Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-04-14

difficulty in getting an interview with
me. hadn't any idea till received
your note that-well, that you were in
the land of the living. When we met
before it was under different circum-
stances-very different, weren't they?"
and the millionaire smiled. "Shall l
recall to your memory one scene-long
aso-a scene that lives in my memory
this moment as though the events hap
peWed but yesterday. We were both
yHSnger, and more active then--you
and I-and-'
Nae, Mr.. Statham. We're better
not hearin it," he protested, holding
up his hands. Il jalouse what you're
dgoin' to say"
To you, my friend, owe much"
the old man went on. "The place was
in sun-baked South American city,
the time was sunset, fierce and blood
red like the deeds of that never-to-be-
forgotten day. There was war-a rev.
olution was in progress, and the Gov
ernment forces had been that day
driven back into the capital followed
by us. | remember you, with that
great bullet furrow down your cheek.
| see you bear the scar even now"
Then. with quick movement he pull
led up his sleeve and showed on his
right forearm great cicatrice, ask
ing: do you remember how l re-
ceived 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 to Hernandez into the capital,
shooting and killing as we drove them
before us, and how you and I and a
few more of the younger bloods made
dash for the Palace to secure the
President himself. recollect the wild
excitement Of those moments. | was
tearing along the street shouting and
urging on my men, when of a sudden
l found myself surrounded by dozen
soldiers of Hernandez. I fought for
life, though well knowing l was lost.
AS prisoner l should be tortured,
for they had long sworn to serve me as
they had served our friends Jose and
Manuel. This recollection flashed
across me, and with my back to the
wall fired my pistol full in mans
face and blew it out of all recognition.
me, but next moment l gave him an
upward cut with my sword.
"At the same instant l felt sharp
twinge upon my right arm, and my
sword dropped from my grasp. I was
manned, and stood there at their
mercy. A dark-faced, beetle-browed
fellow raised his sabre with fierce
Spanish oath to cut me down, but in
the bloodred sunlight another blade
flashed high, and the man sank dying
in the dust.
1T was you, Macgregor-yo alone
had come to my aid, and four of my
attackers fell beneath your blows in
that hand-to-hand struggle as you, with
your own body placed before mine,
fought on, keeping them back and yet
without assistance. Shall l ever for,
get those moments, or how near both
of us were to death? 1 was already
half-fainting, but you shouted to me to
keep courage, and in the end We were
discovered by our men and saved. If
ever a deed deserved the Victoria
Cross, yours did. You, Macgregor-a
you now call yourself-saved my life. F"
can Pm here, Mr. Statham, to
have it again, if yell only let me-
was the Scots dry reply.
Years have gone since that day" +"
the millionaire went on, with a dis
| tinct catch in his voice. 81 lost sight
Of you soon afterwards, 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 present life,
| for were it not for your aid at that
moment I should have been put to the
torture in that terrible castle where
Hernandez did his prisoners to death,
and my body given to the rates like
| others Of our friends"
"Eh, mon, ye really make me blush"
| laughed Macgregor. $50 please don't
talk of it. That's all over the moo.
Let the past take care of itsel.' We've
| got the present to face
II have never ceased rejecting upon
the past" Sam declared an a rather
| low and husky voice. II never dream
ed that the man Macgregor, in the en-
ploy Of the Clyde and Motherwell
| Works, was the same man to whom l
am indebted for my life"
"Ah! mans problem that puzzles
the devil hissel'," laughed Macgregor
"Td nae ha kenne We were the Stat
ham knew out there in the old days
till l saw the picture of ye in the
| Glasgie News one nicht when I bought
it at the corner Of Polmadie street on
me way hame. An there was a