The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-16
By GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON
Copyrieht, 1908. by Dodd. Mead
a Co.
CHAPTER V.
THE ENGLISH INVADE.

Il WyCkUOIud HIleDuou ny tWt
maids. her husband and his
valet. a clerk from the cham
bers of Bosworth. Newnes & Grape
win, a red cocker, seventeen trunks
and a CARLOAD Of late novels. which
she had been too busy to read at home
was the first of the bewildered lega
tees to set foot upon the island OF
Japat.
She was very pretty. very smart and
delightfully."- arrogant after a manner
of her own.
Mr.. Saunders was the polite but ex
cessively middle class clerk who went
out to keep the legal strings untangled
for them. He was soon to discover
that his duties were even more COM
prehensive.
1t was he who saw to It that the
luggage was transferred to the lighter
which came out to the steamer when
she dropped anchor Off the town of
Arafat: It was he who counted the
pieces and haggled with the boatmen;
It was he who carried of the hand
luggage when the native dock boys
refused to engage In the work; 1t was
he who unfortunately dropped suit
case upon the hallowed tall of the red
cocker. an accident which ever after
ward gave him tenacity of grip that
no man could understand.
II Lady Deppingham expected roy
nj welcome from the Inhabitants OF
30 4 hA
error. Not only was the pictured
scene of welcome missing on the aft
ernoon of her arrival, but an overpow-
ering air Of antipathy smote her In the
face as she stepped from the lighter.
conquest In her smile Of Cancellation.
the lines Of swarthy islanders and saw
nothing In their faces but surly. bitter
unfriendliness. They stood stolidly,
stonily at distance, white robed lines
of resentment personified.
Not a hand was lifted In assistance
to the bewildered visitors; not word,
not smile of encouragement escaped
the lips of the silent throng.
SIS there no British agent here7" she
demanded imperatively, perhaps lit
tie more shrilly than usual.
No one deigned to answer. Chances
of indifference, even scorn. passed
among the silent lookers-on. but that
was all.
"Does no one here understand the
English laDguager' she demanded. 81
don't mean you, Mr.. Saunders" she
added sharply as the little clerk set
the suit case down abruptly and
stepped forward. again fumbling his
much fumbled straw hat. This was
the moment when the red cookers
tail came to grief. The dog arose with
nm astOnished yelp and fed to his mis-
tress. He had never been so out
rageously set upon before in all his
pampered life. Selling the opportuni-
ty to vent her feelings upon one who
could understand. even as she poured
soothings upon the fnsulted Pong,
whom she clasped in her arms. Lady
Agnes transformed the unlucky Saun-
ders into target for a most ably d.
rected volley Of wrath.
Lord Deppingham. a slow and cum
bersome young man. stood by nervous
ly lingering his eyeglass. For the
first time he felt that the clerk was
better than a COMPOUNDED dog after all
my dear" he said. waving Saunders
into the background. II think 1t was
an accident The dog had no business
going to sleep He paused and In
serted his monocle for the purpose Of
looking up the precise spot where the
accident had occurred.
"Oh. rubbish exclaimed her lady
ship. II suppose you expect the poor
darling to apologize"
"All this has nothing to do with the
case. We're more interested in learn
ing where we are and where we are to
go. Permit me to have look about"
His wife stared after him In amaze
ment as he walked over to the canvas
awning in front Of the low dock build
ing. actually elbowing his way through
a group of natives. Presently he came
back. twisting his left mustache.
1.-THE fellow in there says that the
English agent is employed In the bank.
It's straight up this street. BY Jovei
He called 1t street. don't you know"
he exclaimed. disdainfully eying the
narrow. dusty passage ahead.
There's the British flag, my lord.
Just ahead. See the building to the
right, sirY' said Mr.. Saunders, more
respectfully than ever and with real
gratitude in his heart
$50 It isl That's where he is. ]
wonder why he isn't down here to
meet usY'
Every likely he didn't know we were
coming" said his wife icily.
well. we'll look him up Come
alon1 axarvhodu Oh I aau NO can't