The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-30
BOOK H..
CHAPTER J.
After Twelve Years.


David Hurst had arrived m koruna
The stifiing exasperaung journey from
the coast lay behind him and he stood
on The low platform and listened ~
the confused clamor OF tongues AS am
exile listens 10 loHg lost but familiar
music. Excited native bearers laden
With wooden bales. iostled past him
and he showed no annoyance. Pas
sengers, native aud European shout.
ed and eesticulated IA he desperate
search for their belongings. and me-
remained TRANQUILITY IN heir midst,
and walled he scarcely knew Tor
what. He felt himself passive spec
fator In scene In which be had as
vet no part. bur which was in some
strange way part OF himself The
noise. the vivid colors the very neat
and dust, belonged ia his innermost
streasure-house of dreams and mem
cries. The drab years of his English
bife fell away from him and he picked
Sup the threads OF his existence where
they had once been broken on with a
strong sense OF almost physical com
fort and relief
A group OF white-clad English on
GERS from native regiment excited
his attention They were congregat-
ed round returned comrade pleas
'ant-looking man, whose fresh COM
Iplexion spoke of recent experience
Icf English climate and the SOUND OF
their laughter came TO the solitary
sobeerver over the heads OF the crowd.
Presently they drove OF in the two
carriages that had been kept waiting
for them BY their native orderlies.
I and few minutes later. with
shrek or warning. the train steamed
out OF the station on its way north
ward, leaving behind sudden start
ling quiet. The dust. which had been
raised In clouds by the monetary
hustle, sank drowsily through the stiit
air. and the few native porters who
fingered over their work had the ap.
, pearance OF having been left behind
by a miniature cyclone.
David Hurst looked round him and
realized that he shared his loneliness
with an equally deserted-looking Flu
ropean at the farther end OF the plat
form. He was a tall stoutlybuilt pan,
Immediately dressed. and with a
certain air OF exaggerated alertness
that seemed out OF place in his sleepy
surroundings David Hurst stared al
him with Il growing sU11sr of rt-tessFii-
ton; the stare was frankly returned,
and after a slight hesitation. his com
panion In distress came toward him.
tits David, he said abruptly, hold.
ing out his big hand. "Or II II ism
David I'm making COMPOUNDED fool
OF myself Not that that would be
anything new, but it's nasty feeling
whose variety custom never seems 10
succeed III stating. SO put me ont OF
suspense II Is David isn't il?
Yes, it's David. all right And YOU
you re 1.-THE judge. aren't you?'
Hurst Spoke with an almost boyish
diffidence. He was feeling very young
at that moment. The atmosphere.
and above all. the florid-faced man be
side him. had swept twelve years out
OF his life.
II was the judge, came the good
humored answer. The Lord knows
what I am now. But come along
have my buggy outside. and my syce
will look after your things We have
14t OF s Dive before us, as perhaps
You rem embe-"
Hurst remembered As they ratified
along the straight white road. which
LED our of KORUNA TO his mothers
white bungalow. ne was conscious Of
a remembrance that was not without
pain. lnstinntively he kept his eyes
turned and steadily away from the
distant hills.
u suppose my mother is all right"
he asked presently
"ln the best Of health-4never Ill 3"
was the laconic answer. She would