, 1916-06-01

That was the kind of man I mean
mink OF b woman he loved and how
other women mu have envied her,
That's what 1 should like to be- envied
for my man."
Give me a chance and see II Will
take it?' | cried. Besides. as you say.
men ought to make their chances and
NOT wait until they are given. look at
Ch~e-just a clerk, and he conquered
India! By George. I'll do something in
the worlu YETI
She laughed ut my sudden Irish eff.
fervescence. Why not?' she said.
You have everything a man could
aave-youth. health. strength. educa-
lion, energy. was sorry you spoke.
And now | am glad-so glad-if 1t
wakens these thoughts in your"
And II ! do
Her dear hand rested like warm vel
vet upon my lips. Not another word,
sir! You should have been at the office
for evening duty half an hour ago
only | hadn't the heart to remind you.
Some day. perhaps, when you have
won your place In the world. we shall
talk 1t over again."
And so It was that ! found myself
that foggy November evening pursu-
ing the Camberwell tram with my
heart glowing within me and with the
eager determination that not another
day should elapse before I should find
some deed which vas worthy of my
lady But who-who in all this wide
world could ever have imagined the in.
credible shape which that. deed was to
take or the strange steps by which !
was led to the doing of it7
always liked McArdle. the grabbed,
old, ound backed, red headed news
editor. and l rather hoped that he
liked me. OF course, Beaumont was
the real boss. but he lived In the rare
fed atmosphere of some olympian
height. from which he could distin-
guish nothing smaller than an inter
national crisis or a 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 1t was he that we
knew. The old man nodded as l
tered the room. and he pushed his
spectacles far up on his bald fore
head.
We'll, MI. Malone. from all 1 hear.
you seem to be doing very WE'LL" said
he in his kindly Scotch accent
l thanked him.
"The colliery explosion was excel
lent. So was the Southwark fire. You
have the true descreeptive touch. What
did you want to see me aboutT'
ITO ask a favor"
He looked alarmed, and his eyes
Stunned mine. tut. tutI What is
ftp
"Do you think. sir, that o could
possibly send me on some mission for
the paper? | would do my best to put
1t through and get you some good
copy"
What sort of meesion had you in
your mind. Mr.. Malone?"
"well, sir. anything that had adven-
ture and danger in it. 1 really would
do my very best The more difficult It
was the better 1t would suit me-"
You seem very anxious to lose your
life"
ITO justify my life. SIR"
McArdle was plunged in thought for
some minutes.
81 wonder whether you could get on
friendly-or at least on ta~lking-terms
with a modern Munchausen." he said
ae lant s.Vn, ,narn 70 have IN aprf nf
genius for establishing relations with
people-sympathy, | suppose. or animal
magnetism. or youthful vitality. or
something. am conscious Of II my
self"
You are very good, SIR"
$50 why should you not try your
luck with Professor Challenger of En-
more Parkf'
I dare say | looked q little startled.
challenger cried. Professor
Challenger. the famous z~oologistl
Wasn't he the man who broke the skull
Of Blundell Of the Telegraph
The news editor smiled grimly.
do you mind? Didn't you say 1t
was adventures you were afterf"
at is all in the way of business SIR"
| answered.
.One moment, sir" I added. ~ am
not very clear yet why l am to inter
view this gentlemanf What has he
doner'
The face flashed back again
Went to South America OF a soil
tary expedeetion two years ago. Came
back last year. Had undoubtedly been
to South America. but refused to say
exactly where. Began to tell his ad
ventures in a vague way. but some
body started to pick holes. and he just
shut up like an oyster. Something
wonderful happened. or the mans a
champion liar, which Is the more prob