Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-03-02
acrid odor of toiling Africa.

of hot water into, the bath tub and
laid out an old flannel suit. Beside
the suit he placed clean underwear,
fresh socks and, on the ground, pair
Of slippers.
Alan stripped, bathed and dressed.
The Zanzibari handed him a cup OF
hot tea. BY the time the tea was drunk
the table was freshly laid and Alan
sat down to steaming bowl Of broth,
and dinner.
After dinner McDougal Joined him
for smoke. For full half hour they
sat wordless. Darkness fell and
brought out the lights of their fitfully
glowing pipes. From the mems camp
came a subdued chatter. The men
were feeding. AS they finished they
lit fires--a fire for every little group
The smell of the wood fires triumphed
over every other odor.
McDougal had met Alan first in a
bare room at an African seaport. The
room was furnished with a chair and
a table. At the table sat Alan, busy
with final estimates and plans for sup
plies for his little army. The interview
was short. McDougal had asked for
job and Alan had answered, Get out"
McDougal had repeated his request
and the rest of the story he told the
next morning before the resident mag
istrate in the chair and Alan in the
dock.
"Aweel, your honor, it was this way:
l went into Mr.. Wayne's office and
asked him for worruk and he said, Get
out asked him again and he said,
I'm give you two to get out-One-
Two and with that he cooms on to
the table and flying through the air.
l had joost considered that it was best
l should let him hit me first aimee that
l might break him with justice when
he struck me face with both fists, and
his knee in the pit of me stummick.
And that's all, your honor, savin' the
T<afir that woke up to find watering
me and a rose bush, turn by turn
ABBOTT"
II suppose" said the magistrate
covering his twitching mouth with his
hand, "that was the Kafr 1 signed a
hospital pass for last night"
ut may weel be-" replied McDougal
dreamily. at may weel be-"
"Well, McDougal, 1 think this is a
matter that can be settled out of
court
McDougal held up a vast hand in
interruption. Begging your pardon,
your honor, there'll be nae settling of
this matter out of coort. between Mr.,
Wayne and myself. Aimee is enough"
Justice and the prisoner in the dock
surrendered to laughter. McDougal
stood grave and unperturbed.
"What l meant" said the magis-
trate when he recovered, sis that Mr.
Wayne will probably give you a job
and call it all square"
That's it," said Alan.
~ asked Mr.. Wayne for worruk and
if it's worruk he is giving me I'll nae
be denying it is fair answer" replied
McDOugal, and forthwith became Ter
Percent Wayne's gang boss and under
study in the art of driving men witt
both fists and knee.
McDougal knocked out his thirt
pipe. "The dell of a country is this
he said; I'm the seas of it a life-pre
server holds you up handy for sharks
and in the rivers does swimming save
your life? Nae. 1t gives you a mea
| to the crocs."
They had lost a black that day. HI
had slipped from the bridge into thu
water He had started to swim t
shore and then suddenly disappeared
In a swirl.
COnversationally, McDougal limited
himself to a sentence a day in whicl
he summed up the one event that haC
struck him as worthy of notice. Hav
ing delivered himself of his observa
ton for the night he lit his pipe one
more and relapsed into silence.
McDougal's was a companionable 81
lence. Alan could feel him sitting
there in the dark, raw-boned and don
but ready at the word of command.
1t was after eight when Alan Gale,
for light and drew from a worn LET
! bCi Ndct Lut correspondence lndl
runner from the coast had brought Il
that day. He glanced over official com
munications, blue prints and bushes
letters and stuffed them back into til
leather case. One fat letter, note
paper size, remained.
'McDougal," said Alan, "hush u
the campbell em it's nine o'clock"
! McDougal arose and picking up
big stick strobe over towards the mer
The stick was so big that he had neye
had to use it. At the mere sight of
the men desisted from clamor, dane
and hOrse-play.
Alan drew the fat letter from il
envelope and for the second time reat
Dear Alan AS you see. this Is frol
New York. We came down yesterdal
All summer have been watching for m
second self because I'm just about grow
up now-outside, mean--inside Is differel
somehow-and three days before We le