Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-08

guise of q new creation. He had lived the latter and the larger part of his life among men who said, in action If not in words, lam hungry or am thirsty; I want this, or want that; and If you are not strong enough to keep 1t, will take it from you.
 This man was different, and Victor Durnovo did not know, could not find out, what he wanted.
 He had at first been inclined to laugh at him. What struck him most forcibly was Joseph, the servant. The idea of a man swaggering up an African river with European manservant was so preposterous that 1t could only be met with ridicule; but the thing seemed so natural to Jack Meredith, he accepted the servitude of Joseph so much as q matter of course that after tme Durnovo accepted him also as part and parcel of Meredith.
 Joseph took of his coat, turned up his sleeves and proceeded to cook such n dinner as Durnovo had not tasted for many months. There was wine also, and afterward cigar of such quality as appealed strongly to Durnovo's West Indian palate.
 The night settled down over the land while they sat there. and before them the great yellow equatorial moon rose slowly over the trees. With the dark ness came greater silence, for the myriad insect life was still.
 s'So," said Durnovo, returning to the subject which had never really left his thoughts, you have come out here for pleasure?"
 Not exactly. I came chiefly to make money, partly to dispei some of the illusions of my youth, and ] am getting on very well. Picture book H. lusions they were. The man who drew the pictures had never seen Africa" The evening had turned out 30 very differently from what he had expected that Durnovo wos little carried of his equilibrium. Things were so so- ciable and pleasant in comparison with the habitual loneliness of his life. The fire cracked so cheerily, the moon shone down on the river so grandly, the subdued chatter of the boatmen .mparted such feeling of safety and comfort to the scene, that he gave way to that impulse of responsiveness which ever turks In West Indian blood. T say" he said, when you told me that you wanted to make money, were you in earnest?"
 "In the deadliest earnest" replied Jack Meredith m the half mocking tone which he never wholly learned to lay aside
 ''Then think I can put you in the way of 1t. Oh, I know 1t seems bit premature; not known you long enough and all that. But in this coun- try we don't hold much by the formali- ties. I like you. l liked the' look of you when you got out of that boat so cool and self possessed. You're the right sort, MT. Meredith"
 Possibly for some things. For sit ting about and smoking first class cigars and thinking second class thoughts am exactly the right sort. But for making money. for hard work and steady work, l am afraid, Mir. Durnovo, that I am distinctly the wrong sort"
 There was a little pause. Durnovo looked round as if to make sure that Joseph and the boatman were out of ear shot.
 "Can you keep secret?" he asked suddenly.
 Jack Meredith turned and looked at the questioncr with smile His hat had slipped to the back of his head. the light of the great yellow moon fell full upon his clean cut sphinxlike face. The eyes alone seemed living.
 "Yes. I can do that"
 "I can see you're a gentleman" Durnovo said. "l'll trust you. I want a man to join me in making fortune. l have got my hand on 1t at last. But I'm afraid of this country. I'm getting shaky; look at tbat hand. I've been looking for it too long. take you into my confidence, the first conner, you'll think. But there are not many men like you In this country. and I'm beastly afraid of dying. I want to get out of this for bit, but dare not leave until I set things going"
 Take your time." said Meredith. quietly and soothingly. Light that cigar again and lie down. There Is no hurry"
 Durnovo obeycd him meekly.
 ''Tell me-" he said. nave you ever heard of simiacine?'
 T cannot say that 1 have" replied Jack. "what is 1t for. brown boots or spasmsr
 Tt is a drug. the most expensive drug in the market. And they must have it, they cannot do without it. and they cannot find substitute. It is the leaf of a shrub. and your hatful is worth thousand pounds"
 "where Is 1t to be foundY" asked Jack Meredith. T should like some in a sack"
 "Ah. you may laugh now. but you won't when you hear all about it. The scientific chaps called 1t simia- cine. because of an old African legend which, like all those things. has a grain of truth in 1t The legend Is that the monkeys first found out the properties of the leaf. and 1t Is because l fher live on if fhaf fher are 90 strong.