New-York tribune., 1918-01-27

among them. Still, there was nothing sur
prising about that, for one may make a
new friend any day, and ones old friends
never hear of him for long enough.
The really unusual features about this
telegram were it's length and clearness and
the elaborate injunctions against troubling
to answer it.
Robert Drummond was an excellent and
Christian man, but he had never been re-
markable for profuse expenditure. In fact.
ne guarded his bawbees very carefully in
deed, and among other judicious precau-
tlons he never sent kilograms if he could
help it, and when fate forced his hand kept
very vigorously within the twelve-word
limit. His kilograms in consequence were
celebrated more for their conciseness than
their clarity. Yet here he was sending
telegram thirty-four words long, apart
from the address and signature, and
spending half-penny after half penny with
reckless profusion to make every detail
explicit!
Particularly curious were the three
clauses all devoted to saving Mr.. Burnett
the trouble of replying Never before had
Mr.. Drummond shown such extraordinary
consideration for friends purse, and it
is discouraging feature of human nature
that even the worthy Mr.. Burnett felt
more puzzled than touched by his generous
thoughtfulncss.
Robert Drummond never wrote out
that wire himself" he concluded "Hc
must just have told some one what he
wanted to say, and they must have written
it themselves. Well, we'll hope they paid
for it, too, or Robert will be terrible an
noyed"
THE afternoon wore on, and as 6
a o'clock drew near the minister began
to look out for Mr.. Taylor and his car.
But o'clock passed, and then 6:15 and
still there was no sign of him. The minis
ter began to grow a little worried lest
they should have to do most of the four
ney in the dark, for he was an inexperi
enced motorist, and such long drive by
night seemed to him a formidable and
risky undertaking.
At last, at 6:3O, the thrum of car was
heard, and few minutes later LONG.
lakish, dark green touring car dashed up
to the door of the modest manse. The min
lister hurried out to welcome his guest. and
then stopped dead short in sheer astonish-
ment. Mr.. Taylor was none other than the
Lancashire lad
On his part, Mr.. Taylor seemed almost
equally surprised.
"Well, Pm blowed" he cried ioviallv. |
IF this isn't the most extraordinary coin.
cidence! When l got Robert Drummond's
note and noticed the part of the country
you lived in, l wondered if you could pos
slbly be the same minister I'd met, but it
really seemed too good to be true. De-
lighted to meet you again!"
He laughed loud and cheerfullv and
wrung the minister's hand like an old
friend. Mr.. Burnett, though less demon
strativc, felt heartily pleased, and led his
guest cordially into the manse parlor.
you'll have some tea before you start.
hope?" he inquired.
Rather" cried Mr.. Taylor. owe q
Lancashire appetite for tea. Ha! ha hap
well, I'll have it in at once" said the
0i Ing h's tile DeIi, Tor l suppose
we ought not to postpone our start toe
long"
mo hurry at all, my dear fellow" said
Mr. Taylor, throwing himself into the
easiest chair the minister possessed. II
mean to have jolly good tuck-in before !
start!"
At that moment Mr.. Burnett ren1em-
bcred that this time he had seen chauf-
feur in the car. He went Hospitality out
of the room and turned toward the front