The Ozark spectator., 1916-07-14
CHAPTER l.. Tho Man Who Died
V RETURNED from the city about
 o'clock on that May afternoon
 pretty we'll disgusted with life.

8 o'clock on that May afternoon
 pretty well diSgusted with life.
 1 had been three months in the old country and was fed up with it. If any one had told me a year ago that l would have been feeling like that l should have called him liar but there was the fact.
 The weather made me liverish the talk of the ordinary Engfishman made me sick; couldn't get enough exer ciso. and the amusements of London seemed as fiat as soda water that has been standing In the sun. Richard Hannay," kept telling myself, you have got into the wrong ditch. my fTie0d, and you had better climb out
 It made me bite my lips to think of aIl the plans I had been building up those last years in Buluwayo. I had got my pile-not one of the big ones, but good enough for me-and l had figured out all kinds of ways of enjoy ing myself.
 My father had brought me out from Scotland at the age of six, and l had never been home since; so England was sort of Arabian Nights to me, and counted on stopping there for the rest of my days. But from the first l was disappointed with it.
 In about week l was tired of seeing sights, and in less than a month l had had enough of restaurants and thea ters and race meetings. l had no real to w UVOhn explains things. Plenty of people in vited me to their houses, but they didn't seem much interested in me. They would ask me a question or two about South Africa and then get on to their own affairs. A lot of imperialist ladies asked me to tea to meet school masters from New Zealand and editors from Vancouver. and that was the dis malest business of all.
 Here was l. thrty-seven years old. sound in wind and limb. with enough money to have good time. yawnlng my head off all day. had just about settled to clear out and get back to the weld, for was the best bored man in the United Kingdom.
 That afternoon l had been worrying my brokers about investments to give my mind something to work on. and on my way home turned into my club rather a pothouse. which took in colo n1al members l had a long drink and read the evening papers. They were full of the row in the near east and there was an article about Karolides. the Greek premier.
 1 rather fancied the chap.
 From all accounts he seemed the one biz man. in the show, and he played a straight game, too. which was more chan could be said for most of them. l gathesed that they hated him pretty blackly in Berlin and Vienna but that we were going to stick to him, and one paper said that he was the only bar Tier between Europe and ArmaSeddon
 remember wondering If l could get . job in those parts. It struck me that Albania was the sort of place that might keepaa man from yawning.
 About8 o'clock l went home. dress cd ldined at the Cafe Royal and turn ed Into music hall. It was silly ahOw.a ell caperlng women and monkey foced men and did not stay long YAe ntght was fine and clear as walked back to the flat I had hired near Postla1nd place The crowd surg e1 past me on the pavements.. all busy apd chatterihg. and | envied the peo - for having something to do.
 1ooee shOpgirls and clerks and dan 01ng md policemen had some interest 6 l1eo'that kept them going
 Imvo half crown to beggar be- ooGooI saw him yawn; he was fel " oulrerpr. At Oxford circus look
 " li1b the spring sky and l made K I1Ds Wsnld give the old co,'nss,