Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-28

1uu HcdH tndt he Iuineu soui eo' reer"
 "well-er-yes. suppose that de scribes the position with fair accura- cy."
 "was he very great scoundrel"
 "He was and is'
 Jenks 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 elicited the information that his chief foe was man. A cer- 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 her words, which fell like rain on parched soil.
 You are tired" she said. Wont you smoke for little while and talk to me?'
 He produced his pipe and tobacco.
 That is 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 evi- dently agree with him."
 Absolutely"
 You will like my father when you meet him. He is the very best man alive I am sure"
 "You two are great friends, then?
 "Great friends. He is the only friend l possess in the world" -.
 What! Is that quite accurate?"
 "Oh, quite. Of course. Mir. Jenks, I can never forget how much I owe to you. I like you immensely, too. al though you are so-so gruff to me at times. But-but-you see, my father and I have always been together. l have neither brother nor sister, not even a cousin. My dear mother died from some horrid fever when was quite a little girl. My father is every thing to me-
 Dear child.' he murmured. appar- ently uttering his thoughts aloud rath- CT than addressing her directly. "So you find me gruff, chg
 "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 child:'
 Have I done so?'
 Not a moment ago. How old are you. Mir Jenks? l am twenty-twenty last December"
 And L. he said, will be twenty eight in August"
 Good gracious" she gasped. T am very sorry, but I really thought you were forty at least"
 "I look it. no doubt Let me be equal ly candid and admit that you, too, show your age markedly"
 She smiled nervously. 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..''
 "I don't know I think they rather suit you Besides. it was stupid of me to imagine you were so old. l suppose exposure to the sun creates wrinkles, and you must have lived much in the open air" ;5; { Ga, .s.:a
 Early rising and late going to bed are bad for the complexion" he de- clared solemnly.
 T often wonder how army officers manage 10 exist" she said. They never seem to get enough sleep. in the east at any rate"
 "So you assume I have been in the army%'
 II am quite sure of it"
 May l ask why:"
 Your manner. your voice. your quiet air of authority. the very way you walk. all betray you"
 Then" he said sadly, T will not at tempt to deny the fact held a com mission in the Indian staff corps for nine years. IL was hobby of mine, Miss Deane. to make myself scquaint- ed with the best means of victualing my men and keeping them in good health under all sorts of fancifui con ditions and in every kind of climate. especially under circumstances when ordinary stores were not available. With that object in view I read up every possible country in which my regiment might be engaged. learned the local names of common articles of food and ascertained particularly what provision nature made to sustain life The study interested me. Once. dur ing the Sudan campaign. it was really useful and procured me promotion"
 Tell me about fl.
 During some operations in the desert it was necessary for my troop to fol- low ID q small party Of rebels mounted on camels. which. as you probably know. can go without water much long e than horses We were almost with. in striking distance when our horses completely gave out, but luckily mo- ticed indications uhirb showed that there was water beneath a portion of the plain much below the general level. Half an hours spade work proved that I was right. We took up the pursuit again and ran the quarry to earth. and l got my captaincy.'
 Was there no fightT'
 He paused sn sppreciable time be fore replying Then he evidently made ID his mind to perform some disagree able task. The watching girl could sec tho change in bis face. the sharp