Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-04-25
BY LOWELL THOMAS

come? She is too lovely for any NOR
| tai being"
SO deep wns In fantasy that these
| thoughts inspired me to a sad regret
| and resignation. When evening came.
returned to the ship happy and yet
| downhearted.
That night we entertained on board
| members OF the Royal Spanish club
| and their guests Some came for din.
| ner, some afterward. 1t was Jolly
| NEAL Then we gave an after-dinner
| entertainment. and was called upon
| to entertain and amuse our guests.
During my days as sailor | was oft
| en- In demand to amuse the company
The tricks | had learned among the
| Indian fakirs In Australia had re.
| TIMED and cultivated. To this day
| am somewhat skillful at various
| kinds of slelght of hand. | put on
oriental robes and turhan. Ny face.
| freshly tanned by the sun OF the Cam
eroons, needed no darkening. | had
learned from the fakirs the solemn
| mystical demeanor and slow impress,
| sive movements that they cultivated.
must say that as | appeared before
/ the guests In the salon OF the Panther
cut quite an oriental. wonder-work-
| Ing figure.
| | had performed several tricks and
had come TO the one In which
| snapped ring onto cane held at
both ends by an assistant. when two
newcomers arrived and entered through
door NOT far from me.
7 "Luckner." thought, "are you going
crazy? Phelax, there Is she. your
| fairy princess"
She was on the arm OF a stately old
| gentleman She hud the rosy lips the
short, pretty nose, the chidlike eyes
and the rich blonde hair that had
haunted my Imagination. She came
close to me and watched me with an
expression of interest and something
OF awe. As learned later. she
thought was truly an Indian fakir.
4Phelay," said to myself. "she has
come to you, your fairy princess. She
knows you are on her island, and she
/! has come"
tried to 60 on with my trick. but
my hands shook and were clumsy.
/ could not control them. Nor could |
keep my eyes away from the blonde
] girl who stood there.
NI'm sorry" | said TO my assistant.
| one Of our officers. THE other ones
went all right, but | can't seem to
do this one. We've had enough any
way"
Ladies and gentlemen" he nm
nounced jocuarly. "the great fakir has
reconsidered and thinks II would be
wrong to disclose this last marvellous
trick. He feels that It Is his duty to
retain 1t and exhibit II for the first
time before his sovereign, the king of
| England"
Everybody laughed, went out and
changed into my naval uniform as
quickly as could When | returned,
asked one Of the other officers to
present me to the blonde young lady.
| | have never felt so bashful as when
made my boy before her.
| She was much amused at having
taken me for a genuine Indian fakir,
and talked merrily. Her laughter was
very sweet. She told me her name
was Irmn. Her father owned great
| n 70 bo fcin ~
She was with him at Fuerteventurn on
| soj0urn for his health.
The remainder OF my stay on the
island was perfect happiness. Irma's
father entertained US officers at his
| bungalow. Trina and were together
| all Of the time. We took long walks
| among the white houses and through
the green glades the sight Of which
had so gladdened poor Pheax long
years before. When the Panther
| steamed north again, was happy
with the assurance that Irma had CIV
| en- me that she and her father were
sailing for home In a short time and
that would see her there.
did see her there, and we became
engaged to be married. The Panther
was to sail for the Cameroons again
on July II. We were ready to start
when we received an unexpected tele-
gram from the admiralty-"no not
start" On August |. Germany de.
clared war on Russia, and the world
was ablaze ! told Irma that our mar
rfage must be put off. II would be
wrong to have her become the wife
OF man who might so soon leave
her widow. She wanted an Imme-
diate marriage. but | was determined.
ITO BE CONTINUED.l