The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-11-13
CHAPTER III.
Comrades.

'By George, Mistley, this is splendid!
Listen to this from the Cologne paper:
ave learn from our London CORE
spondent that the Mayor of Dover, in
his robes of office, awaited, yesterday,
the arrival of the Calais boat, despite
the heavy rain to which he was fully
exposed on the pier, for the purpose of
an address to Colonel Wright and his
able coadjutor, Mr.. VINEYARD Mistley,
to deliver The translation here is
somewhat literal. On the arrival of
the boat it was, however, discovered
that Colonel Wright and Mr.. Mistley
were not on board. They parted from
the Indian passengers at BrindiSi, and
no one appears to have learned by
what route they purposed returning to
England. It will be remembered that
these gentlemen have been engaged
upon an arduous diplomatic service on
the Indian frontier, and their daring
f1rmness and resolute defense of the
acknowledged rights Of the country in
the midst of treacherous friends and
unscrupulous foes etc.
1 The speaker, or reader, was q tall,
gray-haired man Of military aspect.
His mustache was almost white, and
cut rather close to his lips. His fea-
lures showed signs Of having once been
fine, but wrinkles and hardships had
changed all that. His nose was long
and aquiline, a true military feature,
but it was peculiarly thin; and the
skin, though brown, was transparent
and entirely free from that suggestive
ruddiness which is somewhat fire.
Cuently found upon the features of
elderly military men. He laid aside
the German newspaper, and looked at
his companion with a twinkle Of
amusement in his grey eyes.
'No, no." said the younger man, gay
ly. go on-let us have it ALL like
IT." and he returned gravely to the dis
cussicn of piece of chocolate.
"'AId unscrupulous foes,' continued
Colonel Wright, reading from the paper
as it lay, 'unscrupulous foes'-oh, yes;
here it is-'undoubtedly saved the In
dian Empire endless trouble and strife
upon the frontier, while q graver mis-
hap has perhaps been averted, and the
peace of Europe preserved by the
prompt and consistent action Of these
two soldier-sta atesmen.' -----.
Vineyard Mistley wagged his head
very sapiently, and, addressing him
self to the piece of chocolate in his
hand. he observed:
"Oh, yes! Rather disappointing for
the Mayor of Dover, ell, colonel:"
Rather" replied the old soldier,
folding the newspaper.
You will be pleased to remember
this brilliant idea Of lodging the Mayor
of Dover and the rest of his kind
emanated from my fertile BRAIN"
This remark called for no reply. and
for some time the two men were silent,
They were seated opposite to each
other i'll Il first-class railway carriage,
an airy, broad compartment lined With
brown linen. A fine dust foated in the
Fir and lay on every available space,
for the train was rushing over the bare
plains of the Netherlands.
Vineyard Mistley was an eminently
practical young man. He was an
adept at mending his own clothes,
cooking his own dinner, and grooming
his own horse. Practical people, how
ever, are not necessarily devoid of SEN
liment. They hide it-that is ali What
dreaming they may indulge in is done
in private.
His was Il striking face. whether in
animation or repose, with dark gray
eyes Of singular penetration; eyes that
seldom smiled, despite the readiness of
the lips, which smiled perhaps too
easily. A great charm about him was
his peculiar unaffectedness. Whatever
he did or said was to all appearance
perfectly spontaneous and without
after-thOught Never at a loss in the
most trying emergency, no one ever
saw look of embarrassment or self
consciousness on VINEYARD Mistley's
face He was simply without vanity.
and therefore was fortunate enough to
be unaffected by jealousy.
Colonel Wright was "a dipl9m.atist in
one great and important matter, If in
nothing else. He could, with unfailing
discrimination, gather round him the
men he required. At glance he recog-
nized the fighting man, a mere thought
less creature of courage, whose amb1-
ton lay in the two letters ~. c.;
whose soft heart was the most vulner-
able portion of his anatomy, his head
being the least so when hard knocks
were flying. The thinker. also, could
the colonel select from the crowded
ranks of human workers. He had no
need for. and took but small interest
in, the slow and deliberate thinker or