The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-22
The
Sable
I.orcha
-- NJ
Horace Na,sloine


greeted me carried me FIVE years at
least into the past. when Lionel Hart.
ley and l had ridden to hounds to-
gether at Melton Mowbray. while fel.
low guests at house-party in the
neighborhood.
you bally Yankeei" 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 alb
sorbing interest in my mis- sion, Il rose
few minutes later TO unadulterated
ecstasy. when I discoverd 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 Service-secretary to the
Governor General for the Suez Canal.
You're going to Cairo. I suppose?"
he hazarded.
nc" / replied. I'm going with
you. and shall not let you out of nv
sight. my friend, until you have proved
you're something more than a figure
head stuck up In the Egyptian sands "
III there's any little thing can do
-" he began; but l interrupted him.
There's very big thing you can
do" 1 corrected. And then told him.
What a larkl" he cried, refusing
TO recognize the serious side OF II.
Fancy one OF your American multi.
millionaires passing coai on a British
freighter."
Passing coall" exclaimed. What
rotl Surely they wouldn't"
oh. wouldn't they?" he broke in.
Thats Just what they would do. Ho
isn't an able-bodied seaman, 10 he?
You can safely wager ae's an expert
enced stoker. or at leas. a trimmer by
this time"
Don't. Hartley, DON'T" protested.
It's too cruel TO think Of"
Never mind. old chap" was his re-
Joinder. There's a good time com.
Ing. Wen have him out and washed
and dressed and sitting &c table with
rs an hour after the old tub lets her
anchor drop. And I'll wager you a
tenner that there won't be q miss In
any part Of he programme"
When. at breakfast. 1 told Evelyn
the good news-omitting. of course.
all reference TO the coal.han6ling sug-
gestion-she demanded that hunt up
Hartley, at once. and present him.
discretion. however, seemed to me In
this instance. the better part OF obedl-
ence. 1 did hunt Hartley up and I
did present him. but not until had al.
lowed time for the first flush OF Eve
lyn's fervor to cool.
, He was a very good-looking young
chap; Evelyn was both grateful and
fmpulsive. and WAS In love.
Our landing at Port Said was made
on 'he E,orning Of Saturday. the fifth
OF December. and all that day and the
NEXT. we waited In more or less con-
stant expectancy and boiling temper
ature for tidings OF the tardy Glamor-
ganshire.
Hartley. meanwhile, was a model of
hospitality. but Port Said is primarily
coaling station on the seaedge of
the desert. and aside from the con-
crete docks. the ships. the light house.
and the nearly naked Nubians that
swarmed everywhere. II proved utter
ly lacking In objects OF interest.
Sunday night brought some small
relief from the intolerable heat, and
srateful for the respite. all four OF our
httle party were early TO bed. Grad
uaily we had come 10 believe that our
waiting was likely 10 be prolonged.
The earthquake at Malta having de-
layed one vessel would In all probabll-
ity delay others as well. including that
which We had come so far 10 intercept.
30. utterly worn out by nervous ten
sion and the fatigue Of the tropical cli-
mate. wo found rest grateful. and slept
soundly. just how soundly was DEM
onstrated when, at an hour after mid
night. three resounding knocks on my
hotel chamber door only reused me,
duly. and left Evelyn and her maid
and DIR. Addison. who occupied ada.
cent rooms, in deep slumber, totally
undisturbed.
With what seemed almost superhu-
man EFFORT. spurred myself 20 con.
sciousness and struggled up on elbow.
Who's there?" called
Hartley, came the answer. "Open
the door I thought you'd died OF Port
Said ennui." And when | had sleeplly
risen and admitted him he went on
hurriedly. Make haste. now. old
chspl The bally frelghter has Just
come In. and | don't propose TO lose
that tenner through dllatory methods
on your part"
But | needed no urging. Wide awake
az his first sentence. was already
hing'ng on my clothes He still chat
tered ON In his chatting way, but I
scarcely heard him. Conscious only
OF tho murmnr OF his nlansant cheerY