Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-02-14
The Mutiny of the Albatross
BY WYNDE1AM MARTIN
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"Of course" she said. a moment
later, II care nothing whatever about
the stars. To me they are just deco
rative. lovely lanterns hung in the
heavens to make the nights beauti-
full. Worrying about my hus-
band Is driving me to the deepest
misery. used to be so proud OF
him. Perhaps I lacked the healthy
instinct which girls ought to have for
companionship with boys Of their own
age. rather despised young men.
Their ambitions seemed so small. so
contemplate beside those Of the men
I saw in Washington and Of
course. Elgar was VIGOROUSLY hand
some then. You see, took charge Of
my fathers household when my moth
er died | was only seventeen. Think
what that meant to an ambition
crazed girl. For me. America held
only one city. and that was Washing
ton, where the embassies and legations
were"
Then came several turns of the deck
and no further condolences.
81 very seldom talk of those days"
she said later. II try to think OF
them; but here. with nothing to do
but watch Elgar, and know that this
is the end, am full Of my troubles
"What do you mean by the end?"
he asked The implication that Rad
ways death might he what she
meant, disturbed him. No matter how
concerned he might be for the welfare
of the two women. he was breaking
the law by pretending to be qualified
physician. And to have to attend
dying man and see others hang on his
verdicts and take comfort from his
laundering inadequate service was
chilling prospect
HE is slipping" she said, shipping
mentally. 1t is the fate Of these
strong men who derive no strength
but from themselves. He thinks
months rest will put him in shape for
the battle. You have seen his methods
of training. He has burnt himself
out"
by battle, you mean his fight with
Gibbons?"
"Elgar undertakes Mr.. Gibbons.
whom know slightly. He has not
Cigars supreme ability. but he can
descend to meannesses which my hus-
band never used. After all, Elgar has
had his great moments" She sighed
"There was time when even so keen
judge of events as my father thought
he would win the Presidential nominal
ton. 1t was just after the panic OF
1907 when his name led all the
rest. should have been
mistress of the White House before /
was twenty. Naturally, l was daz-
zled."
He knew she was living over again
those days when it seemed the world
had placed its all at her feet.
1--WE were talking of Mr.. Gibbons,
weren't WEI" There was more of re-
serve in her voice now. 1t was as
though she realized she had, under
the strain of the last few hours, dis
closed too much of herself. "He has
hated Elgar for years. About year
ago a group Of men who had suffered
from Cigars activities, promised to
join Mr.. Gibbons if he could prove
himself capable of giving battle and
gaining victory. The test was to be
the Memphis and Toledo road. Mr..
Gibbons by enormous brides succeeded
when no other means could have been
victorious. In itself. the loss was
nothing. The road had never paid.
But it showed these men that Elgar
could be beaten. They are vutures
turned into eagles and they will pull
him down. 1t is very pitiful. He
doesn't know it. He can see only VIC
tory. He has always been victorious
before"
Il see." There was a pause. 81
hope you know that if can do any