The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-17

HStEfLE3 Mn eyes roVed from the silent
.S2E9sz@gg dredges to the silent hills,
and back to the empty
7ers and the empty warehouses. He
grggedthc muscles of his back uncomfort-
a5v beneath the expressing dome of silence.
Lord" he muttered in a dull, monoto-
nous tone, Lord! What a place!"
Bacon walked to the little desk and
paved over the sparse pile Of envelopes,
smiling at the superscription "Frederick
Bacon, American Consul, Valny."
Zones, said the young man suddenly,
come here and sit down."
The cerk-a strange looking man with
leatue5which might belong either to Orient
or Occident-traiIed across the room and
pcrched on a stool, taking the pen from be-
hind his ear and nibbling the point.
There's been" commenced the
clerk, but Bacon siIenced him with look
and j gesture.
"Tmin no mood, he said, "to be told of
the number OF MongoI traders who have
been here trying to claim immunity as
American citizens. | must talk myself out
to someone, Jones, and you're the only hu-
nan being in sight. | tried it on that
pretty French girl at the restaurant, and
liter finished, she asked me if it was true
that the Indians in America had feathers on
their head instead of hair"
Jones sat perfectly still on his stool, his
e4tber-Hke face as fat as a mask. Bacon
e4ned back in his chair and put his feet on
the desk before him.
Where did you first hear Of the dipIo-
natC service?" demanded Bacon. ZONES
shook his head
Il don't know" he confessed.
well, - continued Bacon, Eve heard Of
L since was old enough to read.
Bacon dropped his legs from the desk,
walked to the door and looked out over the
bleak prospect of emptiness, ornate houses
and grim, bare hills.
There's been" Jones commenced
asain in the same colorless tone, and again
Bacon broke in on him harshly.
"Don't!" he commanded sharply.
He turned and walked back to his desk,
;eating himself in a disconsolate huddIe
4 IoHes remained motiOnless on his stool.
There's been" he began for the third
time. i
Bacon got to his feet as though a spring
had snapped open inside him,
II you try to talk shop to me-" he
Tarned. u swear I'll pitch you into the
street,"
For a space of three minutes the two men
sat silent The squad of tired-looking in
Santry shufled past the door and the 81
enCe fell again. After time Jones climbed
Town from the stool and walked stif1y to
the door
Tn going" he explained, "to buy some
new pens"
Bacon leaned back in his chair and
a1ghed shriIly. When the laughter COM
menced to hurt his throat, he caught him
self with jerk and wiped his eyes
Pens,' he muttered new pens!
There's d gross of them in the drawer, and
JoHes writes perhaps a thousand words
7eea."
From the street outside came the sound
.ttootstePs-u Enthusiastically rapid footsteps.
Bacon ,tralghtened himself in his chair
fourist.' he muttered-for only tour
SIS ever hurried in VaIny. "Hope he
comes in here-but he won't"
The hgure of a man suddenly stood be-
tween Bacon and the tiresome facade of the
building across the street. It was large
nan, with broad shoulders, well-ftting gray
Clothes and a soft "crusher" hat. He
stood blinking in the senli-darkness of the
consulate
Are you the American consult" he
aSh alzl IN crisp, pleasant voice.
ac Yes, replied Bacon, getting to his feet.
Come IN and sit down
Inc stranger came in and took the prof
ieFed chair. Bacon saw that he had a
broad, intelligent face, tight lips, twinkling
eyes, light hair, and a coat of tan which
seemed burned deep into the flesh.
I've been here before to-day" explained
he stranger, g Your clerk said you were out
nd was too lazy to have an idea of where
o4snt ind you. He's not very proposes
A-5-that clerk of yours"
Bacon smiled. "The germ of the place
- s5 bitten into him-as it will into me.
We're dead here"
Inc stranger raised his eyebrows. $50
,@3 as that?" he queried, then his long I'm
s5's Prled into his pocket and he pulled out
couple Of cigars. Bacon looked at his in
S2,y, rolled it between his fingers and
must It between his lips without biting the
So- or breaking the gay band. The
"a1ger nodded almost imperceptibIy.
Good cigars rare here?" he asked cheer
LEtinct." replied Bacon.
The Stranger Strengthened himself in his
' ,~-5 rolled the lighted cigar into the corner