Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-12

Maurice Gordon. The suggested delay
appealed to one side of his nature, the
softened tone to another. "Therc Is
time enough. When come back l
will speak of 1t again. Your sister is
very fond of you,. and-I think have
one or two arguments to put forward
which She would recognize as uncom-
monty strong. would not bring for
ward those arguments except MS last
resource. would first point out the
advantages. a fourth share In the
simiacine scheme would make you a
rich man-above suspicion-independ
ent of the gossip of the market place."
Maurice Gordon WINGED visibly, and
his eyes wavered rs If he We're about
to give way to panic.
You could retire and go home to
England-to n cooler climate. This
country might get too hot for your
constitution. SeeY"
Durnovo came back into the center
of the room and stood by the writing
table. His attitude was that of man
holding whip over covering dog.
He took up his hat and riding whip
with a satisfied little laugh, us If the
dog had cringingly done his bidding.
Besides" he said, with certain
defiance Of manner, Il may succeed
without any of that-eh?"
Yes" Gordon was obliged to admit,
with gulp, as If he We're swallowing
his pride. And he knew that in say
ing the word lie was degrading his
sister-tlirowing her at this mans feet
as the price Of his own honor.
With n half contemptuous nod, Vic
tor Durnovo turned and Went away to
keep his appointment with Meredith.
Guy DISCARD was sitting on the nat
ural terrace In front of Dufnovo's
house at Msala, and Marie attended to
his simple wants with that patient
dignity which suggested the recollec-
ton Of better times and appealed
strongly to the manhood Of her fellow
servant Joseph and her whilom
master.
81 hear the sound of paddles" she
said.
MY ears are not SO sharp as yours"
said Oscard
He listened, and after moment
heard the regular glug-glug of the pad
dies stealing over the waters of the
still tropic river, covering wonderful
distance
YES" he said, 81 hear. Mr.. Mere
dith said he would be back tonight"
She gave strange little low laugh
almost the laugh of happy woman
The two boats came on to the sloping
shore with grating sound, and by the
light of the waving lanterns DISCARD
saw Durnovo and Jack land from the
same boat.
The three men walked up to the
house together. Marie was at the door
and bowed her head gravely in answer
to Jacks salutation. Durnovo nodded
curtly and said nothing.
In the sitting room, by the light of
the paraftin lamp, the two Englishmen
exchanged a long questioning glance,
quite different from the quick interro-
cation of woman's eyes. There was
smile on Jack Meredith's face.
"All ready to start tomorrow" he In
quired.
YES" replied OscarS
And that was all they could say.
Durnovo never left them alone to-
gether that night. He watched their
faces with keen, suspicious eye. Be
hind the mustache his lips were pursed
up in restless anxiety. But he saw
nothing-learned nothing. These two
lien were lnscrutable.
At II o'clock the pext morning the
simiacine seekers left their first un.
happy camp at Msala. They had tasted
of misfortune at the very beginning,
but after the first reverse they return.
ed to their work with that logged de.
termination which is better spirit
than the wild enthusiasm of departure
where friends shout and flags wave
and an artificial hopefulness throws In
its EARRING note.
In less than week they had left the
river, hauling their canoes up on the
bank and hiding them in the tangle OF
the virgin underwood. A depot of pro
visions, likewise hidden, was duly
made, and the long, weary march be
gan.
We have not to deal SO much will
the finding of the simiacine as with
the finders, and of these the chief at
this time was Jack Meredith. II
seemed quite natural that one duty
after another should devolve upon him
ana he invariably had time to do them
all and leisure to comment pleasantly
upon 1t. But his chief care was Vic
cor Durnovo
When they had been on the marcel
for two months-piloted with marvel
GUS instinct by Durnovo-AIeredltl
made one or two changes in the OF
sanization. The caravan natural,
moved slowly, owing to the enormous
amount of baggage to be carried
and this delay seemed to irritate Victo
Durnov0 to such an extent that n
last it was obvious that the maj
would go mad unless this frightfu
tension could he relieved.
An advance column, commanded b,
Meredith and Durnovo, was selected
to push on to the plateau, while Os
card and Joseph followed more leisure
ly with the baggage and the slowe
travellers
VICTOR Durnovo would never knoy
rest now until he reached the spo
where the simiacne should be. If tn
trees We're there, growing, as he said
In solitary state and order, strangel,
suggestive Of human handlwork, thel
Victor DurnOvO was saved. II no sucI
spot was found, madness and dealt
could only follow.
To save his companions reasol
Meredith more than once drugged hi
food, but when the land began to ris
beneath their feet in slight billowllk
inequalities-the deposit OF the glacia
ageDurnovo refused to stop for th
preparation Of food. Eating dry bl.
cults and stringy timed meat as the
went along. the four men-three black
and one white-followed in the foo
steps Of their mad pilot.