The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-09-10

this afternoOn-the afternoon of all
afternoons" said the president
That's g. that's II. Mr. President
Now. you see. My presence on board
the Pranzos before she sails Is far
more important than my presence NJ
the palace after that hour four
can tell you. I know YOU must be In
the dark and think I'm crazy. but
simply cannot tell YOU any more than
that must be aboard that vessel by
four"
You have said nothing to me about
this before" said the president. scarce.
~ able To believe his own ears. Have
you had important word from home :
Is some one"
"No-nothing Of the sort. that II.
ycs-oh. YOU see. am under contract
to be at Havana within specified
| time" He sighed and smiled as though
/ he had made himself perfectly clear
/ To the bcfuddled mind of the eNccu.
/ tive.
And you want
Yes. I've simply got To have it-6s
riffos NJ least. II yOn can IN me out
| III ~ under lasting obligations To YOU.
and Will return the money as soon rs
can"
BsradO looked into JeTry's dancing
eyes for fully a minute and then burst
into violent laughter. Jerry smiled.
but II Eas n sickly smile.
OF course. you shall have all the
money YOU want. said the president.
but | cannot understand wby you
are in such great haste tn I.ayc Pan.
daro Surely you cannot be weaken.
ing before the honor that NJ Co be
shown you this afternoon. and
"Oh. that vfl be easy" said IoTry
But you viii N me OUT"
For all you want"
Within a fev minutes Jerry Cham
beers had ON has person 500 rtnos,
equivalent to aiout $500 In the money
Of the United States OF America. This
was a fortune To him. for at no time
after he boarded the Sister Mary In
the Erie basin hIsd be posi- -sed IusRc
than s25.
While he was dressing for th> great
reception Jerry rejected on the s-ua.
ZION with mixes amusement asd
Goubt.
II was shortly after two o'cloek
when the first strains from the great
military band OF 20 pieces burst Ire
musical thunder from behind a forest
OF palms in the balcony Of the grand
ballroom of the palace. Almost all Of
the guests had assembled By that time
The committee ON arrangements mad
planned To have Capt. Jerry escorted
81 the station OF honor promptly nj
E.50 O'Clock. The minister OF Justice
was TO have his arm To the center OF
the hall. where President Barado was
20 await him with the Cross OF Honor.
As Is usual In such cases. however.
/. there was delay. The floor was not
i. cleared until ten minutes before three,
and Jerry. who had been waiting I'm
an ante-room for an hour. was but 1T
tie short of n bundle OF mstrung
nerves. His eyes were ON the clock
all the time that he was not trying To
be pleasant with those about him.
When the dignifed. slow.moying min
lister of justice finally did come he al.
most ran to meet him.
A fanfare al trumpets was followed
by a mighty roar from the thousand
persons assembled. being succeeded
by an outburst that was but litte less
than wild pandemOnium when Jerry,
clothed In the full dress of "a captain.
appeared in view. Under most circuIn-
stances he could keep cool and reason
ably calm. but when he felt himself
the sole object of 1900 eyes he Almos,
lost his bearings completely. scarcely
realizing where he was and what he
was expected To do. From the massed
sidelines roses were hurled at him by
the women. and the seas OF wildly fut-
tering handkerchiefs and small flags
almost made him dizzy. This demon
stration was accompanied by a din OF
voices that probably Is ringing In his
ears yet.
Nothing could have pleased the
president more than the great recep-
ton accorded To the handsome young
officer. who, when he came To "A stop
before him, looked into a pair OF eyes
that snapped with love and admlra.
ton.
A signal from the master Of cere.
monies instantly hushed the vast as.
semblage, and every ear was inclined
towards the station OF honor.
Capt. Gerard Chambers" began
President Barado, slowly and impress.
siyely, you stand In the presence OF
this vast concourse of people this aft.
ernOon one OF the most beloved men
In all Urania.' Deafening applause
halted the speaker fully three minutes.
You are here to receive the greatest
honor that the president Of the people
can confer upon you-the Cross Of
Honor. The whole republic thus hon.
ors you; all Urania takes this means
of expressing its gratitude aud its ap-
probation. Your name forever shRiI
stand out brilliantly on our roll OF
honor; II shall serve as an inspiration
TO the rising generations not only OF
uranla. but OF every other land that
admires all that Is good aud strong