Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-08-21

was chief commissioner OF
'- Burma. Lawrence Jones
80 captain Of the tramp steamer
Newcastle Maid, was his brother
More than that, they were twins. as
like as two drops Of water. 1t was
kismet that Sir Lemuel should rise to
be chief commissioner, while 1t was
Larry's own fault that he was only
captain OF freighter. but they botl
enjoyed themselves. each after Ills
kind.
One morning in November the New
castle Maid glided up the lrawadi and
swung to moorings just off the main
wharf ut Rangun. Larry had not seen
his brother for years. and. for the mat
ter of that. did not care II many more
wears passed before he saw him. Their
paths ran ut right angles. He was
there for cargo Of rice. not to renew
family ties.
1t was because the chief engineer OF
the Newcastle Maid was man aftei
his own heart that he said before go
ING ashore: Il don't want to get Into
a gale here, for I've had letter from
the owners over that last break made
in Calcutta. II come off seas over
lust lock me in the cabin and don't let
me out. No matter what l say, keep
me there until I'm braced up"
Then the captain went ashore.
He took q drive out through the can
tonments. AS he bowled along In the
old gharry q new experience came to
him Gentlemen lifted their hats and
ladies driving in their carriages smiled
and bowed in the most gracious man
ner.
81 wonder If there's anything stick
ing to my face" thought Larry. and he
passed his hand carefully over Its
rounded surface. 1t seemed all right
But still they kept it up-everybody
he met, and one officer, gallOping by on
his pony, took a pull ut the animars
head and shouted, "Are you coming to
the club tonight, sir?"
"No. roared the captain, for ne
hadn't the faintest idea Of going to
club without an invitation.
They'll be awfully disappointed
came the echo of the officers voice as
the gharry opened up gap between
them.
VERY kind" muttered Larry, "but
fancy they'll get over 1t. Must have
taken me for somebody else"
The next minute Larry was busy
staring open mOuthed ut the Image Of
himself sitting in carriage just IL
front. The carriage was turning out OF
compound and blocked the road SO
that his own driver wac forced to stop
He recognized the other man. 1t was
Sir Lemuel, his twin brother.
The recognition was mutual. The
commissioner bowed quite coldly as
the captain called out, "How are you
Lemuel?"
Then the big Waller horses whipped
the carriage down the road at slash
Ing gait, and Larry was left alone.
$50 that's why they've been taking
off their hats to me-" he mused. "They
take me for Sir Lemuel. Great time
he must have ruling these yellow mig
gers out here. I'd like to be IN bis
shoes just for day to see how 1t feels
to be king of Burma"
All the way back to the hotel he was
thinking about it. Arrived there, he
wrote Il note addressed to the chiel
commissioner and sent it of by ma
tive. THAT will bring him." he NUT
tered. "IIe always was bit afraid ol
me-"
1t was 6 O'Clock when Sir Lemuel ar
rived in his carriage. There was Q
great scurrying about OF servants ant
no end of salaaming the Lat Sahib,'
for it was not often the chief commits
sioner honored the hotel with his pres
ence. He was shown to Captain Jones
room.
Take seat, Lem" said Captain
Larry checrfully. 81 wanted to see yot
and thought you'd rather come here
than receive me ut Government house.
please be brief. then" said Sir Lem
uel in his most dignitied manner. u
have to attend dinner ut the club to
night in honor of the return Of our ju
dicial commissioner"
"Oh, Sir Lemuel will be there In time
for that" chuckled the captain. "Bu
first. Lem. for the sake Of old times.
want YOU to drink Il glass Of wine will
me. You know. we took Il drink toSeth
err pretty often the first year of our eX
istence." Then he broke into lout
sailor laugh that irritated the commits
sioner.
while don't approve Of drinking tt
the extent you have carried It," sale
Sir Lemuel. with judicial severity, "stil
I can't refuse glass proffered by my
brother"
"Your twin brother" broke In Larry
"of whom you've always been 80 fond
you know" ,
81 really must be going, so please tel
me why you've sent for me-" But whel
he had drunk the glass Of wine he gave
up all idea of going anywhere but Il
sleep. for 1t was drugged.
Then Captain Larry stripped MI
brother, peeled the august body OF th'
| commissioner rs one would strip vii
low. and draped him in his own sailo
outfit. you're groggy looking cap
tain" he said rs he tried to brace th'
figure up in a big chair. you're dis
| grace to the service. You'll have you
papers taken away first thing yo'
| know"
When he had arrayed himself IN tn
puple ana uue linen or the coninis'
sloner lie emptied the contents OF the
bottle of wine through the window
Then he went below and spoke to the
proprietor. 1.-THE captain upstairs, VINO
had an important communication te
make to me, has become suddenly
most completely Intoxicated. Never
saw man get drunk so quickly IN IN!
life. Can you have him sent on to his
ship SO that he won't get In disgrace
It's my express wish that this shoult
loo Doses $I