office ever since I left school, sending news over a wire or a
cable, and you have been out in the world, gathering it."

"And now," said Gordon, smiling, and putting his arm around
the other boy's shoulders, "we are going to make news
ourselves."

"There is one thing I want to say to you before you turn in,"
said Stedman. "Before you suggest all these improvements on
Ollypybus, you must remember that he has ruled absolutely here
for twenty years, and that he does not think much of consuls.
He has only seen your predecessor and yourself. He likes you
because you appeared with such dignity, and because of the
presents; but if I were you, I wouldn't suggest these
improvements as coming from yourself."

"I don't understand," said Gordon; "who could they come from?"

"Well," said Stedman, "if you will allow me to advise--and you
see I know these people pretty well--I would have all these
suggestions come from the President direct."

"The President!" exclaimed Gordon; "but how? What does the
President know or care about Opeki? and it would take so
long--oh, I see, the cable. Is that what you have been
doing?" he asked.

"Well, only once," said Stedman, guiltily; "that was when he
wanted to turn me out of the consul's office, and I had a
cable that very afternoon, from the President, ordering me to