Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-28
CHAPTER NJ.
THE next morning Jack Meredith
was awakened by his servant
Joseph before it was fully light.

A~sAAe3
was awakened by his servant
Joseph before it was fully light.
\ Woke you before yer time,
SIR" he said. There's something
wrong among these ere darby fellers,
SIR"
Not rebellion?' he said CURLY, look
ing toward his firearms.
No, sir, not that. It's some mortual
sickness. l don't know what it is.
I've been up half the night with them.
It's spreadn' too'
sickness! What does 1t seem like?
Just give ME that jacket. Not that
sleeping sickness:'
no. sir. It's not that. Missis Marie
was tellin' me about that-awful
scourge that, sir. No, the poor chaps
are wide awake enough-groanln', and
off their heads, too, mostly"
Call Mr.. Durnovo."
Met Mr.. Durnovo. sir, gon' out as
came In"
In few minutes Jack joined Dur
noyo and DISCARD, who We're talking to-
gether on the terrace in front of the
house. Guy DISCARD was still in his
pajamas, which he had tucked into
topboots. He also wore sun helmet,
which added n finish to his costume.
They got quite accustomed to this get
up during the next three days, for he
never had time to change it, and
somehow 1t ceased to be humorous
long before the end of that time.
''Oh. it's nothing" Durnovo was say
ing, with singular eagerness. II
know these chaps. They have been
paid in advance. They are probably
shamming. and II they are not they are
only suffering from the effects of q
farewell glorification. They want to
delay our start. That is their little
game. 1t will give them better
chance of DESERVING
''At any rate we had better go and
see Them" suggested Jack.
mo, don't" cried Uurnovo eagerly.
OBTAINING him with both hands. Take
my advice and don't Just have break
fast in the ordinary way and pretend
there is nothing wrong. Then after
ward you can lounge casually into the
camp"
"All right said Jack rather unwill-
ingly.
ut has been of some use, this scare"
said Durnovo, turning and looking
toward the river. 1T has reminded
me of something. We have not nearly
enough quinine. l will just take Il
quick canoe and run down to Loango
to fetch some."
He turned quite away from them
and stopped to attach the lace of his
boot.
II can travel night and day, and be
back here in three days." he added.
in the meantime you can be getting
on with the loading Of the canoes and
we will start as soon as ! get back"
He stood upright and looked around
with weatherwise, furtive eyes.
Seems to me-" he said, there's
thunder coming. l think had better
be off at once"
In the course Of his inspection of the
lowering clouds which hung, black as
ink, just aoove the trees his eyes
lighted on Joseph, standing within the
door Of the cottage watching him with
singular half suppressed smile.
YES" be said hurriedly, Il will start
at once. l can eat some sort of break
fast when we are under way"
He looked beneath his lashes quickly
from Jack to Guy and back again.
Their silent acquiescence was not quite
satisfactory. Then he called his own
men and spoke to them in u tongue
unknown to the Englishmen He hur-
rled forward their preparations with a
feverish irritability which made Jack
Meredith think Of the first time he had
ever seen Durnovo. a few miles farther
down the river. all palpitating and
trembling with climatic nervousness.
His face was quite yellow and there
was line drawn diagonally from the
nostrils down each cheek, to lose itself
ultimately in the heavy black mus
tnche.
Scarcely had the boat disappeared in
the bend of the river before the rain
broke. The thunder crashed out in
sharp reports, and the men ceased
rowing and crouched down in the
canoe. But Durnovo knew that be-
hind him he had left greater danger:
smallpox had laid its hand on the canp
at Msala.
1t is still said Oh the Ogowe river
that no man travels like Victor Dur
novo. Certain it is that in twenty-seveu
hours from the time he left Msala on
the morning of the great storm he pre-
sented himself before Maurice Gordon
in his office at the factory ut Loango
'Will you he at home tonigllt!"
asked Durnovo, gently pushing aside
the hospitable decanter. Il have got
a lot of work to do today. but l should
like to run i'll and see you this evening"
Yes, come and dine
Durnovo shook his head and looked
down at his wriakled and draggled
clothing.
We'll, I'll lend you black coat.
Seven o'clock sharpm
Durnovo hurried away with CLEAN
Of excitement in his dark eyes.
Maurice Gordon did not resume his
work at once. He sat for some time
idly drumming with his fingers on the
desk.
IF can ouly get her to be civil to
him." he reflected aloud, I'm get into,
this business yet
AT Z O'Clock Durnovo appeared at the
GOrdons' house. He had managed to
borrow dress suit and wore an orchid
in his buttonho!e. 1t was probably
the first time that Jocelyn had seen him
IN this garb of civilization, which is at
the same time the most becoming and
the most trying variety of costume left
to sensible men in these days. A dress
suit finds man out sooner than any.
thing except speech.
Jocelyn was civil in her reception;
more so, indeed, than Maurice Gordon
had hoped for. She seemed almost glad
to see Durnovo. and evinced quite
kindly interest in Ills movements. Dur
novo attributed this to the dress suit,
while Maurice concluded that his OBJ
vious hints thrown out before dinner
had fallen on fruitful ground.
AT dinner Victor Durnovo was quite
charmed with the interest that Jocelyn