The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-20
LLOYD OSBOURNE
Matt shook his head.
Copyright. 1911. BY the Bobbs.Merrill Company.

Malt SHOOK his nelU.
1t is here" he said. laying his hand
to his heart. Il don't know what's the
matter with me: but I'm tired of it all;
homcSick. perhaps. dissatisfied. de-
pressed.
And You al determined to leave
me-
ID" not r"pr"Arh me. sir. | told you
this before my last trip. not wishing
10 take YOU unawareS."
I'm sorry" said John Mort with
emotion sorry for myself at losing
one liked and admire. who for six
years has always been 50 faithful, 50
loyal Sorry. too. for YOU. my friend.
that YOU should choose to 20 back
among Ntrangcr>-h0ck to that ac-
cursed civilization where none fares so
well aS the greedy ana Unprincipled.
Is ii that YOU prefer: 50, is it that
for which YOU Will surrender thiS:"
Mort raised his hand to the tropic
moon. "What Il choice" he muir
INJURED What Il choice"
Iii is an impulse stronger than |
am" returned Matt after n silence.
After al. | am a white man. and
those are my people. Have you never
felt that sudden longing to get back
that overpowerin-. irresistible. unrea-
soning-Ion@ing:
NO. retortcd John Mort savagely.
No, 10. no. TO me it is II hell | have
left forever
Il wonder ut myself said Matt.
There is not a soul in the world re-
Spect more, admire more-yeS. love
than do YOU. Yet am going
John Morris eyes gliStened, and he
put ont his hand. which the other
GraSped.
We'll. 50 be it." he said.
Then, may | sail tonight with land
breeze"
Yes. you may sail
And my accounts, my vouchers, and
all that: You ought to pass them, sir.
as we'll as arrange about the North
Stars return. Pardon my insistence.
but you have put it off and Off
What amount have you in the ships
safe"
Nearly $500, sir. in French, English
and American gold, besides the chest
Of Chile silver.
My friend. it is yours, and the
schooner also. it is yours. 1t is small
enough return for such loyal service.
All, indeed, much too small. and | will
increase it with this AS he spoke
he drew from his finger a superb ruby
ring and forced it on Matt, whose
>tammering words of thanks were cut
1rusquely short.
There's another matter much more
pressing" he exclaimed. "a pledge to
be given and by you sacredly kept
and
But, sir. how will you manage with
out a vesSel:' expostulated Matt, alto
gether bewildered. You can not al
low yourself to be marooned here-ut-
terly cut off from all
"Oh. fear not that. We are self
sustaining now, and besides in a cOu-
pie Of years look forward confidently
for your return. Isolation has no ter
rOrs for me-rather a charm, a pictur-
esGueness and a greater sense Of Sc
curity"
John Mort paused on the last word.
peering strangely at his companion.
DO you realize. Broughton." he con
tinued at last, that during our SIX
years close association. intimacy. You
have never asked me a question; that
yOu have never betrayed the least in
quiSitiveness; that you have seen me
draw forth whole packets of Bank OF
England notes. often thousands and
thousands Of pounds. and never once
have You disturbed me by even a
/ loOk?"
Your private affairs We're none OF
my business. sir. I have always made
II a point Of honor to keep my Curl
osity 10 myself
And even now, when you are going
away. perhaps forever, with the riddle
still unsolved. are you not tempted TO
ask
We'll. suppose it's just this, sir: if
you wished me to know you would tell
me-"
John Mort unused as though. indeed.
Re were vnrv near 70 making a conf