The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-11-13

teeth strongly. It's an old saying that
he goes farthest who shuts his teeth
longest He was going to test the pre-
cept by immediate practice.
He had stood before the list fully
three minutes. Now he turned about
face, a singular elation tingling his
blood. Once he set his mind upon a
thing, he went forward. He had lost
many ~pleasurable things in life be-
cause he had doubted and faltered,
not because he had reached out to-
ward them and had then drawn back
He was going to meet Fortune Ched-
soye; when or how were but details.
And as he discovered the Major him
self idling before the booth Of the East
Indian merchant, he say in fancy the
%portcullis rise and the drawbridge fall
to the castle Of enchantment. He
strolled over leisurely and pretended
to be interested In the case containing
mediocre jewels.
This is a genuine Bokhara en-
broidery?" the Major was inquiring.
"Oh. yes, sir" D..
"How old?"'
The merchant picked up the tag
and squinted at it. 1T is between two
and three hundred years old, sir"
To Georges opinion the gods them
selves could not have arranged a more
propitious moment.
You've made a mistake" he inter
posed quietly. THAT is Bokhara, but
the stitch is purely modern"
The dark eyes of the Indian flashed.
THE gentleman Is an authority" sar-
castically. ,. z .}.t "
upon that style Of embroidery, alb
solutely." George smiled. And then,
without more ado, he went on to ex-
plain the difference between the an
tique and the modern. "You have one
good piece of old Bokhara, but it isn't
rare, Twenty pounds would be a good
price for it."
The Major laughed heartily. And
Just this moment he asked q hundred
for it. I'm not much Of a hand in
Judging these things. 1 admire them,
but have no intimate knowledge re-
garding their worth. Nothing tonight
he added to the bitter-eyed merchant.
1.-THE Oriental is like the amateur fish
erman; truth is not in him. You seem
to be a keen judge" as they moved
away from the booth.
81 suppose it's because I'm inor.
dinately fond Of the things. I've really
a good collection of Bokhara EN-.
broideries at home in New York"
"You live in New York;" with mild
interest. The Major sat down and
g~raciously motioned for George to do
the same. 81 used to live there; TWEEN
ty-odd years ago. But European travel
spoils America; the rush there, the
hurry, the clamor. Over here they
dine, there they eat. There's as much
difference between those two perform
ances as there is between The Mikado
and Florodora. From Portland in
Maine to Portland in Oregon, the same
dress, same shops, same ungodly high
buildings. Here it is different, at the
end Of every hundred miles"
George agreed conditionally. (The
Major wasn't very original in his
views.) He would have shed his last
drop of blood for his native land, but
he was honest in acknowledging her
faults.
Conversation idled in various chan
nels, and finally became anchored al
jewels. Here the Major was at home
and he loved emeralds above all 9th
er stones. He proved to be an engag.
ing old fellow, had circled the globe
three or four times, and had had an
| adventure or two worth recounting
And when he incidentally mentioned
his niece, George wanted to shake his
hand.
Would Mr.. Jones join him with 6
peg to sleep on? Mr.. Jones certainly
would. And after a mutual health
George automatically excused himself
retired, buoyant and happy. How sim
! pie the affair had been! A fellow
could do anything If only he set hi:
mind to it. Tomorrow he would NEE