The Detroit times., 1909-01-01

Strange the way things happen In
this world, isn't it,"
asserted lazily, and lit new cigar
cite from the stump OF the old one.
We were in the smoking room OF the
Empress Of Japan. homeward bound.
Victor Camel and | had chummed
together more or less naturally, being
lust sufficiently unlike each other to
find 1t interesting. We had so much
in common.
1T really is strange" Camel contin-
ued, land something's it looks like ID
poor stage management"
What do you mean
ooh. / was thinking Of chap
know. Pretty ordinary sort OF fool,
perhaps. but white enough in his way
His people cleared him out of the olG
country before he had time to cut his
wisdom teeth. because he was rather
a troublesome sort OF colt TO break
into harness. Not that he minded that
AT the time. or for long time after
wards. But whoever looks after the
luck was saving it up for him, ana
gave him a mean one In the neck
when he was not looking for IT.
He got up on the north coast anu
more or less reverted TO the primeval
savage. For years about the nearest
he got to civilization was during one
or two trips to Port Darwin. Some
times trepang was his game, and he had
O shot or two at pearling. He did not
make any money TO speak OF, but ne
got along all right. He got to be wen
known to lot OF the niggers as Wen
as to the crews OF the Malay proWs
that came down TO the coast FOR ire
pang and shell. and, on the whole. was
pretty well satisfied with things IN
general.
Then one time when he was III
Port Darwin she came"
| took the cigarette from my mouth
ooh, there is always woman In the
case" | observed sapiently.
Yes, / have heard people say that
before. But 1t was mighty ingenious
OF the luck OF people. or providence
or whatever you want to call 1t. to
bring her all the way to that forsaken
corner OF the earth to find him out
wasn't It? She was with her people
uncle and aunt and so on-a whole
party OF them-on yacht. He was
introduced TO them as man who
could tell them things and eventually
they asked him to go along with them
guide, philosopher and friend, and he
agreed.
ION the yacht he was bound to he
in her company all the time. She
used TO get him EARNING about things
that had happened during his wander.
ings. They were commonplace yarns
enough. but she thought ii was all
wonderful, and II used TO amuse him
10 watch her listening with every
nerve tense with excitement.
AS for him, he thought he was
amusing himself that was the kind OF
fool he was. For about ten years
he had not seen many more white
women than you can count on your
fingers and toes, and most OF those
he had come across were about as
much like this little girl as cast iron
Is like Dresden china. She seemed
to him like something meant to be
looked at but not 10 touch. and he
never thought OF their Relationship
as that OF man and woman until
"One evening they were leaning on
the rail together watching " great cop.
per moon come up through the mist.
II was getting near the end Of the
trip and chance word dropped about
parting set match 20 he powder
magazine. II blew up then with a
mighty bang. When at last she d.
appeared below and he was left alone
TO review the situation all he could
think OF was that he had told the
sweetest girl In the world that he
loved her and that she had said that
81 would break her heart TO part from
him.
He did not sleep much that night,
and gradually as the hours passed the
difficulties Of the situation dawnei
upon him. Still he was not prepared
10 admit they were too strong. not
by long shot.
after breakfast her uncle had some
thing TO say, for she had right away
told her aunt what had happened. Sen
sible man her uncle was. built OF the
very best seasoned common sense
stock from keel TO truck. lie. spoke