The Ordway new era., 1913-05-23
By
HORACE
HAZELTINE

month at least, and probably much
longer. was tar from the most pleas
ant contemplation; my yielding, there
fore. was not altogether unselfsh.
DR.. Addison's case was different. At
the last moment he decided to go
abroad by the same ship: and, on the
way over, touched by his contritlon
and his almost pathetic desire to
make amends to his quondam friend
at the earliest possible minute, l my
self invited him to go with us the rest
Of the way.
Evelyn had proposed that Mrs. Lam
caster should also be included in the
party. but this would not hear Of. II.
for propriety's sake. another presence
was necessary. her maid, and. ulti-
mately. DR.. Addison. afforded all the
security the conventions could de-
mand. t.s.a
The fever Of haste was upon all Of
US from the start The time on ship
board. In spite Of our common subject
Of converse dragged eternally.
Should we reach Cherbourg In time
to connect with the P. &. o. Express
at Paris? That was the one constant
ly recurring question, to be speculated
upon with varying degrees of hope and
despair.
As good fortune would have It. We
made the train with fifteen minutes to
spare. and the run to Brindisi was ac-
complished without accident or un-
seemly delay.
Here. however. We were compelled
to wait six hours. The steamer was
late. owing to some seismic disturb
ance on the coast Of Malta. and fear
Of encountering new and necessarily
uncharted volcanic islands. had de-
manded slow and cautious sailing.
However sinister had been the game
Fate played with us in tho earlier
stages OF our quest, the favor Of its
present mood could not be gainsaid.
That we were now reasonably sure Of
reaching Port Said In advance of the
Glamorganshire was In itself a vel
come relief from trying anxiety: but
that was only q small part Of the
banquet Of good things provided for
us. ~. ;.t t5 E1-.
I was sstill exercised in . measure
over the steps which must Be taken TO
OSN0A0 S8ERo4ou I0lO80Dss
proper Introduction to the authorities,
1t was becoming more and more q
question in my mind whether. after
all, should BE- able to accomplish my
end in the brief time to which I was
restricted. a.. r.H..
With this fell possibility Of failure
dinging in my reflections. was strid-
ing the white deck Of the P. and o.
steamer. in the early morning follow
ing the night Of our departure from
Brindisi, when Q hand. dropped heavi-
ly on my shoulder. spun me round to
face laughing. sun-browned, young
Englishman in white nannels.
For Just Q moment I was literally,
a. we'll as figuratively. taken aback.
for the tone Of the ringing voice which
greeted me carried me five years at
least into the past, when Lionel Hart.
ley and I had ridden to hounds to-
gether at Melton Mowbray. while fel-
low guests at . house-party In the
neighborhood.
you bally Yankee!" he was shout
ing. Fancy running into you in this
fashion! I'm Jolly glad to see you.
old chapl"
Though my delight at seeing him
was at that moment tempered BY ab-
sorbing interest in my mission, It rose
few minutes later to unadulterated
ecstasy. whenI discovered that he was
stationed at Port Said. and occupied
what seemed to me Just then one Of
the most important posts in the Brit
ish Foreign Servioe-secretary to tho
Governor General for the Suex Canal.
You're going to Cairo. l suppose p
he haxarded.
mo-" replied. I'm going with
you. and shall not let you out Of my
sight, my friend. until you haveproved
you're something more than q figure
head stuck up in the Egyptian sands "
"If there's any little thing can do
F." he began; but l interrupted him.
There's very big thing you can
do." I corrected. And then I told him.
What a lark!" he cried, refusing
to recognize the serious side Of 1T.
Fancy one Of your American multi
millionaires passing coal on q British
freighter."
Passing coal!" exclaimed. What
rot! Surely they wouldn't"
"Oh. wouldn't they?" he broke in.
That's Just what they would do. Hc
isn't an able-bodied seaman. is he?
You can safely wager he's an expert
enced stoker. or at least q trimmer by
this time"
Don't. Hartley. DON'T" I protested.
''It's too cruel to think Of"
Never mind. old chap" was his re-
1oinder. There's good time COM
ing. Wen have him out and washed
and dressed and sitting at table with
us an hour after the old tub let's her
anchor drop. And III wager you a
tenner that there won't be miss In
any part Of the programme" -
When. at breakfast. I told Evelyn
the good news-omitting. Of course.
all reference to the coal-handling sug-
.o.fton-sha dn~o ~ NOD that hunt nm