Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-25

Aov0 uO0A oLIuCh w rli6AIAAAts' ~ -
Simultaneous was the change, the
silence, the awe expressed on every
face, Matt, getting UP and following
their gaze, perceived an old man,
gaunt and very pale, standing In the
doorway, regarding the scene with
peculiar fixity. He was in blue
dressing-gown and looked Ill and
broken, as though just risen from
sick.bed; but his eyes belied his bod
lily weakness, cleaning like Goals be-
meath his struggling white brows. Matt
had curious shock of recognition:
where had he seen that benign old
face, so hazily familiar, like that OF
some half-forgotten friend Of his child
hood. @E
The oh mans voice was sharp and
trem len dously impassioned as he adj
vanced slowly into the ,ward-room and
addressed the officers. Reproof, In
dignation, and anger were written on
every feature. He cut short their OK
plantations, indicating Matt with
quivering gesture, and blazing forth
anew as they seemed to be palliating
their harsh usage. He moved over to
Matt and put one arm protect1ngly
about him.
"Disgraceful," he said in singularly
pure English. though with the accent
of foreigner, turning from the cring-
ing officers. "They would have 1t that
I was too i'll to be disturbed and have
shamed me by their treatment of you.
Will you spare me few minutes con-
versation in my cabin?" he then
added. "Time is precious, and feel
sure we can come to an agreement
more quickly than the gentlemen here
anticipate"
Matt acceded willingly though won
dering and mystified. He was as shaky
as the old man, and was glad to hold
to the arm the latter proffered him.
Together, side by side, they made
their way to the door, which was def
erentially opened for them, every one
standing to attention with his hand
at the salute. Beyond, at the far end OF
the passageway and apparently IN the
extreme stern of the ship, small
group of servants In livery were gath
cred, who were similarly stricken to
salutes at the sight of the pair. Walk
ing unsteadily, more from weakness
than the movement of the ship, Matt
and his venerable companion support
ed each other, and at length reached
what appeared to be the state cabin.
It was the largest Matt had ever
seen afloat, taking in the whole beam
Of the ship, and was furnished with
a luxury undreamed Of at sea. Beauti-
full antique furniture, glowing Oriental
rugs, rich, dark hangings of faded
crimson, slashed with gold-it was
like stepping into medieval palace
or the famed splendors of the Yildiz
Kiosk. But mingled with exquisite
heirlooms Of the past were other OBJ
iects of aggressive modernity Beside
the carved bedstead. with its piled-up
pillows and it's disordered sheets, was
a night table, on which were several
medicine bottles, CLINICAL Their
mometer, an inhaler with an india
rubber bulb, and thick mass Of type
written manuscript. ''.''e'
"You must excuse me II return to
he'd" said the old man, whose increas-
ing WEAKNESS was becoming pain.
fully apparent. Settling himself in a
sitting posture, and drawing the en-
broid cred coverlet over his long, thin
legs, he relaxed as though thankful
to be at rest. "Sit there" he contin-
ued, motioning Matt to take place
on the bed facing him. "Sit there, and
tell me why you are SO stubborn In re-
fusing what we ask" ~
Matt wavered, inclined at first to
deny everything, but it was difficult
imposstble-to lie to this old man,
whose courtesy was SO disarmfng.
"Put yourself in my place" Matt re-
piled. "Would you betray the best
friend you ever had?'
"Betray!" exclaimed the old man.
"Ah. that has been at the root of all
our troubles, of all our intolerable de-
lays and vexations. You think, then.
our intentions are not for the good OF
this person to whom you are so loyal?.
'T know what his own wishes are,
said Matt boldly.
The old man paused, regarding his
companion with an air too kindly to
be called critical, yet scrutinizing and
keen.
81 will surprise you," he said at last.
"My subordinates Numbered with the
stupidity of most subordinates when
entrusted with an affair Of immense
Importance. They could not see that
the man who kept one secret was TIT
to be entrusted with another. 1t was
a decision doubtless too great for
them to take, though had 1t been pre-
scented to me as 1t ought I might have
consented. You would not put your
friend in our power; we would not put
ourselves in yours. So, both In error,
this melancholy persecution ensued,
amid circumstances more suitable to
the Arabian Nights than to matter
of high state. You do not know who
I ann"
mo" r ....
'Have you no conjecture?"
mo"
"Well, suppose the poor fools must
be commended for that. Mr.. Brough-
ton, my house has trusted you once,
and now the head of 1t will trust you
again, knowing that my confidence
will be sacred"
Matt nodded.
At this the old man bent forward,
and breathed the name of that EN-
neror-Kinp whose dominiOns embrace