The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 28, 1905, Page 10

8. §. McClure Co.) [Copyright by the T was an exclusive party of eight. IF&:‘ George Minturn and wife were at the head of it. The others were Mrs. Woeburn, widow of the civil engineer; the Hon. James Blackman. wife and daughter; D’Artgen. a Frenth Marquis, and Brittman of the German Embassy in London. They were all ultra-fashionable in their way. and their little party had net been made up entirely by accident. Sir George and the Honorable James had planned a voyage to the Mediterranean and had invited Mrs. Woeburn as a guest. The Marquis, who had met Miss Blackman a few times in London so- clety, decided that he was in love with her, and determined to take the triv on his own account, to further his in- terests. Brittman did not know whether he was in love with the widow or not. As he had secured leave of absence for four months, X seemed to him that he might as well make a voyage as re- main ashore. But when the steamer reached Gib- raltar the “ring” suddenly found the sand being cut from under its feet bv the undertow. The “undertow” came eboard at that point. He was a tall. solid man, with a merfy eve and an open face and his manner was friend- ly. It was safe to say that he was not the scion of aristocrats, and that he had neither a college diploma nor a knowledge of the rules of social eti-* quette. He had scarcely stowed away his things in a stateroom when he made a bold-faced attempt to break down the “ring.” Sir George was pac- ing the deck with his cigar when the new arrival walked up to him and said: “I'll keep you company, if you don’t mind, captain. I've been waiting here for a week and I'm dog-tired of old Gib. Plenty of guns and redcoats and all that, but do you know I couldn’t find a cocktail in the whole place? Pos- itive fact, sir. Never even heard of one. Think of a town without a cocktail!” Sir George halted. Then he slowly raised his monocle and adjusted it. He stared at the stranger for a long half- minute before he exclaimed: “Sir, are you addressing me?” “By George, but you're a_cool old boy!” mused the other in tones of ad- miratien. “Standing on etiquette, eh? Vell, maybe I was too previous. My nzme's Joslyn—Colonel Joslyn of Da- kotd, U. S. A. I've got a sworn af- fidavit in my trunk from our County ceriff that I've mever been arrested for murder. You've got a name, I suppos ' gasped the Englishman, as he ued to stare. “And I'm making a little pleasure trip a1l by my lonesome,” continued the colonel. © “Always said I would it I ever got money enough. How are you on poker? I haven't played a game in three months and am begin- ning to feel homesick.” Sir George’s hand went up to his glass. The glass was removed from his eye. Hand and glass fell together. Then he faced about and walked off as erect as a West Polnter. Colonel Joslyn had been snubbed. There were five or six people looking on and en- juying the affair and they expected to hear some outburst on the colonel's part. There was none, however. He merely rubbed his hands together and smiled and said to himself: “The old cock is either a jolly or else he’s standing on his dlg because we don’t rent pews In the same church, I'll see him later.” Only half an hour had passed when Celonel Joslyn ran across the Marquis. The .Frenchman had just finished a promenade with Miss Blackman and had received what he felt sure was encouragement. “Going to stop at Malt?” asked the cclonel in his easy-going way, as he extended a cigar in his fingers. The Marquis smiled faintly anpd shrugged his shoulders. He had seen Sir George snub the American and he felt it a quty to follow his example, o “Don’t understand, - eh? Well, it don’t matter much. I was just going to ask if there was anything worth sceing. If you could talk English I'd also ask you who that girl is you were walking about with. I'll be hanged if she isn’t the perfect picturq of the Widow Taylor's daughter Hetty. I've been a little sweet on Hetty for a year or two past and when I first saw you with that girl my heart Jumped into my mouth.” The Marquis bit his lip and smiled and shook his head and walked off, but if he thought he had snubbed Cclonel Joslyn he was mistaken, As he could not speak English and as the cclonel could not speak French, how cculd there have been a snub? It was two or three days before an- other attempt was made to break up the “ring.” Then the colonel met Brittman In the smoking room. The situation was plainer now, and there was a fatherly cwn.ns in the colonel's tone as he said: “Look here, mister, I want to say a word or two for your own good. It's seldom I mix up In anybody’s rows, but I hate to see a.man fighting without a fair show.” “Who you vhas?” asked the attache ‘with considerable dignity, but not half as much as he might have assumed had tu; not the Widow Woeburn refused him an hour before. “Name's Joslyn, of the U. 8. A., and I'm doing a little trotting around alone. I see you belong to that little ‘ring,’ but you are simply throwing your time away.” The attache could not make out the colonel’'s meaning until the case had been gone over again and again. Then he was furious. It was bad enough for a stranger to approach him in that blunt fashion, but for the same man to before mix up his love affair &nd give him fatherly advice was beyond endurance. He wanted to swear and pound on the table-and tell the - colonel what *he thought of him, but his good breeding - MONEY, WATCHES, 2ND RING S EEING DROPPED IT FASSEDY INTO TH P restrained him. He simply sat bolt up- right and glared. The colonel tried to BO on, but even he was nonplused. - By and by the attache got up and walked away. As he moved off his looks and bearing indicated that he had never heard of Colonél Joslyn of Dakota, or of the United States of America. They were as nothing to him. “Was that a snub or wasn't it?” Questioned the man from Dakota gs he relighted his cigar stub. “No, it couldn’t be. As he can't talk English, and I can't talk German, there is no snubbing about it. He has. just taken my words to heart and gone off to pon- der over them.” A day or so Joslyn’ started in again to break up the “ring” The Widow Woeburn chanced to be on deck alone. She happened to drop her handkerchief 2nd the colonel happened to catch it before it blew overboard: As he re- tux‘-’ned it he lifted his hat and said: T gll\ame mighty near losing my hat same ff. Alexandria ?” = g The widow looked at him in aston- ishment and he hastened to introduce himself and add: “You must be lonesome in such.a queer crowd. I've tackled ‘three of the men and I'Il be hanged if I can mble to 'em. I should think they'd want to have a good. time.” Having thus delivered himself he coolly sat down beside the lady and asked her if she had ever been in the +United States, -and If so what she thought of the people. Before she could reply—or administer a snub— the rest of the “ring” .arrived in.a body. They were astounded at the situation. Some smiled and some glared, but it was the Hon. ‘James Blackman who retreated a few paces and beckoned for the colonel to ap- proach.. The two men had.not met “Sir,” began the honorable as the Dakota man drew near, “is there any particular reason why you desire to make the acquaintance of any one of our : 58 el 1o desperate reason,” replied passed and then Coonel the colonel. “I thought some of you might be glad of a poker game or would like to swap yarns to pass away the time and I believe I'd enjoy a talk with the widow over there, but I ain’t desperate about it.” “Then, sir, will you be kind enough to leave us to ourselves?” continued the honorable, “You mean I'm to fight shy of your crowd?” “I mean, sir—I mean that when we desire , your company we’ll give you due notice! Is that plain?” “Colonél, that's as plain as the horns on a steer. I take it that you mean to snub me?” “You are a man of perception, sir.” That closed the interview. Colonel Joslyn had tried to break up the “ring” and had failed. He went off and sat down by himself for a while and felt somewhat hurt and humil- iated, but this feeling did not last long. They were a churlish lot, while he, on the contrary, was a good fel- low. = They - could not help being churlish any more than he could help being good-natured, and he scon de- cided to forgive them. By and by the Monarch reached Alex- andria. The ‘“ring"” drew a long breath and hoped it had seen the last of Col- onel Joslyn. He had been talked over on several occasions, and though it was agreed that he was harmless, he could not be forgiven for his familiarity. ‘When an American who has risen from the dust of cattle trails attempts to ~cross the gulf -separating him from . British' aristocracy his audacity_rhust be resented. The “ring” had planned to g6 up the Nile by steamer. Berths were secured and the steamer was ringing her bell for “all aboard” when Celonel Joslyn walked up the gang- He had also decided to go up the Nile. - “For Gawd’'s sake!” gasped Sir George as he recognized the man. “Parbleu! but ze American!” growled - the Marquis. “Donner und blitzen! but he vhas here!” 'muttered the attache as he tugged at his mustache and gave it a fiercer appearance. “ “Hello, you folk!" shouted the colonel as he reached the deck. “I heard that ;the ‘Nile beat the River all holler as a stream, and I'm going up. ¢ IS . to settle the matter.’ How've you all been since I saw you last?” Eight people stared Into space. Eight heads were held stiffly. If there was a man named Colonel Josliyn of Dakota, U. S. A., it was naught to them. He might be living—he might neyer have lived. It was a cold, cold snlib, but it did not worry the colonel for five minutes. He had never snubbed man or woman in his life. He had even béen careful not to humiliate his dog or his bronco. However, other people were different, and if snubbing was their way he would not quarrel about it. It was a small steamer, with but few passengers, and for the next four days the colonel was snubbed al- most hourly, Whenever a landing was made the exclusives walked dbout by themselves, and the colunel never tried to force himself in. On the steamer he was a leveler of caste; on land he had a limit. Nothing of much consequence happened until they had been afloat several days. Then a breaking down happened to the machinery, and the boat was tied to the bank at a mud- walled village. There was but little to see near at hand, but a mile away was a pile of old ruins. The “ring” started out first, and Colorel Joslyn was the only one who followed. The remainder of the passengers did not think it would pay to tramp over the sands under the hot sun. The man from Dakota did not think much of the ruins after he reach- ed them. He gathered a few souvenirs, "HELLO! and was about to return to the steamer when he heard a cry for help. The peeple of the “ring” were half a mile away when he last saw them. The cry was in a woman's voice, and the col- onel lost no time in answering it. He suddenly made his appearance behind a great mass of debris, to find the party of eight lined up in good order. An ugly looking native with ‘a pistol was holding the victims steady, while his “pal” was passing the hat for con- tributions. In this case they were ex- pected to give liberally if not cheer- fully. Money, watches and rings were being dropped into the hat as it passed. “Hello! A hold-up, eh!” exclaimed the colonel as he came to a halt. “Well, ‘ that's next to poker, and I'll take a hand!” The man with the pistol fired and missed. The next moment he pitched forward unconscious. The other fel- low attempted to run away, but the colonel was on his back in three jumps. He was twisted around, a blow was dealt under his ear, and he too -onscious. befaz;:“:x!ncano!__ cried the four men in chorus; and “Oh, you dear man!™ exclaimed the four women together; but Colonel Josl&;in held up his hand in warning and said: “Pncfet that plunder and make for the steamer. It looks to me as if there was a plot here.” As th‘; “ring” moved off he drew a navy revolver and acted as rear guard. They were not yet clear of the ruins when half a dozen desperate-looking natives were giving chase. None of the four men was armed, but just before reaching the village they came upon a pile of stakes. Each seized one, and the dozen men who swarmed out of the hovels to bar their way did not dare to come to close quarters. The rear was well guarded. There were twenty men slowly crowding up on the American as he reached the bank, and though most of them had muskets or pistols, they feared to open the battle. As the party reachied the sceamer the natives drew off. The captain, mate, engineer, fireman and all the crew were Egyptians. “THey are robbers—river pirates— they will capture the steamer and mur- der us all!™ wailed the captain as he caught the shouts of the retreating na- tives. e “Let's figure a little on fhat,” replied the colonel as he joined the excited group on deck. “Did you ever have a row with pirates.before?” “Never! They are making ready to open fire on us from the first hut!™ “Well, if you've had no éxperience, let me run things for a while. Fighting pirates can't be much worse than riot- ing Indians. The first move is to get the it clear of the bank.” “But we've no steam!™ " . n let her drift. Get out tho: polesland heave her off.” The steamer was carried a hundred feet into the stream before she lost her A ROL-D-UF ER!™ EXCLAIMED THE COLONEL. AS HE CAME TO A HRALTY headway, and then the anchor was dropped. She was within musket range of the huts, but was safe from a sud- ‘den rush. As%oon as the anchor was down everything movable was carried to the starboard side to protect the cabin from bullets, but the place had not \been made reasonably safe when fire was opened. The flying bullets drove the crew to their quarters. and the officers and passengers into the cabin, and for the first time the people of the “ring” had an opportunity to thank the colonel for coming to their rescue. Smiling as he remembered the last snub, he hurriedly replied: “Yes, yes—all right—all right. We've got a jackrabbit for a captain, and it's ten to one the crew are in with the robber gang. I want to pay the engi- neer a visit. Ten minutes later he was back with the chief engineer. He had the native by the neck, and the fellow was white with fear. As he was whirled into a corner and warnedenot to stir on perll of his life, the man from Dakota exe plained: “He has disabled his own engines to lay us up here. His assistant is mak- ing repairs, and the firemen are chuck- ing in coal. Nice little plot, but I think we’ll beat it. Now, then, who has got pistols? The four men of the “ring” had re- volvers in their trunks, and the same was the case with five other male pas- sengers. When the weapons were brought out and loaded two men were sént down into the engine room to act as a tomic on the assistant and his fire- men. About this time the mate began to act queerly and he was hufried Into the corner with the other prisoner and Sir George detailed to guard them. The Hon. Blackman took his place before the quarters of the deck hands, and then, by Colonel Joslyn's directions, the rest of the armed men got such cover as they could and opened fire on the robbers who were skulking along the bank. It was not prize target shooting, but it drove the fellows back and less- ened their fire. It did not take fifteen minutes to fix the engines, and when they were pronounced all right there was gteam enough in the boller to go ahead with. But they were not to get out of it so easily. The thieves ashore saw how things were progressing, and they sud- denly ceased their attack and raa to a flatboat lying against the bank above the village. A full score of them jumped in and cast off. If they reached the steamer they were strong enough to carry her hy boarding. There were calls for the crew to get up the anchor, and calls for the captain to take the -pilot house, but neither was responded to. The cyew sulked in their quarters and the captain trembled in the cabin. Colonel Joslyn again came to the res- cue. With a hammer he knocked the shackle pin out of the chain and let tha anchor go, and then going to the pflot house he took the wheel. Bullets fairly rained about him, driving all others to cover, but he was not hit. ‘When- the flatboat was still Aifty feet away the steamer began to move. The robbers had planped to grasp her an- chor chain and swing alongside, and as she headed away from them they remng the air with their flerce sarcasms and concentrated their ‘fire'on the man in the pilot house. Colonel Joslyn hid from view, but it was only for a moment. As soon as the flatboat had drifted past he not only got up, but he called to Sir George, the Honorable the Marquis and all others who could come. In. fifty ‘words he told them his plan. Two min- utes later the steamer was describing & circle. When she had half-completed it, she was headed for the reobbers’ craft. They fired and shouted and used their oars, but she came driving along and struck the flatbeat on. her port quarter *and tore her stern away. As she struck there was a fusillade from the cabin windows. Looking back in the steamer’'s wake, the could not discover a single swimmer. It was a complete annihilation. When he realized this the captain regained his courage, the mate stopped sulking and the engineer begged to be sent about his duties. If there had been a conspiracy it was no leager to be fearcd. After Colonel Josiyn had turned over the command, and things were running smoothly, the “ring” sent for him. The circle opened to let him in as he ar- rived. He was perspiring and he ‘was grimy. He was coatless and hatless and his hair was In a tangle. Sir George cleared his throat and looked half ashamed as he began: “Colonel Joslyn, it may have occurred to you that—that—that this family party, as it were, has not made any great effort to—to—"" “Sir!” interrupted the colonel, as he drew himself up, “are you me?” “Now, then, my dear- fellow, you knov-—ygu see—this company de- sir . “When I desire your company I will give you due notice!" continued the colonel, and looking over the heads of the entire party, he marched off to his :ltatenom to remove the stains of bat- . “For Gawd's sake!” whispered George, as he looked after him, .: then his companions looked at each other in blank astonishment and swal- lowed hard at the bitter pill.