Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
Continued from page S


3The French engineer?" he inquired ex-
citedly. as there really French engineer?
l thought it was just silly yarn
@Not necessarily French, replied De
Lesseps an fact, I don't believe he is.
More likely something closer home. A fell
low hears lot of queer things out here.
Poor humanity drifts about and gets into
odd snarls in all sorts of places. All right.
Miggs. Come on, you fellows
When the meal had been despatched Ben
nett stretched himself lazily. 3Let's go
a yawn. "He has his chessmen out by this
time"
go you," replied Burnham and Crandall
together.
AS they strolled off into the soft night
barrow looked up at the twinkllng
stars that seemed set so loosely in the velvet
sky. and sighed
3You fellows seem to like Allison pretty
WE'LL he said to De Lesseps after time.
@You admire him, and all that sort of thing.
Now, what is there about the beggar?'
He spoke with the sneering, half resentful
air of the man who cannot understand; with
the malicious tendency of human kind to
belittle by innuendo and trick of word that
which lies outside ones own particular men
tai horizon. The older man smiled toler-
antly. He knew this mood, and refused to
admit its potency for irritation. This boy
would know how to judge men after the first
hot rush and excitement of a new experience
was past and he had learned to take things
coolly and to estimate facts by their results.
@Hes been pretty decent to all of US at
one time or another, he said slowly, pulling
at his pipe. "You see, we've been with him
good deal in the last ten years, and we've
been with other Generals. That's one thing.
and then he has the habit of doing things
actually doing them under your nose, which
is something else" He looked at the morose
young face beside him, and sighed.
you've got to give it to the man who
does things, my boy. Then, he's the biggest
man we've got. and he's not going to stop
with little job like this He's cut out and
slated for big tasks. They don't want him to
cut ahead SO fast at home; but they've got
to take notice of him. He has habit of get
ting the bit in his teeth. He crowds them.
serves credit. And then he's done few lit
tie things perhaps you wouldn't UNI
derstand just now
He turned about and looked over the
camp, at the neatneSs and OrderllnesS OF 1T
all, and shifted at the smell that came steal
ing in on the evening breeze, which carried
with it the odors of cooking mingled with
those of the animals. Darrow saw him
smile appreciatively at the twinkling camp
fires, at the family glowing tents where the
lanterns shone through the white walls.
3Pretty rough lot, eho' the old CORE
spondent went on, half rehectively. you
take ten regiments of regular infantry, six
of cavalry, few batteries of artillery, and a
fair sprinlling of native troops about two
degrees removed from savagery, mix well,
and flavor to taste, and you have mighty
hasty pudding" His eyes came back to the
boy beside him. "Since we've been on this
trek have you heard any complaints about
anyone being i'll used enemy, of course?"
"You mean-er-native women asked
the other hesitating.
eyes"
3Why-no. l think not. Of course mott"
3You might have that in your mind the
next time you write a despatch. | don't
mean you should use it; but just remember
it. The man who can hold twenty thousand
other men as tight as that, and still keep
them happy and contented is-well, let us
say he is entitled to just wee bit of con-
sideration.'
barrow rolled over on his elbow and
frowned. "For all that, he's hard man.
I'm not saying he isn't capable, mind you;
but he's hard kind that would shoot
his brother to save battery. Besides, he's
a woman hater.'
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