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and her absence naturally formed the staple topic of conversation。 Digger
after digger arrived； threw himself down； and joined in the general
wonderment as to why Miss Mary wasn't there； and at last some one
hazarded a suggestion that she 〃must be asleep。〃 There was a general
epidemic of noisy coughing for a full minute； and then silence for another；
but no sound from within the hut。
〃Perhaps she's ill；〃 was the next surmise。
After the etiquette to be followed had been strictly discussed； and a
rigid course of procedure set down； the Scholar got up and knocked at the
door。 He received no answer； and so knocked againknocked several
times； in fact； and then rattled the handle vigorously； but without result。
〃Better open it；〃 said a voice。
And he did so； and after looking inside； announced：
〃She's not there。〃
At this moment Dan came up。
〃My ole mar' 's gone；〃 he said； 〃an' she ain't stampeded； neither； but
was stole。 Tote…rope's been untied； an' saddle an' bridle took as well。〃
There was uncomfortable silence； which the Scholar broke by a low；
long…drawn whistle。
〃Boys；〃 said he； 〃let's look inside the safe。〃
The three men who held the keys brought them up； the bolts were shot；
and the massive door swung back。 There was every man's little sack with
his name on it； but somehow or other the sacks looked limper than of yore。
Each one was eagerly clutched and examined； and many a groan and not a
few curses went up on the still night air as it was found that every sack
save Dan's had been relieved of the more valuable part of its contents。
So much heart…breaking labour under the burning sun thrown away for
nothing； the dreary work to commence afresh； almost from the beginning！
Had the thief been any ordinary one； the denunciation would have been
unbounded； but no one lifted his tongue very loudly against Mary
Musgrave。 Yet mounted men were despatched on the three trails to bring
back the booty if possible； and the rest moved dejectedly toward their old
club。 The greasy Jew did not attempt to conceal his exultation。 He served
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his customers with his wicked old face glowing with smiles； and when a
moment's breathing…time came he observed：
〃We all 'az hour lettle surbrizes in dis wairld； an' I most confaiss I am
asdonished myself to lairn that Mess Mosgrave is a thief〃 But here a
crashing among the glassware announced that Tommy Dartmoor had
begun shooting with his left hand； and Herr Gustave sputtered out from
behind the fingers he held before his face； 〃Ach Gott！ I say nozzing
more！〃
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STORIES
GREGORIO
BY PERCY HEMINGWAY
I AT THE PARADISO
The Cafe Paradiso was full of people； for the inhabitants of Alexandria
had dined； and the opera season was over。 The seats at every table were
occupied； and the fumes of smoke from a hundred cigars partly hid the
ladies of the orchestra。 As the waiters pushed aside the swing…doors of the
buffet and staggered into the salon with whisky； absinthe； and coffee； the
click of billiard…balls was heard。 The windows facing the sea were wide
open； for the heat was intense； and the murmur of the waves mingled with
the plaintive voices of the violins。
Seated by a table at the far end of the hall； Gregorio Livadas hummed
softly an accompaniment to Suppe's 〃Poete et Paysan；〃 puffing from time
to time a cloudlet of blue smoke from his mouth。 When the music ceased
he joined in the applause； leaning back happily in his chair as the
musicians prepared to repeat the last movement。 Meanwhile his eyes
wandered idly over the faces of his neighbors。
When the last chord was struck he saw the women hurry down from
the platform and rush toward the tables where their acquaintances sat。 He
heard them demand beer and coffee； and they drank eagerly； for fiddling in
that heat was thirsty work。 He watched the weary waiters hastening from
table to table； and he heard the voices around him grow more animated
and the laughter more frequent。 One man was fastening a spray of flowers
on the ample bosom of the flautiste； while another sipped the brown lager
from the glass of the big drum； and the old wife of the conductor left her
triangle and cymbals to beg some roses from an Arab flower…girl。 Truly
the world was enjoying itself； and Gregorio smiled dreamily； for the sight
of so much gaiety pleased him。 He wished one of the women would come
and talk to him； he would have liked to chat with the fair…haired girl who
played the first violin so well。 He began to wonder why she preferred that
ugly Englishman with his red face and bald head。 He caught snatches of
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their conversation。 Bah！ how uninteresting it was！ for they could barely
understand each other。 What pleasure did she find in listening to his bad
French？ and in her native Hungarian he could not even say； 〃I love。〃 Why
had she not come to him； Gregorio Livadas； who could talk to her well and
would not mumble like an idiot and look red and uncomfortable！ Then he
saw she was drinking champagne； and he sighed。 Ah； yes； these English
were rich； and women only cared for money； they were unable to give up
their luxuries for the sake of a man。
But at this thought Gregorio blushed a little。 After all； there was one
womanthe only woman he ought to think ofwho was not afraid of
hardship for the sake of her husband。 He tried to excuse himself by
arguing that the music had excited him； but he felt a little ashamed； and as
a sop to his not yet quite murdered conscience got up and left the cafe。
When he turned into the Place Mehemet Ali he remembered suddenly
that he had wasted his evening。 It was ten o'clock； too late to set about the
business he had intended。 He was angry with himself now as well as
ashamed。 He wandered up and down the square； looking at the statue of
the great khedive； silhouetted against the moonlight； and cursed at his
misfortunes。
Why should he； Gregorio Livadas； be in need of money？ He had
wo