The Washington herald., 1915-09-26
tCopyrsht. 1851


pocket and hurried off to his master
Cleek so deeply engrossed in si'
months old copy of Chinese pc
riodical that he did not hear him unit
he was actually in the room
We'll, my beloved Mercury, wha
important message from Jove hav,
you flown in to deliver" said Cleel
with laugh, as he looked up to finc
him at his elbow. you l7ok as i
you'd had a shock from the way yor
are staring. old chap"
MY word. sir, SO l have" replied
Dollops, with a look of amazemen'
and awe. You don't mean to say
do you, sir, that it's newspaper
like the rest,"
"Oh, yes" replied Cleek. with Z
kindly smile. Its a newspaper my
lad and very interesting one at that;
only you read it downward instead
OF crossways, as you do other news
papers. Here, for instance, look at
this line. Here is the account Of a
great art sale. and here, in this line,
the report of daring robbery and
the theft of thing more valuable
lidH IllC NSCil " tllc llCluDClS ol
the great house of Fung Loo Chang
and the subsequent arrest and decap-
itation of the robber, one Ii All
Swong, whose body was afterward
dismembered and thrown TO the swine
by order of the emperor himself. But
tell me something: Didn't l hear the
telephone ring a few moments ago?
Surely it is time that Mr.. Narkonl
rang up this morning. glorious day
like this when its crime to keep a
man cooped up indoors
Eyes, sir-he did ring up; that was
his call you heard, gov'ner. He told
me to tell you that there was nothing
extra special on the cards for today.
and that you were free to nip off to
Sussex and see all them wonderful
lanes full of wild roses you was a.
speakin' OF wantin' to get a peep at
sir, if only you'd send him word
where a messenger could find you in
case anything did turn up later. Wot
am l to tell him, sir?"
Tell him." Cleek was on his feet
instantly, his paper thrown aside, his
whole face alight, all things but those
rose-hllSd Sussex lanes banished from
his mind, and the enthusiasm of the
born nature lover swaying him en-
tirely. Tell him the Rising Sun inn
over on the other side of Horsted
Keynes he said. "Cut along and de-
liver the message at once, and then
stop a moment, you hyaway young
monkey-then get into your tramping
boots and your Norfolk suit. nv lad,
and we will be off together for a day
in the woods and the fields, with the
brooks and the trees and the birds
and the flowers and the glories of the
world just as God made it, old chap.
Of with you now while / look up
train That's all Cut along"
The boy cut along" forthwith and
he made such good haste that the
message was dispatched to Mr.. Mar
kom, the change in his apparel made
and he at the foot OF the stairs good
five minutes before Cleek himself was
ready.
Bravo, Beat me at my own game,
have you, you young beggar" he
laughed when he descended and found
him there. Now, then, nip out and
hail taxi while l lock up. There's
a train leaving kensington at ten-six-
teen and we've. simply got to catch it,
my lad"
They did and were at Horsted
Keynes at twelve-thirty to the tick
Striking out at once into the pleasant
country lands beyond. they walked to
such good purpose that one o'clock
found them wandering through leafy
lanes and skirting bird-haunted woods
on their wav TO the crossroads where
the Rising Sun is located.
And that was how it came to pass
that when, at ten minutes past two,
the Rev Mr. Mollison. curate OF St
Eldred's, came driving up in the
Wears ancient trap to seek them, he
found them there -appeasing the de
nands Of healthy appetites at most
rate of speed.
MY dear Mr. .Cleek, allow me to
myself" he said as he push
I'd open the door and walked in upon
them Il am the curate of St FL !
reds and my name is Mollison. You |
perhaps. why have intruded |!
and how | know YOU when we have !
never met before?"
We'll, the latter circumstance is !
rifle bewildering. Mr.. Mollison,
must admit. | was not aware that my
was so familiar to the
world at large
"Oh. it is not that-it is not at all |
hat. ! should not have gained the
slightest hint to your identity had !
you been alone But Mr. Narkom told
ne that you would be here and that
you would have a companion-a
'oung man with very long legs, very
ed hair and an extremely large guam
ity Of freckles"
well. blow his blessed check"
,lurted out Dollops Indignantly
'Oo's he chuokin' mud at when it
,omes to looks-a moon-faced sos
idge like inn"
Here Cleek's hand touched his
leeve and silenoed him. and Cleek's
'oice interposed.
"Mr. Narkom?" he repeated. with
sigh of patient resignation and an
nquiring look
MY dear sir, you are in error 1t
s not Mr. Narkom who wants you:
t is l. |, my dear Mr.. Cleek-iu the
interest of a most unhappy weman
Who is so circumstanced that she can
Tot pay farthing for your Services.
mentioned that fact to Mr.. Narkom
When / called him up over the tele-
hone and asked him if, out OF sheer
humanity he could not send some one
Iere to investigate battling and most
mystery and so save A