The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-27

York. q. s. A.
We were mutually introduced. I a
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.
mo. Monsieur Ephrinell."
"YOu will come to our country some
day. Then you will not forget to explore
the establishment of Strong, Bulbul q
Co. ~
Explore it?''
"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-
tons a minute, boilers consuming a nun
dred tons of coal day, a chimney stack
four hundred and fifty feet high, vast
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
rctaries, a 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, turnover exceeding
annually one hundred million dollars!
And all that, Mr. Bombarnac, for making
millions of-yes, I said millions
At this moment the train commenced to
slow under the action Of its automatic
brakes, and he stopped. Our converse
ton is interrupted. 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 l
return to our carriage, and when l have
shut the door I notice that my place is
taken. Yes! Facing the American
lady has installed herself with that
Anglo-Saxon GOODNESS which is as unlim-
tied as the infinite. My French gal
lantry prevents me from claiming my
corner, and 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, l must sleep with one eye and one
ear open.~
In this way 1 heard the shouts Of
Geran, Varvara, Oudjarry, Kiourdamid,
Klourdane, then Karasoul, Navagi. l sat
up, but as l no longer occupied the cor
ner from which l had been so cavalierly
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?
l must gradually have fallen sound
asleep. Withdrawn from exterior infu-
ences, did not even hear the stentorian
respiration Of the Yankee.
"Baku! Baku!"
The word, repeated as the train stop
ped, awoke me. 1t was seven o'clock in
the morning.
CHAPTER III.
The boat did not start until three
o'clock in the afternoon. Those of my
companions who intended to cross the
Caspian hurried off to the harbor, it
being necessary to engage a cabin, or to
mark ones place in the steamers saloon.
Ephrinell precipitately left me with these
words:
II have not an instant to lose. I must
see about the transport Of my baggage"
Have you much?
"Forty-two cases."
'Forty-two casesw l exclaimed.
II he had had voyage of eight days,
instead of one of twenty-four hours, and
had to cross the Atlantic instead of the
Caspian, he could not have been in a
greater hurry. He did not think of Of
fering his hand to assist our companion
in descending from the carriage. 1 took
his place. The lady leaned on my arm
and jumped-no, gently put her foot on
the ground. My reward was a thank
you, sir, uttered in hard, dry, unmis-
taxable British voice.
Twenty-Five years is apparently about
her age. she has an Albionesque complex
ion, jerky walk, a high dress like an
equinoctial tide, no spectacles, although
she has eyes Of the intense blue which
are generally short-sighted. While bend
my back as bow, she honors me with
a nod, which only brings into play the
vertebrae of her long neck, and she walks
off straight toward the way out.
As eleven o'clock strikes, make NV
way to the restaurant at the railway. Az
l am entering Ephrinell rushes out.
I Breakfast" say l.
Il have had it," he replies.
''And your cases?'
Il have still Twenty-Five to get down
to the steamer. But. pardon, have not
a moment to lose. When a man repre-
sents the firm of Strong, Bulbul & Co.,
who send out every week five thousand
cases Of their goods
go, go. Monsieur Ephrinell. we will
meet on board. By the bye, you have
not met our travelling companion?"
"What travelling companionY'
"The young lady who took my place
in the carriage"
was there young lady with usY'
"Of course"
well, you are the first to tell me SO.
Mr.. Bombarnac."
And thereupon the American goes out
Of the door, and disappears. It is to be
hoped I shall know before we get to
Pekin what it Is that Strong, Bulbul &
Co. send out in slIch nnanf;t;a~ E;va