The Elbert County tribune., 1905-09-14

mind
Il might risk it, he says. softly.
Come. sing out what you think, "
urges Jack.
Lex me give the driver an address"
cided
So their route is changed. and pres
emily they plunge into another street,
where new scenes attract attention.
All Sin smiles to see the familiar signs
of Chinese laundries, while Jack pokes
his head out to watch the most
astonishing delivery of fresh milk on
record. the COW being driven to the
door Of each customer, and the quanti-
ty desired extracted on the spot, with
no question as to its purity.
Noticing their tortuous course,
Jack is beginning to show some curl
osity with regard TO their destination,
whereupon Smithers proceeds to en-
tighten him In a manner that only
serves 10 whet the appetite of Travers
for mystery.
Il am going to the house of friend
who will welcome you, because he is
under obligations to me. More than
this I cannot say just now, but in
time may tell you a strange story con-
corning my former adventures in this
mad town. Ali ask is. that should
you at any time. while under this
friends roof, notice anything that
strikes you as singular, you will make
no remark"
OF course Jack at once promises,
though the fact remains that his curl
osity has been more than ever aroused
by Jobs words.
Suddenly the vehicle brings up; they
have arrived at their destination.
Remain seated little until I see
my friend and tell him Of your com
ing"
So saying the agent springs out and
passes some words in Spanish with
the driver
Jack sees him open a door in
high wall. and is struck with the fact
that Smithers appears to be quite at
home.
Presently he appears again. No
one could tell from his solemn face
whether he carries good news or bad;
at funeral or a wedding the sphinx
would appear the same.
Its all right, sir. Driver drop the
luggage; and here's an extra bit of
the delay"
Once beyond the door in the wall,
Jack finds himself in a garden. Flow
ers CLEAN amid the green foliage, and
their rich fragrance scents the air.
Come, this is something like Paradise,
only for the everlasting fleas that in
habit the sandy soil and persist in
making life miserable for the stranger
within the gates.
Smithers takes him into the house
with familiarity that proclaims his
black servants fit about, but no mas
ter appears. Jack is a poor hand at
asking questions. and prefers to wait
until it is his comrades pleasure to
lift the curtain. At meal time they
will doubtless be made acquainted
with the kind owner.
All Sin has given over the luggage
to couple of stout blacks. who ap-
pear to be dressed in something like
livery. Really they must have hap
pened into the palace of nabob.
Smithers must have had swell ac-
quaintances when in Havana. Per
haps his name is not Smithers at all
that might be rame assumed for the
the purpose of hiding his identity
Can the strange story he has half
promised TO tell have some connection
with this land of paradise? One can
easily imagine any romantic tale when
surrounded by such an atmosphere.
Jack has changed his garb and
made himself look quite attractive;
like some men, he has the knack of
doing it, with a figure Apollo might
envy. thick curly hair. and careless
way of knotting the flowing tie that
somehow or other attracts admiring
glances, especially from female eyes.
Just now Jack is not caring plea
yune about any damsel on earth other
than Jessie Cameron.
Perhaps that is just why Fate pleas
es to bring him in contact with
counter irritant.
firing of waiting for Smithers. and
being a little curious. Jack steps out
into the court. No one is there.
Birds sing IN cages. but the CLEAN of
brighthued flowers in the garden
somehow seems to beckon him under
the arch, and almost before he knows
II he has drawn near the fountain.
He has seen no one. but as he
stoops to lave his hand in the spark
ling water low sigh catches his ear
Glancing up, he discovers that not
more than six feet away half con-
cealed in the tropical growth just be
side the fountain. is female figure.
AS yet he has only glimpse OF an
apparently faultless form, below the
average in size. dressed richly after
a style that might bespeak the Cuban
or Spanish lady.
Jack is little embarrassed.