Evening star., 1908-01-19

have demolished the Massawa fortress SO
effectually as Fenshawe's outspoken wrath
crumbled the edifice of doubt built by circum-
stances in Roysons mind
Things have taken an extraordinary turn,
SIR" said he. feeling it incumbent on him to
say something.
"They will turn an Italian Governor out of
his position before l have done with them
was the determined answer. Come, Mr..
Royson. let us leave this man trap. l
came here in good faith. and quit the place
with the resolution that never again will l
intrust myself to the vagaries of any Jack IN
office who thinks he can browbeat man OF
my repute like one of the wretched natives
whom he misrules.
Royson had some difficulty in persuading
his irate employer to enter the Governor
carriage Fenshawe yielded to the plea only
because it was stiff walk to the hotel. and
his granddaughter would be consumed with
anxiety if any alarming news had reached her
meanwhile.
The coachman took them by an open road
facing the harbor. The sight of the Aphrodite
and neatly furied sails. and sporting the en-
sign of famous yacht club led Dick to ask If
his companion knew that an Italian gunboat
was on the lookout for her.
"Oh yes, His Excellency spared me no de-
tails" said Fenshawe, smiling sarcastically.
Z" If were few years younger, and we had no
women on board, should not allow any threats
of that sort to hinder me, and am mistaken
in my officers and men if they would refuse to
back me up. But, as it is, we can do nothing.
That is what gals me,-my complete helpless
ness
1--WE have no heavy guns, l admit" said
Dick. casting to the winds all thought OF leav-
ing the ship under present conditions; but
we have arms and ammunition IN plenty TO
make it hot work for anyone in Massawa to
stop us once we are ashore.
The other sighed, whether on account of his
vanished youth or the impracticable nature OF
the scheme, it is hard to say, Our weapons
are meant only for defense" he SAID. Won
Kerber wished to guard against ARAB hostility,
that is all. But do not despair Of obtaining
redress from Rome. Surely it cannot be known
there that am the leader of this expedition.
1t is wildly absurd TO treat me as hibuster;
Society elected me an honorary vice president
ten years ago! 4
Dick had his own views as to the extent of
the Aphrodites armament but the present
was no time to air them Moreover ne was
beginning to see features Of the affair that
were hard to reconcile with Fenshawes state
ments. In the first instance the Governor
had acted specific instructions, and the
Roman authorities must have been well aware
of the identity of the yachts owner Again,
the person really aimed at in these highhanded
proceedings was Won kerber The Governor
made no secret of the fact that the millionaire
was detained solely because he declared HIM
self a principal in the Austrians enterprise,
and it was no small token of official regret at
an unpleasant incident that they were now
driving to the hotel in His Excellencys private
carriage Finally, none but man angry and
Inundated would deny the right OF Italy to
forbid the passage through her colonial terri
tory of foreign force such as Won kerber had
provided force equipped to an extent and
in manner that Fenshawe in all likelihood,
had slight knowledge Of.
So Dick listened in silence to his companions
vows of diplomatic vengeance. He was re-
solved to talk matters over with Miss Fen
shave before he said word about Alfierl or
the news he had received from London. In
fact he had little doubt that nights rehec-
ton would render her grandfather amenable
to reason. If there were charges against Won
Kerber. let them be brought to light. If they
were true, the Italian Foreign Office was Justi-
fed in its action: if false, there would be such
a hubbub that the resultant apologies would
certainly be accompanied by the offer of
every assistance to the objects of the expedi-
ton.
X/HEN they drew near the hotel, Royson saw
W Irene watching the main street anxiously
from the balcony. 1t was rather remarkable that
she should be alone; but all other thoughts
were swept aside by the sight of the JOY which
lit her face when the carriage stopped at the
portico and she learned that her grandfather
had arrived from an opposite direction.
They heard her glad cry of surprise, and she
hastened to meet them.
Good gracious, granddad!' she said,
"where have you beene | have waited here
for you ever SO long, wondering what had be-