Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-22


"And Yet This Moment He Asked q
Hundred for IT,
he added to the bitter-eyed merchant
The Oriental is like the amateur tlsh'
erman; truth Is not in him. You seem
to be 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
q good collection Of Bokhara en-
broiderlcs at home In New York"
"You live in New York;" with mild
interest. The Major sat down and
graciously motioned for George to do
the same Il used TO live there; twer-
ty-odd years ago. But European travel
spells America; the rush there, the
hurry, the clamoT Over here they.
dine, there they eat There's as much
difference between those two perform.
ances as there is between The Mikado
and Florcdora. From Portland in
Maine TO Portland ;n Oregon, the same
dress, same shops, same unsodly high,
buildings. Here It is different, at the
end oc every hundred miles"
George agreed condltionally. fThe
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 id1ed in various chan
nels, and finally became anchored at
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 O.
peg 10 sleep on? Mr.. Jones certainly
would. And after a mutual health.
George automatically excused himself,
retired, buoyant and happy. How SIM
ple the affair had been! A fellow
could do anything II only he set his
mind to II. Tomorrow he would meet
Fortune Chedsoye, and may Beelzebub
shrive him !f he could not manage to
control his recalcitrant tongue.
As he passed out of sight, Major
Callahan smiled. It was that old ia"
miliar smile which, charged with gem
| tie moc1ery. We send after departing
fools. It was plain that he needed
another peg to Keep company with tho
| first, for ne rose ard gracefully Wend-
ed his way downstairs to the bar. Two
mon We're already leaning against the
| friendly, inviting mahogany. There
vas !nagnum OF champagne stand
| ing between their glasses. The Major
| ordered temperate whisky and soda,
drank it, frowned at the magnum, paid
the reckoning, end went back upstairs
| again.
Don't remember old friends, eh"'
said the shorter Of the two men,
caressing his incarnadfned proboscis.
"a smile wouldn't have hurt him any,
| do you Think"
"Shut up!" admonished Ryanre.
"You know the orders; no recognition
Oh the public floors"
"Why, l meant no harm" the other
protested He took swallow OF wine.
Put, dash It! here l am, moren four
thousand miles from old Broadway,
and still walking blind. When is the
show to start7"
mot so loud, old boy. You've got to
have patience You've had some good
pickings for the past three months,
in the smoke-rooms. That ought to
soothe YOU"
We'll, it doesn't. Here come from
New York, three months ago, with q
wad of money for you and O great
game In sight 1t takes week to find
you, and when do Well, you
! know. No sooner are you awake, than
what? Off you 60 to Bagdad, on the
widest goose-chase O man ever nearo
Of. and that leaves ME with nothing
to do and nobody to talk to. | could
have cried yesterday when | got your
letter saying you'd be in today
We'll, l got IT.
''The Ius?"
eyes. 1t was wild; but after what
I'd been through 1 needed something
Wild to steady my nerves; some big
danger, where I'd simply have TO get
together"
And you got til" There was frank
wonder and admiration in the pursy
gentleman's eyes. "All alone, and you
got 1t? Honest"
Honest. They nearly had my hide,
though"
Where is it?"
Sold"
"Who?"
'Percival."
Horace, you're a wonder, II there
ever was one Sold it to PerclVai!
You couldn't beat that in thousand
years. You're a great man."
Praise from Sir Hubert"
t'WhO'c hop