Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-03

ScriDeS the position with fair accura-
cy."
WAS he very great seoundreiT'
"IIe was and is"
jerks spoke with quiet bitterness
The girls words had evoked sudden
flood OF recollection. For the moment
he did not notice how he had been
trapped into speaking OF himself. nor
did he see the quiet content on Iris
face when she elected the information
that his chief foe was a man A GER
tain tremulOus hesitancy in her man
ner when she next spoke might have
warned him. but his hungry soul
caught only the warm sympathy Of ner
words, which fell like rain on parched
soil.
You are tired" she said. Wont
you smoke for little while and talk
TO meT"
He produced his pipe and tobacco.
THAT is a first rate pipe" she de-
clared. My father always said that a
straight stem. with the bowl at right
angle, was the correct shape. You evil
IDENTITY agree with him"
Absolutely"
you viii like my father when you
meet him. He is the very best man
alive. am sure"
You two are great friends, them
Great friends. He is the only friend
/ possess in the world"
What Is that quite aecurateT"
ooh. quite. or course AR jerks. I
can never forget how much l owe to
you. like you immensely, too. al
though YOU are $3.50 gruff TO me at
times But-but-yOu see. my father
and 1 have always been together 1
have neither brother nor sister. not
even cousin My dear mother died
from some horrid fever when 1 was
quite a little girl. My father is every
thing TO me"
Dear child" he murmured. appar-
emily uttering his thoughts aloud rath-
er than addressing her directly. so
you find me grur. eh?"
"a regular bear when you lecture me
But that is only occasionally. You can
be very nice when YOU like. when YOU
forget your past troubles. And pray
why do YOU call me a childg"
"IIave 1 done 500"
'Not a moment ago. How old are
| you, Mr.. jerks? l am twenty twenty
last December"
And l." he said. will be twenty
eight I'm August"
Good graciousi' she gasped. Il am
very sorry. but I really thought you
We're forty at least"
Il look il. no doubt. Let me bc equal
~ candid and admit that YOU. too
show your age markedly"
She smiled ncrvouSly. What a lot
OF trouble you must have had toto
TO give YOU those little wrinkles in the
corners Of your mouth and eyes" she
said
Wrinkles. How terrible"
Il don't know. I think they rather
suit ycu. Besides. IL was stupid OF the
20 imagine you were 50 old. 1 suppose
exposure 10 the sun creates wrinkles
and YOU must have lived much IN the
open air"
Early rising and late going to bed
are bad for the complexion" he de.
clared solemnly.
Il often wonder how army officers
manage 20 exist" she said. "They
never seem 20 get enough sleep. I'm the
east at any rate"
$50 YOU assume 1 have been in the
armyE"
Il am quite sure Of H."
May ! ask why:"
your manner. your voice your quiet
air OF authority. the very way YOU
walk, all betroy YOU"
Then ne said sadly. Il will not at
tempt to deny the fact l held a com
mission in the Indian staf corps FOR
nine years. IL was "a hobby OF mine.
Miss Deanc. To make myself acquaint-
ell with the best means OF victuaIlng
my men and Keeping them In good
health under all sorts OF fanciful con
diuons and I'm every kind OF climate.
especially under circumstances when
ordinary stores We're not available.
With that object I'm view read I'd
every possible country i'm which nv
regiment might he engaged. learned
the local names OF common articles OF
food and ascertaincd particularly what
provision nature made 10 sustain life.
The study interested me. once dur
ing the Sudan campaign. 20 was really
useful and procured me promotion"
''Tell me about H."
During some operations In the desert
II was necessary for my troop TO fol-
low up small party Of rebels mounted
on camels, which. as YOU probably
know, can 20 without water much long
or than horses. We We're almost with
in striking distance when our horses
completely gave out but l luckily no.
uced indications which showed that
there was water beneath portion of
the plain much below the general leveI.
Half an hours spade work proved that
l was right We took up the pursuit
again and ran the quarry to earth. and
l got my captaincy."
Was there no fightg'
He paused an appreciable time be
fore replying. Then he evidently made
up his mind 10 , form some disagree
able task. The watching girl could
see the change in his face. the sharp
transition from eager interest To angry
resentment.
Yes" he went on at last. there was
fight IL was a rather stifr affair. be- !
cause a troop Of British cavalry which