The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-08


to sail at once long voyage. Coming
next train. Owner in hurry. Send
ashore for my wash Brown, Captain"
When the clocks struck five on
shore that afternoon, and the man at
the wheel struck two bells from the
wheelhouse, and the lookout forward
repeated them on the ships bell, all
according to the most approved mod.
ern fashion on large steamers, the
beautiful Lancashire Lass was steam
Ing out upon Southampton water.
Out of the merest curiosity Mr.. Van
Torp telegraphed to Cowes to be in.
formed of the exact moment at which
his yacht was under way, and before
six o'clock he had a message.
Yacht sailed at 4:39."
The new owner was so much
pleased that he actually smiled. for
Capt. Brown had been Fl minutes bet
ter than his word.
Il guess he'll do" though Mr.. Van
Torp. Il only hope I may need him."
He was not at all sure that he
should need the Lancashire Lass and
Capt. Brown; but it has often been
noticed that in the lives of born finan-
ciers even their caprices often turn
out to their advantage, and that their
least logical impulses in business mat
tiers are worth more than the sober
judgment of ordinary men.
AS for Capt. Brown, he was a quiet
little person with rather pink face
and sparkling blue eyes, and he knew
his business. In fact he had passed
as extra master He knew that he
was In the service of one of the rich
est men in the world, and that he COM
manded a vessel likely to turn out one
of the finest yachts afoat, and he did
not mean to lose such a berth either
by pilng up his ship, or by being slow
to do whatever his owner wished
done, within the boundaries of the
possible; but it had not occurred to
him that his owner might order him
to exceed the limits of anything but
mere possibility, such, for instance,
as those of the law, civil. criminal, ma
tional, or international.
Mr.. Van Torp had solid nerves, but
when he had sent his yacht to the
only place where he thought he might
possibly make use of it, he realized
that he was wasting valuable time
while Logotheti was making all the
running, and his uncommon natural
energy, finding nothing to work upon
as yet, made him furiously impatient.
1t seemed to hum and sing in his
head, like the steam in an express en-
CINE when it is waiting to start.
He had come over to England on an
impulse, as soon as he had heard of
Cordova's engagement. Until then he
had not believed that she would ever
accept the Greek. and when he learned
from Lady Maud's letter that the fact
was announced, he saw red," and his
resolution to prevent the marriage
was made then and there. He had
no idea how he should carry it out,
but he knew that he must either sue
coed or come to grief in the attempt.
for as long as he had any money left,
CT any strength, he would spend both
lavishly for that one purpose.
Yet he did not know how to begin,
and his lack of imagination exasper-
ated him beyond measure. He was
sleepless and lost his appetite, which
had never happened to him before; he
stayed on in London instead of going
down to his place in Derbyshire, be-
cause he was always sure that he
meant to start for the continent in a
few hours, with an infallible plan for
success; but he did not go.
He was meditating on the future
| one morning, over an almost untouched
breakfast, between nine and ten O'Clock
when his man Stemp brought a VISIT
| ing card.
1t was a rather large card, bearing
in the middle two or three odd-looking
signs which meant nothing to him.
but underneath them he read in plain
characters the single word "Barak."
"Barrack!" grumbled the American.
| "Oh, the writings on the back,
see. Now, that's very curious, l must
say" he said, after reading the words
That's very curious he repeated,
| lay ing StTOuS anu equal eLupudSlS Oh
the last two words. Ask him to walk
in, Stemp"
| Very good, sir"
| AS the valet went out Mr.. Van Torp
turned his chair half round without
getting up, so that he sat facing the
door. A moment later Stemp had
ushered in the visitor, and was gone
A slim youth came forward without
holiness, but without the least timidi
ty, as If he were approaching an equal
1 He had an oval face, no mustache, a
complexion like cream, short and
thick black hair and very clear dark
eyes that met the Americans fearless
ly. He was under the average height
and he wore rather thin, loose gray
clothes that had been made by goot
tailor. His hands and feet were
smaller than a Europeans.
80 you're Mr. Barrack." Mr.. Val
Torp, said, nodding pleasantly.
The young face smiled and thu
parted lips showed quite perfect teeth
"Barak," answered the young man
giving the name the right sound.
Yes, | understand but | can't pro
| nOupCa II lil,a Won Take a chair Mr.