Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-07

way OF IL. On, KNOW 1t seems bit
premature; not known you long
enough and all that. But in this couu.
try we don't hold much by the formal.
ties. like you. liked the look of
you when you got out of that boat
SO cool and self possessed. You're the
right sort, Mr.. Meredith"
Possibly for some things. For sit
ting about and smoking first class
cigars and thinking second class
thoughts l am exactly the right sort
But for making money, for hard work
and steady work, am afraid. Mr..
Durnovo, that am distinctly the
wrong sort"
There was little pause. Durnovo
looked round as If to make sure that
Joseph and the boatman were out of
ear shot.
Can you keep a secret?' he asked
suddenly.
Jack Meredith turned and looked at
the questioner with Il 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! l can do that
81 can see you're gentleman"
Durnovo said. IN trust you. want
a man to join me in making fortune.
l have got my hand on it at last. But
I'm afraid of this country. I'm getting
shaky; look at that hand. I've been
looking for 1t 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. want to get
out Of this for bit, but dare not
leave until set things going"
Take your time,' said Meredith,
quietly and soothingly. Light that
cigar again and lie down. There Is no
hurry
Durnovo obeyed him meekly.
"Tell me-" he said, "have you ever
heard of simiacine?'
Il cannot say that l have" replied
Jack. what is it for, brown boots or
spasmsY'
1T is a drug, the most expensive
drug In the market And they must
have 1t, they cannot do without 1t, and
they cannot find substitute. 1t is the
leaf of n shrub, and your hatful Is
worth thousand pounds"
where IS it to be found?" asked Jack
Meredith. ~ 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 u
grain of truth in it. The legend is
that the monkeys first found out the
properties of the leaf, and it is because
they live on it that they are so strong.
Do you know that gorilla's arm is
not half so thick as yours, and yet he
would take you and snap your back
bone across his knee? He would bend
q gun barrel as you would bend cane,
merely by the turn of his wrist That
tree with one leg and tackle leopard
with his bare hands-thats simiacine.
At home they are only just beginning
to find out its properties. 1t seems
that 1t can bring man back to life
when he Is more than half dead.
There is no knowing what children
that are brought up on it may turn
out to be. 1t may double the power
Of the human brain; some think ii
WILL"
Jack Meredith was leaning forward,
watching with certain sense Of
fascination the wild, disease stricken
face, listening to the mans breathless
periods. 1t seemed that the fear of
death, which had got hold of him,
gave Victor Durnovo no time to pause
for breath.
Yes" said the Englishman, yes,
go on
"There is practically no limit to the
demand that there is for It, AT pres
ent the only way of obtaining it is
through the natives, and you know
their manner of trading. They send Il
little packet down from the Interior
and 1t very often takes two months
and more to reach the buyers hands
The money is sent back the same way
and each man who fingers it keeps a
little. The natives find the leaf In
the forests by the aid of trained
monkeys and only in very small guam
titles. DO you follow me?"
Yes, follow you"
Victor Durnovo leaned forward until
his face was within three inches Of
Mopnlifi'S nd tho Ia,, 1t,il1
flashed and glared into the English
mans steady glance.
'What." he hissed-"what If I know
where simiacine grows like weed?
What If could supply the world with
simiacfne at my own price? Eh-h-h!
What Of that, Mr.. Meredith|
He threw, himself suddenly back and
wiped his dripping face. There was
silence, the great African silence that
drives educated men mad and fills the
Imagination of the poor heather with
wild tales of devils and spirits.
Then Jack Meredith spoke without
moving.
"I'm your man." he said, with few
more dctails.''
Victor Durnovo was lying back at
full length on the hard, dry mud, his
arms beneath his head. Without alter
ing his position, he gave the details,
speaking slowly and much more quiet,
~. 1t seemed as If he spoke the result
OF long pent up thought.
I'VE shall want" he said, lat least
fo000 to start it, for we must have
an armed force of our own. We have
to penetrate cannibal country of the
liercest devils in Africa. 1t is n pla-
teau, little plateau Of two square
miles, and the niggers think that it is
haunted by an evil spirit. When we
get there we shall have to hold II by
force Of arms, and when we send the
stuff down to the coast we must have
an escort of picked men. The bushes
grow up there as thick as gooseberry
bushes in Il garden at home With Il
little cultivation they will yield twice
as much as they do now. We shall
want another partner. know man,