The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

IN trencn.
within is the lord of this house.
Make ready TO meet him."
II am perfectly ready TO meet MIN.
replied Dicky in French 4 am not
afraid. I'm an American"
The Tripo1itan knocked three times
on the door. and a voice within was
heard saying, Enter.
The door was opened and Dicky
found himself in the presence Of Sidi
Mohammed dGhies. For moment
Dicky and Sidi Mohammed looked into
each others eyes. and il TripOlitan
were given 10 laughing Sidi Mohammed
would certainly have laughed. In spite
of his gravity there was an unmistak-
able twinkle in his kind eyes.
Dfcky. for his part. felt not only
joyful sense of succor. but at once as
sumed the character Of an unfortunate
hero.
1T is extremely lucky. sir" said Sidi
MOhammed. with his usual grave cour-
tesy, that you were found in my 9ssr
den instead of in any other in Tripo!,
L might not then have had the oppor-
tunity of restoring you TO your COM
rades"
Dicky bowed without saying any
thing and Sidi MOhammed continued:
Il was told that a young man. evil
IDENTIFY an Americana, was found in my
garden, and l at once surmised that II
was an escaped prisoner. Would you
be so good as TO tell me. before 1 hand
you over TO your captain, how you
managed TO escape. and in particular
to get hold of a Tripolitan uniform
Dicky reflected for moment and
then replied
Il am perfectly willing to tell you.
sir, how l escaped, but L can not tell
you how L got the uniform, because
that would involve somebody else. 1
will. however. say that the uniform
was stolen. not given away or sold
The TripOlitans are not traitors.
Il am very happy to know that the
uniform was stolen and not acquired by
other means" replied Sidi Mohammed.
gravely Meanwhile, before you tell
your story. let us go to dinner"
Nothing could be more acceptable to
Dicky than that proposition. and to
make it, if anything. more agreeable,
Sidf Mohammed led the way to the
beautiful summer house in the garden,
where the dinner was served
There in the lovely May afternoon
Dicky enjoyed a meal scarcely inferior
to the supper with which the bashaw
had entertained the philadelphia OF
fcers on the night of their capture
The sweet scented air, the luXuriant
foliage of the garden, the singing OF
the birds all filed Dicky's soul with
rapture and his bOyish delight was
watched by Sidi Mohammed with kind
ly amusement.
Dicky made great play with his nm
gers. knives and forks not being used
by the Tripolitans. and he rather liked
the Tripolftan dishes. When the meal
was over and basin of scented water
had been passed. Sidi MOhammed ex-
cused himself, and asking D1cky
WORD of honor not to leave the garden,
departed. promising to return as soon
as darkness had fallen, in order TO take
1,;rr rfofl haC IN n
as Sidi Mohammed hoped Dicky's ab-
sence had not vet been discovered. That
sunny May afternoon IN the beautiful
garden was one of the happlest OF
Dickys life.
He was not free. it is true. but he had
made a bold stroke for liberty. and he
wagged his head triumphantly. think
ing how much more of story he would
have to tell when he got home than
any of the other midshipmen. And how
delighted they would all be when he
reappeared among them As he had not
been brought back during the morn
ing they would probably think that he
had been captured and possibly killed.
and he knew they were all thinking
about him. particularly Roger. When
he should bolt in upon them. what wild
bear hugs and thumpings and pound
ings he would get,
Dicky's ecstasy grew. and when
finally the short, mysterious twilight
of the east fell upon the scented gar
den and Sidi Mohammed appeared.
Dicky's black eyes were shining with
rapture. A couple OF donkeys We're in
waiting. and Dicky. with a great cloth
mantle thrown around him, rode with
Sidi Mohammed through the dark and
tortuous streets until they reached the
bashaws castle.
Sidi Mohammed. as the bashaw's
chief councillor Of state, was recognized
and passed by the sentries, until they
reached the prison door. Then he
raped and the door was opened from
within 1t was the recreation hour.
when usually the room was full OF
noise and laughter; now IL was deadly
quiet. and Dicky saw the other mid
shipmen sitting around the table All
looked depressed and unhappy and
were talking anxiously among them
selves. As Sidi Mohammed entered. fol-
lowed by Dicky. the scene changed in
stantly. Totten, without a word dashed
into the officers quarters. and the next
moment Captain cambridge. followed
by the watch officers. appeared.
II have the honor. sir" said Sidi No -
hammed. ito present TO YOU one OF
your officers. who was found pTomenad-
ing in my garden. I have taken good
care of him and I return him to YOU.
Captain Bainbridge wrung Sidi Mo-
hammed's hand AID expressed his graft
tude, as did all or the OncerS IN turn,
including the midshipmen. Dicky tried
to say something to show his deep
thankfulness. but he felt a lump in his
throat. and Captain Bainbridge, notic-
ing ii, spoke for him
AS soon as the door closed upon Sfdi
Mohammed Captain cambridge de-
manded that Dicky should tell them
his adventures This Dicky proceeded
to do. with all the officers sitting
around and Bulge hanging on the edge
of the group. Dicky told in a whisper
Salvatore's part in IT: for IL It were
known there was no doubt that the
poor little Neapolitan would be severely
baStinadoed. When Dicky had finished
Captain Bainbridge said:
This IL the second time in two days,
Mr.. Falconer. that I have had TO reprf-
mand you for extreme and impracticable
venturesomeness I can only say that
if you keep on in these methods you
will become a shining example OF folly
and rashness-"
However. there could be no doubt OF
Captain Bainbridge's Joy and relief and
that of all the officers at Dicky's re-
turn
When Dicky found himself once more
among the midshipmen. without the re-
Strairincr nrpSanCe Of Mr. pOrfar