Smyrna times., 1910-08-24


head to foot, and he stared at US
with an expression that reminded
me of a lunatic.
He placed trembling finger on
the date.
"Look at that!'' he gasped.
Fifth of October, 1885," read
Armitage, in perfectly calm tones.
"What about it?''
"Wh-wh why, its-its-this is
October 1910, ''he sputtered. his gaze
travelling fr"m one to the other of
US in ludicrous fashion.
"Nappy, Nappy," said Armitage,
reprovingly. "What a night you
must have had.
"B-b-but look at the calendar. -
He slitherted off the bed and crossed
to where tear-off calendar hung
over the fireplace. In large figures
this proclaimed 1915.
A weird squeak broke from his
lips, and he clung to the matelpiece,
staring at us in a woebegone fash
ion.
"Five year, eh?" remarked Arm
itage, affecting not to notice Nap
ple's condition. "And we've been
all through the Canadian campaign. 4"
Canadian campaign?" groaned
Maple.
Yes, We we've taken prisoners at
the fall of Quebec, but we were re-
leased month ago. Fancy the Stars
and Stripes floating over a whole
cOntinent--fl ON the Artic Ocean to
Cape Horn.
Maple did not say a word. He
just clung TO the lnatlepiece and
blinked at US.
"By the way, l heard of Godfrey
the other day." went on Armitage.
"YOu remember Godfrey. he was up
with US in 1910? He's afraid he'll
be sent to Siberia; poor chap. He
was with Kitchener's crowd at Cal
cutta when it surrendered to tn
Russians. -
Naples grip on the mantelpiece
released, and he collapsed into Z
chair, his chin sunk onto his chest,
his eyes 1ull and blinking.
PLENTY of news this morning
: Nappy, continued Armitage, thrust
ing the newspaper into the wretcheC
tutors hands again.
One column was headed
: "The Gear Visits the Capital o
: His New Colony"
And was an account of the Russian
n Emperor's visit to Calcutta.
= And another column dealt with tn
assumption by President Bryant o
: the title, President of all the Amer
, icas.
produced a paper and began t
e read it. When l laid it down Nap
s pie grabbed it al compared it wit
the one he had been reading.
S horrible groan left his lips, when h
saw that it was the same, word fo
. word.
t "You might have made a reputa
I tion, Nappy, if you had lectured a
a prophet, suggested. "All tha
: YOU have predicted has come true. 4"
Napple's head wagged Imply, bu
t he did not reply. He stared at tn
e newspaper which lay open at hi
e feet, again reading the variou
n al rming headlines, and then bega
e to sob in weakly fashion.
"Never thought to find the oil
= show open," ventured Armitage
r "With no army, what's the good G
n pay. to be crammed? Got an
> chaps here now, Nappy?"
" Fourteen" whimpered Maple
y "At least there were IA in 1910.
J. A low whistle prevented Armitage
further remarks. 1t meant that tn
20 Colonel was on the way.
is "Well, see you later, Nappy,
1t Armitage said.
Following which we departe
1T hurriedly and washed off the pair
1t and removed the mustaches. Goo
frey hung about in the passage ar
e heard the interview between Napp
A and the Colonel.
is Fancy the Japanese taking Au
~ tralia," Maple hazarded.
"What?" roared the Colonel.
t "It's in the p-p-paper, "sputter'
e. Maple, indicating the bogus new
IN paper Armitage had left behind.
ne The Colonel snorted, grabbed Il
paper, glared at the staring hea
lines, and then stood still,
is mouth wide open, his arms, stiff
ut ramrods, holding the paper on lev
to with his face.
In the midst of his wrath can
a Naples weak, pleading voice.
e, 'If you please, sir, have y,
as noticed any difference in me sin
er October, 1902"
0, "Since when?" roared the Co
ed onel.
ly Maple repeated the date, a
- added. "It's five years aOo I knoy