Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-15

tic affairs, and anything attempted to do could only be looked upon as the most unwarrantable interference"
 "Yes," said Meredith seriously. "I beg your pardon. You are right" He went to his own room and sum- moned Joseph.
 When is the next boat homef" he asked. Boat on Thursday, sir" Meredith nodded. After little pause he pointed to chair.
 "Just sit down." he said. T want to talk over this simiacine business with you"
 Joseph squared his shoulders and sat down, with a face indicative of the gravest attention. Sitting thus he was no longer a servant, but partner in the simiacine. He even indulged in a sidelong Jerk of the head, as if request ! ing the attention of some absent friend in a humble sphere of life to this glori- 1 ous state of affairs.
 "You know" said Meredith. "Mr. Durnovo is more or less blackguard. v Joseph drew in his feet, having pre- : viously drawn his trousers up at the i knees.
 "Yes, sir" he said, giancing up.
 "He wants continual: watching and a special treatment He requires some one constantly at his heels.'
 "Yes, sir" admitted Joseph, with some fervor.
 Now I am ordered home by the doctor" went on Meredith. "I must go by the next boat. but I don't like to go and leave Mir. Oscard in the lurch, with no one to fall back upon but Durnovo, you understand"
 Joseph's face had assumed the habit ual look of servitude. He was no long CT partner, but mere retainer, with a half comic resignation in his eyes.
 "Yes, sir" scratching the back of his | neck. "I am afraid I understand. You want me to go back to that platter, that God forsaken platter, as I may say.' .
 "Yes," said Meredith: "that is about it. I would go myself"-
 God bless you. know you would!' burst in Joseph. You'd go like winkin'. There's no one knows that better nor me, sir, and what l says is, like mas ter, like man. Game. sir; game 1t Is! i I'll go. I'm not the man to turn my back on a pal, a-a partner, sir, so to speak"
 "You see," said Meredith, with the deep insight into men that made com. mand so easy to him-''you see there Is no one else. There is not another man in Africa who could do it."
 That's true, sir"
 And think that Mir. Oscard will be looking for you"
 And he won't need to look long. sir But should like to see you safe on board the boat; then I'm ready to go. ?
 Right. We can both leave by Thursdays boat. and we'll get the cap tain to drop you and your men al Lopez. We can get things ready by then. I think"
 Easy, sir"
 The question thus settled, there seemed to be no necessity to prolong the interview. But Joseph did moi move. Meredith waited patiently.
 'I'll go up, sir. to the platter" said the servant at length. and I'll place myself under Mir. Oscards orders; but before I go want to give you notice of resignation. I resigns my partner ship in this 'erc simiaclne at six months from today. It's a bit too hot sir that's the truth. It's all very we'll for gentlemen like yourself and Mir. Os 1 card, with fortunes and fine houses and, as sayln' goes. wife apiece wait ing for you at home-it's all very well for you to go about in this blamed country with yer life in yer hand. and not a tight grip at that. But for q poor soldier man like myself, what has smelt the regulation powder all Is life and hasn't got nothing to love and nc gal waiting for him at home-well, | isn't good enough. That's what I say sir. with respects"
 He added the last two words by way of apology for having banged a very solid fist on the table.
 Joseph rubbed his hands slowly 10 gethef and departed. leaving his mas ter to begin a long letter to Guy os card.
 And at the other end of the passage in her room with the door locked. Joce lyn Gordon was sobbing in a wild burs of grief because she had probably saved the life of Jack Meredith. and II doing so had only succeeded in send ing him away from her.
 When Jack Meredith said that ther' was not another man in Africa wh' could make his way from Loango t the slmiacine plateau he spoke no nor than the truth. There were only fou men In ari the world who Knew th way, and two of them were isolate' on the summit of lost mountain Il the interior. Meredith himself was un ft for the journey. There remains' Joseph.
 Tn coming down to Loango .osepl had had the recently made track O Oscard's rescliing party to guide hin day by day. He knew that this va now completely overgrown. The sim iacine plateau was once more lost [ all human knowledge.
 And up the-c. alone amid the cloud, Guy Oscard was. as he himself tersel put it. sticking to It." He had stuc to 1t to such good effect that the suppl ] of fresh young simiacins was daily h