxable British voice.
i twenty-five years is apparently abou
her age, she has an A1bionesque complex
ion, a jerky walk. high dress like a
equinoctial tide, no spectacles, althoug
she has eyes Of the intense blue whic
are generally short-sighted. While ben
my back as bow. she honors me wit
nod, which only brings into play tn
vertebrae of her long neck, and she walk
off straight toward the(rway out.
As eleven o'clock strikes, l make m
way to the restaurant at the railway. A
am entering EphrineH rushes out.
"Breakfastw say 1.
81 have had it." he replies.
"And your casesY
81 have still twenty mine to get dow
to the steamer. But, pardon, have nc
moment to lose. When a man repr.
sents the firm Of Strong, Bulbul & Co
who send out every week FIVE thousan
cases of their goods"
$50, go. Monsieur Ephrinell. we wi
meet on board. By the bye, you hav
not met our travelling companion?'
"What travelling companion?"
'The young lady who took my plac
in the carriage"
"Was there a young lady with usT'
"Of course"
swell, you are the first to tell me q
Mr.. Bombarnac."
And thereupon the American goes OF
of the door, and disappears. 1t is to /
hoped I shall know before we get |
4 Pekin what it is that Strong, Bulbul
q Co. send out in such quantities Fly
: thousand cases week-what an ou
| nuf and what a turunvor1