The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-04


 their love as a reward for such men.
 Look at that young Frenchman who
 went up last week in balloon. It WAS
 blowing gale of wind, but because he
 was announced to go he insisted on
 starting. The wind blew him fifteen
 hundred miles in twenty four hours.
 and he fell in the middle of Russia. That was the kind of man I mean. Think of the woman he loved and how other women must have envied her! That's what should like to be-envied for my man.
 Give me a chance and see if I will take it'' cried Besides, as you say. men ought to make their chances and not wait until they are given. Look at 1 Clive-just a clerk, and he conquered India! By George, I'll do something in the world yet!''
 She laughed at my sudden Irish eff 1 fervescence. "Why not?' she said. l "You have everything a man could have-youth, health, strength, educa- tion, energy. I was sorry you spoke. And now I am glad-so glad-if it wakens these thoughts in you!" l And if I doe'--
 Her dear hand rested like warm vel vet upon my lips. ''Not another word,
 
 i for evening duty half an hour ago l only hadn't the heart to remind you. Some day, perhaps. when you have won your place in the world, we shall talk it over again." And so it was that I found myself that foggy November evening pursu- i ing the Camberwen tram with my l heart glowing within me and with the eager determination that not another day should e1apse before I should find some deed which was worthy of my 1 lady But who-who in all this wide world could ever have imagined the in ,. credible shape which that deed was to l take or the strange steps by which I was led to the doing of it? 1 always liked McArdle, the grabbed 1 old, round backed, red headed news editor, and I rather hoped that he 1 liked me. Of course, Beaumont was 1 the real boss, but he lived in the rare fled atmosphere of some Olgmpian height, from which he could distfn- guish nothing smaller than an inter national crisis or split in the cabi- net. Sometimes we saw him passing in lonely majesty to his inner sanctum, with his eyes staring vaguely and his mind lowering over the Balkans or the Persian gulf. He was above and be- yond us. But McArdle was his first lieutenant, and it was he that we knew. The old man nodded as I en- tered the. room, and he pushed his spectacles far up on his bald fore head.
 s'Wel1, MT. Malone, frem all I hear, you seem to be doing very we'll" said he in his kindly Scotch accent. thanked him.
  lent So was the Southwark fire. You have the true descreeptive touch. What did you want to see me about?"
 gro ask favor." He looked alarmed, and his eyes summed mine. Tut, tut! What is itY
 ..Do you think, sir, that you could possibly send me on some mission for the paper? would do my best to put it through and get you some good copy"
 sFwhat. sort of meesion had you in your mind, MT. Malone?"
 ssWell, sir, anything that had adven- ture and danger in it. I really would do my very best. The more difficult it was the better it would suit me-
 You seem very anxious to lose your 1ife''
 a71OE JuSllIy ny ll4c, S4A' McArdle was plunged in thought for some minutes.
 1 q wonder whether you could get on friendly-or at least on talking terms 1 with a modern Munchausen,' he said at last You seem to have a sort of genius for establishing relations with people [ suppose, OF animal magnetism, or youthful vitality, or l something. I am conscious of it my self''
 "You are very good, sir" 'sSo why should you not try your luck with Professor Challenger of En- more ParkY'
 I dare say [ looked a little startled. ,ssChaIlengerr' cried. Professor 1 Challenger, the famous zoologist! Wasn't he the man who broke the skull of Blunde1 of the Telegraph ?'' The news editor smiled grimly. "Do you mind? Didn't you say it 1 was adventures you were after?" 'It is all in the way of business sir, 1 I answered
 "One moment, sir" | added "I am i not very clear yet why am to inter | view this gentleman? What has he done?''
 The face flashed back again. .'Went to South America on a so1i- 1 tary expedeetion two years ago. Came back last year. Had undoubtedly been l to South America, but refused to say l exactly where. Began to tell his ad- ventures in a vague way, but some I body started to pick holes, and he just ! shut up like an oyster. Something i wonderful happened, or the mans a | champion liar, which is the more prob | able supposeetion. Got so touchy that
 he assaults any one who asks ques-
 tions and heaves reporters doun the
 stairs. Tn my opinion he's just honi- i cidaI meglomaniac with a turn for
 science. That's your man. MT. Malone
 Now, off you run and see what you