Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-15

aloneD and stepped behind the bar.
At the same time Mr.. Donovan folded
the bills and slowed them away.
"Not even t tn Mrs." he swore.
Here's luck, capt'n."
Same t. you; an don't get drunk
this side O Jersey City"
And with this admonition the captain
drank his beer and thumped of for the
water front, satisfied that the village
would hear nothing from Mr.. Dono-
van. Nevertheless, it was shameful to
let a hundred 60 that easy; twenty
would have served He was about TO
hail the ski1f when be was accosted
by the quiet little man be had recert-
observed sitting alone in the corner ,
Swans Office.
Pardon. but you are Captain Elan;
gan Of the yacht Laura?"
"Yessir," patiently. But the OWN
never lets anybody aboard be don't
know, sir
Il do not desire to come aboard. nv
captain. What ! wish to know Is II
bis excellency the admiral is at home"
His excellency" rather confounded
the captain for q moment: but be came
about without "takin' more'n a bucket.
full" as be afterward expressed it to
Halloran, the engineer. II knew right
then be wuS a furriner: know 'em.
They amt no excellencies in tn navy.
But ] tells him that the commodore
was snug in bis berth up yonder. and
with that be looks to NE like wus a
lady. I've seen him in Swans at night
readin'; allus chasin' butterflies when
he sees EN- in the street" And the
captain rounded out this period BY
touching his forehead as a subtle hint
that In bis opinion the foreigner car.
ried no ballast.
In the intervening time the subject of
this light suggestion was climbing the
hill with that tireless resilient step of
one born TO mountains. No task ap-
peared visibly to weary this man. Small
as be was, his bones we're as strong
and his muscles as stringy as a VOLTS.
II the butterfly was worth while be
would follow till 1t fell to his net or
daylight withdrew its support.
So it fell out very we'll that Admiral
Killigrew was fond OF butterflies. Still.
ne should have been equally glad 10
know that the sailors hobby inclined
toward the exploits Of pirates. NJ.
Ferraud was modest man. That his
exquisite brochure on lepidOpterous in.
sects was in nearly all the public
libraries of the world only gratifed. but
added nothing to his vanity.
As it oftentimes happens to a man
whose mind is occupied with other
things, the admiral. who received NJ.
Ferraud in the library, saw nothing in
the name to kindle his recollection.
He babe the savant to be seated while
be read the letter of introduction which
bad been written by the secretary
of the navy:
My Dear Killigrew-Ths will introduce
to you NJ. Ferraud of the butterfly fame.
He has learned of the success of your eff
forts in the West Indies and South Amer
lea and is eager TO see your collection.
DO what you can for him | know you
will, for you certainly must have his
book | myself do not know a butterfly
from June bug but it will be a pleasure
to bring you two together
Breitmann arranged his papers neat
ly and waited to be dismissed. He
had seen NJ. Ferraud at Swans, but
had formed no opinion regarding him;
In fact. the growth of his interest
had stopped at indifference. On his
part the new arrival never so much
as gave the secretary a second glance
the first was sufficient. And while
the admiral read on NJ. Ferraud ex-
amined the broken skin on his palms.
Mr.. Ferraud. Well. well: this is
great honor, I'm sure. 1t was very
kind of them to send you here. Where
is your luggage?
Il am stopping at Swans hotel"
I'VE shall have your things up this
very night"
OH said Ferraud. in protest.
though this was the very thing be de-
sired.
Not a word" The admiral sum.
moned the butler. who was the gen.
eral factOtCm at the Pines, and gave
dozen orders.
"Ah. you Americansr laughed NJ.
Ferraud. pyramiding his fingers. "You
leave us breathless."
Your book has delighted me. But
I'm afraid my collection will not pay
you for your trouble"
THAT is for me TO decide. My
South American specimens are all sec.
onds On the other hand, you have
netted yours yOIrSelfr'
And stralghtaway a bond of friend
ship was riveted between these two
men which still remains bright and
untarniShed by either absence or for
getfulneSs. They bent over the cases.
agreed and disagreed. the one with
the sharp gestures. the other with the
rise and fall Of the voice. For them
nothing else existed; they were truly
engrOssed.
Breitmann. hiding a smile that was