Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/277

 globe-trotting stunt, and became entangled in some contretemps here, and Tiberius entered from the right wing and performed a thrilling three-dollar rescue. It was nothing to be remembered, especially when one appreciated my patron had filled in his active life doing those sort of things. But the idea sank into Danby's head that Tib was his sword-brother, and occasionally he had written long, solid, stolid letters renewing his sense of appreciation.

"When we were managing the London office of the big show we met him again, just after his marriage to a little, pink-cheeked woman, who always thought of him in capitals. At that time he was busy crating up his household gods, preparatory to moving into his newly purchased home in Burmah, on the banks of the Irrawaddy. I never could understand how a man able to live in Manhattan should choose a site that gave him promise only of being eaten up by a new breed of flies, or of being stung by a serpent with a long Latin name. But Tib was pleased to recall him, and in his hearty way promised Breusy we would drop in for a pipe if we happened to strike his country.

"From Callao to Panama and then on to 'Frisco we ransacked our memories for Indian lore, and by the time we landed on good old American soil, where the fishing was great in '51, we had our plans all perfected. Consequently it required only thirty min-