Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-04-05

-
rVssuYafiya at ssms scFstga state No
man could then rival him n the inso,
Iently afistocratlc school Of diplomacy
which England has, made her own.
But in his most dangerous crisis be had
never been restless, apprehensiye. pes
simistic, as he was at this moment.
And. after all, it was q very simple
matter that had brought ham here. 1t
was merely the question Of meeting a
man as IL by accident, and then after
ward making that man 40 certain
things required of him. Moreover. the
man was only Guy DISCARD, learned. u
you viii. In forest craft, but q, mere
child In the hands OF 80 old q diploma
fist as SIR John Meredith. -
That which made Sir John 80 uneasy
was the abiding knowledge that Jacks
wedding day would dawn In twelve
hours. The margin was much TOP
small through, however, no fault OF Sir
Johns. The west African steamer had
been delayed, unaccountabiy, two days.
A third day lost in the Atlantic would
have overthrown Sir, John Meredith's
plan. He had often cut things fine be-
fore, but somehow now-not that ne
was getting old, oh. no!-but somehow
the suspense was too much for his
nerves. He soon became irritated and
distrustful. Besides, the pain In his
back wearied him and intsrfered with
the clear sequence of his thoughts.
The owners Of the west African
steamer had telegraphed that the pas
sengers had left for London In two
separate trains. Guy Discard was not
In the frst--there was no positive rea-
son why he should be in the second.
More depended upon his being In this
second express than Sir John cared to
contemplate.
The course Of his peregrinatiOns
brought him into the vicinity Of an In
spector whose attitude betokened re-
spect while his presence raised hope.
"Is there any reason to suppose that
your train Is coming?" he inquired Of
the official.
"Signaled now, my lord" replied the
inspector, touching his cap.
"And what does that meanf" uncom-
promisingly ignorant Of technical par
lance.
ut will be in In one minute. my
lord" -
Sir Johns hand was over his lips as
he walked back to the carriage, cast.
Ing as 1t were the commanders eye
over the field.
when the crowd Is round the train
you come and look for me-" he said to
the footman, who touched his c0ckaded
hat In silence.
At that moment the train numbered
I'm, the engine wearing that namely
self important air affected by locomo-
fives Of the larger build. From all
quarters ain army Of porters besieged
| the platform, and In few seconds Sir
| John was In the center Of an agitated
crowd. There was one other calm mani
on that platform-another man with
no parcels, whom no ole sought to en-
brace. His brown face and close
cropped head lowered above q sea OF
agitated bonnets. Sir John. whose
walk in life.had been through crowds.
elbowed his way forward aud deliber-
ately walked against Guy Oscard..
Hang itr' he exclaimed, turning
| round. "Ab-Mr.N Oscard-how dye
dor"
"How re:youT replied Guy Discard.
really glad to see him. ~
you area good man for crowd. !.
think / will follow in your wake" said
Sir John. "a number Of people, OF the
baser sort. Got my carriage here some
where. Fool Of man looking for me
| in the wrong place no doubt. Where
are you going? May I offer you llftF
This way. Here, John. take Mr.. Os-
cards parcels"
| He could not have done 1t better In
his keenest day. Guy DISCARD was