Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-08-19
CHAPTER XXI.

sacked the gold and precious stones, to
the value of fifteen millions, are torn
from the grasp of the Celestials, who
yield after a courageous defense. AS to
the passengers, another two minutes of
sleep would have settled their fate
and mine
But all that disappeared with the
vapors of the night. Dreams are not
fixed photographs they fade in the sun,
and end by effacing themselves.
In taking my stroll through the train
as good townsman takes his stroll
through the town, 1 am joined by Major
Noltitz. After shaking hands, he show
ed me MOngol in the second-cass car,
and said to me, ''That is not one of those
we picked up at Douchak when we pick
ed up Faruskiar and Ghangir."
THAT is so," SAID l; Il never saw that
face in the train before"
Popof, to whom l applied for infor-
nation, told me that the Mongol had got
In at Tchertchen. "When he arrived"
he said, the manager spoke to him for
minute, from which 1 concluded that
he also was one of the staff of the Grand
Transasiatic"
had not noticed Faruskiar during my
walk. Had he alighted at one of the
small stations between Tchertchen and
Tcharkalyk, where we ought to have
been about 1 o'clock in the afternoon?
No, he and Changer were on the gang
VIZ in front of our car. They seemed
to be in an animated conversation, and
only stopped to take a good look toward
the northeastern horizon. Had the Mon
gol brought some news which had made
them throw off their usual reserve and
gravity! And | abandoned myself to my
imagination, foreseeing adventures, at
tacks of banGAs and so on, according to
my dream.
was recalled to reality by the Rev.
Nathaniel Morse, who said to me: at
is fixed for to-day; do not forget"
That meant the marriage of Fulk Eph-
rineil and Horatia Bluett. Really, l was
not thinking of it. 1t is time for me to
go and dress for the occasion. All can
do Will be to change my shirt. 1t is
enough that one of the husbands wit
nesses should be presentable: the other.
Caterna, will be sure to be magnificent.
1t was at 8 o'clock that this marriage
was to take place, announced by the bell
OF the tender, which was to sound full
clang as if it were chapel bell. With
little imagination we could believe we
bell invite the witnesses and guests? Into
the dining car, which had been conven-
lently arranged for the ceremony, as |
had taken good care.
1t was no longer a dining car; it was q
hall car, if the expression is admissible
The big table had been taken awav and
replaced by a small table which served
as desk. A few flowers bought at
Tchertchen had been arranged in the
corners of the car, which was large
enough to hold nearly all who wished to
be present-and those who could not get
inside could look on from the gangways.
"A quarter to nine No one has vet
seen the happy couple. Miss Bluett is
IN one of the toilet cabinets in the first
van, where she is probably preparing
herself. Fulk Ephrinell is perhans
struggling with his cravat and giving a
last polish to his portable jewelry. | am
not anxious. We shall see them as soon
as the bell rings
nave but one regret, and that is that |
tarusklar and Changer should be too
busy TO join us. Why do they continue
10 look over the immense desert? Re- |
fore their eyes there stretches not tbe
cultivated steppe of the Lob-Nor region
but the Cobb, which is barren, desolate
and gloomy. 1t may be asked whv these
people are keeping such an obstinate
lookout.
III my presentiments do not deceive
me-" said Major Noltitz, 'there is some
reason for it."
What does he mean? But the bell of |
the tender, the tender bell, begins it's
joyous appeal. Nine o'clock; it is time to
go into the dining car.
Inc passengers move in a procession
the four witnesses first, then the guests |
from the end of the village-I mean of |
the train; Chinese, Turkomans. Tartars
men and women, all curious to assist Of
the ceremony. The four Mongols remain
on the last gangway near the treasure
which the Chinese soldiers do not leave
for an instant.
We reach the dining car. The cler0v-
man is seated at the little table. on which
is the certificate of marriage he has
prepared according to the customary
form. He looks as though he was ac-
customed to this sort of thing, which is
as much commercial as matrimonial
Here is Mr.. Fulk Ephrinell. dressed
this morning just as he was dressed yes-
terday, with pencil behind the lobe of
his left ear, for he has just been making
out an account for his New York house.
Here is Miss Horatia Bluett, as thin.
as dry, as plain as ever, her dust-cloak
over her travelling gown, and in place
of jewelry noisy bunch of keys, which
hangs from her belt.
The company politely rise as the bride
and bridegroom enter. They mark
time" as Catcrna says. Then they adj
vance toward the clergyman, who is
standing with his hand resting on
Bible, open probably at the place where
Isaac the son of Abraham esnouses Ra