The Red Cloud chief., 1912-09-12

not hear the full story OF his wander.
ings for many months. We knew he
had sailed from England for Rio In
the cabin de luxe OF an English pack.
ct boat. From week to week, for pos.
sibly two months. we received letters
from him. Then came the silence.
The silence continued for six
months. until one morning received
a note written on American Line pa.
per and postmarked Southampton. IL
was signed by Ford.
Shall arrive on Philadelphia with.
In as hours after you receive this.
short OF cash. DO you remember that
ten dollars you owe me?''
That was impudence for you!
should have known who wrote that
note. without signature. However.
| clapped a ten.dollar bill in an envel.
ope and mailed It promptly. A week
later Ford dropped in to see me.
Much obliged for the cash. old
man." he said. 1T came in handy.
You see. they trimmed me beautiful.
ly In Paris. and | started out for Rio
|
enough coin to last me three weeks.
In fact. when got to the Chilean
frontier town across the Andes. !
was strapped. That made me sick
Of the whole job, and decided 1t was
time to head for home. There was
prince OF British consul there.
who loaned me a ten.spot and got mo
pass for donkey transportation
across the mountains to the Argen.
tine railroad.
Just by blind luck. I'd Clipped ac-
Quaintance with the chief engineer OF
the construction gang on the Argen.
tine side, and SO when hit him for
pass to Buenos Ayres. he ponied up
like good one.
II was feeling pretty disconsolate
and went into cafe near the wa.
ter front to forget myself for an hour
or two. That was the time when Bra.
I'll and the Argentine were seeing
which could build warships the quick.
est. you know. and there was big
Braziliano sitting in the place. with
his feet up, passing remarks to the
occupants In general. As soon as he
saw me. he concentrated his attention.
apparently on the supposition that be-
cause l was small must be easy. I
stood about two sentences and then I
went for him. We were rolling pro-
miscuously around the restaurant, and
was getting q bit the worst OF It.
when a little man with an arm like a
steam.fail came through the door. Att.
er he got through with my Brazilian
friend there were no scraps to be
picked up.
} well. we shook hands and told
each other we'd always been longing
to meet, and afterwards we had q
drink. The little man was British
er, captain of q tramp steamer dus
to sail the next afternoon, and wher
I told him Of my troubles he clappet
me ON the back and offered me fire,
passage to Rotterdam. I'll have t,
put you down on the books as cabil
boy or steward he said. But you'll
do no work. Come as my guest: II
be glad to have you He was q prince
that skipper. Fed me at his own Ia
BILE. gave me his own cigars and wine
and when we reached Rotterdam h.
staked me to Paris.
Aunt Jane was in Paris. fortunate
ly for me. and I think she was s'
glad at the prospect of getting mi
back to America that she divied VI
without any side remarks"
never really knew Chatton, th'
fifth Of my vagabonds. had beef
dining at q club In Picadilly with ar
engineering friend. and as we wer'
passing out through the club parlori
my friend drew me aside to max,
room for q big. broad shouldere.
imam wearing blue spectacles. "That'i
Chatton." he whispered. "He was on,
of tho principal assistants In the con
struction Of the new trans-Andeal
line. He'e always had bad eyes, an,
the doctor told me he ought not Il
work above the snow line, but tina
wouldn't do for Chatton. He want
to be where the fun is. You see, en-
cheering as o science means little L
him. It's the game he likes-the figh
to overmaster some problem. Poo
Chatton! Whenever there was DEF
perate Job to be done. he was boun
to be on it-and all for beggarly si
or seven pounds week. SUPPOSE"
"Why do you say Poor Chattonr
I asked.
Because he'll never get over thi
latest eye trouble. He got 1t from tn
snow glare. Just as the doctors sal
he would.
But what will the man do?' e,
claimed. How is he going to liver"
Hell live-survive, rather" rcjOil
ed my friend. bitterly. His peopl
= have money. But he'll never wor
!. again. Every one who, knows him
!. always cut up. And he feels 1t, to-
4 although he's deuced plucky abou
!, It,"
= II you have been In the habit {
1 -An h