The Washington herald., 1908-03-18

sdueaky voice. 1--WE can't act on that
It's too shadowy altogether"
I tell ye 1t isn't!" cried Duncan. shak-
ing his clenched fist again. 'sdr. statham
is in sair peril, I tell ye he is. an I've
proved it."
Mr.. Statham must be allowed TO be
the best judge of that" Levi said plac-
ing his hands together. and holding his
cigar between his teeth.
Mr.. Statham knows me weel. He
knows I'd nae tell him what didn't
ken maser"
The great fnanoler rose thoughtfully
and stood with his Back TO the mantel-
shelf.
Look here. Macgregor. he said. fixing
his eyes upon the man seated before
him. when you called at the office
and was fool enough not to give your
proper name you had a difficulty in get
ting an interview with me. hadn't any
idea TIL l received your note that-well
that you were in the land Of the living
When We met before it was under diff
ferent circumstances - very different
weren't they?" and the millionaire smiled
Shall | recall to your memory one
I II
my memory this moment as though the
events happened but yesterday? We were
both younger and more active then
you and Land"
Nae, Mr.. Statham. We're better not
hearin' it," he protested. holding up his
hands. Il jalouse what you're agoin'
to say"
ITO you, my friend. I owe much" the
old man went on. '"The place was in a
sun baked South American city. the time
was sunset. fierce and blood-red ike the
deeds of that never-to- be- forgotten day
There was war-a revolution was in
progress. and the government forces had
been that day driven back into the cap
ital, followed by us. / remember you,
with that great bullet furrow down your
cheek and the blood streaming from il as
you fought at my side. I see you bear
the scar even now" Then. with a quick
movement he pulled up his sleeve and
showed on his right forearm a great
cicatrice, asking: do you remember
how / received this?''
Nae. nae. Mr.. Statham. enough" cried
the Scot. Our days of war are long
since past. They'll come again nae mair.
You remember how We followed the
troops of Hernandez into the capital
shooting and killing as we drove them
before us, and how you and ] ana a few
more OF the younger blOOds made a dash
for the palace 10 secure the President
himself 1 recOilect the wild excitement
of those moments. / was tearing along
the street shouting and urging on my
men, when Of a sudden I found myself
surrounded by a dozen soldiers Of Her
nandez. / fought for life, though well
knowing I Was lost As a prisoner 1
should be tortured. for they had long
sworn to serve me as they had served
our friends Jose and Manuel. This recol-
lection flashed across me. and with my
back TO the wall l fired my pistol full
in a mans face and blew il all out OF
recognition. A man had raised his rife
and covered me, but the next moment /
gave him an upward cut with my sword
AT the same time l felt a sharp twinge
upon my right arm, and my sword drop
ped from my grasp I was manned. and
stood there at their mercy A dark
faced, beetlebrowed fellow raised his
saber with a fierce Spanish oath 10
cut me down, but in the blood-red sun
light another blade flashed high. and
the man sank dying IN the dust
1T was you, Macgregor-you alone
had come TO my aid, ana four or my
attackers fell beneath your blows In
that hand-tO-hand struggle as you. with
your body placed before mine. fought
on, keeping them back and yet without
assistance. Shall / ever forget those
moments. or how near both OF us were
to death? l was already half-fainting.
but you shouted 10 me 10 keep courage
and in the end we were discovered by our
men and saved. IL ever a deed deserved
the Victoria Cross. yours did You. Mac
gregor-as you now call ycErselt-saved
my life"
An I'm here, Mr.. Statham. 70 save
it again, If yell only let me-" was the
Scots dry reply.
Years have gone since that day" the
millionaire went on. with a distinct catch
in his voice. II lost sight Of you soon
afterward, and heard once that you were
in Caracas. Then there was no further
news Of you. We drifted apart-our lives
lay in opposite directions. Yet to you
and TO you alone-I owe my life.
for were IL not for your aid at that ter
rible moment I should have been put to
torture in that terrible castle where
Hernandez did his prisoners TO death.
and my body given TO the rats like others
Of our friends"