Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-26
The Romance of a Race Arount
BY LINTON WELLS

he had closed had been open for his
entrance.
A moment later. however. he
frowned with suspicion. 1t was a
sense, rather than any tangible thing,
which made him feel that the com
partment had been entered. He
looked about him. but there was no
sign to confirm the. disturbing
thought.
His bag was where he had left IL.
He bent over it.
There was certainly nothing to
steal" he reflected. and glanced
through the contents.
There was nothing missing; but
somehow they seemed disarranged.
His shirts were rumpled and he re-
membered having placed them care
fully, rejecting that it would be some
time before he had the opportunity
to get them Hundred. The snap on
his camera was open; but he could
not be certain that he had not done
that himself. Certainly. however,
there was nothing gone and appar-
emily no damage done; he proceeded
to forget the incident.
The train had started and was
dragging its weary way across the
uninteresting wastes. Jimmy lay
back and dozed. with the faint.
elusive scent Of narcissus noir and
something subtly indefinable like
musk in his mostrils But it was
only, as he found out upon awaken
ing, a dream.
The outskirts of Niatka grew more
definite. They were actually APP
preaching the railway station jim.
my sat forward with renewed inter-
est.
1t was now 20 days since he and
Rogers had shaken hands on the
steps of their club in PARKWAY Man
haitian. Despite the fact that the
present leg of the journey had been
irksome even to him, he was i'm
pressed with a sense of deep salts
faction. Thus far. he was a great
distance ahead of the schedule which
had enabled the present holder of the
world girdling record to maintain
fame. With reasonable luck, he
would arrive in Bagdad-on-the-Sub-
way in another eight days.
Around the world in % days."
Jimmy muttered, his eyes on the I'M
folding life of the city through which
they were slowing down. THAT
makes piker out Of old Phileas
Fogg.''
The long train chugged to stop
before a drab-looking station and
Jimmy peered out with an expectant
look. Possibly he'd have the oppor-
tunity to step off and stretch himself.
He searched for one of the ever
present guards as the train drew to
it's final stop and the engine pulled
laboredly.
He caught sight of a file Of soldiers
and an officer on the PLATFORM; they
seemed interested. A guard hurried
up to them at the officers signal just
as Jimmy hailed the man. The lat
ter turned, nodded, and then hurried
into the train and to the Americans
compartment. Jimmy scarcely noted
the soldiers followed.
They paused near him. Jimmy was
lighting a cigarette when he heard
the cool, clipped voice speaking in
French:
Mile pardon. This is M'sieu
James Brandon"
Turning, Jimmy found that the
guard had drawn back and he was
looking at the leader young, rather
good looking and serious eyed chap in
neat uniform.
He nodded. Yes, I'm James Bran
don. What about it?"
With a brief command the file of
soldiers gathered closer. The leader
f1uttered an official-looking paper.
1T is my painful duty to inform
you that you are under arrest, Mon
sieur Brandon
Jimmy gasped, stunned. What?
Say that again.
Obligingly. the soldier repeated his
statement; the guard stared and then
watched interestedly as Jimmy