Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

casks with queer names on them. Only think
what it would feel like to-day to have a stream
of mellow 'Methusaem trickling over our
dusty lips and down our dry Threats! Great
Scott | daren't dwell on it, since it can't be.
But it is grand chance missed"
Almost as he spoke we flashed into neat,
white town, with green glimpses of patlos;
and, groanlng Dick shut his eyes upon great
bodega where the famous names of Gonzalez
and Byass doomed black on white.
We dumped our civil guard at the entrance
to side street, which was, we limited, rather
narrow for automobiles, and, not waiting for
his grateful adieu, we darted on, asking boot
black the way to the best hotel. At the Sign of
the Swan we paused Just long enough to g
the Gloria water and to find out that motor
car had stopped inside for a few moments
about two hours ago. There were ladies inside,
but they had not got out. A gentleman, COW
cred with dust, had ordered sherry and biscuits,
which he and the chauffeur had themselves
carried to the other passengers, appearing
rather impatient with the waiter. This gen.
tleman had spoken Spanish in the hotel, but
had been heard conversing in English with his
friends. They had remained for about fifteen
minutes, and had then gone on. \ waiter re-
membered seeing the chauffeur and his master
consulting a road map, and had heard the
word "Cadiz" spoken.
This gave us an apparently unbroken clue,
and, half expecting to be caught in police
trap we slipped stealthily out of Jerez with
a fresh squirt of speed as the streets were lett
behind.
At San Fernando | was assailed by doubt.
What if after all the car we sought had not
gone to Cadz, but here had taken the coast
road to Algeciras? The great conference was
only just over, there; tourists OF all nations
were floCking to the town, attracted by curl
osity; and as the place boosted the most beau
tiful hotel in Spain, it seemed more likely that
in flying from Seville the Duke should choose
Algeciras instead of Cadiz. But some fisher
men, that rope of sand which binds Cad1z
to the mainland, had seen a car pass a few
hours before. Yes, only one; and they thought
it was gray. 1t had four or five passengers, and
was going to Cadiz.
Thither we spurted, Dick studying "a plan
of the city as we flew along the straight road
embarked above the sand. By the time we
arrived in Cadiz he was able to say in which
direction | must drive to find the chief hotel;
and in an open place not far from the crowded
port we stopped.
Dick STAYED to guard the car from the crowd
which quickly collected, while | went to ques-
ton the landlord.
No travellers with an automobile were stop
ping with him at present; but one had arrived
a couple OF hours ago, perhaps and Its pasSen-
gers had wished to remain overnight. In
fortunately, however, a big ship had just
come in from America, every room was taken.
There was no other hotel at which persons OF
taste could stop IN comfort; and after some
discussion the owner of the car had decided to
run on to Algeciras by way of Tarifa. The
party, consisting of three ladies' one gentleman,
and the chauffeur had taken hasty meal, and
had got away about hour and a half before
our arrival.
Those beastly bandits!'' l exclaimed to
Dick in a rage of disappointment. IF it
hadn't been for them we should have been on
the heels of the gray car and caught it up
here at the hotel. | should have been able to
snatch Monica away from under their noses
for know she wouldn't have failed me-
Those beastly bandits introduced you to
the king-don't forget that said Dick con-
solingly. And the day may come before long
when you will be glad of that introduction.
You can never tell, in life like yours. And