The Sunday Oregonian., July 25, 1915, SECTION SIX, Page 5, Image 67

TTTE STJXDAT OITEGOXTAT?, POTITLATD, JTTLT 23, 1913.
THE
QEUMGOf
MAR5
POR the third time Jane Meredith
warded off Hush Lorimer's eager
arms. "Now, Just wait," she cried.
This la all very nice, but you Just go
below and speak to father. If you
don't dare face him, you're not going
to marry me."
"You're always so practical," Hugh
complained. ' "But I'll go." In the
cabin of John Meredith's yacht Cynthia,
on which Hugh was a guest, he found
the shoe magnate reading a magazine.
It was not the young man's way to
mince matters.
"I beg pardon," he said, and when
Meredith looked up, "I'd like to marry
your daughter."
"You'd like what?" the prospective
lather-in-law shouted.
"I'd like to marry your daughter."
"Oh!" grunted the older man. There
was a pause. "I suppose she'd like to
marry you, eh?"
"I believe so," admitted Hugh mod
estly. Meredith chewed his cigar for a few
seconds.
"Weil," he said at last, looking Lori- '
tier squarely in the eyes. "I've nothing
against you, Hugh. You're a good,
clean-living young fellow, and a man
with half an eye could tell you're hon
estly In love with June. The rub is
you've never done anything I mean
outside of ripping up the Yale eleven
last year.
"That's the rub, Hugh. You never
made a penny in your life."
Hugh's mouth set. "I've tried. I've
tramped New York from one end to the'
other looking for work."
"Hugh," said John Meredith slowly,
"you show me you can make "good and
you marry Jane on the day she names.
Next time you ask a man for a Job
etlck to him till you get It."
"All right," replied Hugh with a curl
pus smile. "I will." And he did. He
tuck at It until Meredith regretted
the advice he had given. In despera
tion he walked to an open port and
gazed across the moonlit water. Twink
ling lights on shore winked merrily at
him. Suddenly he faced about, bis
yes dancing: like the far-off, lights he
bad seen.
"Hugh, there Is one particular spot
where Meredith shoes aren't sold," he
said. "It's Port Princess. You can see
Its lights to starboard now. If you say
the word I'll set you ashore there to
morrow morning and make you sole
agent for Meredith shoes in Tayhl."
"I'll take that offer," replied Lorl
tner quietly. "I guess I'd better tell
Jane you have consented to our mar
riage." The twinkle was still in Meredith's
yes as they shook hands.
"Make good," he said, "and you name
the day."
Early next morning Hugh put off in
the yacht's tender. Beyond the bow
of the Tayhitan navy all this hap
pened, before they beached her to keep
her from sinking when the engineer
cook, dropped a 60-pound casting
through the bottom the government
wharf protruded like an elongated
Index finger. Behind it Port Princess'
baked In the morning sun. Through
the dazzling heat waves which rose
endlessly from the surface of the har
bor Hugh caught sight of a solitary
figure taring' earnestly In his direc
tion. , "The reception committee Is on the
Job," observed, the captain, who was
taking Lorimer ashore. The captain
bad been in Tayhl before.
It was not until Hugh lifted his
satchel from the bottom of the tender
that the solitary figure on the end of
the wharf showed signs of life. Sud
denly he threw his arms skyward and
executed a fantastic step, accompany
ing his antics with lusty howls of Joy.
Hugh climbed the fast-rotting ladder
to the top of the wharf, to suddenly
find himself in the arms of the "re
ception committee."
"You are really a white man!" cried
the stranger rapturously. "Of course,
you don't understand, but I've met
every steamer for the last 10 months
I I . f"' I ' . - Q 1
Right Up. Through Town With 'Eml
and you're the first man of . my own
color who has put foot on this wharf.
If you've tfme before you return to '
the yacht you are my guest for din
ner." ... .
"I'd like a chance to wash up ablt
first," said Hugh. "I'm here-to stay."
"Don't need to," he said.The Inter
national isn't all it sounds, but It's the
best here. .The Consuls and a ticket-of-leave
man are ,the only- other white
members. They use it when they are
here, which isn't vry often.. -Just now
they're in Santiago, probably .playing
seven-lip. , ' -i .
"My name's Colby," he, rattled on
"John Colby, of the- New York News.
Came down here 10 months ago on a
tip th'at a revolution was brewing. My
office bas a chronic tip that there's a
revolution brewing In Tayhi. At the
end of each any every separate one of
these 10 months I've been prepared to
leave for home and every time' my of
fice has another tip: The cable be
gings to hum as the anchor of . my
homeward-bound steamer spashes in
the harbor." He paused, with a frown
of annoyance. "Pardon me, I haven't
given you an opportunity of telling
your name."
"Hugh Lorimer, Dedham, Mass,"
said Hugh. .
"Knew you were U. S. A.," declared
Colby. "Ten to one you can mix a
cocktail."
It was not until after dinner that
Colby asked Hugh . his mission In
Tayhi?
"Not by any chance a tip on a revo
lution?" he inquired, anxiously.
"'A commercial proposition," replied
Hugh.
"To begin with, Colby," he continued,
"I am worth considerable money, a
fact that has proved a determent
rather than an advantage to me."
The newspaper man's expression
conveyed more plainly than be could
have put it in words that this was
quite beyond him.
"It came to a case of well, make
good at some kind of work or lose the
girl I want to marry. That's the
proposition my sometime dad-in-law
put up to me. I'm his sole agent in
Tayhi."
Colby wagged bis head thought
fully. "Sounds as though there must be a
catch in It somewhere," he said. "It
doesn't seem reasonable that, a man
should tell you you had to go out in
the cold world and make good, then
turn, around and give you an all-fired
tough one. What's the liner
"I represent the Meredith Shoe Com
pany." "Shoes!" The single word exploded
from Colby's system, whereupon he
burst into laughter.
"I'm afraid I don't get the Joke,"
objected Larimer a little stiffly.
"Oh, my poor head," gasped Colby,
wiping his brimming eyes. "I told
you there was a catch somewhere.
Look yonder by the window."
Hugh glanced across the room.
Three dusky men were engaged in
earnest conversation. Each was re
splendent in gold braid and medals in
quantities sufficient to make a Jang
gling garment for a Salome dancer.
Oft the comic opera stage Lorimer had
never Been more magnificent uniforms.
Lorimer's eyes took in the picture,
wandered downward and suddenly
bulged. His Jaw sagged.
Each of the trio was barefoot!
"Those three gentlemen are the
President, Secretary of State and the
head of the army," explained Colby in
a whisper.
Hugh glared at the bare feet.
"They've got to wear them," be
growled. "But how how In thunder Is
it to be worked?"
"Brace up!" expostulated Colby. "I'll
figure a way out of this. I've a heavy
'score against this eternally revolution
country, and I can think of no better
way to achieve revenge than to induct
its feet into pinchy patent leather boots.
Leave it to me. I'm off to the cable
office to file a dispatch. You go to
By Inrris G.Osbom
Herijy M. Snevily
my rooms. I have one of the four grumbling and chagrined, on the will
bathtubs on this" island. - Strip and
get Into It: you'll find -that the only
with a hti r..w .11 ti.d.
of drinks at the expense of this bare-
foot nation.-. I brlnga,thelr acceptance
of your invitation to dine liere this
evening." - .......
"But I haven't " began Lorimer.
' "Oh, yes, you have." Colby smiled,
blandly. "Listen' to me. . These chaps
understand that you are a great tray-
eler. as well a, an expert on military
affairs, having"
"But I can't tell a musket from a
Maxim gun!"
"Which has nothing to do with the
case at hand. As I was saying, they
are well aware of the fact that at dif
ferent times you have been called upon
by Lord Kitchener, Major-General
Leonard Wood, Albert of Belgium and
the great General Joffre for expert
advice on army affairs.
"I left tnem bibulously discussing
the fact that you had casually re-
marked to me that the armies of Eu-
rope found a tonic for their sense of
humor In the fact that the soldiers of
Tayhl, with their otherwise perfect
emilnmentL wore no shoes"
equipment, wore no
re no
Bart?
meekly
"Is to clinch the bargain." replied
his businesslike friend briskly. "The
Pnl,l,rl ha Sirlirv nf Kiata and
the commander of the army will ar
rive within the hour, still quite mel
low. I have ordered the dinner and
the wine. Draw up a contract for
e bill for our
4000 pairs of shoes, pay the
little party and leave the rest to me.
If you have a dlnnner coat put It on.
If you were ever an athlete you'll
r . , , ..,,., Danirle
em oveT lour shTr fTont . I'm going-
em over your shirt rronu i m going
for a tub. Pieea o
At dinner Colby engineered the con-
versation round to affairs military and
pedal. Unblushlngly Colby . manufac-
tured anecdotes of Hugh's warlike
prowess and his acquaintance with all
the great military figures from Grant
to French. Apparently the rulers of
Tayhl were not hampered with a
working knowledge of history. But the
talk and tho wine did their work.
Before coffee was served, the great
statesmen were vainly endeavoring to
draw their nude extremities' up into
their trouser legs for shame, to hide
their lack of shoes. They wept for
hoes, they clamored for shoes! They
declared the honor of Tayhl hung In
the balance for. the want of brogans.
When It was. made known to them
that Lorimer could supply the foot-
wear. they begged, with tears In their
eyes, to be allowed to sign the con-
tract. When the wabbly signatures
had been fixed to an airtight agree-
ment Hugh was obliged" to dig Into
hls lug-crage and bestow on hla part-
Ing guests three pairs of. his own
shoes for without shoes they refused
to leave. .
Days before the arrival of the shoes
Irate officers besieged Lorimer, de-
manding to know where was their
footgear and when It would arrive.
The soldiers sulked In barracks, refus-
Ing to drill In shameful bare feet. The
whole nation except that part of It
which was In rebellion waited.
way u Keep cooi sua protect yuurocn jou. captaln Bent tne heavy packing oc"a ln ny useless ior war. taiiea tr.o. iy aia noi Know wnat lo of sedition, well moistened with chara-
from insects. S'long!" v ' ashore and winked as he sur- ,n hls flrst bU8'n" venture and Jane make of the situation. And. as If they ragne. among the officers who strsg-
It was after E o'clock In the after- ana wmicea as ne sur eemed further away from hlm tnan had awaited this crucial moment Colby glri into the International ois s
noon when Colby rejoined Lorfmer in to hi. mate that there wa. more ever - . and acteL Snatchlna. .word8 J, WL this that "Ven revellU
W rooms. i : gd gunpowder h.n ..I. l.hr I Co,by 8lra,K htened up abruptly. Hi. that had been dropped by officers, they sounded In the birck. thTmen
"I've fixed It," he announced,-cheer- the boxes. A guard of honor, with feet ,n ear. ca ht tn nd of Pum. knelt behind the men in the trenches, roused themselves to listen .J?'
fully. -You get the glrL J have put wrapped In burlap rags, was drawn drJver. ,ear, at lher ur(rlnr them , fir ,ow A hundred elation, of thHr ocer, who viMd
In two very rough hours on board the UP ," "barf, . first crate anlmala. For lha flr5t- Ume ln ni8 yarda away the enemy pau8ed. Two or 'sketched the ch.racTer and anJtrv if
navy with our three barefoot friends. Pimped onto Tayhitan soil a .a- thp-. oftlcer. nowlln(r. For th! pr!, " 'r "C
of the MeredUh Shoe Company.
The great day dawned. An lncredu-
time was nrea rrom me
culno11 on the bow of the Tayhitan
Davv-
Several days later, tn the .grateful
coolness of the International Club,
Cojby bjamed on his fellow conspir
ator. - v
"To'Mhve put It over on them like
that Is worth the 10 months I've spent
h. op.nM with sincere sati.fac-
tion. "It's a. pity you don't carry
side line of ilk socks."
Their admiration -meeting was
broken by the clumsy entrance of the
commmander-in-chlef of the army.
Stopping before the two Americans,
he drew up one of his aching leather
encased feet and, standing storklike,
saluted.
"I have wonderful news." he sId.
who a lime grimace or agony, -war
ha" been declared by Santo Domingo!"
"Th noes!" cried Colby,
"That's It!" shouted Hugh, taking
h,s cu from the newspaper man.
"They've heard of the shoes and they
"-" goin to try to capture tnem: -
... . ... '
xney will nave to take tnem rrom
wnnuer-in-cniei valiantly.
"One of these wars breaks out every
16 or 20 minutes," Colby explained to
Lorimer.
"We desire that our honored friend"
here the General cautiously shifted
to-his other foot and saluted Lorimer
"iro ih. rrM .in, ... .ft..
the departing troops.' to give us his
expert strategical advice.
f'Mr. Lorimer appreciates the prlvl-
lege." said Colby quickly. "We follow
'PU Immediately, sir."
The General saluted and Ilmjed from
x
After what he explained was a
proper period of waiting Colby led his
friend to tne gayly bedecked band-
stand In the plaza. 'Leaning against
tne railing of the decrepit structure,
arter a fashion dictated by Colby as
QUte tho properone, they awaited the
comina. of tne newly shod troops.
From the barracks at the end of the
draggling street floated the fanfare
of trumpet8. There was a staccato
rattle of drums, but no thin line of
heroes swung Into view. A second and
a third time the summons to arms was
wafted to the ears of the occupants of
the bandstand, yet no soldiers were
forthcoming,
Without vouchsafing any explana-
tlon, Colby slipped under the railing
and rushed up the street between the
lines of natives who waited the ap-
pearance of their shodden heroes. Sud-
denly he reappeared, running at top
speed. At the bandstand he paused
long enough to yell:
"Duck! There's the devil to pay back
there."
Lorimer vaulted the railing and fol-
lowed Into a side street and down to
the cable office. The operator was
away, waiting for the parade. Colby
sank into a chair, then, without seem-
Ing provocation, burst Into laughter,
Lorimer crossed the room and shook
him by the shoulders. .
"What's up?" he demanded. "I
thought we were to review the troops."
"There Isn't troinn to be any re-
The Assistant.
view." chortled nls companion. "The
army isn't going to march a step. Hans
It all. they can't!"
Lorimer groaned. -.
"It's the shoes?"
. "Yes. it's the shoes. The men can't
walk in them, but we've done our work
so well they won't take them ofT. What
Is a war or two. they said, compared
with their shoes? Ob. my eye. If you
could have seen them."
Hugh missed the humor of the sit-
uatlon. The first payment on the con-
tract had, not been made. He had ren-
transported to the front In mule carts.
anemic orui ...... . . - tuvoo wh
. The door to the cable office slammed they broke and dashed back to and be
open and four officers barefooted, but yond the trenches from which they had
limping from the effects of their shoes, o valiantly charged.
entered. ' Facing the two Americans, !The war is over!" announced Colby,
one of them Jabbered furiously for "I told you something would happen If
several moments to the effect that they hung on."
were unoer arrest oy oraer or tne tec-
" "
. "This Is an outrage!" Lorimer shout.
ed. "I demand the protection of the
American Consul!"
"Who is probably playing bridge In
Santiago,' supplemented Colby grimly.
"and you can't send for him. We may
as well go to JaiL"
They were not long In learning their
fate. Walking beside the mule cart.
In which rode the President and t ha
commander-ln'-ch'lef. they listened to a charge of the New York office," mut- came engaged in one of the most pop
tirade from those officials, who from tered Colby, ruefully. "I say. what's ular pastimes in tho torrid zone plot
time to time tenderly . nursed their 1?" ting a revolution!
aching feet. Lorimer passed the open sheet across One morning, a few weeks after the
"You will remain with us in the tb- table and Colby read: "war." Colby entered the royal bed
trenches." concluded the General. "If "My Dear Lorimer You have in part chamber and fiotiped unceremonious
we are defeated the Sin nominiiM win
. .
find you there and nut an -rH vn-
miserable careers.' . If we are vlcto-
iiuub it is uaeiy we win execute you
for treason." This ended the dialogue.
With such cheerful bits of conver-
satlon Colby beguiled the time until
they lrrl"1 at th tront. The Tayhl-
Kneeling lor comfort, were icoop.
ing out trenches with a few nlckaxes.
"m" bayonets and their tin mess-
w iunw ox a mne
tho rmy of San Domino was al-
reaxly Intrenched.
tverytnmg is set according to
th ook." runtd Colby. "A. soon as
fcoth eWea Generals wlU
exhort their men to charge. Whichever
army rouses enough enthusiasm first
will win. It's a foregone conclusion
that neither side will resist a charge. A
,(W volleys while the enemy la atill dls-
tant. then break and run. After that,
peace!"
Presently a San Domlnite officer
mounted a breastworks. placed a
conch shell to his lips and sounded an
Insulting blast. It was the "fresh fish"
call of Tayhl. and the shodden soldiers
writhed under the Insult. Above the
wind in the trees reverberated the
perorations of the Tsyhitan officers.
But the warriors were content to lie
on their backs In the trenches and ad-
mire the scarcely scratched Meredith
shoes, for while victory always at-
tended the army which charged first. It
was equally an axiom that the Tic-
torlous side always suffered what fa-
talitles the war entailed, for the enemy
never left the protection of the
trenches except to flee.
At last the San Dominites poured
over their trenches and catanulted to-
ward the Tayhitan stronghold.
In accordance with accepted custom.
the soldiers of Tayhi discharged two
or three not too accurate volleys. On
rushed the shouting warriors of the
hostile republic The officers of the
Tayhltans began to exhibit signs of
nervous haste. Furtively they meas-
ured the-distance between their lines
and the charging enemy. Those who
had not already discarded their shoes
now did so, but the men In the trenches
refused to be separated from their
newly acquired footwear.
Two hundred yards separated the
combatants.
"Retreat!" shrieked the Tayhitan of-
fleers and immediately set the exam-
pie.
A score or two of the rank and file
leaped to their feet, hobbled a few steps
to the rear, then sank to the. ground,
groaning. The majority of the troops
knew better than to attempt to move.'
The charging line of San Dominites
moment their lines wavered; then
mo oi me victorious troops
.7ZrVr;ZnU:
Itself hoarse as it trundled over the
rough roads in mule carts.
The army filed Into the barracks, and
Hugh and Colby sought the seclusion
' me international uiun.
"Hello!!" exclaimed Lorimer, as he
picked up an envelope addressed tn his
name. "News from home and the
Meredith Shoe Company!" v
"Probably callins; you home to take
fulfilled the reoulrements we place on
, , " . . - , ,
our salesmen In that vou have sold the
goods. You still have a rather lm-
P' mm huuidd w tarry out. ier your
rder, we shipped 4000 pairs of shoes
t th8 wholesale price of three dollars
Per P'r. In addition, we note, your
"Penses to date are a matter of five
"umr" oouars. a ioii oi iweive inou-
nd flva hundred Invested. hen may
we "Pct check?
Even Colby found this a sticker. Far
Into the night they pondered, but ono
ming was certain somenow or otner
they must get that money.
Gradually the officers of the army
filtered back Into the city. News trav-
J through mysterious but lightning
oulck channels even In Tayhl and be-
'ore sunrise even the President had
learned of his victory and steamed
back Into the harbor. He was In that
happy state which knows no time dls-
tlnctlora. and. In company with his
commander-in-chief and the Secretary
ot the Treasury, rolled Into the Interna-
tlonel Club, to find Hugh and Colby
Ml wrestling with the problem of
ways and means.
"We hav decreed that you shall be
advisory commander of the army." an-
nounced the President after Colby had
translated his thanks for Hugh's serv-
Ices to the republic.
"When do you pay for the shoes?"
demanded Hugh with brutal directness.
He was thinking of Jane and the letter,
"But the treasury la depleted. The
recent war, happy as was Its out-
come" began tho President.
"Go to the devil!" snspped Hugh, a
statement that the President failed to
appreciate. "I shall appeal to the
Consul." he told Colby,
"What, again?" grinned that tndl-
vldual. cheerfully. "There Is only one
way to get the money and that is to
take it. I've an Idea, but It will bear
sleeping on. Come to bed."
Toward noon the subject matter
having been dictated by Colby Lorl-
mer dispatched the following remark-
able epistle to John Meredith:
"I expert within a fortnight to be
Gonel t
able to forward you the money. I find,
that there Is but one way to get It.
namely, by obtaining the signature of
the -President of the republic on an or
der against the customs funds. Having
failed to convince the present execu
tive of the desirability of such a step.
I shell follow the sussestlon of mv
Rood friend Colby, seize the office my-
aeif and supply the needed signature.
"HUGH LORIMER."
The rent of tha tv t,a k- ......
night were sprnt In sowing the seeds
had deserted the men in thn trnK--
The fact that these eloquent officers
had fled also seemed to have been con
veniently forgotten.
"hat was more fitting, they asked,
rather thickly, than that the great for
eigner whose shoes had won the day
for Tayhl shnulri ha ra. t,u. .
.V.V" k!" "ZV. A0 A" "
helpless feet, cheered the President and
sank back with relief to a sitting pos-
ture to drink away the holiday
" it Is worthy of mention that Lorimer
ani Colby had no sooner installed
themselves in the royal suite of the
government palace than the erstwhile
President, his former Secretary of the
Treasury and commander-in-chief, in'
the nuiet nf th. it,-r,..i , '
nntn ih -.'.- ... .. .
. ' "--w irniuras
be.
"What's wrong?" he demanded fear-
ruuy; i-m not deposed yet. am I T'
"Not yet." replied Colby, slowly
"but pretty soon unless all the signs'
fall."
"That's the best news I've heard."
cried Lorimer. -prlnt:lnir out of bed.
-t beclnnlu to fear that r,
"1 relieve me of this confounded
r. uui.i nave you stopped to realise
that my expense account for holdlnjr
the presidency lonp enough to jtet
those shoes paid for has been five
thousand dollars? Lord, cheer vp! If.
good news."
"Not so good as you think." retorted
Colby, srloomily. "There's a gunboat
flying the Stars and Stripes out In tho
harbor. Our three friends who lately
occupied this place have been on board
of her for an hour explaining that you
are the worst kind of a crook. It looks
bad for us."
"H'm!" Lorimer became suddenly
serious. "What brought the gunboat
here?"
Colby shrugged his shoulders,
"The natural desire of a fourth-rate
European Consul for publicity." he re-
plied. "Here's the way I figure it. That
Infernal trio we turned out of office
cabled to the Consuls in Santiago. Cer-
tain European officers saw their
chance for grandstand play, reared
P on their hind lrgs and clamored
that this revolution of ours was an at-
tempt to steal the Island for the Cnlted
States. The gunboat left Santiago
three hours later, with orders from
Washington. That part Is straight
enough. I got It from the cable op-
erator. who owes me money. Besides.
my paper has wired for the story.'
"It looks like the last chapter." be
muttered. turning back to Colby.
"Jump out and see what you can learn.
I suppose we shall have to stand up
and receive them In a manner fitting
our stations and then go to JaiL This
,a no ordinary upheaval."
"u' catastrophe." agreed Colby,
swearing softly. "With the Jacklea on
(Conc'.ulfJ on raa 7.)