Mr. Gordon

“ Gordon. To give is more blessed than to receive, you know."
"Sure. I understand that. I get the glory and do all the grand-standing. But you'll have to stand for it, I reckon."
"I'm going to think it over. Then I'll let you know what I can do." She looked at him sharply, a new angle of the situation coming home to her. "You meant to do this from the first, Mr. Gordon."
"Not quite from the first. After you had taken me to your ranch and I had seen how things stood between you and the folks in the valley I did. You've smoked me, ma'am. I'm a born grand-stander." ”

“ Tell us more about Mr. Gordon, Harry.”
“Why, as I was saying, his manner isn’t so polished as Mr. Brand’s. In fact, he is so direct and positive that he seems a little curt, though I’m sure he doesn’t mean to be. He makes you feel that he’s very sincere, too. Mr. Brand seems to draw people to him without making any effort, but Mr. [Pg 157] Gordon is more compelling and something about him makes you take an interest in him and believe in him.”
“He impressed you a good deal, didn’t he, Harry?” said Isabella, looking at her sister thoughtfully. ”

“ Gordon bowed again. “Yes: it was intimated to me that you had some message you would like [32] deciphered, and I have also a letter of introduction from Mr. Burns.”
Here Gordon took the letter of introduction from his pocket and handed it across the table to his host, who opened it genially, as if it were hardly necessary to read what was written within since they already knew so delightfully the man whom it introduced. The duplicate cipher writing in Gordon’s pocket crackled knowingly when he settled his coat about him again, as if it would say, “My time is coming! It is almost here now.” ”

“ General Sir Gerald Graham who, to use his own words, was Gordon's "school-fellow at Woolwich, his comrade in the Crimea and China, and for many years past a more or less regular correspondent," has put on record the following interesting description of the hero, and it should not be forgotten that, excepting his companion, Colonel Donald Stewart, and Mr Power, General Graham was the last Englishman to see General Gordon in this world. ”

“ Gordon's an ostrich. As for you—you remind me of a mud turtle. A turtle don't show nothing but his head, and when it's necessary he can yank that under cover. Gordon don't seem to realize that he sticks up above the underbrush—either that or else he don't care who sees him. He and that woman—"
"Never mind her," exclaimed O'Neil, quickly. "I'm sure you're mistaken."
Mr. Slater grunted once more, then chewed his gum silently, staring mournfully into the twilight. After a moment he inquired:
"Why don't you show these people how to build a railroad, Murray?" ”

“ He really gives more time to the Mission than his business can afford. When we are under strain to make a payment on the building, he and Mr. Wheeler can go to their friends and raise $1000 more readily than the remainder of the Board can raise $100. They ask largely of their friends. The others of us ask for one dollar monthly contributions, and we each receive as we ask. Mr. Gordon's devotion 13cannot better be illustrated than by the following: Mr. Gordon is a most effective singer. I have heard many singing evangelists, but none with a finer pathos of voice than Mr. Gordon's. ”

“ Writing to one of his former colleagues long after Mr. Gladstone says:—
Jan. 10, '90.—In the Gordon case we all, and I rather prominently, [pg 169] must continue to suffer in silence. Gordon was a hero, and a hero of heroes; but we ought to have known that a hero of heroes is not the proper person to give effect at a distant point, and in most difficult circumstances, to the views of ordinary men. ”

“ The dog fought him half way back to the gate, when Bob and Sammy came running up to the rescue of their chum. The dog had caught and torn Frank's sleeve. They beat him off with switches, but the animal was vicious and stubborn, and followed them up.
Just as they got through the gate and slammed it shut, Mr. Dolby appeared on the steps.
"Hi, there; what are you up to?" he shouted.
"I had a message for you, but your dog wouldn't let me in," said Frank.
"What's your message?" asked the old man, surlily.
"My uncle says he will fix up your watch for you as good as new." ”

“ In the drawer of Mr J. D. Campbell, at the office at Storey's Gate of the Chinese Imperial Customs, had been lying for some little time the following telegram for Colonel Gordon from Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector-General of the Department in China:—
"I am directed to invite you here (Peking) . Please come and see for yourself. The opportunity of doing really useful work on a large scale ought not to be lost. Work, position, conditions, can all be arranged with yourself here to your satisfaction. Do take six months' leave and come." ”

“ They trooped into the farm-yard. They were all gathered about the well when an old man came out from the house.
"How'dy, Dick," he said. "Mornin', lads. Hey, lost any of your friends?"
"Have you found any, Mr. Griggs?" asked Dick.
"I have, for a fact," replied the farmer, with a grin, "six of them."
"He means Jed and the others," said Frank.
"I shouldn't wonder," answered Bob. ”

“ After this incident he left London on 29th February for Switzerland, where he took up his residence at Lausanne, visiting en route at Brussels, Mr, afterwards Lord, Vivian, then Minister at the Belgian Court, who had been Consul-General in Egypt during the financial crisis episode. It is pleasant to find that that passage had, in this case, left no ill-feeling behind it on either side, and that Gordon promised to think over the advice Mrs Vivian gave him to get married while he was staying at the Legation. ”

“ HELPING THE HERMIT
Mr. Jessup, with his dog floundering in the snow ahead of him, came toward the boys, who were still stuck in the snowbank, though slowly getting out of it.
"What's the matter?" cried the hunter. "What happened to you? You ought not to go in a place like that!"
"We couldn't help it!" exclaimed Sammy, with a laugh. "We were pushed in!"
"Pushed in?" exclaimed Mr. Jessup. "What in the world do you mean, Sammy?"
"Help us out, and we'll tell you," suggested Frank. "We're tired out trying to wade through the deep snow."
"I guess that's right," admitted Mr. Jessup. ”

“ Herb and Tender Gray did something like an Indian war dance on the front steps. Fred was pummelling Jerry with a will, and Dunk and Fly stood talking with bright eager faces, making gestures with their hands and arms. The Indian, though he smiled with satisfaction, sat quietly and looked on.
"Gee, Dad, you're a brick," exclaimed Herb, slapping his father affectionately on the back.
"I like the enthusiasm of these boys," Hawke told Mr. Phipps, when Herb had joined his companions. "In all my experience I never came across a more promising bunch. There isn't a dullard in the lot." ”

“ After a little conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of Stephens's. I replied that I had. "Well," said he, "did you see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," said he, "didn't you think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. He repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. ”

“ THE END OF CAMP MYSTERY
"Well," said Mr. Jessup slowly, "this may be all clear to you and your nephew, Mr. Addison, but it's like Greek to me. If you wouldn't mind explaining——"
"Of course I'll explain," said Mr. Addison eagerly. ”

“ There was plenty of water and fresh towels and for the next few minutes there was a vigorous splashing and rubbing as the Fairview boys removed the dust of travel.
"Don't they seem nice, kind people?" said Sammy, between rubs. "They make you feel right away as though you'd known them for a long time."
"Mother said we'd feel at home the minute we got here," answered George.
"She thinks there's nobody like Mr. and Mrs. Claxton," put in Frank.
"It certainly looks as if we were going to have a dandy time here," prophesied Bob. ”

“ Blake is sick," said Sammy, slowly, "but I guess we can manage without Mr. Jessup. We sure can get up a good meal. There's plenty of stuff."
"And we'll have roast pheasant and stewed rabbit!" cried Bob, who was fond of eating.
"No, we'd better leave them until Mr. Jessup gets back," suggested Frank. "I don't believe he'd like us to touch his game. He'll probably be back before it gets very late."
"And maybe he'll be hungry too," said Bob. "We'll cook enough to save him some."
"Then let's get right at it!" suggested Sammy. "Those counterfeiters will have to wait," and he laughed. ”

“ Jessup. "That's a human voice. Hello, there!" he cried. "Who are you? What do you want? Has anything happened? Answer!"
"Maybe it's the counterfeiters," whispered Sammy.
The dog was barking excitedly.
"Come here!" commanded Mr. Jessup, and then, as the groan sounded again, he went forward. Parting the bushes he looked ahead and cried out:
"Boys, it's Mr. Addison—the hermit, and he seems to have fallen and hurt himself! Come here and we'll help him!"
The three rushed forward. There on the ground, under the bushes, where there was no snow, lay the old man. ”

“ I fancy the secret room must have been built by the man who put up the old mansion, for his own use."
"I think so," agreed Mr. Jessup. "He was a queer character anyhow. And to think I've been in and out of the old place so much, and never found the secret room!" ”

“ But he's a cowardly brute and jumps at the sight of his own shadow."
"Are there any Indians out this way that ever go on the warpath?" asked Bob.
"Hardly," grinned Mr. Claxton. "The only Indians we ever see in these parts are those that hang around the saloons in the towns doing odd jobs for the sake of a drink."
It was not a very dignified picture of the noble red man, and the boys sighed in spirit. Hank Blair's hope that they would bring him a scalp seemed very far from being realized.
"Do the Chinese ever give you any trouble?" asked Sammy, desperately. ”

“ Fred and Dunk were instructed to hold the tail at the start, and Jerry was to turn the screw that set the machine in motion.
"I'm ready now, any time," said Hawke, with perfect composure.
"Clear away, everybody," commanded Captain Crawford, but it took both him and Mr. Phipps to force the crowd back against the buildings surrounding the parade grounds.
"When I fire, up she goes," laughed Herb, rather nervously, gripping the revolver which he held in his hand. He almost hesitated to fire the shot that should decide the fate of their earnest labors. ”

“ He found the whole Boy Scout crew gathered about the Skyrocket, having given up a perfectly wonderful fishing trip to guard the airship. Jerry quickly told the story of the morning's events to Phil, interrupted at every other sentence by the rest of the excited Scouts. The whole affair appealed to their imaginations, and when he came to the proposition he had made Mr. Fulton, there was no doubt of their backing up his offer.
"Let's get busy!" shouted Dick Garrett, Assistant Patrol Leader. "We ought to be all ready to move across by the time Mr. Fulton gets here." ”

“ He unfolded it and exclaimed:
"Why! it's a check—a check for ten dollars, and it's for Mr. Dolby! He must have dropped it."
"Say! This is just the thing!" cried Frank, with ready wit. "Let's run and give it to him. ”

“ They went on for half a mile, when Bob, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped, and called out:
"There's somebody moving over there!"
"Over where?" asked Sammy.
"There," answered Bob, pointing to a clump of trees, at the foot of which was a bank of snow. "I just saw a man."
"Maybe it's Mr. Jessup," spoke Frank.
"I hope so," murmured Sammy. "I'd like to get after those men who live in the secret room."
And then, as the boys watched, the figure of an old man came out from a clump of bushes. ”

“ Holding the aged man up in one arm, the young man managed to get some of the hot coffee down his throat. It did good at once, for Mr. Addison opened his eyes, looked strangely about him, gazed in seeming wonder at the boys, and then looked at the young man who was supporting him. ”

“ He saw a young man standing there—a young man he had never seen before, as far as he knew. The stranger's face was a pleasant one, and he smiled at the boy.
"Well," said the visitor, "I don't know you, and it's rather odd to see Mr. Addison having company. Is he in?" ”

“ My spirit but speaks to thee.'
Wringing her hands, tearing her hair,
His lady she was seen,
And thus addressed his servant Gordon,
Where he stood on the green.
'O wae be to you, George Gordon!
An ill death may you die! ”

“ His hatred, tantalised by the possibility, took a renewed life and sent the blood spinning through his veins like fire. He forgot the cold in his limbs, and the ice on the rocks, and clambered up in a reckless fury.
Meanwhile the mist was thickening continually, and by the time Gordon had completed his ascent and reached the point from which he had to diverge along the cliff's face, the night had fallen pitch-dark. He stood still for a moment, with his head bent forward, listening eagerly for a sound. Was he too late? ”

“ He wondered if he should have enforced secrecy upon Aaron. He was still undecided when the Japanese gong sounded, and he went out to breakfast. Clemency was looking worn and ill. Somehow the sight of her piteous little face decided James. He thought how easily an athletic man could climb up one of those piazza posts, which was, moreover, encircled by a strong old vine which might almost serve as ladder. He made up his mind to tell Doctor Gordon, and he did tell him when they were out upon their rounds, tilting and sliding along the drifted country roads in an old sleigh. ”