Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-09-15

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adjusted himself to them, but the op.
portunity he needed he did not get. He
was Immediately plunged into an at
mosphere of such strangeness to him,
filled with such compelling necessity
for attention, that, although he
loathed the necessity thus imposed
upon him, he was constrained to take
part in the life that flowed around
him. His instinct-and he was al
most a woman in his instructive ca
pacity-was to be alone, but It was
impossible, and in spite of himself
what he saw distracted him. The
people he met did more.
Whitaker hustled him below, Of
course, as soon as possible and took
him into his own cabin. Fortunately
they were men Of much the same
height and build, although the islander
was the more graceful, symmetric and
strong, and he succeeded in getting
him into a civilian suit Of clothing for
which he had no present use. There
were both loss and gain in his appear
ance. There was no gain in the island
er's feelings, at least, he thought not,
| in view of the irksome restraint Of
clothing, and yet there was a certain
satisfaction to his soul in being no
longer singled out from among his fell
lows by the strangeness Of his apparel
AS clothes the garments became him,
and it all depended upon your point OF
view as to whether you preferred the
| handsome barbarian with a hint of
civilization in his carriage, or the civ
ilized gentleman with a suggestion of
the barbaric in his bearing. Whitaker
reasoned rightly that the sooner he
became accustomed to these things
the better, and that the time to begin
was Immediately.
He had had hasty word or two
with the captain before he took him
below, and when he was dressed-and
1t required assistance from the lieu
tenant-commander ere the unfamiliar
habiliments were properly adjusted
the two passed from the ward room 10
the cabin of the captain in the after
part of the ship.
The few sentences in which Whitta-
ker had made his brief report to
his superior had in a measure prepared
the captain for the more lengthy dis
course that followed, and, feeling that
the situation was one which required
more than the simple authority of the
master of ship, he had summoned to
conference the surgeon and the chap.
lain. 1t was to these three men, there,
fore, that Whitaker and the islander
presented themselves.
The chaplain, like Whitaker, was a
Virginian. He had not noted the
islanders face when he came aboard
in his semi-savage garb, but as his eye
dwelt upon him standing clothed and
in his right mind before him he gave
start of surprise, and so soon as the
formal salutations had been ex
changed, with a word to the captain
for permission, he asked Whitaker g
question.
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Whitaker
but what is this gentleman's Manner
The word gentleman was used natu
rally and unconsciously, with an alb
solute sense of its fitness, as every
one in the cabin could perceive.
ut Is not rightly known" said Whit
taker, "but he is believed TO be &
Virginian of the"
Il knew it," said the chaplain, i'm
pulsively; "he is one Of the CharnockG
of Nansemond county"
Your recognition, chaplain" SAID
the neutenant-commander eagerly
will be of great value in determining
this strangers name and station. The
evidence Of it is circumstantial. I d.
not know how It will be regarded in I
court of law"
II have always understood that The
! Charnock estate was a vast one" sait
Capt Ashby, and since coal has beeI
mined on the Virginia lands it has be
come very valuable"
1T is true" answered the chaplain
who holds 1t now?" asked the sur
geon.
/, at is held by an old man. my frien,
, of many years standing. the brOthe
! of John Reyell Charnock."
> Il believe that to be my name" saii
: the islander.
! 81 have little doubt Of IT," reptile,
! the chaplain, continuing THE frs
: John Revell Charnock was lost at sea
He and his wife and young child SOM
! so years ago set forth on a vOyag
, around the world for her health. Tn
/. ship, in which believe he had SOM
ownership, was called the Nansemond
Z It's course was traced as far as Va
a paraiso, thence It sailed for the PhiliI
! pines and was never heard of again.
! know the story" said the chaplain
' turning toward the captain, "becaus
n John Revell Charnock vas one Of m
' best friends, as is his brother, Phil
. Norton Charnock, who now holds tn
estate"
CrO BE CoNTINUED.)
often Too Many Pictures.