,the ,face and the ,mask ,,by ,,robert ,,barr ,illustration3 ,,the ,,girl ,,kissed ,,the ,,tips ,,of ,,her ,,fingers4 ,,the ,,hon4 ,,william ,e4 ,,quinby 7,united ,states ,minister to the ,netherlands7 ,,has ,,helped ,,so ,,many ,,unknown ,,literary ,,aspirants ,,that ,,he ,,can ,,hardly ,,have ,,hoped ,,to ,,escape ,,the ,,dedication ,,to ,,him ,,of ,a ,,book ,,by ,,at ,,least ,,one ,,of ,,them ,,contents4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,,the ,,woman ,,of ,,stone ,,ii4 ,,the ,,chemistry ,,of ,,anarchy ,,iii4 ,,the ,,fear ,,of ,,it ,,iv4 ,,the ,,metamorphoses ,,of ,,johnson ,v4 ,,the ,,reclamation ,,of ,,joe ,,hollends ,,vi4 ,,the ,,type-,,written ,,letter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,doom ,,of ,,london ,,viii4 ,,the ,,predicament ,,of ,,de ,,plonville ,,ix4 ,a ,,new ,,explosive ,x4 ,,the ,,great ,,pegram ,,mystery ,,xi4 ,,death ,,cometh ,,soon ,,or ,,late ,,xii4 ,,high ,,stakes ,,xiii4 ,,where ,,ignorance ,,is ,,bliss ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,departure ,,of ,,cub ,,mclean ,,xv4 ,,old ,,number ,,eighty-,,six ,,xvi4 ,,playing ,,with ,,marked ,,cards ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,bruiser',s ,,courtship ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,raid ,,on ,,mellish ,,xix4 ,,striking ,,back ,,xx4 ,,crandall',s ,,choice ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,failure ,,of ,,bradley ,,xxii4 ,,ringamy',s ,,convert ,,xxiii4 ,a ,,slippery ,,customer ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,sixth ,,bench ,illustration ,the ,personal ,conductor3 ,it is a statue of no importance whatever4 ,the ,personally ,conducted3 ,yes1 but what does it mean8 ,the ,personal ,conductor3 ,i don't suppose it means anything in particular4 ,it is not by any well-known artist and the guidebooks say nothing about it4 ,the ,personally ,conducted3 ,perhaps the sculptor intended to typify life2 the tragic face representing one side of existence and the comic mask another4 ,the ,personal ,conductor3 ,very likely4 ,this way to the ,louvre1 if you please4 ,,the ,,woman ,,of ,,stone4 ,lurine1 was pretty1 petite1 and eighteen4 ,she had a nice situation at the ,pharmacie de ,siam1 in the ,rue ,st4 ,honor4 ,she had no one dependent upon her1 and all the money she earned was her own4 ,her dress was of cheap material perhaps1 but it was cut and fitted with that daintiness of perfection which seems to be the natural gift of the ,parisienne1 so that one never thought of the cheapness1 but admired only the effect1 which was charming4 ,she was book-keeper and general assistant at the ,pharmacie1 and had a little room of her own across the ,seine1 in the ,rue de ,lille4 ,she crossed the river twice every day--once in the morning when the sun was shining1 and again at night when the radiant lights along the river's bank glittered like jewels in a long necklace4 ,she had her little walk through the ,gardens of the ,tuileries every morning after crossing the ,pont ,royal1 but she did not return through the gardens in the evening1 for a park in the morning is a different thing to a park at night4 ,on her return she always walked along the ,rue de ,tuileries until she came to the bridge4 ,her morning ramble through the gardens was a daily delight to her1 for the ,rue de ,lille is narrow1 and not particularly bright1 so it was pleasant to walk beneath the green trees1 to feel the crisp gravel under her feet1 and to see the gleaming white statues in the sunlight1 with the sparkle on the round fountain pond1 by the side of which she sometimes sat4 ,her favorite statue was one of a woman that stood on a pedestal near the ,rue de ,rivoli4 ,the arm was thrown over her head1 and there was a smile on the marble face which was inscrutable4 ,it fascinated the girl as she looked up to it1 and seemed to be the morning greeting to her busy day's work in the city4 ,if no one was in sight1 which was often the case at eight o'clock in the morning1 the girl kissed the tips of her fingers1 and tossed the salute airily up to the statue1 and the woman of stone always smiled back at her the strange mystical smile which seemed to indicate that it knew much more of this world and its ways than did the little ,parisienne who daily gazed up at her4 ,lurine was happy1 as a matter of course1 for was not ,paris always beautiful8 ,did not the sun shine brightly8 ,and was not the air always clear8 ,what more1 then1 could a young girl wish8 ,there was one thing which was perhaps lacking1 but that at last was supplied2 and then there was not a happier girl in all ,paris than ,lurine4 ,she almost cried it aloud to her favorite statue the next morning1 for it seemed to her that the smile had broadened since she had passed it the morning before1 and she felt as if the woman of stone had guessed the secret of the woman of flesh4 ,lurine had noticed him for several days hovering about the ,pharmacie1 and looking in at her now and then2 she saw it all1 but pretended not to see4 ,he was a handsome young fellow with curly hair1 and hands long1 slender1 and white as if he were not accustomed to doing hard1 manual labor4 ,one night he followed her as far as the bridge1 but she walked rapidly on1 and he did not overtake her4 ,he never entered the ,pharmacie1 but lingered about as if waiting for a chance to speak with her4 ,lurine had no one to confide in but the woman of stone1 and it seemed by her smile that she understood already1 and there was no need to tell her1 that the inevitable young man had come4 ,the next night he followed her quite across the bridge1 and this time ,lurine did not walk so quickly4 ,girls in her position are not supposed to have normal introductions to their lovers1 and are generally dependent upon a haphazard acquaintance1 although that ,lurine did not know4 ,the young man spoke to her on the bridge1 raising his hat from his black head as he did so4 ,good evening6 was all he said to her4 ,she glanced sideways shyly at him1 but did not answer1 and the young man walked on beside her4 ,you come this way every night1 he said4 ,i have been watching you4 ,are you offended8 ,no1 she answered1 almost in a whisper4 ,then may ,i walk with you to your home8 he asked4 ,you may walk with me as far as the corner of the ,rue de ,lille1 she replied4 ,thank you6 said the young fellow1 and together they walked the short distance1 and there he bade her good night1 after asking permission to meet her at the corner of the ,rue ,st4 ,honor1 and walk home with her1 the next night4 ,you must not come to the shop1 she said4 ,i understand1 he replied1 nodding his head in assent to her wishes4 ,he told her his name was ,jean ,duret1 and by-and-by she called him ,jean1 and he called her ,lurine4 ,he never haunted the ,pharmacie now1 but waited for her at the corner1 and one ,sunday he took her for a little excursion on the river1 which she enjoyed exceedingly4 ,thus time went on1 and ,lurine was very happy4 ,the statue smiled its enigmatical smile1 though1 when the sky was overcast1 there seemed to her a subtle warning in the smile4 ,perhaps it was because they had quarrelled the night before4 ,jean had seemed to her harsh and unforgiving4 ,he had asked her if she could not bring him some things from the ,pharmacie1 and gave her a list of three chemicals1 the names of which he had written on a paper4 ,you can easily get them1 he had said2 they are in every ,pharmacie1 and will never be missed4 ,but1 said the girl in horror1 that would be stealing4 ,the young man laughed4 ,how much do they pay you there8 he asked4 ,and when she told him1 he laughed again and said1 ,why1 bless you1 if ,i got so little as that ,i would take something from the shelves every day and sell it4 ,the girl looked at him in amazement1 and he1 angry at her1 turned upon his heel and left her4 ,she leaned her arms upon the parapet of the bridge1 and looked down into the dark water4 ,the river always fascinated her at night1 and she often paused to look at it when crossing the bridge1 shuddering as she did so4 ,she cried a little as she thought of his abrupt departure1 and wondered if she had been too harsh with him4 ,after all1 it was not very much he had asked her to do1 and they did pay her so little at the ,pharmacie4 ,and then perhaps her lover was poor1 and needed the articles he had asked her to get4 ,perhaps he was ill1 and had said nothing4 ,there was a touch on her shoulder4 ,she looked round4 ,jean was standing beside her1 but the frown had not yet disappeared from his brow4 ,give me that paper1 he said1 abruptly4 ,she unclosed her hand1 and he picked the paper from it1 and was turning away4 ,stop6 she said1 ,i will get you what you want1 but ,i will myself put the money in the till for what they cost4 ,he stood there1 looking at her for a moment1 and then said--,lurine1 ,i think you are a little fool4 ,they owe you ever so much more than that4 ,however1 ,i must have the things1 and he gave her back the paper with the caution--,be sure you let no one see that1 and be very certain that you get the right things4 ,he walked with her as far as the corner of the ,rue de ,lille4 ,you are not angry with me8 he asked her before they parted4 ,i would do anything for you1 she whispered1 and then he kissed her good night4 ,she got the chemicals when the proprietor was out1 and tied them up neatly1 as was her habit1 afterwards concealing them in the little basket in which she carried her lunch4 ,the proprietor was a sharp-eyed old lynx1 who looked well after his shop and his pretty little assistant4 ,who has been getting so much chlorate of potash8 he asked1 taking down the jar1 and looking sharply at her4 ,the girl trembled4 ,it is all right1 she said4 ,here is the money in the till4 ,of course1 he said4 ,i did not expect you to give it away for nothing4 ,who bought it8 ,an old man1 replied the girl1 trembling still1 but the proprietor did not notice that--he was counting the money1 and found it right4 ,i was wondering what he wanted with so much of it4 ,if he comes in again look sharply at him1 and be able to describe him to me4 ,it seems suspicious4 ,why it seemed suspicious ,lurine did not know1 but she passed an anxious time until she took the basket in her hand and went to meet her lover at the corner of the ,rue des ,pyramides4 ,his first question was-- ,have you brought me the things8 ,yes1 she answered4 ,will you take them here1 now8 ,not here1 not here1 he replied hurriedly1 and then asked anxiously1 ,did anyone see you take them8 ,no1 but the proprietor knows of the large package1 for he counted the money4 ,what money8 asked ,jean4 ,why1 the money for the things4 ,you didn't think ,i was going to steal them1 did you8 ,the young man laughed1 and drew her into a quiet corner of the ,gardens of the ,tuileries4 ,i will not have time to go with you to the ,rue de ,lille to-night1 he said4 ,but you will come as usual to-morrow night8 she asked1 anxiously4 ,certainly1 certainly4 he replied1 as he rapidly concealed the packages in his pockets4 ,the next night the girl waited patiently for her lover at the corner where they were in the habit of meeting1 but he did not come4 ,she stood under the glaring light of a lamp-post so that he would recognize her at once4 ,many people accosted her as she stood there1 but she answered none1 looking straight before her with clear honest eyes1 and they passed on after a moment's hesitation4 ,at last she saw a man running rapidly down the street1 and as he passed a brilliantly-lighted window she recognized ,jean4 ,he came quickly towards her4 ,here ,i am1 she cried1 running forward4 ,she caught him by the arm1 saying1 ,oh1 ,jean1 what is the matter8 ,he shook her rudely1 and shouted at her--,let me go1 you fool6 ,but she clung to him1 until he raised his fist and struck her squarely in the face4 ,lurine staggered against the wall1 and ,jean ran on4 ,a stalwart man who had spoken to ,lurine a few moments before1 and1 not understanding her silence1 stood in a doorway near watching her1 sprang out when he saw the assault1 and thrust his stick between the feet of the flying man1 flinging him face forward on the pavement4 ,the next instant he placed his foot upon ,jean's neck holding him down as if he were a snake4 ,you villain6 he cried4 ,strike a woman1 would you8 ,jean lay there as if stunned1 and two gens d'armes came pantingly upon the scene4 ,this scoundrel1 said the man1 has just assaulted a woman4 ,i saw him4 ,he has done more than that1 said one of the officers1 grimly1 as if1 after all1 the striking of a woman was but a trivial affair4 ,they secured the young man1 and dragged him with them4 ,the girl came up to them and said1 falteringly-- ,it is all a mistake1 it was an accident4 ,he didn't mean to do it4 ,oh1 he didn't1 and pray how do you know8 asked one of the officers4 ,you little devil1 said ,jean to the girl1 through his clinched teeth1 it's all your fault4 ,the officers hurried him off4 ,i think1 said one1 that we should have arrested the girl2 you heard what she said4 ,yes1 said the other1 but we have enough on our hands now1 if the crowd find out who he is4 ,lurine thought of following them1 but she was so stunned by the words that her lover had said to her1 rather than by the blow he had given her that she turned her steps sadly towards the ,pont ,royal and went to her room4 ,the next morning she did not go through the gardens1 as usual1 to her work1 and when she entered the ,pharmacie de ,siam1 the proprietor cried out1 ,here she is1 the vixen6 ,who would have thought it of her8 ,you wretch1 you stole my drugs to give to that villain6 ,i did not1 said ,lurine1 stoutly4 ,i put the money in the till for them4 ,hear her6 ,she confesses6 said the proprietor4 ,the two concealed officers stepped forward and arrested her where she stood as the accomplice of ,jean ,duret1 who1 the night before1 had flung a bomb in the crowded ,avenue de l',opra4 ,even the prejudiced ,french judges soon saw that the girl was innocent of all evil intent1 and was but the victim of the scoundrel who passed by the name of ,jean ,duret4 ,he was sentenced for life2 she was set free4 ,he had tried to place the blame on her1 like the craven he was1 to shield another woman4 ,this was what cut ,lurine to the heart4 ,she might have tried to find an excuse for his crime1 but she realized that he had never cared for her1 and had but used her as his tool to get possession of the chemicals he dared not buy4 ,in the drizzling rain she walked away from her prison1 penniless1 and broken in body and in spirit4 ,she passed the little ,pharmacie de ,siam1 not daring to enter4 ,she walked in the rain along the ,rue des ,pyramides1 and across the ,rue de ,rivoli1 and into the ,tuileries ,gardens4 ,she had forgotten about her stone woman1 but1 unconsciously her steps were directed to her4 ,she looked up at her statue with amazement1 at first not recognizing it4 ,it was no longer the statue of a smiling woman4 ,the head was thrown back1 the eyes closed4 ,the last mortal agony was on the face4 ,it was a ghastly monument to ,death4 ,the girl was so perplexed by the change in her statue that for the moment she forgot the ruin of her own life4 ,she saw that the smiling face was but a mask1 held in place by the curving of the left arm over it4 ,life1 she realized now1 was made up of tragedy and comedy1 and he who sees but the smiling face1 sees but the half of life4 ,the girl hurried on to the bridge1 sobbing quietly to herself1 and looked down at the grey river water4 ,the passers-by paid no attention to her4 ,why1 she wondered1 had she ever thought the river cold and cruel and merciless8 ,it is the only home of the homeless1 the only lover that does not change4 ,she turned back to the top of the flight of steps which lead down1 to the water's brink4 ,she looked toward the ,tuileries ,gardens1 but she could not see her statue for the trees which intervened4 ,i1 too1 will be a woman of stone1 she said1 as she swiftly descended the steps4 ,,the ,,chemistry ,,of ,,anarchy4 ,it has been said in the ,london papers that the dissolution of the ,soho ,anarchist ,league was caused by want of funds4 ,this is very far from being the case4 ,an ,anarchist ,league has no need for funds and so long as there is money enough to buy beer the ,league is sure of continued existence4 ,the truth about the scattering of the ,soho organization was told me by a young newspaper-man who was chairman at the last meeting4 ,the young man was not an anarchist1 though he had to pretend to be one in the interests of his paper1 and so joined the ,soho ,league1 where he made some fiery speeches that were much applauded4 ,at last ,anarchist news became a drug in the market1 and the editor of the paper young ,marshall ,simkins belonged to1 told him that he would now have to turn his attention to ,parliamentary work1 as he would print no more ,anarchist news in the sheet4 ,one might think that young ,simkins would have been glad to get rid of his anarchist work1 as he had no love for the cause4 ,he was glad to get rid of it1 but he found some difficulty in sending in his resignation4 ,the moment he spoke of resigning1 the members became suspicious of him4 ,he had always been rather better dressed than the others1 and1 besides1 he drank less beer4 ,if a man wishes to be in good standing in the ,league he must not be fastidious as to dress1 and he must be constructed to hold at least a gallon of beer at a sitting4 ,simkins was merely a quart man1 and this would have told against him all along if it had not been for the extra gunpowder he put in his speeches4 ,on several occasions seasoned ,anarchists had gathered about him and begged him to give up his designs on the ,parliament buildings4 ,the older heads claimed that1 desirable as was the obliteration of the ,houses of ,parliament1 the time was not yet ripe for it4 ,england1 they pointed out1 was the only place where ,anarchists could live and talk unmolested1 so1 while they were quite anxious that ,simkins should go and blow up ,vienna1 ,berlin1 or ,paris1 they were not willing for him to begin on ,london4 ,simkins was usually calmed down with much difficulty1 and finally1 after hissing ,cowards6 two or three times under his breath1 he concluded with1 ,oh1 very well1 then1 you know better than ,i do--,i am only a young recruit2 but allow me at least to blow up ,waterloo ,bridge1 or spring a bomb in ,fleet ,street just to show that we are up and doing4 ,but this the ,anarchists would not sanction4 ,if he wanted to blow up bridges1 he could try his hand on those across the ,seine4 ,they had given their word that there would be no explosions in ,london so long as ,england afforded them an asylum4 ,but look at ,trafalgar ,square1 cried ,simkins angrily2 we are not allowed to meet there4 ,who wants to meet there8 said the chairman4 ,it is ever so much more comfortable in these rooms1 and there is no beer in ,trafalgar ,square4 ,yes1 yes1 put in several others2 the time is not yet ripe for it4 ,thus was ,simkins calmed down1 and beer allowed to flow again in tranquillity1 while some foreign ,anarchist1 who was not allowed to set foot in his native country1 would get up and harangue the crowd in broken ,english and tell them what great things would yet be done by dynamite4 ,but when ,simkins sent in his resignation a change came over their feelings towards him1 and he saw at once that he was a marked man4 ,the chairman1 in a whisper1 advised him to withdraw his resignation4 ,so ,simkins1 who was a shrewd young fellow1 understanding the temper of the assembly1 arose and said3-- ,i have no desire to resign1 but you do nothing except talk1 and ,i want to belong to an ,anarchist ,society that acts4 ,he stayed away from the next meeting1 and tried to drop them in that way1 but a committee from the ,league called upon him at his lodgings1 and his landlady thought that young ,simkins had got into bad ways when he had such evil-looking men visiting him4 ,simkins was in a dilemma1 and could not make up his mind what to do4 ,the ,anarchists apparently were not to be shaken off4 ,he applied to his editor for advice on the situation1 but that good man could think of no way out of the trouble4 ,you ought to have known better1 he said1 than to mix up with such people4 ,but how was ,i to get the news8 asked ,simkins1 with some indignation4 ,the editor shrugged his shoulders4 ,that was not his part of the business2 and if the ,anarchists chose to make things uncomfortable for the young man1 he could not help it4 ,simkins' fellow-lodger1 a student who was studying chemistry in ,london1 noticed that the reporter was becoming gaunt with anxiety4 ,simkins1 said ,sedlitz to him one morning1 you are haggard and careworn3 what is the matter with you8 ,are you in love1 or is it merely debt that is bothering you8 ,neither1 replied ,simkins4 ,then cheer up1 said ,sedlitz4 ,if one or the other is not interfering with you1 anything else is easily remedied4 ,i am not so sure of that1 rejoined ,simkins2 and then he sat down and told his friend just what was troubling him4 ,ah1 said ,sedlitz1 that accounts for it4 ,there has been an unkempt ruffian marching up and down watching this house4 ,they are on your track1 ,simkins1 my boy1 and when they discover that you are a reporter1 and therefore necessarily a traitor1 you will be nabbed some dark night4 ,well1 that's encouraging1 said ,simkins1 with his head in his hands4 ,are these ,anarchists brave men1 and would they risk their lives in any undertaking8 asked ,sedlitz4 ,oh1 ,i don't know4 ,they talk enough1 but ,i don't know what they would do4 ,they are quite capable1 though1 of tripping me up in a dark lane4 ,look here1 said ,sedlitz1 suppose you let me try a plan4 ,let me give them a lecture on the ,chemistry of ,anarchy4 ,it's a fascinating subject4 ,what good would that do8 ,oh1 wait till you have heard the lecture4 ,if ,i don't make the hair of some of them stand on end1 they are braver men than ,i take them to be4 ,we have a large room in ,clement's ,inn1 where we students meet to try experiments and smoke tobacco4 ,it is half club1 and half a lecture- room4 ,now1 ,i propose to get those ,anarchists in there1 lock the doors1 and tell them something about dynamite and other explosives4 ,you give out that ,i am an ,anarchist from ,america4 ,tell them that the doors will be locked to prevent police interference1 and that there will be a barrel of beer4 ,you can introduce me as a man from ,america1 where they know as much about ,anarchism in ten minutes as they do here in ten years4 ,tell them that ,i have spent my life in the study of explosives4 ,i will have to make-up a little1 but you know that ,i am a very good amateur actor1 and ,i don't think there will be any trouble about that4 ,at the last you must tell them that you have an appointment and will leave me to amuse them for a couple of hours4 ,but ,i don't see what good it is all going to do1 though ,i am desperate1 said ,simkins1 and willing to try anything4 ,i have thought some of firing a bomb off myself at an ,anarchist meeting4 ,when the ,friday night of meeting arrived the large hall in ,clement's ,inn was filled to the doors4 ,those assembled there saw a platform at one end of the apartment1 and a door that led from it to a room at the back of the hall4 ,a table was on the platform1 and boxes1 chemical apparatus1 and other scientific-looking paraphernalia were on it4 ,at the hour of eight young ,simkins appeared before the table alone4 ,fellow ,anarchists1 he said1 you are well aware that ,i am tired of the great amount of talk we indulge in1 and the little action which follows it4 ,i have been fortunate enough to secure the co-operation of an ,anarchist from ,america1 who will tell you something of the cause there4 ,we have had the doors locked1 and those who keep the keys are now down at the entrance of the ,inn1 so that if a fire should occur1 they can quickly come and let us out4 ,there is no great danger of fire1 however1 but the interruption of the police must be guarded against very carefully4 ,the windows1 as you see1 are shuttered and barred1 and no ray of light can penetrate from this room outside4 ,until the lecture is over no one can leave the room1 and by the same token no one can enter it1 which is more to the purpose4 ,my friend1 ,professor ,josiah ,p4 ,slivers1 has devoted his life to the ,chemistry of ,anarchy1 which is the title of this lecture4 ,he will tell you of some important discoveries1 which are now to be made known for the first time4 ,i regret to say that the ,professor is not in a very good state of health1 because the line of life which he has adopted has its drawbacks4 ,his left eye has been blown away by a premature explosion during his experiments4 ,his right leg is also permanently disabled4 ,his left arm1 as you will notice1 is in a sling1 having been injured by a little disaster in his workshop since he came to ,london4 ,he is a man1 as you will see1 devoted body and soul to the cause1 so ,i hope you will listen to him attentively4 ,i regret that ,i am unable to remain with you to-night1 having other duties to perform which are imperative4 ,i will therefore1 if you will permit me1 leave by the back entrance after ,i have introduced the ,professor to you4 ,at this moment the stumping of a wooden leg was heard1 and those in the audience saw appear a man on crutches1 with one arm in a sling and a bandage over an eye1 although he beamed upon them benevolently with the other4 ,fellow ,anarchists1 said ,simkins1 allow me to introduce to you ,professor ,josiah ,p4 ,slivers1 of the ,united ,states4 ,the ,professor bowed and the audience applauded4 ,as soon as the applause began the ,professor held up his unmaimed arm and said1 ,gentlemen1 ,i beg that you will not applaud4 ,it seems the fashion in ,america to address a#aa sorts and conditions of men as ,gentlemen4 ,the ,professor continued1 ,i have here some explosives so sensitive that the slightest vibration will cause them to go off1 and ,i therefore ask you to listen in silence to what ,i have to say4 ,i must particularly ask you also not to stamp on the floor4 ,before these remarks were concluded ,simkins had slipped out by the back entrance1 and somehow his desertion seemed to have a depressing effect upon the company1 who looked upon the broken-up ,professor with eyes of wonder and apprehension4 ,the ,professor drew towards him one of the boxes and opened the lid4 ,he dipped his one useful hand into the box and1 holding it aloft1 allowed something which looked like wet sawdust to drip through his fingers4 ,that1 gentlemen1 he said1 with an air of the utmost contempt1 is what is known to the world as dynamite4 ,i have nothing at all to say against dynamite4 ,it has1 in its day1 been a very powerful medium through which our opinions have been imparted to a listening world1 but its day is past4 ,it is what the lumbering stage-coach is to the locomotive1 what the letter is to the telegram1 what the sailing-vessel is to the steamship4 ,it will be my pleasant duty to-night to exhibit to you an explosive so powerful and deadly that hereafter1 having seen what it can accomplish1 you will have nothing but derision for such simple and harmless compounds as dynamite and nitro-glycerine4 ,the ,professor looked with kindly sympathy over his audience as he allowed the yellow mixture to percolate slowly through his fingers back into the box again4 ,ever and anon he took up a fresh handful and repeated the action4 ,the ,anarchists in the audience exchanged uneasy glances one with the other4 ,yet1 continued the ,professor1 it will be useful for us to consider this substance for a few moments1 if but for the purpose of comparison4 ,here1 he said1 diving his hand into another box and bringing up before their gaze a yellow brick1 is dynamite in a compressed form4 ,there is enough here to wreck all this part of ,london1 were it exploded4 ,this simple brick would lay ,st4 ,paul's ,cathedral in ruins1 so1 however antiquated dynamite may become1 we must always look upon it with respect1 just as we look upon reformers of centuries ago who perished for their opinions1 even though their opinions were far behind what ours are now4 ,i shall take the liberty of performing some experiments with this block of dynamite4 ,saying which the ,professor1 with his free arm1 flung the block of dynamite far down the aisle1 where it fell on the floor with a sickening thud4 ,the audience sprang from their seats and tumbled back one over the other4 ,a wild shriek went up into the air1 but the ,professor gazed placidly on the troubled mob below him with a superior smile on his face4 ,i beg you to seat yourselves1 he said1 and for reasons which ,i have already explained1 ,i trust that you will not applaud any of my remarks4 ,you have just now portrayed one of the popular superstitions about dynamite1 and you show by your actions how necessary a lecture of this sort is in order that you may comprehend thoroughly the substance with which you have to deal4 ,that brick is perfectly harmless1 because it is frozen4 ,dynamite in its frozen state will not explode--a fact well understood by miners and all those who have to work with it1 and who1 as a rule1 generally prefer to blow themselves to pieces trying to thaw the substance before a fire4 ,will you kindly bring that brick back to me1 before it thaws out in the heated atmosphere of this room8 ,one of the men stepped gingerly forward and picked up the brick1 holding it far from his body1 as he tip-toed up to the platform1 where he laid it down carefully on the desk before the ,professor4 ,thank you1 said the ,professor1 blandly4 ,the man drew a long breath of relief as he went back to his seat4 ,that is frozen dynamite1 continued the ,professor1 and is1 as ,i have said1 practically harmless4 ,now1 it will be my pleasure to perform two startling experiments with the unfrozen substance1 and with that he picked up a handful of the wet sawdust and flung it on a small iron anvil that stood on the table4 ,you will enjoy these experiments1 he said1 because it will show you with what ease dynamite may be handled4 ,it is a popular error that concussion will cause dynamite to explode4 ,there is enough dynamite here to blow up this hall and to send into oblivion every person in it1 yet you will see whether or not concussion will explode it4 ,the ,professor seized a hammer and struck the substance on the anvil two or three sharp blows1 while those in front of him scrambled wildly back over their comrades1 with hair standing on end4 ,the ,professor ceased his pounding and gazed reproachfully at them2 then something on the anvil appeared to catch his eye4 ,he bent over it and looked critically on the surface of the iron4 ,drawing himself up to his full height again1 he said1 ,i was about to reproach you for what might have appeared to any other man as evidence of fear1 but ,i see my mistake4 ,i came very near making a disastrous error4 ,i have myself suffered from time to time from similar errors4 ,i notice upon the anvil a small spot of grease2 if my hammer had happened to strike that spot you would all now be writhing in your death-agonies under the ruins of this building4 ,nevertheless1 the lesson is not without its value4 ,that spot of grease is free nitro- glycerine that has oozed out from the dynamite4 ,therein rests1 perhaps1 the only danger in handling dynamite4 ,as ,i have shown you1 you can smash up dynamite on an anvil without danger1 but if a hammer happened to strike a spot of free nitroglycerine it would explode in a moment4 ,i beg to apologize to you for my momentary neglect4 ,a man rose up in the middle of the hall1 and it was some little time before he could command voice enough to speak1 for he was shaking as if from palsy4 ,at last he said1 after he had moistened his lips several times3-- ,professor1 we are quite willing to take your word about the explosive4 ,i think ,i speak for all my comrades here4 ,we have no doubt at all about your learning1 and would much prefer to hear from your own lips what you have to say on the subject1 and not have you waste any more valuable time with experiments4 ,i have not consulted with my comrades before speaking1 but ,i think ,i voice the sense of the meeting4 ,cries of ,you do1 you do1 came from all parts of the hall4 ,the ,professor once more beamed upon them benevolently4 ,your confidence in me is indeed touching1 he said1 but a chemical lecture without experiments is like a body without a soul4 ,experiment is the soul of research4 ,in chemistry we must take nothing for granted4 ,i have shown you how many popular errors have arisen regarding the substance with which we are dealing4 ,it would have been impossible for these errors to have arisen if every man had experimented for himself2 and although ,i thank you for the mark of confidence you have bestowed upon me1 ,i cannot bring myself to deprive you of the pleasure which my experiments will afford you4 ,there is another very common error to the effect that fire will explode dynamite4 ,such1 gentlemen1 is not the case4 ,the ,professor struck a match on his trousers-leg and lighted the substance on the anvil4 ,it burnt with a pale bluish flame1 and the ,professor gazed around triumphantly at his fellow ,anarchists4 ,while the shuddering audience watched with intense fascination the pale blue flame the ,professor suddenly stooped over and blew it out4 ,straightening himself once more he said1 ,again ,i must apologize to you1 for again ,i have forgotten the small spot of grease4 ,if the flame had reached the spot of nitro-glycerine it would have exploded1 as you all know4 ,when a man has his thoughts concentrated on one subject he is apt to forget something else4 ,i shall make no more experiments with dynamite4 ,here1 ,john1 he said to the trembling attendant1 take this box away1 and move it carefully1 for ,i see that the nitro-glycerine is oozing out4 ,put it as tenderly down in the next room as if it were a box of eggs4 ,as the box disappeared there was a simultaneous long-drawn sigh of relief from the audience4 ,now1 gentlemen1 said the ,professor1 we come to the subject that ought to occupy the minds of all thoughtful men4 ,he smoothed his hair complacently with the palm of his practicable hand1 and smiled genially around him4 ,the substance that ,i am about to tell you of is my own invention1 and compares with dynamite as prussic acid does with new milk as a beverage4 ,the ,professor dipped his fingers in his vest pocket and drew out what looked like a box of pills4 ,taking one pill out he placed it upon the anvil and as he tip-toed back he smiled on it with a smile of infinite tenderness4 ,before ,i begin on this subject ,i want to warn you once more that if any man as much as stamps upon the floor1 or moves about except on tip-toe this substance will explode and will lay ,london from here to ,charing ,cross in one mass of indistinguishable ruins4 ,i have spent ten years of my life in completing this invention4 ,and these pills1 worth a million a box1 will cure all ills to which the flesh is heir4 ,john1 he said1 turning to his attendant1 bring me a basin of water6 ,the basin of water was placed gingerly upon the table1 and the ,professor emptied all the pills into it1 picking up also the one that was on the anvil and putting it with the others4 ,now1 he said1 with a deep sigh1 we can breathe easier4 ,a man can put one of these pills in a little vial of water1 place the vial in his vest-pocket1 go to ,trafalgar ,square1 take the pill from the vial1 throw it in the middle of the ,square1 and it will shatter everything within the four-mile radius1 he himself having the glorious privilege of suffering instant martyrdom for the cause4 ,people have told me that this is a drawback to my invention1 but ,i am inclined to differ with them4 ,the one who uses this must make up his mind to share the fate of those around him4 ,i claim that this is the crowning glory of my invention4 ,it puts to instant test our interest in the great cause4 ,john1 bring in very carefully that machine with the electric-wire attachment from the next room4 ,the machine was placed upon the table4 ,this1 said the ,professor1 holding up some invisible object between his thumb and forefinger1 is the finest cambric needle4 ,i will take upon the point of it an invisible portion of the substance ,i speak of4 ,here he carefully picked out a pill from the basin1 and as carefully placed it upon the table1 where he detached an infinitesimal atom of it and held it up on the point of the needle4 ,this particle1 he said1 is so small that it cannot be seen except with the aid of a microscope4 ,i will now place needle and all on the machine and touch it off with electric current2 and as his hand hovered over the push-button there were cries of ,stop6 stop6 but the finger descended1 and instantly there was a terrific explosion4 ,the very foundation seemed shaken1 and a dense cloud of smoke rolled over the heads of the audience4 ,as the ,professor became visible through the thinning smoke1 he looked around for his audience4 ,every man was under the benches1 and groans came from all parts of the hall4 ,i hope1 said the ,professor1 in anxious tones1 that no one has been hurt4 ,i am afraid that ,i took up too much of the substance on the point of the needle1 but it will enable you to imagine the effect of a larger quantity4 ,pray seat yourselves again4 ,this is my last experiment4 ,as the audience again seated itself1 another mutual sigh ascended to the roof4 ,the ,professor drew the chairman's chair towards him and sat down1 wiping his grimy brow4 ,a man instantly arose and said1 ,i move a vote of thanks to ,professor ,slivers for the interesting---- ,the ,professor raised his hand4 ,one moment1 he said1 ,i have not quite finished4 ,i have a proposal to make to you4 ,you see that cloud of smoke hovering over our heads8 ,in twenty minutes that smoke will percolate down through the atmosphere4 ,i have told you but half of the benefits of this terrific explosive4 ,when that smoke mixes with the atmosphere of the room it becomes a deadly poison4 ,we all can live here for the next nineteen minutes in perfect safety1 then at the first breath we draw we expire instantly4 ,it is a lovely death4 ,there is no pain1 no contortion of the countenance1 but we will be found here in the morning stark and stiff in our seats4 ,i propose1 gentlemen1 that we teach ,london the great lesson it so much needs4 ,no cause is without its martyrs4 ,let us be the martyrs of the great religion of ,anarchy4 ,i have left in my room papers telling just how and why we died4 ,at midnight these sheets will be distributed to all the newspapers of ,london1 and to-morrow the world will ring with our heroic names4 ,i will now put the motion4 ,all in favor of this signify it by the usual upraising of the right hand4 ,the ,professor's own right hand was the only one that was raised4 ,now all of a contrary opinion1 said the ,professor1 and at once every hand in the audience went up4 ,the noes have it1 said the ,professor1 but he did not seem to feel badly about it4 ,gentlemen1 he continued1 ,i see that you have guessed my second proposal1 as ,i imagined you would1 and though there will be no newspapers in ,london to-morrow to chronicle the fact1 yet the newspapers of the rest of the world will tell of the destruction of this wicked city4 ,i see by your looks that you are with me in this1 my second proposal1 which is the most striking thing ever planned1 and is that we explode the whole of these pills in the basin4 ,to make sure of this1 ,i have sent to an agent in ,manchester the full account of how it was done1 and the resolutions brought forward at this meeting1 and which doubtless you will accept4 ,gentlemen1 all in favor of the instant destruction of ,london signify it in the usual manner4 ,mr4 ,professor1 said the man who had spoken previously1 before you put that resolution ,i would like to move an amendment4 ,this is a very serious proposal1 and should not be lightly undertaken4 ,i move as an amendment1 therefore1 that we adjourn this meeting to our rooms at ,soho1 and do the exploding there4 ,i have some little business that must be settled before this grand project is put in motion4 ,the ,professor then said1 ,gentlemen1 the amendment takes precedence4 ,it is moved that this meeting be adjourned1 so that you may consider the project at your club-rooms in ,soho4 ,i second that amendment1 said fifteen of the audience rising together to their feet4 ,in the absence of the regular chairman1 said the ,professor1 it is my duty to put the amendment4 ,all in favor of the amendment signify it by raising the right hand4 ,every hand was raised4 ,the amendment1 gentlemen1 is carried4 ,i shall be only too pleased to meet you to-morrow night at your club1 and ,i will bring with me a larger quantity of my explosive4 ,john1 kindly go round and tell the man to unlock the doors4 ,when ,simkins and ,slivers called round the next night at the regular meeting-place of the ,anarchists1 they found no signs of a gathering1 and never since the lecture has the ,soho ,anarchist ,league been known to hold a meeting4 ,the ,club has mysteriously dissolved4 ,,the ,,fear ,,of ,,it4 ,the sea was done with him4 ,he had struggled manfully for his life1 but exhaustion came at last1 and1 realizing the futility of further fighting1 he gave up the battle4 ,the tallest wave1 the king of that roaring tumultuous procession racing from the wreck to the shore1 took him in its relentless grasp1 held him towering for a moment against the sky1 whirled his heels in the air1 dashed him senseless on the sand1 and1 finally1 rolled him over and over1 a helpless bundle1 high up upon the sandy beach4 ,human life seems of little account when we think of the trifles that make toward the extinction or the extension of it4 ,if the wave that bore ,stanford had been a little less tall1 he would have been drawn back into the sea by one that followed4 ,if1 as a helpless bundle1 he had been turned over one time more or one less1 his mouth would have pressed into the sand1 and he would have died4 ,as it was1 he lay on his back with arms outstretched on either side1 and a handful of dissolving sand in one clinched fist4 ,succeeding waves sometimes touched him1 but he lay there unmolested by the sea with his white face turned to the sky4 ,oblivion has no calendar4 ,a moment or an eternity are the same to it4 ,when consciousness slowly returned1 he neither knew nor cared how time had fled4 ,he was not quite sure that he was alive1 but weakness rather than fear kept him from opening his eyes to find out whether the world they would look upon was the world they had last gazed at4 ,his interest1 however1 was speedily stimulated by the sound of the ,english tongue4 ,he was still too much dazed to wonder at it1 and to remember that he was cast away on some unknown island in the ,southern ,seas4 ,but the purport of the words startled him4 ,let us be thankful4 ,he is undoubtedly dead4 ,this was said in a tone of infinite satisfaction4 ,there seemed to be a murmur of pleasure at the announcement from those who were with the speaker4 ,stanford slowly opened his eyes1 wondering what these savages were who rejoiced in the death of an inoffensive stranger cast upon their shores4 ,he saw a group standing around him1 but his attention speedily became concentrated on one face4 ,the owner of it1 he judged1 was not more than nineteen years of age1 and the face--at least so it seemed to ,stanford at the time--was the most beautiful he had ever beheld4 ,there was an expression of sweet gladness upon it until her eyes met his1 then the joy faded from the face1 and a look of dismay took its place4 ,the girl seemed to catch her breath in fear1 and tears filled her eyes4 ,oh1 she cried1 he is going to live4 ,she covered her face with her hands1 and sobbed4 ,stanford closed his eyes wearily4 ,i am evidently insane1 he said to himself4 ,then1 losing faith in the reality of things1 he lost consciousness as well1 and when his senses came to him again he found himself lying on a bed in a clean but scantily furnished room4 ,through an open window came the roar of the sea1 and the thunderous boom of the falling waves brought to his mind the experiences through which he had passed4 ,the wreck and the struggle with the waves he knew to be real1 but the episode on the beach he now believed to have been but a vision resulting from his condition4 ,a door opened noiselessly1 and1 before he knew of anyone's entrance1 a placid-faced nurse stood by his bed and asked him how he was4 ,i don't know4 ,i am at least alive4 ,the nurse sighed1 and cast down her eyes4 ,her lips moved1 but she said nothing4 ,stanford looked at her curiously4 ,a fear crept over him that he was hopelessly crippled for life1 and that death was considered preferable to a maimed existence4 ,he felt wearied1 though not in pain1 but he knew that sometimes the more desperate the hurt1 the less the victim feels it at first4 ,are--are any of my--my bones broken1 do you know8 he asked4 ,no4 ,you are bruised1 but not badly hurt4 ,you will soon recover4 ,ah6 said ,stanford1 with a sigh of relief4 ,by the way1 he added1 with sudden interest1 who was that girl who stood near me as ,i lay on the beach8 ,there were several4 ,no1 there was but one4 ,i mean the girl with the beautiful eyes and a halo of hair like a glorified golden crown on her head4 ,we speak not of our women in words like those1 said the nurse1 severely2 you mean ,ruth1 perhaps1 whose hair is plentiful and yellow4 ,stanford smiled4 ,words matter little1 he said4 ,we must be temperate in speech1 replied the nurse4 ,we may be temperate without1 being teetotal4 ,plentiful and yellow1 indeed6 ,i have had a bad dream concerning those who found me4 ,i thought that they--but it does not matter4 ,she at least is not a myth4 ,do you happen to know if any others were saved8 ,i am thankful to be able to say that every one was drowned4 ,stanford started up with horror in his eyes4 ,the demure nurse1 with sympathetic tones1 bade him not excite himself4 ,he sank back on his pillow4 ,leave the room1 he cried1 feebly1 ,leave me--leave me4 ,he turned his face toward the wall1 while the woman left as silently as she had entered4 ,when she was gone ,stanford slid from the bed1 intending to make his way to the door and fasten it4 ,he feared that these savages1 who wished him dead1 would take measures to kill him when they saw he was going to recover4 ,as he leaned against the bed1 he noticed that the door had no fastening4 ,there was a rude latch1 but neither lock nor bolt4 ,the furniture of the room was of the most meagre description1 clumsily made4 ,he staggered to the open window1 and looked out4 ,the remnants of the disastrous gale blew in upon him and gave him new life1 as it had formerly threatened him with death4 ,he saw that he was in a village of small houses1 each cottage standing in its own plot of ground4 ,it was apparently a village of one street1 and over the roofs of the houses opposite he saw in the distance the white waves of the sea4 ,what astonished him most was a church with its tapering spire at the end of the street--a wooden church such as he had seen in remote ,american settlements4 ,the street was deserted1 and there were no signs of life in the houses4 ,i must have fallen in upon some colony of lunatics1 he said to himself4 ,i wonder to what country these people belong--either to ,england or the ,united ,states1 ,i imagine--yet in all my travels ,i never heard of such a community4 ,there was no mirror in the room1 and it was impossible for him to know how he looked4 ,his clothes were dry and powdered with salt4 ,he arranged them as well as he could1 and slipped out of the house unnoticed4 ,when he reached the outskirts of the village he saw that the inhabitants1 both men and women1 were working in the fields some distance away4 ,coming towards the village was a girl with a water-can in either hand4 ,she was singing as blithely as a lark until she saw ,stanford1 whereupon she paused both in her walk and in her song4 ,stanford1 never a backward man1 advanced1 and was about to greet her when she forestalled him by saying3 ,i am grieved1 indeed1 to see that you have recovered4 ,the young man's speech was frozen on his lip1 and a frown settled off his brow4 ,seeing that he was annoyed1 though why she could not guess1 ,ruth hastened to amend matters by adding3 ,believe me1 what ,i say is true4 ,i am indeed sorry4 ,sorry that ,i live8 ,most heartily am ,i4 ,it is hard to credit such a statement from one so--from you4 ,do not say so4 ,miriam has already charged me with being glad that you were not drowned4 ,it would pain me deeply if you also believed as she does4 ,the girl looked at him with swimming eyes1 and the young man knew not what to answer4 ,finally he said3 ,there is some horrible mistake4 ,i cannot make it out4 ,perhaps our words1 though apparently the same1 have a different meaning4 ,sit down1 ,ruth1 ,i want to ask you some questions4 ,ruth cast a timorous glance towards the workers1 and murmured something about not having much time to spare1 but she placed the water-cans on the ground and sank down on the grass4 ,stanford throwing himself on the sward at her feet1 but1 seeing that she shrank back1 he drew himself further from her1 resting where he might gaze upon her face4 ,ruth's eyes were downcast1 which was necessary1 for she occupied herself in pulling blade after blade of grass1 sometimes weaving them together4 ,stanford had said he wished to question her1 but he apparently forgot his intention1 for he seemed wholly satisfied with merely looking at her4 ,after the silence had lasted for some time1 she lifted her eyes for one brief moment1 and then asked the first question herself4 ,from what land do you come8 ,from ,england4 ,ah6 that also is an island1 is it not8 ,he laughed at the also1 and remembered that he had some questions to ask4 ,yes1 it is an island--also4 ,the sea dashes wrecks on all four sides of it1 but there is no village on its shores so heathenish that if a man is cast upon the beach the inhabitants do not rejoice because he has escaped death4 ,ruth looked at him with amazement in her eyes4 ,is there1 then1 no religion in ,england8 ,religion8 ,england is the most religious country on the face of the earth4 ,there are more cathedrals1 more churches1 more places of worship in ,england than in any other ,state that ,i know of4 ,we send missionaries to all heathenish lands4 ,the ,government1 itself1 supports the ,church4 ,i imagine1 then1 ,i mistook your meaning4 ,i thought from what you said that the people of ,england feared death1 and did not welcome it or rejoice when one of their number died4 ,they do not fear death1 and they do not rejoice when it comes4 ,far from it4 ,from the peer to the beggar1 everyone fights death as long as he can2 the oldest cling to life as eagerly as the youngest4 ,not a man but will spend his last gold piece to ward off the inevitable even for an hour4 ,gold piece--what is that8 ,stanford plunged his hand into his pocket4 ,ah6 he said1 there are some coins left4 ,here is a gold piece4 ,the girl took it1 and looked at it with keen interest4 ,isn't it pretty8 she said1 holding the yellow coin on her pink palm1 and glancing up at him4 ,that is the general opinion4 ,to accumulate coins like that1 men will lie1 and cheat1 and steal--yes1 and work4 ,although they will give their last sovereign to prolong their lives1 yet will they risk life itself to accumulate gold4 ,every business in ,england is formed merely for the gathering together of bits of metal like that in your hand2 huge companies of men are formed so that it may be piled up in greater quantities4 ,the man who has most gold has most power1 and is generally the most respected2 the company which makes most money is the one people are most anxious to belong to4 ,ruth listened to him with wonder and dismay in her eyes4 ,as he talked she shuddered1 and allowed the yellow coin to slip from her hand to the ground4 ,no wonder such a people fears death4 ,do you not fear death8 ,how can we1 when we believe in heaven8 ,but would you not be sorry if someone died whom you loved8 ,how could we be so selfish8 ,would you be sorry if your brother1 or someone you loved1 became possessed of whatever you value in ,england--a large quantity of this gold1 for instance8 ,certainly not4 ,but then you see--well1 it isn't exactly the same thing4 ,if one you care for dies you are separated from him1 and---- ,but only for a short time1 and that gives but another reason for welcoming death4 ,it seems impossible that ,christian people should fear to enter ,heaven4 ,now ,i begin to understand why our forefathers left ,england1 and why our teachers will never tell us anything about the people there4 ,i wonder why missionaries are not sent to ,england to teach them the truth1 and try to civilize the people8 ,that would1 indeed1 be coals to ,newcastle4 ,but there comes one of the workers4 ,it is my father1 cried the girl1 rising4 ,i fear ,i have been loitering4 ,i never did such a thing before4 ,the man who approached was stern of countenance4 ,ruth1 he said1 the workers are athirst4 ,the girl1 without reply1 picked up her pails and departed4 ,i have been receiving1 said the young man1 coloring slightly1 some instruction regarding your belief4 ,i had been puzzled by several remarks ,i had heard1 and wished to make inquiries concerning them4 ,it is more fitting1 said the man1 coldly1 that you should receive instruction from me or from some of the elders than from one of the youngest in the community4 ,when you are so far recovered as to be able to listen to an exposition of our views1 ,i hope to put forth such arguments as will convince you that they are the true views4 ,if it should so happen that my arguments are not convincing1 then ,i must request that you will hold no communication with our younger members4 ,they must not be contaminated by the heresies of the outside world4 ,stanford looked at ,ruth standing beside the village well4 ,sir1 he said1 you underrate the argumentative powers of the younger members4 ,there is a text bearing upon the subject which ,i need not recall to you4 ,i am already convinced4 ,,the ,,metamorphoses ,,of ,,johnson4 ,i was staying for some weeks at a lovely town in the ,tyrol which ,i shall take the liberty of naming ,schwindleburg4 ,i conceal its real title because it charges what is termed a visitors' tax1 and a heavy visitors' tax1 exacting the same from me through the medium of my hotel bill4 ,the town also made me pay for the excellent band that performs morning and afternoon in the ,kurpark4 ,many continental health resorts support themselves by placing a tax upon visitors1 a practice resorted to by no ,english town1 and so ,i regard the imposition as a swindle1 and ,i refuse to advertise any place that practises it4 ,it is true that if you stay in ,schwindleburg less than a week they do not tax you1 but ,i didn't know that1 and the hotel man1 being wise in his own generation1 did not present his bill until a day after the week was out1 so ,i found myself in for the visitors' tax and the music money before ,i was aware of it4 ,thus does a foolish person accumulate wisdom by foreign travel4 ,i stayed on at this picturesque place1 listening to the band every day1 trying to get value for my money4 ,i intended to keep much to myself1 having work to do1 and make no acquaintances1 but ,i fell under the fascination of ,johnson1 thus breaking my rule4 ,what is the use of making a rule if you can't have the pleasure of breaking it8 ,i think the thing that first attracted me to ,johnson was his utter negligence in the matter of his personal appearance4 ,when he stepped down from the hotel 'bus he looked like a semi-respectable tramp4 ,he wore a blue woolen shirt1 with no collar or necktie4 ,he had a slouch hat1 without the usual affectation of a ,tyrolese feather in it4 ,his full beard had evidently not been trimmed for weeks1 and he had one trouser-leg turned up4 ,he had no alpenstock1 and that also was a merit4 ,so ,i said to myself1 ,here is a man free from the conventionalities of society4 ,if ,i become acquainted with anybody it will be with him4 ,i found ,johnson was an ,american from a ,western city named ,chicago1 which ,i had heard of1 and we palled on4 ,he was very fond of music1 and the band in the ,kurpark was a good one1 so we went there together twice a day1 and talked as we walked up and down the gravel paths4 ,he had been everywhere1 and knew his way about2 his conversation was interesting4 ,in about a week ,i had come to love ,johnson1 and ,i think he rather liked me4 ,one day1 as we returned together to the ,hotel ,post1 he held out his hand4 ,i'm off to-morrow1 he said2 off to ,innsbruck4 ,so ,i shall bid you good-bye4 ,i am very glad indeed to have met you4 ,oh1 ,i'm sorry to hear that4 ,i replied4 ,but ,i won't say good-bye now1 ,i'll see you to the station to-morrow4 ,no1 don't do that4 ,i shall be away before you are up4 ,we'll say good- bye here4 ,we did1 and when ,i had breakfast next morning ,i found ,johnson had left by the early train4 ,i wandered around the park that forenoon mourning for ,johnson4 ,the place seemed lonely without him4 ,in the afternoon ,i explored some of the by-paths of the park within hearing distance of the band1 when suddenly1 to my intense surprise1 ,i met my departed friend4 ,hello6 ,johnson1 ,i cried1 ,i thought you left this morning4 ,the man looked at me with no recognition in his face4 ,i beg your pardon1 he said1 my name is ,baumgarten4 ,looking more closely at him ,i at once saw ,i was mistaken4 ,i had been thinking of ,johnson at the time1 which probably accounted for the error4 ,still1 his likeness to ,johnson was remarkable--to ,johnson well groomed4 ,he had neatly-trimmed side-whiskers and moustache1 while ,johnson had a full beard4 ,his round hat was new1 and he wore an irreproachable collar1 and even cuffs4 ,besides this he sported a cane1 and evidently possessed many weaknesses to which ,johnson was superior4 ,i apologized for my mistake1 and was about to walk on when ,baumgarten showed signs of wishing to become acquainted4 ,i have just arrived1 he said1 and know nothing of the place4 ,have you been here long8 ,about two weeks1 ,i answered4 ,ah6 then1 you are a resident as it were4 ,are there any good ascents to be made around here8 ,i have not been informed that there are4 ,i am not a climber myself1 except by funicular railway4 ,i am always content to take other people's figures for the heights4 ,the only use ,i have for a mountain is to look at it4 ,then ,baumgarten launched into a very interesting account of mountain dangers he had passed through4 ,i found him a most entertaining talker1 almost as fascinating as ,johnson himself4 ,he told me he was from ,hanover1 but he had been educated in ,great ,britain1 which accounted for his perfect ,english4 ,what hotel are you at8 he asked1 as the band ceased playing4 ,i am staying at the ,post1 ,i answered4 ,and you8 ,i am at the ,adler4 ,you must come to dine with me some evening1 and ,i will make it even by dining with you4 ,we can thus compare table d'htes4 ,baumgarten improved on acquaintance in spite of his foppishness in dress4 ,i almost forgot ,johnson until one day ,i was reminded of him one day by ,baumgarten saying1 ,i leave to-night for ,innsbruck4 ,innsbruck8 ,why1 that's where ,johnson is4 ,you ought to meet him4 ,he's an awfully good fellow4 ,a little careless about his clothes1 that's all4 ,i should like to meet him4 ,i know no one in ,innsbruck4 ,do you happen to know the name of his hotel8 ,i do not4 ,i don't even know ,johnson's first name4 ,but ,i'll write you a note of introduction on my card1 and if you should come across him1 give him my regards4 ,baumgarten accepted the card with thanks1 and we parted4 ,next day1 being warm1 ,i sat on a bench in the shade listening to the music4 ,now that ,baumgarten had gone1 ,i was meditating on his strange resemblance to ,johnson1 and remembering things4 ,someone sat down beside me1 but ,i paid no attention to him4 ,finally he said3 ,this seems to be a very good band4 ,i started at the sound of his voice1 and looked at him too much astonished to reply4 ,he wore a moustache1 but no whiskers1 and a green ,tyrolese felt hat with a feather in it4 ,an alpenstock leaned against the bench beside him1 its iron point in the gravel4 ,he wore knickerbockers2 in fact1 his whole appearance was that of the conventional mountaineer-tourist4 ,but the voice6 ,and the expression of the eyes6 ,what did you say8 ,i said the band is very good4 ,oh1 yes4 ,quite so4 ,it's expensive1 and it ought to be good4 ,i'm helping to pay for it4 ,by the way1 you arrived this morning1 ,i take it8 ,i came last night4 ,oh1 indeed4 ,and you depart in a few days for ,innsbruck8 ,no1 ,i go to ,salzburg when ,i leave here4 ,and your name isn't ,johnson--or--or ,baumgarten1 by any chance8 ,it is not4 ,you come neither from ,chicago nor ,hanover8 ,i have never been in ,america1 nor do ,i know ,hanover4 ,anything else8 ,nothing else4 ,it's all right4 ,it's none of my business1 of course4 ,what is none of your business8 ,who are you4 ,oh1 there's no secret about that4 ,i am a ,russian4 ,my name is ,katzoff4 ,at least1 these are the first and last syllables of my name4 ,i never use my full name when ,i travel2 it is too complicated4 ,thanks4 ,and how do you account for your perfect ,english8 ,educated in ,england1 ,i presume8 ,baumgarten was4 ,no1 ,i was not4 ,you know we ,russians are reputed to be good linguists4 ,yes1 ,i had forgotten that4 ,we will now return to the point from which we started4 ,the band is excellent1 and it is about to play one of four favorite selections1 ,mr4 ,katzburg4 ,katzoff is the name4 ,as to the selection1 ,i don't know much about music1 although ,i am fond of popular pieces4 ,katzoff and ,i got along very nicely1 although ,i did not seem to like him as well as either ,johnson or ,baumgarten4 ,he left for ,salzburg without bidding me good-bye4 ,missing him one day1 ,i called at the ,angleterre1 and the porter told me he had gone4 ,next day ,i searched for him1 wondering in what garb ,i should find him4 ,i passed him twice as he sat on the bench1 before ,i was sure enough to accost him4 ,the sacrifice of his moustache had made a remarkable difference4 ,his clean-shaven face caused him to look at least ten years younger4 ,he wore a tall silk hat1 and a long black morning coat4 ,i found myself hardly able to withdraw my eyes from the white spats that partially covered his polished boots4 ,he was reading an ,english paper1 and did not observe my scrutiny4 ,i approached him4 ,well1 ,johnson1 ,i said1 this is a lay out4 ,you're ,english this time1 ,i suppose8 ,the man looked up in evident surprise4 ,fumbling around the front of his waistcoat for a moment1 he found a black silk string1 which he pulled1 bringing to his hand a little round disc of glass4 ,this he stuck in one eye1 grimacing slightly to keep it in place1 and so regarded me apparently with some curiosity4 ,my certainty that it was ,johnson wavered for a moment1 but ,i braved it out4 ,that monocle is a triumph1 ,johnson4 ,in combination with the spats it absolutely staggers me4 ,if you had tried that on as ,baumgarten ,i don't know that ,i should have recognized you4 ,johnson1 what's your game8 ,you seem to be laboring under some delusion1 he said at last4 ,my name is not ,johnson4 ,i am ,lord ,somerset ,campbell1 if you care to know4 ,really8 ,oh1 well1 that's all right4 ,i'm the ,duke of ,argyll1 so we must be relatives4 ,blood is thicker than water1 ,campbell4 ,confess4 ,whom have you murdered8 ,i knew1 said his lordship1 slowly1 that the largest lunatic asylum in the ,tyrol is near here1 but ,i was not aware that the patients were allowed to stroll in the ,kurpark4 ,that's all very well1 ,johnson1 but---- ,campbell1 if you please4 ,i don't please1 as it happens4 ,this masquerade has gone on long enough4 ,what's your crime8 ,or are you on the other side of the fence8 ,are you practising the detective business8 ,my dear fellow1 ,i don't know you1 and ,i resent your impertinent curiosity4 ,allow me to wish you good-day4 ,it won't do1 ,johnson1 it has gone too far4 ,you have played on my feelings1 and ,i won't stand it4 ,i'll go to the authorities and relate the circumstances4 ,they are just suspicious enough to---- ,which8 ,the authorities or the circumstances8 asked ,johnson1 sitting down again4 ,both1 my dear boy1 both1 and you know it4 ,now1 ,johnson1 make a clean breast of it1 ,i won't give you away4 ,johnson sighed1 and his glass dropped from his eye4 ,he looked around cautiously4 ,sit down1 he said4 ,then you are ,johnson6 ,i cried1 with some exultation4 ,i thought you weren't very sure1 began ,johnson4 ,however1 it doesn't matter1 but you should be above threatening a man4 ,that was playing it low down4 ,i see you're from ,chicago4 ,go on4 ,it's all on account of this accursed visitors' tax4 ,that ,i decline to pay4 ,i stay just under the week at a hotel1 and then take a 'bus to the station1 and another 'bus to another hotel4 ,of course my mistake was getting acquainted with you4 ,i never suspected you were going to stay here a month4 ,but why didn't you let me know8 ,your misdemeanor is one ,i thoroughly sympathize with4 ,i wouldn't have said anything4 ,johnson shook his head4 ,i took a fellow into my confidence once before4 ,he told it as a dead secret to a friend1 and the friend thought it a good joke1 and related it1 always under oath that it should go no further4 ,the authorities had me arrested before the week was out1 and fined me heavily besides exacting the tax4 ,but doesn't the 'bus fares1 the changing1 and all that amount to as much as the tax8 ,i suppose it does4 ,it isn't the money ,i object to1 it's the principle of the thing4 ,this interview was the last ,i ever had with ,johnson4 ,about a week later ,i read in the ,visitors' ,list that ,lord ,somerset ,campbell1 who had been a guest of the ,victoria 7the swell hotel of the place71 had left ,schwindleburg for ,innsbruck4 ,,the ,,reclamation ,,of ,,joe ,,hollends4 ,the public-houses of ,burwell ,road--and there were many of them for the length of the street--were rather proud of ,joe ,hollends4 ,he was a perfected specimen of the work a pub produces4 ,he was probably the most persistent drunkard the ,road possessed1 and the periodical gathering in of ,joe by the police was one of the stock sights of the street4 ,many of the inhabitants could be taken to the station by one policeman2 some required two2 but ,joe's average was four4 ,he had been heard to boast that on one occasion he had been accompanied to the station by seven bobbies1 but that was before the force had studied ,joe and got him down to his correct mathematical equivalent4 ,now they tripped him up1 a policeman taking one kicking leg and another the other1 while the remaining two attended to the upper part of his body4 ,thus they carried him1 followed by an admiring crowd1 and watched by other envious drunkards who had to content themselves with a single officer when they went on a similar spree4 ,sometimes ,joe managed to place a kick where it would do the most good against the stomach of a policeman1 and when the officer rolled over there was for a few moments a renewal of the fight1 silent on the part of the men and vociferous on the part of the drunkard1 who had a fine flow of abusive language4 ,then the procession went on again4 ,it was perfectly useless to put ,joe on the police ambulance1 for it required two men to sit on him while in transit1 and the barrow is not made to stand such a load4 ,of course1 when ,joe staggered out of the pub and fell in the gutter1 the ambulance did its duty1 and trundled ,joe to his abiding place1 but the real fun occurred when ,joe was gathered in during the third stage of his debauch4 ,he passed through the oratorical stage1 then the maudlin or sentimental stage1 from which he emerged into the fighting stage1 when he was usually ejected into the street1 where he forthwith began to make ,rome howl1 and paint the town red4 ,at this point the policeman's whistle sounded1 and the force knew ,joe was on the warpath1 and that duty called them to the fray4 ,it was believed in the neighborhood that ,joe had been a college man1 and this gave him additional standing with his admirers4 ,his eloquence was undoubted1 after several glasses varying in number according to the strength of their contents1 and a man who had heard the great political speakers of the day admitted that none of them could hold a candle to ,joe when he got on the subject of the wrongs of the working man and the tyranny of the capitalist4 ,it was generally understood that ,joe might have been anything he liked1 and that he was no man's enemy but his own4 ,it was also hinted that he could tell the bigwigs a thing or two if he had been consulted in affairs of ,state4 ,one evening1 when ,joe was slowly progressing as usual1 with his feet in the air1 towards the station1 supported by the requisite number of policemen1 and declaiming to the delight of the accompanying crowd1 a woman stood with her back to the brick wall1 horror-stricken at the sight4 ,she had a pale1 refined face1 and was dressed in black4 ,her self-imposed mission was among these people1 but she had never seen ,joe taken to the station before1 and the sight1 which was so amusing to the neighborhood1 was shocking to her4 ,she enquired about ,joe1 and heard the usual story that he was no man's enemy but his own1 although they might in justice have added the police4 ,still1 a policeman was hardly looked upon as a human being in that neighborhood4 ,miss ,johnson reported the case to the committee of the ,social ,league1 and took counsel4 ,then it was that the reclamation of ,joe ,hollends was determined on4 ,joe received ,miss ,johnson with subdued dignity1 and a demeanor that delicately indicated a knowledge on his part of her superiority and his own degradation4 ,he knew how a lady should be treated even if he was a drunkard1 as he told his cronies afterwards4 ,joe was perfectly willing to be reclaimed4 ,heretofore in his life1 no one had ever extended the hand of fellowship to him4 ,human sympathy was what ,joe needed1 and precious little he had had of it4 ,there were more kicks than halfpence in this world for a poor man4 ,the rich did not care what became of the poor2 not they--a proposition which ,miss ,johnson earnestly denied4 ,it was one of the tenets of the committee that where possible the poor should help the poor4 ,it was resolved to get ,joe a decent suit of clothes and endeavor to find him a place where work would enable him to help himself4 ,miss ,johnson went around the neighborhood and collected pence for the reclamation4 ,most people were willing to help ,joe1 although it was generally felt that the ,road would be less gay when he took on sober habits4 ,in one room1 however1 ,miss ,johnson was refused the penny she pleaded for4 ,we cannot spare even a penny1 said the woman1 whose sickly little boy clung to her skirts4 ,my husband is just out of work again4 ,he has had only four weeks' work this time4 ,miss ,johnson looked around the room and saw why there was no money4 ,it was quite evident where the earnings of the husband had gone4 ,the room was much better furnished than the average apartment of the neighborhood4 ,there were two sets of dishes where one would have been quite sufficient4 ,on the mantelshelf and around the walls were various unnecessary articles which cost money4 ,miss ,johnson noted all this but said nothing1 although she resolved to report it to the committee4 ,in union is strength and in multitude of counsel there is wisdom4 ,miss ,johnson had great faith in the wisdom of the committee4 ,how long has your husband been out of work8 she asked4 ,only a few days1 but times are very bad and he is afraid he will not get another situation soon4 ,what is his trade8 ,he is a carpenter and a good workman--sober and steady4 ,if you give me his name ,i will put it down in our books4 ,perhaps we may be able to help him4 ,john ,morris is his name4 ,miss ,johnson wrote it down on her tablets1 and when she left1 the wife felt vaguely grateful for benefits to come4 ,the facts of the case were reported to the committee1 and ,miss ,johnson was deputed to expostulate with ,mrs4 ,morris upon her extravagance4 ,john ,morris's name was put upon the books among the names of many other unemployed persons4 ,the case of ,joe ,hollends then came up1 and elicited much enthusiasm4 ,a decent suit of clothing had been purchased with part of the money collected for him1 and it was determined to keep the rest in trust1 to be doled out to him as occasion warranted4 ,two persuasive ladies undertook to find a place for him in one of the factories1 if such a thing were possible4 ,joe felt rather uncomfortable in his new suit of clothes1 and seemed to regard the expenditure as1 all in all1 a waste of good money4 ,he was also disappointed to find that the funds collected were not to be handed over to him in a lump4 ,it was not the money he cared about1 he said1 but the evident lack of trust4 ,if people had trusted him more1 he might have been a better man4 ,trust and human sympathy were what ,joe ,hollends needed4 ,the two persuasive ladies appealed to ,mr4 ,stillwell1 the proprietor of a small factory for the making of boxes4 ,they said that if ,hollends got a chance they were sure he would reform4 ,stillwell replied that he had no place for anyone4 ,he had enough to do to keep the men already in his employ4 ,times were dull in the box business1 and he was turning away applicants every day who were good workmen and who didn't need to be reformed4 ,however1 the ladies were very persuasive1 and it is not given to every man to be able to refuse the appeal of a pretty woman1 not to mention two of them4 ,stillwell promised to give ,hollends a chance1 said he would consult with his foreman1 and let the ladies know what could be done4 ,joe ,hollends did not receive the news of his luck with the enthusiasm that might have been expected4 ,many a man was tramping ,london in search of employment and finding none1 therefore even the ladies who were so solicitous about ,joe's welfare thought he should be thankful that work came unsought4 ,he said he would do his best1 which is1 when you come to think of it1 all that we have a right to expect from any man4 ,some days afterwards ,jack ,morris applied to ,mr4 ,stillwell for a job1 but he had no sub-committee of persuasive ladies to plead for him4 ,he would be willing to work half-time or quarter-time for that matter4 ,he had a wife and boy dependent on him4 ,he could show that he was a good workman and he did not drink4 ,thus did ,morris recite his qualifications to the unwilling ears of ,stillwell the box maker4 ,as he left the place disheartened with another refusal1 he was overtaken by ,joe ,hollends4 ,joe was a lover of his fellow-man1 and disliked seeing anyone downhearted4 ,he had one infallible cure for dejection4 ,having just been discharged1 he was in high spirits1 because his prediction of his own failure as a reformed character1 if work were a condition of the reclamation1 had just been fulfilled4 ,cheer up1 old man1 he cried1 slapping ,morris on the shoulder1 what's the matter8 ,come and have a drink with me4 ,i've got the money4 ,no1 said ,morris1 who knew the professional drunkard but slightly1 and did not care for further acquaintance with him1 ,i want work1 not beer4 ,every man to his taste4 ,why don't you ask at the box factory8 ,you can have my job and welcome4 ,the foreman's just discharged me4 ,said ,i wouldn't work myself1 and kept the men off theirs4 ,thought ,i talked too much about capital and labor4 ,do you think ,i could get your job8 ,very likely4 ,no harm in trying4 ,if they don't take you on1 come into the ,red ,lion--,i'll be there--and have a drop4 ,it'll cheer you up a bit4 ,morris appealed in vain to the foreman4 ,they had more men now in the factory than they needed1 he said4 ,so ,morris went to the ,red ,lion1 where he found ,hollends ready to welcome him4 ,they had several glasses together1 and ,hollends told him of the efforts of the ,social ,league in the reclamation line1 and his doubts of their ultimate success4 ,hollends seemed to think the ladies of the ,league were deeply indebted to him for furnishing them with such a good subject for reformation4 ,that night ,joe's career reached a triumphant climax1 for the four policeman had to appeal to the bystanders for help in the name of the law4 ,jack ,morris went home unaided4 ,he had not taken many glasses1 but he knew he should have avoided drink altogether1 for he had some experience of its power in his younger days4 ,he was1 therefore1 in a quarrelsome mood1 ready to blame everyone but himself4 ,he found his wife in tears1 and saw ,miss ,johnson sitting there1 evidently very miserable4 ,what's all this8 asked ,morris4 ,his wife dried her eyes1 and said it was nothing4 ,miss ,johnson had been giving her some advice1 which she was thankful for4 ,morris glared at the visitor4 ,what have you got to do with us8 he demanded rudely4 ,his wife caught him by the arm1 but he angrily tossed aside her hand4 ,miss ,johnson arose1 fearing4 ,you've no business here4 ,we want none of your advice4 ,you get out of this4 ,then1 impatiently to his wife1 who strove to calm him1 ,shut up1 will you8 ,miss ,johnson was afraid he would strike her as she passed him going to the door1 but he merely stood there1 following her exit with lowering brow4 ,the terrified lady told her experience to the sympathizing members of the committee4 ,she had spoken to ,mrs4 ,morris of her extravagance in buying so many things that were not necessary when her husband had work4 ,she advised the saving of the money4 ,mrs4 ,morris had defended her apparent lavish expenditure by saying that there was no possibility of saving money4 ,she bought useful things1 and when her husband was out of work she could always get a large percentage of their cost from the pawnbroker4 ,the pawnshop1 she had tearfully explained to ,miss ,johnson1 was the only bank of the poor4 ,the idea of the pawnshop as a bank1 and not as a place of disgrace1 was new to ,miss ,johnson1 but before anything further could be said the husband had come in4 ,one of the committee1 who knew more about the district than ,miss ,johnson1 affirmed that there was something to say for the pawnbroker as the banker of the poor4 ,the committee were unanimous in condemning the conduct of ,morris1 and it says much for the members that1 in spite of the provocation one of them had received1 they did not take the name of so undeserving a man from their list of the unemployed4 ,the sad relapse of ,joe ,hollends next occupied the attention of the ,league4 ,his fine had been paid1 and he had expressed himself as deeply grieved at his own frailty4 ,if the foreman had been less harsh with him and had given him a chance1 things might have been different4 ,it was resolved to send ,joe to the seaside so that he might have an opportunity of toning up his system to resist temptation4 ,joe enjoyed his trip to the sea4 ,he always liked to encounter a new body of police unaccustomed to his methods4 ,he toned up his system so successfully the first day on the sands that he spent the night in the cells4 ,little by little1 the portable property in the rooms of the ,morrises disappeared into the pawnshop4 ,misfortune1 as usual1 did not come singly4 ,the small boy was ill1 and ,morris himself seemed to be unable to resist the temptation of the ,red ,lion4 ,the unhappy woman took her boy to the parish doctor1 who was very busy1 but he gave what attention he could to the case4 ,he said all the boy needed was nourishing food and country air4 ,mrs4 ,morris sighed1 and decided to take the little boy oftener to the park1 but the way was long1 and he grew weaker day by day4 ,at last1 she succeeded in interesting her husband in the little fellow's condition4 ,he consented to take the boy to the doctor with her4 ,the doctor doesn't seem to mind what ,i say1 she complained4 ,perhaps he will pay attention to a man4 ,morris was not naturally a morose person1 but continued disappointment was rapidly making him so4 ,he said nothing1 but took the boy in his arms1 and1 followed by his wife1 went to the doctor4 ,this boy was here before1 said the physician1 which tended to show that he had paid more attention to the case than ,mrs4 ,morris thought4 ,he is very much worse4 ,you will have to take him to the country or he will die4 ,how can ,i send him to the country8 asked ,morris1 sullenly4 ,i've been out of work for months4 ,have you friends in the country8 ,no4 ,hasn't your wife any friends in the country who would take her and the lad for a month or so8 ,no4 ,have you anything to pawn8 ,very little4 ,then ,i would advise you to pawn everything you own1 or sell it if you can1 and take the boy on your back and tramp to the country4 ,you will get work there probably more easily than in the city4 ,here are ten shillings to help you4 ,i don't want your money1 said ,morris1 in a surly tone4 ,i want work4 ,i have no work to give you1 so ,i offer you what ,i have4 ,i haven't as much of that as ,i could wish4 ,you are a fool not to take what the gods send4 ,morris1 without replying1 gathered up his son in his arms and departed4 ,here is a bottle of tonic for him4 said the doctor to ,mrs4 ,morris4 ,he placed the half-sovereign on the bottle as he passed it to her4 ,she silently thanked him with her wet eyes1 hoping that a time would come when she could repay the money4 ,the doctor had experience enough to know that they were not to be classed among his usual visitors4 ,he was not in the habit of indiscriminately bestowing gold coins4 ,it was a dreary journey1 and they were a long time shaking off the octopus-like tentacles of the great city1 that reached further and further into he country each year1 as if it lived on consuming the green fields4 ,morris walked ahead with the boy on his back1 and his wife followed4 ,neither spoke1 and the sick lad did not complain4 ,as they were nearing a village1 the boy's head sunk on his father's shoulder4 ,the mother quickened her pace1 and came up to them stroking the head of her sleeping son4 ,suddenly1 she uttered a smothered cry and took the boy in her arms4 ,what's the matter8 asked ,morris1 turning round4 ,she did not answer1 but sat by the roadside with the boy on her lap1 swaying her body to and fro over him1 moaning as she did so4 ,morris needed no answer4 ,he stood on the road with hardening face1 and looked down on his wife and child without speaking4 ,the kindly villagers arranged the little funeral1 and when it was over ,jack ,morris and his wife stood again on the road4 ,jack1 dear1 she pleaded1 don't go back to that horrible place4 ,we belong to the country1 and the city is so hard and cruel4 ,i'm going back4 ,you can do as you like4 ,then1 relenting a little1 he added1 ,i haven't brought much luck to you1 my girl4 ,she knew her husband was a stubborn man1 and set in his way1 so1 unprotesting1 she followed him in1 as she had followed out1 stumbling many times1 for often her eyes did not see the road4 ,and so they returned to their empty rooms4 ,jack ,morris went to look for work at the ,red ,lion4 ,there he met that genial comrade1 ,joe ,hollends1 who had been reformed1 and who had backslid twice since ,jack had foregathered with him before4 ,it is but fair to ,joe to admit that he had never been optimistic about his own reclamation1 but being an obliging man1 even when he was sober1 he was willing to give the ,social ,league every chance4 ,jack was deeply grieved at the death of his son1 although he had said no word to his wife that would show it4 ,it therefore took more liquor than usual to bring him up to the point of good comradeship that reigned at the ,red ,lion4 ,when he and ,joe left the tavern that night it would have taken an expert to tell which was the more inebriated4 ,they were both in good fighting trim1 and were both in the humor for a row4 ,the police1 who had reckoned on ,joe alone1 suddenly found a new element in the fight that not only upset their calculations but themselves as well4 ,it was a glorious victory1 and1 as both fled down a side street1 ,morris urged ,hollends to come along1 for the representatives of law and order have the habit of getting reinforcements which often turn a victory into a most ignominious defeat4 ,i can't1 panted ,hollends4 ,the beggars have hurt me4 ,come along4 ,i know a place where we are safe4 ,drunk as he was1 ,jack succeeded in finding the hole in the wall that allowed him to enter a vacant spot behind the box factory4 ,there ,hollends lay down with a groan1 and there ,morris sank beside him in a drunken sleep4 ,the police were at last revenged1 and finally4 ,when the grey daylight brought ,morris to a dazed sense of where he was1 he found his companion dead beside him4 ,he had a vague fear that he would be tried for murder1 but it was not so4 ,from the moment that ,hollends1 in his fall1 struck his head on the curb1 the ,providence which looks after the drunken deserted him4 ,but the inquest accomplished one good object4 ,it attracted the attention of the ,social ,league to ,jack ,morris1 and they are now endeavoring to reclaim him4 ,whether they succeed or not1 he was a man that was certainly once worth saving4 ,,the ,,type-,,written ,,letter4 ,when a man has battled with poverty all his life1 fearing it as he fought it1 feeling for its skinny throat to throttle it1 and yet dreading all the while the coming of the time when it would gain the mastery and throttle him--when such a man is told that he is rich1 it might be imagined he would receive the announcement with hilarity4 ,when ,richard ,denham realized that he was wealthy he became even more sobered than usual1 and drew a long breath as if he had been running a race and had won it4 ,the man who brought him the news had no idea he had told ,denham anything novel4 ,he merely happened to say1 ,you are a rich man1 ,mr4 ,denham1 and will never miss it4 ,denham had never before been called a rich man1 and up to that moment he had not thought of himself as wealthy4 ,he wrote out the check asked of him1 and his visitor departed gratefully1 leaving the merchant with something to ponder over4 ,he was as surprised with the suddenness of the thing as if someone had left him a legacy4 ,yet the money was all of his own accumulating1 but his struggle had been so severe1 and he had been so hopeless about it1 that from mere habit he exerted all his energies long after the enemy was overcome--just as the troops at ,new ,orleans fought a fierce battle not knowing that the war was over4 ,he had sprung from such a hopelessly poor family4 ,poverty had been their inheritance from generation to generation4 ,it was the invariable legacy that father had left to son in the ,denham family4 ,all had accepted their lot with uncomplaining resignation1 until ,richard resolved he would at least have a fight for it4 ,and now the fight had been won4 ,denham sat in his office staring at the dingy wall-paper so long1 that ,rogers1 the chief clerk1 put his head in and said in a deferential voice3 ,anything more to-night1 ,mr4 ,denham8 ,denham started as if that question in that tone had not been asked him every night for years4 ,what's that1 what's that8 he cried4 ,rogers was astonished1 but too well trained to show it4 ,anything more to-night1 ,mr4 ,denham8 ,ah1 quite so4 ,no1 ,rogers1 thank you1 nothing more4 ,good-night1 ,mr4 ,denham4 ,eh8 ,oh1 yes4 ,good-night1 ,rogers1 good-night4 ,when ,mr4 ,denham left his office and went out into the street everything had an unusual appearance to him4 ,he walked along1 unheeding the direction4 ,he looked at the fine residences and realized that he might have a fine residence if he wanted it4 ,he saw handsome carriages2 he too might set up an equipage4 ,the satisfaction these thoughts produced was brief4 ,of what use would a fine house or an elegant carriage be to him8 ,he knew no one to invite to the house or to ride with him in the carriage4 ,he began to realize how utterly alone in the world he was4 ,he had no friends1 no acquaintances even4 ,the running dog1 with its nose to the ground1 sees nothing of the surrounding scenery4 ,he knew men in a business way1 of course1 and doubtless each of them had a home in the suburbs somewhere1 but he could not take a business man by the shoulders and say to him1 ,invite me to your house2 ,i am lonely2 ,i want to know people4 ,if he got such an invitation1 he would not know what to do with himself4 ,he was familiar with the counting-room and its language1 but the drawing-room was an unexplored country to him1 where an unknown tongue was spoken4 ,on the road to wealth he had missed something1 and it was now too late to go back for it4 ,only the day before1 he had heard one of the clerks1 who did not know he was within earshot1 allude to him as the old man4 ,he felt as young as ever he did1 but the phrase1 so lightly spoken1 made him catch his breath4 ,as he was now walking through the park1 and away from the busy streets1 he took off his hat and ran his fingers through his grizzled hair1 looking at his hand when he had done so1 as if the grey1 like wet paint1 might have come off4 ,he thought of a girl he knew once1 who perhaps would have married him if he had asked her1 as he was tempted to do4 ,but that had always been the mistake of the ,denhams4 ,they had all married young except himself1 and so sunk deeper into the mire of poverty1 pressed down by a rapidly-increasing progeny4 ,the girl had married a baker1 he remembered4 ,yes1 that was a long time ago4 ,the clerk was not far wrong when he called him an old man4 ,suddenly1 another girl arose before his mental vision--a modern girl--very different indeed to the one who married the baker4 ,she was the only woman in the world with whom he was on speaking terms1 and he knew her merely because her light and nimble fingers played the business sonata of one note on his office typewriter4 ,miss ,gale was pretty1 of course-- all typewriter girls are--and it was generally understood in the office that she belonged to a good family who had come down in the world4 ,her somewhat independent air deepened this conviction and kept the clerks at a distance4 ,she was a sensible girl who realized that the typewriter paid better than the piano1 and accordingly turned the expertness of her white fingers to the former instrument4 ,richard ,denham sat down upon a park bench4 ,why not8 he asked himself4 ,there was no reason against it except that he felt he had not the courage4 ,nevertheless1 he formed a desperate resolution4 ,next day1 business went on as usual4 ,letters were answered1 and the time arrived when ,miss ,gale came in to see if he had any further commands that day4 ,denham hesitated4 ,he felt vaguely that a business office was not the proper place for a proposal2 yet he knew he would be at a disadvantage anywhere else4 ,in the first place1 he had no plausible excuse for calling upon the young woman at home1 and1 in the second place1 he knew if he once got there he would be stricken dumb4 ,it must either be at his office or nowhere4 ,sit down a moment1 ,miss ,gale1 he said at last2 ,i wanted to consult you about a matter--about a business matter4 ,miss ,gale seated herself1 and automatically placed on her knee the shorthand writing-pad ready to take down his instructions4 ,she looked up at him expectantly4 ,denham1 in an embarrassed manner1 ran his fingers through his hair4 ,i am thinking1 he began1 of taking a partner4 ,the business is very prosperous now4 ,in fact1 it has been so for some time4 ,yes8 said ,miss ,gale interrogatively4 ,yes4 ,i think ,i should have a partner4 ,it is about that ,i wanted to speak to you4 ,don't you think it would be better to consult with ,mr4 ,rogers8 ,he knows more about business than ,i4 ,but perhaps it is ,mr4 ,rogers who is to be the partner8 ,no1 it is not ,rogers4 ,rogers is a good man4 ,but--it is not ,rogers4 ,then ,i think in an important matter like this ,mr4 ,rogers1 or someone who knows the business as thoroughly as he does1 would be able to give you advice that would be of some value4 ,i don't want advice exactly4 ,i have made up my mind to have a partner1 if the partner is willing4 ,denham mopped his brow4 ,it was going to be even more difficult than he had anticipated4 ,is it1 then1 a question of the capital the partner is to bring in8 asked ,miss ,gale1 anxious to help him4 ,no1 no4 ,i don't wish any capital4 ,i have enough for both4 ,and the business is very prosperous1 ,miss ,gale--and--and has been4 ,the young woman raised her eyebrows in surprise4 ,you surely don't intend to share the profits with a partner who brings no capital into the business8 ,yes--yes1 ,i do4 ,you see1 as ,i said1 ,i have no need for more capital4 ,oh1 if that is the case1 ,i think you should consult ,mr4 ,rogers before you commit yourself4 ,but ,rogers wouldn't understand4 ,i'm afraid ,i don't understand either4 ,it seems to me a foolish thing to do--that is1 if you want my advice4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i want it4 ,but it isn't as foolish as you think4 ,i should have had a partner long ago4 ,that is where ,i made the mistake4 ,i've made up my mind on that4 ,then ,i don't see that ,i can be of any use--if your mind is already made up4 ,oh1 yes1 you can4 ,i'm a little afraid that my offer may not be accepted4 ,it is sure to be1 if the man has any sense4 ,no fear of such an offer being refused6 ,offers like that are not to be had every day4 ,it will be accepted4 ,do you really think so1 ,miss ,gale8 ,i am glad that is your opinion4 ,now1 what ,i wanted to consult you about1 is the form of the offer4 ,i would like to put it--well--delicately1 you know1 so that it would not be refused1 nor give offence4 ,i see4 ,you want me to write a letter to him8 ,exactly1 exactly1 cried ,denham with some relief4 ,he had not thought of sending a letter before4 ,now1 he wondered why he had not thought of it4 ,it was so evidently the best way out of a situation that was extremely disconcerting4 ,have you spoken to him about it8 ,to him8 ,what him8 ,to your future partner1 about the proposal8 ,no1 no4 ,oh1 no4 ,that is--,i have spoken to nobody but you4 ,and you are determined not to speak to ,mr4 ,rogers before you write8 ,certainly not4 ,it's none of ,roger's business4 ,oh1 very well1 said ,miss ,gale shortly1 bending over her writing-pad4 ,it was evident that her opinion of ,denham's wisdom was steadily lowering4 ,suddenly1 she looked up4 ,how much shall ,i say the annual profits are8 ,or do you want that mentioned8 ,i--,i don't think ,i would mention that4 ,you see1 ,i don't wish this arrangement to be carried out on a monetary basis--not altogether4 ,on what basis then8 ,well--,i can hardly say4 ,on a personal basis1 perhaps4 ,i rather hope that the person--that my partner--would1 you know1 like to be associated with me4 ,on a friendly basis1 do you mean8 asked ,miss ,gale1 mercilessly4 ,certainly4 ,friendly1 of course--and perhaps more than that4 ,miss ,gale looked up at him with a certain hopelessness of expression4 ,why not write a note inviting your future partner to call upon you here1 or anywhere else that would be convenient1 and then discuss the matter8 ,denham looked frightened4 ,i thought of that1 but it wouldn't do4 ,no2 it wouldn't do4 ,i would much rather settle everything by correspondence4 ,i am afraid ,i shall not be able to compose a letter that will suit you4 ,there seem to be so many difficulties4 ,it is very unusual4 ,that is true1 and that is why ,i knew no one but you could help me1 ,miss ,gale4 ,if it pleases you1 it will please me4 ,miss ,gale shook her head1 but1 after a few moments1 she said1 ,how will this do8 ,dear ,sir-- ,wait a moment1 cried ,mr4 ,denham2 that seems rather a formal opening1 doesn't it8 ,how would it read if you put it ',dear friend'8 ,if you wish it so4 ,she crossed out the sir and substituted the word suggested4 ,then1 she read the letter3 ,dear ,friend1--,i have for some time past been desirous of taking a partner1 and would be glad if you would consider the question and consent to join me in this business4 ,the business is1 and has been for several years1 very prosperous1 and1 as ,i shall require no capital from you1 ,i think you will find my offer a very advantageous one4 ,i will---- ,i--,i don't think ,i would put it quite that way4 said ,denham1 with some hesitation4 ,it reads as if ,i were offering everything1 and that my partner--well1 you see what ,i mean4 ,it's the truth1 said ,miss ,gale1 defiantly4 ,better put it on the friendly basis1 as you suggested a moment ago4 ,i didn't suggest anything1 ,mr4 ,denham4 ,perhaps it would be better if you would dictate the letter exactly as you want it4 ,i knew ,i could not write one that would please you4 ,it does please me1 but ,i'm thinking of my future partner4 ,you are doing first-rate--better than ,i could do4 ,but just put it on the friendly basis4 ,a moment later she read3 444 join me in this business4 ,i make you this offer entirely from a friendly1 and not from a financial1 standpoint1 hoping that you like me well enough to be associated with me4 ,anything else1 ,mr4 ,denham8 ,no4 ,i think that covers the whole ground4 ,it will look rather short1 type-written1 won't it8 ,perhaps you might add something to show that ,i shall be exceedingly disappointed if my offer is not accepted4 ,no fear1 said ,miss ,gale4 ,i'll add that though4 ',yours truly1' or ',yours very truly'8 ,you might end it ',your friend4' ,the rapid click of the typewriter was heard for a few moments in the next room1 and then ,miss ,gale came out with the completed letter in her hand4 ,shall ,i have the boy copy it8 she asked4 ,oh1 bless you1 no6 answered ,mr4 ,denham1 with evident trepidation4 ,the young woman said to herself1 ,he doesn't want ,mr4 ,rogers to know1 and no wonder4 ,it is a most unbusiness-like proposal4 ,then she said aloud1 ,shall you want me again to-day8 ,no1 ,miss ,gale2 and thank you very much4 ,next morning1 ,miss ,gale came into ,mr4 ,denham's office with a smile on her face4 ,you made a funny mistake last night1 ,mr4 ,denham1 she said1 as she took off her wraps4 ,did ,i8 he asked1 in alarm4 ,yes4 ,you sent that letter to my address4 ,i got it this morning4 ,i opened it1 for ,i thought it was for me1 and that perhaps you did not need me to-day4 ,but ,i saw at once that you put it in the wrong envelope4 ,did you want me to-day8 ,it was on his tongue to say1 ,i want you every day1 but he merely held out his hand for the letter1 and looked at it as if he could not account for its having gone astray4 ,the next day ,miss ,gale came late1 and she looked frightened4 ,it was evident that ,denham was losing his mind4 ,she put the letter down before him and said3 ,you addressed that to me the second time1 ,mr4 ,denham4 ,there was a look of haggard anxiety about ,denham that gave color to her suspicions4 ,he felt that it was now or never4 ,then why don't you answer it1 ,miss ,gale8 he said gruffly4 ,she backed away from him4 ,answer it8 she repeated faintly4 ,certainly4 ,if ,i got a letter twice1 ,i would answer it4 ,what do you mean8 she cried1 with her hand on the door-knob4 ,exactly what the letter says4 ,i want you for my partner4 ,i want to marry you1 and d--n financial considerations---- ,oh6 cried ,miss ,gale1 in a long-drawn1 quivering sigh4 ,she was doubtless shocked at the word he had used1 and fled to her typewriting room1 closing the door behind her4 ,richard ,denham paced up and down the floor for a few moments1 then rapped lightly at her door1 but there was no response4 ,he put on his hat and went out into the street4 ,after a long and aimless walk1 he found himself again at his place of business4 ,when he went in1 ,rogers said to him3 ,miss ,gale has left1 sir4 ,has she8 ,yes1 and she has given notice4 ,says she is not coming back1 sir4 ,very well4 ,he went into his own room and found a letter marked personal on his desk4 ,he tore it open1 and read in neatly type-written characters3 ,i have resigned my place as typewriter girl1 having been offered a better situation4 ,i am offered a partnership in the house of ,richard ,denham4 ,i have decided to accept the position1 not so much on account of its financial attractions1 as because ,i shall be glad1 on a friendly basis1 to be associated with the gentleman ,i have named4 ,why did you put me to all that worry writing that idiotic letter1 when a few words would have saved ever so much bother8 ,you evidently need a partner4 ,my mother will be pleased to meet you any time you call4 ,you have the address1--,your friend1 ,,margaret ,,gale4 ,rogers6 shouted ,denham1 joyfully4 ,yes1 sir1 answered that estimable man1 putting his head into the room4 ,advertise for another typewriter girl1 ,rogers4 ,yes1 sir1 said ,rogers4 ,,the ,,doom ,,of ,,london4 ,i4--,,the ,,self-,,conceit ,,of ,,the #bj,,th ,,century4 ,i trust ,i am thankful my life has been spared until ,i have seen that most brilliant epoch of the world's history--the middle of the #bjth century4 ,it would be useless for any man to disparage the vast achievements of the past fifty years1 and if ,i venture to call attention to the fact1 now apparently forgotten1 that the people of the #aith century succeeded in accomplishing many notable things1 it must not be imagined that ,i intend thereby to discount in any measure the marvellous inventions of the present age4 ,men have always been somewhat prone to look with a certain condescension upon those who lived fifty or a hundred years before them4 ,this seems to me the especial weakness of the present age2 a feeling of national self-conceit1 which1 when it exists1 should at least be kept as much in the background as possible4 ,it will astonish many to know that such also was a failing of the people of the #aith century4 ,they imagined themselves living in an age of progress1 and while ,i am not foolish enough to attempt to prove that they did anything really worth recording1 yet it must be admitted by any unprejudiced man of research that their inventions were at least stepping-stones to those of to-day4 ,although the telephone and telegraph1 and all other electrical appliances1 are now to be found only in our national museums1 or in the private collections of those few men who take any interest in the doings of the last century1 nevertheless1 the study of the now obsolete science of electricity led up to the recent discovery of vibratory ether which does the work of the world so satisfactorily4 ,the people of the #aith century were not fools1 and although ,i am well aware that this statement will be received with scorn where it attracts any attention whatever1 yet who can say that the progress of the next half-century may not be as great as that of the one now ended1 and that the people of the next century may not look upon us with the same contempt which we feel toward those who lived fifty years ago8 ,being an old man1 ,i am1 perhaps1 a laggard who dwells in the past rather than the present2 still1 it seems to me that such an article as that which appeared recently in ,blackwood from the talented pen of ,prof4 ,mowberry1 of ,oxford ,university1 is utterly unjustifiable4 ,under the title of ,did the ,people of ,london ,deserve their ,fate8 he endeavors to show that the simultaneous blotting out of millions of human beings was a beneficial event1 the good results of which we still enjoy4 ,according to him1 ,londoners were so dull-witted and stupid1 so incapable of improvement1 so sodden in the vice of mere money- gathering1 that nothing but their total extinction would have sufficed1 and that1 instead of being an appalling catastrophe1 the doom of ,london was an unmixed blessing4 ,in spite of the unanimous approval with which this article has been received by the press1 ,i still maintain that such writing is uncalled for1 and that there is something to be said for the ,london of the #aith century4 ,,ii4--,,why ,,london1 ,,warned1 ,,was ,,unprepared4 ,the indignation ,i felt in first reading the article alluded to still remains with me1 and it has caused me to write these words1 giving some account of what ,i must still regard1 in spite of the sneers of the present age1 as the most terrible disaster that ever overtook a portion of the human race4 ,i shall not endeavor to place before those who read1 any record of the achievements pertaining to the time in question4 ,but ,i would like to say a few words about the alleged stupidity of the people of ,london in making no preparations for a disaster regarding which they had continual and ever-recurring warning4 ,they have been compared with the inhabitants of ,pompeii making merry at the foot of a volcano4 ,in the first place1 fogs were so common in ,london1 especially in winter1 that no particular attention was paid to them4 ,they were merely looked upon as inconvenient annoyances1 interrupting traffic and prejudicial to health1 but ,i doubt if anyone thought it possible for a fog to become one vast smothering mattress pressed down upon a whole metropolis1 extinguishing life as if the city suffered from hopeless hydrophobia4 ,i have read that victims bitten by mad dogs were formerly put out of their sufferings in that way1 although ,i doubt much if such things were ever actually done1 notwithstanding the charges of savage barbarity now made against the people of the #aith century4 ,probably1 the inhabitants of ,pompeii were so accustomed to the eruptions of ,vesuvius that they gave no thought to the possibility of their city being destroyed by a storm of ashes and an overflow of lava4 ,rain frequently descended upon ,london1 and if a rainfall continued long enough it would certainly have flooded the metropolis1 but no precautions were taken against a flood from the clouds4 ,why1 then1 should the people have been expected to prepare for a catastrophe from fog1 such as there had never been any experience of in the world's history8 ,the people of ,london were far from being the sluggish dolts present-day writers would have us believe4 ,,iii4--,,the ,,coincidence ,,that ,,came ,,at ,,last4 ,as fog has now been abolished both on sea and land1 and as few of the present generation have even seen one1 it may not be out of place to give a few lines on the subject of fogs in general1 and the ,london fogs in particular1 which through local peculiarities differed from all others4 ,a fog was simply watery vapor rising from the marshy surface of the land or from the sea1 or condensed into a cloud from the saturated atmosphere4 ,in my day1 fogs were a great danger at sea1 for people then travelled by means of steamships that sailed upon the surface of the ocean4 ,london at the end of the #aith century consumed vast quantities of a soft bituminous coal for the purpose of heating rooms and of preparing food4 ,in the morning and during the day1 clouds of black smoke were poured forth from thousands of chimneys4 ,when a mass of white vapor arose in the night these clouds of smoke fell upon the fog1 pressing it down1 filtering slowly through it1 and adding to its density4 ,the sun would have absorbed the fog but for the layer of smoke that lay thick above the vapor and prevented the rays reaching it4 ,once this condition of things prevailed1 nothing could clear ,london but a breeze of wind from any direction4 ,london frequently had a seven days' fog1 and sometimes a seven days' calm1 but these two conditions never coincided until the last year of the last century4 ,the coincidence1 as everyone knows1 meant death--death so wholesale that no war the earth has ever seen left such slaughter behind it4 ,to understand the situation1 one has only to imagine the fog as taking the place of the ashes at ,pompeii1 and the coal-smoke as being the lava that covered it4 ,the result to the inhabitants in both cases was exactly the same4 ,,iv4--,,the ,,american ,,who ,,wanted ,,to ,,sell4 ,i was at the time confidential clerk to the house of ,fulton1 ,brixton ,co41 a firm in ,cannon ,street1 dealing largely in chemicals and chemical apparatus4 ,fulton ,i never knew2 he died long before my time4 ,sir ,john ,brixton was my chief1 knighted1 ,i believe1 for services to his party1 or because he was an official in the ,city during some royal progress through it2 ,i have forgotten which4 ,my small room was next to his large one1 and my chief duty was to see that no one had an interview with ,sir ,john unless he was an important man or had important business4 ,sir ,john was a difficult man to see1 and a difficult man to deal with when he was seen4 ,he had little respect for most men's feelings1 and none at all for mine4 ,if ,i allowed a man to enter his room who should have been dealt with by one of the minor members of the company1 ,sir ,john made no effort to conceal his opinion of me4 ,one day1 in the autumn of the last year of the century1 an ,american was shown into my room4 ,nothing would do but he must have an interview with ,sir ,john ,brixton4 ,i told him that it was impossible1 as ,sir ,john was extremely busy1 but that if he explained his business to me ,i would lay it before ,sir ,john at the first favorable opportunity4 ,the ,american demurred at this1 but finally accepted the inevitable4 ,he was the inventor1 he said1 of a machine that would revolutionize life in ,london1 and he wanted ,fulton1 ,brixton ,co4 to become agents for it4 ,the machine1 which he had in a small handbag with him1 was of white metal1 and it was so constructed that by turning an index it gave out greater or less volumes of oxygen gas4 ,the gas1 ,i understood1 was stored in the interior in liquid form under great pressure1 and would last1 if ,i remember rightly1 for six months without recharging4 ,there was also a rubber tube with a mouthpiece attached to it1 and the ,american said that if a man took a few whiffs a day1 he would experience beneficial results4 ,now1 ,i knew there was not the slightest use in showing the machine to ,sir ,john1 because we dealt in old-established ,british apparatus1 and never in any of the new- fangled ,yankee contraptions4 ,besides1 ,sir ,john had a prejudice against ,americans1 and ,i felt sure this man would exasperate him1 as he was a most cadaverous specimen of the race1 with high nasal tones1 and a most deplorable pronunciation1 much given to phrases savoring of slang2 and he exhibited also a certain nervous familiarity of demeanor towards people to whom he was all but a complete stranger4 ,it was impossible for me to allow such a man to enter the presence of ,sir ,john ,brixton1 and when he returned some days later ,i explained to him1 ,i hope with courtesy1 that the head of the house regretted very much his inability to consider his proposal regarding the machine4 ,the ardor of the ,american seemed in no way dampened by this rebuff4 ,he said ,i could not have explained the possibilities of the apparatus properly to ,sir ,john2 he characterized it as a great invention1 and said it meant a fortune to whoever obtained the agency for it4 ,he hinted that other noted ,london houses were anxious to secure it1 but for some reason not stated he preferred to deal with us4 ,he left some printed pamphlets referring to the invention1 and said he would call again4 ,v4--,,the ,,american ,,sees ,,sir ,,john4 ,many a time ,i have since thought of that persistent ,american1 and wondered whether he left ,london before the disaster1 or was one of the unidentified thousands who were buried in unmarked graves4 ,little did ,sir ,john think when he expelled him with some asperity from his presence1 that he was turning away an offer of life1 and that the heated words he used were1 in reality1 a sentence of death upon himself4 ,for my own part1 ,i regret that ,i lost my temper1 and told the ,american his business methods did not commend themselves to me4 ,perhaps he did not feel the sting of this2 indeed1 ,i feel certain he did not1 for1 unknowingly1 he saved my life4 ,be that as it may1 he showed no resentment1 but immediately asked me out to drink with him1 an offer ,i was compelled to refuse4 ,but ,i am getting ahead of my story4 ,indeed1 being unaccustomed to writing1 it is difficult for me to set down events in their proper sequence4 ,the ,american called upon me several times after ,i told him our house could not deal with him4 ,he got into the habit of dropping in upon me unannounced1 which ,i did not at all like1 but ,i gave no instructions regarding his intrusions1 because ,i had no idea of the extremes to which he was evidently prepared to go4 ,one day1 as he sat near my desk reading a paper1 ,i was temporarily called from the room4 ,when ,i returned ,i thought he had gone1 taking his machine with him1 but a moment later ,i was shocked to hear his high nasal tones in ,sir ,john's room alternating with the deep notes of my chief's voice1 which apparently exercised no such dread upon the ,american as upon those who were more accustomed to them4 ,i at once entered the room1 and was about to explain to ,sir ,john that the ,american was there through no connivance of mine1 when my chief asked me to be silent1 and1 turning to his visitor1 gruffly requested him to proceed with his interesting narration4 ,the inventor needed no second invitation1 but went on with his glib talk1 while ,sir ,john's frown grew deeper1 and his face became redder under his fringe of white hair4 ,when the ,american had finished1 ,sir ,john roughly bade him begone1 and take his accursed machine with him4 ,he said it was an insult for a person with one foot in the grave to bring a so-called health invention to a robust man who never had a day's illness1 ,i do not know why he listened so long to the ,american1 when he had made up his mind from the first not to deal with him1 unless it was to punish me for inadvertently allowing the stranger to enter4 ,the interview distressed me exceedingly1 as ,i stood there helpless1 knowing ,sir ,john was becoming more and more angry with every word the foreigner uttered1 but1 at last1 ,i succeeded in drawing the inventor and his work into my own room and closing the door4 ,i sincerely hoped ,i would never see the ,american again1 and my wish was gratified4 ,he insisted on setting his machine going1 and placing it on a shelf in my room4 ,he asked me to slip it into ,sir ,john's room some foggy day and note the effect4 ,the man said he would call again1 but he never did4 ,,vi4--,,how ,,the ,,smoke ,,held ,,down ,,the ,,fog4 ,it was on a ,friday that the fog came down upon us4 ,the weather was very fine up to the middle of ,november that autumn4 ,the fog did not seem to have anything unusual about it4 ,i have seen many worse fogs than that appeared to be4 ,as day followed day1 however1 the atmosphere became denser and darker1 caused1 ,i suppose1 by the increasing volume of coal- smoke poured out upon it4 ,the peculiarity about those seven days was the intense stillness of the air4 ,we were1 although we did not know it1 under an air-proof canopy1 and were slowly but surely exhausting the life-giving oxygen around us1 and replacing it by poisonous carbonic acid gas4 ,scientific men have since showed that a simple mathematical calculation might have told us exactly when the last atom of oxygen would have been consumed2 but it is easy to be wise after the event4 ,the body of the greatest mathematician in ,england was found in the ,strand4 ,he came that morning from ,cambridge4 ,during the fog there was always a marked increase in the death rate1 and on this occasion the increase was no greater than usual until the sixth day4 ,the newspapers on the morning of the seventh were full of startling statistics1 but at the time of going to press the full significance of the alarming figures was not realized4 ,the editorials of the morning papers on the seventh day contained no warning of the calamity that was so speedily to follow their appearance4 ,i lived then at ,ealing1 a ,western suburb of ,london1 and came every morning to ,cannon ,street by a certain train4 ,i had up to the sixth day experienced no inconvenience from the fog1 and this was largely due1 ,i am convinced1 to the unnoticed operations of the ,american machine4 ,on the fifth and sixth days ,sir ,john did not come to the ,city1 but he was in his office on the seventh4 ,the door between his room and mine was closed4 ,shortly after ten o'clock ,i heard a cry in his room1 followed by a heavy fall4 ,i opened the door1 and saw ,sir ,john lying face downwards on the floor4 ,hastening towards him1 ,i felt for the first time the deadly effect of the deoxygenized atmosphere1 and before ,i reached him ,i fell first on one knee and then headlong4 ,i realized that my senses were leaving me1 and instinctively crawled back to my own room1 where the oppression was at once lifted1 and ,i stood again upon my feet1 gasping4 ,i closed the door of ,sir ,john's room1 thinking it filled with poisonous fumes1 as1 indeed1 it was4 ,i called loudly for help1 but there was no answer4 ,on opening the door to the main office ,i met again what ,i thought was the noxious vapor4 ,speedily as ,i closed the door1 ,i was impressed by the intense silence of the usually busy office1 and saw that some of the clerks were motionless on the floor1 and others sat with their heads on their desks as if asleep4 ,even at this awful moment ,i did not realize that what ,i saw was common to all ,london1 and not1 as ,i imagined1 a local disaster1 caused by the breaking of some carboys in our cellar4 7,it was filled with chemicals of every kind1 of whose properties ,i was ignorant1 dealing as ,i did with the accountant1 and not the scientific side of our business47 ,i opened the only window in my room1 and again shouted for help4 ,the street was silent and dark in the ominously still fog1 and what now froze me with horror was meeting the same deadly1 stifling atmosphere that was in the rooms4 ,in falling ,i brought down the window1 and shut out the poisonous air4 ,again ,i revived1 and slowly the true state of things began to dawn upon me4 ,i was in an oasis of oxygen4 ,i at once surmised that the machine on my shelf was responsible for the existence of this oasis in a vast desert of deadly gas4 ,i took down the ,american's machine1 fearful in moving it that ,i might stop its working4 ,taking the mouthpiece between my lips ,i again entered ,sir ,john's room1 this time without feeling any ill effects4 ,my poor master was long beyond human help4 ,there was evidently no one alive in the building except myself4 ,out in the street all was silent and dark4 ,the gas was extinguished1 but here and there in shops the incandescent lights were still weirdly burning1 depending1 as they did1 on accumulators1 and not on direct engine power4 ,i turned automatically towards ,cannon ,street ,station1 knowing my way to it even if blindfolded1 stumbling over bodies prone on the pavement1 and in crossing the street ,i ran against a motionless 'bus1 spectral in the fog1 with dead horses lying in front1 and their reins dangling from the nerveless hand of a dead driver4 ,the ghostlike passengers1 equally silent1 sat bolt upright1 or hung over the edge boards in attitudes horribly grotesque4 ,,vii4--,,the ,,train ,,with ,,its ,,trail ,,of ,,the ,,dead4 ,if a man's reasoning faculties were alert at such a time 7,i confess mine were dormant71 he would have known there could be no trains at ,cannon ,street ,station1 for if there was not enough oxygen in the air to keep a man alive1 or a gas-jet alight1 there would certainly not be enough to enable an engine fire to burn1 even if the engineer retained sufficient energy to attend to his task4 ,at times instinct is better than reason1 and it proved so in this case4 ,the railway from ,ealing in those days came under the ,city in a deep tunnel4 ,it would appear that in this underground passage the carbonic acid gas would first find a resting-place on account of its weight2 but such was not the fact4 ,i imagine that a current through the tunnel brought from the outlying districts a supply of comparatively pure air that1 for some minutes after the general disaster1 maintained human life4 ,be this as it may1 the long platforms of ,cannon ,street ,underground ,station presented a fearful spectacle4 ,a train stood at the down platform4 ,the electric lights burned fitfully4 ,this platform was crowded with men1 who fought each other like demons1 apparently for no reason1 because the train was already packed as full as it could hold4 ,hundreds were dead under foot1 and every now and then a blast of foul air came along the tunnel1 whereupon hundreds more would relax their grips1 and succumb4 ,over their bodies the survivors fought1 with continually thinning ranks4 ,it seemed to me that most of those in the standing train were dead4 ,sometimes a desperate body of fighters climbed over those lying in heaps and1 throwing open a carriage door1 hauled out passengers already in1 and took their places1 gasping4 ,those in the train offered no resistance1 and lay motionless where they were flung1 or rolled helplessly under the wheels of the train4 ,i made my way along the wall as well as ,i could to the engine1 wondering why the train did not go4 ,the engineer lay on the floor of his cab1 and the fires were out4 ,custom is a curious thing4 ,the struggling mob1 fighting wildly for places in the carriages1 were so accustomed to trains arriving and departing that it apparently occurred to none of them that the engineer was human and subject to the same atmospheric conditions as themselves4 ,i placed the mouthpiece between his purple lips1 and1 holding my own breath like a submerged man1 succeeded in reviving him4 ,he said that if ,i gave him the machine he would take out the train as far as the steam already in the boiler would carry it4 ,i refused to do this1 but stepped on the engine with him1 saying it would keep life in both of us until we got out into better air4 ,in a surly manner he agreed to this and started the train1 but he did not play fair4 ,each time he refused to give up the machine until ,i was in a fainting condition with holding in my breath1 and1 finally1 he felled me to the floor of the cab4 ,i imagine that the machine rolled off the train as ,i fell and that he jumped after it4 ,the remarkable thing is that neither of us needed the machine1 for ,i remember that just after we started ,i noticed through the open iron door that the engine fire suddenly became aglow again1 although at the time ,i was in too great a state of bewilderment and horror to understand what it meant4 ,a western gale had sprung up--an hour too late4 ,even before we left ,cannon ,street those who still survived were comparatively safe1 for one hundred and sixty-seven persons were rescued from that fearful heap of dead on the platforms1 although many died within a day or two after1 and others never recovered their reason4 ,when ,i regained my senses after the blow dealt by the engineer1 ,i found myself alone1 and the train speeding across the ,thames near ,kew4 ,i tried to stop the engine1 but did not succeed4 ,however1 in experimenting1 ,i managed to turn on the air brake1 which in some degree checked the train1 and lessened the impact when the crash came at ,richmond terminus4 ,i sprang off on the platform before the engine reached the terminal buffers1 and saw passing me like a nightmare the ghastly trainload of the dead4 ,most of the doors were swinging open1 and every compartment was jammed full1 although1 as ,i afterwards learned1 at each curve of the permanent way1 or extra lurch of the train1 bodies had fallen out all along the line4 ,the smash at ,richmond made no difference to the passengers4 ,besides myself1 only two persons were taken alive from the train1 and one of these1 his clothes torn from his back in the struggle was sent to an asylum1 where he was never able to tell who he was2 neither1 as far as ,i know1 did anyone ever claim him4 ,,the ,,predicament ,,of ,,de ,,plonville4 ,this story differs from others in having an assortment of morals4 ,most stories have one moral2 here are several4 ,the moral usually appears at the end--in this case a few are mentioned at the beginning1 so that they may be looked out for as the reading progresses4 ,first3 it is well for a man--especially a young man--to attend to his own business4 ,second3 in planning a person's life for some little distance ahead1 it will be a mistake if an allowance of ten per cent4 at least1 is not made for that unknown quantity--woman4 ,third3 it is beneficial to remember that one man rarely knows everything4 ,other morals will doubtless present themselves1 and at the end the cynically-inclined person may reflect upon the adage about the frying-pan and the fire4 ,young ,m4 de ,plonville of ,paris enjoyed a most enviable position4 ,he had all the money he needed1 which is quite a different thing from saying he had all the money he wanted4 ,he was well educated1 and spoke three languages1 that is1 he spoke his own well and the other two badly1 but as a man always prides himself on what he is least able to do1 ,de ,plonville fancied himself a linguist4 ,his courage in speaking ,english to ,englishmen and ,german to ,germans showed that he was1 at least1 a brave man4 ,there was a great deal of good and even of talent in ,de ,plonville4 ,this statement is made at the beginning1 because everyone who knows ,de ,plonville will at once unhesitatingly contradict it4 ,his acquaintances thought him one of the most objectionable young men in ,paris1 and naval officers1 when his name was mentioned1 usually gave themselves over to strong and unjustifiable language4 ,this was all on account of ,de ,plonville's position1 which1 although enviable had its drawbacks4 ,his rank in the navy was such that it entitled him to no consideration whatever1 but1 unfortunately for his own popularity1 ,de ,plonville had a method of giving force to his suggestions4 ,his father was a very big man in the ,french ,government4 ,he was so big a man that he could send a censure to the commander of a squadron in the navy1 and the commander dare not talk back4 ,it takes a very big man indeed to do this1 and that was the elder ,de ,plonville's size4 ,but then it was well known that the elder ,de ,plonville was an easy-going man who loved comfort1 and did not care to trouble himself too much about the navy in his charge1 and so when there was trouble1 young ,de ,plonville got the credit of it2 consequently1 the love of the officers did not flow out to him4 ,often young ,de ,plonville's idiotic impetuosity gave color to these suspicions4 ,for instance1 there is the well-known ,toulon incident4 ,in a heated controversy young ,de ,plonville had claimed that the firing of the ,french ironclads was something execrable1 and that the whole fleet could not hold their own at the cannon with any ten of the ,british navy4 ,some time after1 the naval officers learned that the ,government at ,paris was very much displeased with the inaccurate gun practice of the fleet1 and the hope was expressed that the commander would see his way to improving it4 ,of course1 the officers could do nothing but gnash their teeth1 try to shoot better1 and hope for a time to come when the ,government then in power would be out1 and they could find some tangible pretence for hanging young ,de ,plonville from the yard-arm4 ,all this has only a remote bearing upon this story1 but we now come to a matter on which the story sinks or swims4 ,de ,plonville had a secret-- not such a secret as is common in ,parisian life1 but one entirely creditable to him4 ,it related to an invention intended to increase the efficiency of the ,french army4 ,the army being a branch of the defences of his country with which ,de ,plonville had nothing whatever to do1 his attention naturally turned towards it4 ,he spoke of this invention1 once1 to a friend1 a lieutenant in the army4 ,he expected to get some practical suggestions4 ,he never mentioned it again to anyone4 ,it is based on the principle of the umbrella1 he said to his friend2 in fact1 it was the umbrella that suggested it to me4 ,if it could be made very light so as not to add seriously to the impedimenta at present carried by the soldier1 it seems to me it would be exceedingly useful4 ,instead of being circular as an umbrella is1 it must be oblong with sharp ends4 ,it would have to be arranged so as to be opened and closed quickly1 with the cloth thin1 but impervious to water4 ,when the army reached a river each soldier could open this1 place it in the water1 enter it with some care1 and then paddle himself across with the butt-end of his gun1 or even with a light paddle1 if the carrying of it added but little to the weight1 thus saving the building of temporary bridges4 ,it seems to me such an invention ought to be of vast use in a forced march4 ,then at night it might be used as a sort of tent1 or in a heavy rain it would form a temporary shelter4 ,what do you think of the idea8 ,his friend had listened with half-closed eyes4 ,he blew a whiff of cigarette smoke from his nostrils and answered3 ,it is wonderful1 ,de ,plonville1 he said drawlingly4 ,its possibilities are vast--more so than even you appear to think4 ,it would be very useful in our ,alpine corps as well4 ,i am glad you think so4 ,but why there8 ,well1 you see1 if the army reached a high peak looking into a deep valley1 only to be reached over an inaccessible precipice1 all the army would have to do would be to spread out your superb invention and use it as a parachute4 ,the sight of the army of ,france gradually floating down into the valley would be so terrifying to the nations of ,europe1 that ,i imagine no enemy would wait for a gun to be fired4 ,de ,plonville1 your invention will immortalize you1 and immortalize the ,french army4 ,young ,de ,plonville waited to hear no more1 but turned on his heel and strode away4 ,this conversation caused young ,de ,plonville to make two resolutions2 first1 to mention his scheme to no one2 second1 to persevere and perfect his invention1 thus causing confusion to the scoffer4 ,there were several sub-resolutions dependent on these two4 ,he would not enter a club1 he would abjure society1 he would not speak to a woman--he would1 in short1 be a hermit until his invention stood revealed before an astonished world4 ,all of which goes to show that young ,de ,plonville was not the conceited1 meddlesome fop his acquaintances thought him4 ,but in the large and small resolutions he did not deduct the ten per cent4 for the unknown quantity4 ,where8 ,that was the question4 ,de ,plonville walked up and down his room1 and thought it out4 ,a large map of ,france was spread on the table4 ,paris and the environs thereof were manifestly impossible4 ,he needed a place of seclusion4 ,he needed a stretch of water4 ,where then should be the spot to which coming generations would point and say1 ,here1 at this place1 was perfected ,de ,plonville's celebrated parachute-tent- bateau invention4 ,no1 not parachute4 ,hang the parachute6 ,that was the scoffing lieutenant's word4 ,de ,plonville paused for a moment to revile his folly in making a confidant of any army man4 ,there was a sufficiency of water around the ,french coast1 but it was too cold at that season of the year to experiment in the north and east4 ,there was left the ,mediterranean4 ,he thought rapidly of the different delightful spots along the ,riviera--,cannes1 ,st4 ,raphael1 ,nice1 ,monte ,carlo1--but all of these were too public and too much thronged with visitors4 ,the name of the place came to him suddenly1 and1 as he stopped his march to and fro1 ,de ,plonville wondered why it had not suggested itself to him at the very first4 ,hyres6 ,it seemed to have been planned in the ,middle ,ages for the perfecting of just such an invention4 ,it was situated two or three miles back from the sea1 the climate was perfect1 there was no marine parade1 the sea coast was lonely1 and the bay sheltered by the islands4 ,it was an ideal spot4 ,de ,plonville easily secured leave of absence4 ,sons of fathers high up in the service of a grateful country seldom have any difficulty about a little thing like that4 ,he purchased a ticket for that leisurely train which the ,french with their delicious sense of humor call the ,rapide1 and in due time found himself with his various belongings standing on the station platform at ,hyres4 ,few of us are as brave as we think ourselves4 ,de ,plonville flinched when the supreme moment came1 and perhaps that is why the ,gods punished him4 ,he had resolved to go to one of the country inns at ,carqueyranne on the coast1 but this was in a heroic mood when the lieutenant had laughed at his project4 ,now in a cooler moment he thought of the cuisine of ,carqueyranne and shuddered4 ,there are sacrifices which no man should be called upon to endure1 so the naval officer hesitated1 and at last directed the porter to put his luggage on the top of the ,costebelle ,hotel bus4 ,there would be society at the hotel it is true1 but he could avoid it1 while if he went to the rural tavern he could not avoid the cooking4 ,thus he smothered his conscience4 ,lunch at ,costebelle seemed to justify his choice of an abiding-place4 ,the surroundings of the hotel were dangerously charming to a man whose natural inclination was towards indolent enjoyment4 ,it was a place to ,loaf and invite your soul1 as ,walt ,whitman phrases it4 ,plonville1 who was there incognito1 for he had temporarily dropped the ,de1 strolled towards the sea in the afternoon1 with the air of one who has nothing on his mind4 ,no one to see him would have suspected he was the future ,edison of ,france4 ,when he reached the coast at the ruins of the ancient ,roman naval station called ,pomponiana1 he smote his thigh with joy4 ,he had forgotten that at this spot there had been erected a number of little wooden houses1 each larger than a bathing-machine and smaller than a cottage1 which were used in summer by the good people of ,hyres1 and in winter were silently vacant4 ,the largest of these would be exactly the place for him1 and he knew he would have no difficulty in renting it for a month or two4 ,here1 he could bring down his half- finished invention2 here1 work at it all day unmolested2 and here test its sailing qualities with no onlookers4 ,he walked up the road1 and hailed the ancient bus which jogs along between ,toulon and ,hyres by way of the coast2 mounted beside the driver1 and speedily got information about the owner of the cottages at ,pomponiana4 ,as he expected1 he had no difficulty in arranging with the proprietor for the largest of the little cottages1 but he thought he detected a slight depression on the right eyelid as that person handed him the key4 ,had the owner suspected his purpose8 he asked himself anxiously1 as he drove back from the town to ,costebelle4 ,impossible4 ,he felt1 however1 that he could not be too secret about his intentions4 ,he had heard of inventors being forestalled just at the very moment of success4 ,he bade the driver wait1 and placed that part of his luggage in the cab which consisted of his half-finished invention and the materials for completing it4 ,then he drove to the coast1 and after placing the packages on the ground1 paid and dismissed the man4 ,when the cab was out of sight1 he carried the things to the cottage and locked them in4 ,his walk up the hill to the hotel rendered the excellent dinner provided doubly attractive4 ,next morning he was early at work1 and speedily began to realize how many necessary articles he had forgotten at ,paris4 ,he hoped he would be able to get them at ,hyres1 but his remembrance of the limited resources of the town made him somewhat doubtful4 ,the small windows on each side gave him scarcely enough light1 but he did not open the door1 fearing the curiosity of a chance passer-by4 ,one cannot be too careful in maturing a great invention4 ,plonville had been at work for possibly an hour and a half1 when he heard someone singing1 and that very sweetly4 ,she sang with the joyous freedom of one who suspected no listener4 ,the song came nearer and nearer4 ,plonville standing amazed1 dropped his implements1 and stole to the somewhat obscure little window4 ,he saw a vision of fresh loveliness dressed in a costume he never before beheld on a vision4 ,she came down the bank with a light1 springy step to the next cottage1 took a key that hung at her belt1 and threw open the door4 ,the song was hushed1 but not silenced1 for a moment1 and then there came from out the cottage door the half of a boat that made ,plonville gasp4 ,like the costume1 he had never before seen such a boat4 ,it was exactly the shape in which he had designed his invention1 and was of some extra light material1 for the sylph-like girl in the extraordinary dress pushed it forth without even ceasing her song4 ,next moment1 she came out herself and stood there while she adjusted her red head-gear4 ,she drew the boat down to the water1 picked out of it a light1 silver-mounted paddle1 stepped deftly aboard1 and settled down to her place with the airy grace of a thistle-down4 ,there was no seat in the boat1 ,plonville noted with astonishment4 ,the sea was very smooth1 and a few strokes of the paddle sent girl and craft out of sight along the coast4 ,plonville drew a deep breath of bewilderment4 ,it was his first sight of a ,thames boating costume and a canoe4 ,this1 then1 was why the man winked when he gave him the key4 ,plonville was in a quandary4 ,should he reveal himself when she returned8 ,it did not seem to be quite the thing to allow the girl to believe she had the coast to herself when in fact she hadn't4 ,but then there was his invention to think of4 ,he had sworn allegiance to that4 ,he sat down and pondered4 ,english1 evidently4 ,he had no idea ,english girls were so pretty1 and then that costume6 ,it was very taking4 ,the rich1 creamy folds of the white flannel1 so simple1 yet so complete1 lingered in his memory4 ,still1 what was he there for8 ,his invention certainly4 ,the sneer of the lieutenant stung his memory4 ,that ,miss ,whatever-her- name-might-be had rented the next box was nothing to him2 of course not4 ,he waved her aside and turned to his work4 ,he had lost enough of time as it was2 he would lose no more4 ,although armed with this heroic resolution1 his task somehow did not seem so interesting as before1 and he found himself listening now and then for the siren's song4 ,he dramatized imaginary situations1 which is always bad for practical work4 ,he saw the frail craft shattered or overturned1 and beheld himself bravely buffeting the waves rescuing the fair girl in white4 ,then he remembered with a sigh that he was not a good swimmer4 ,possibly she was more at home in the waves than he was4 ,those ,english seemed on such terms of comradeship with the sea4 ,at last1 intuition rather than hearing told him she had returned4 ,he walked on tip-toe to the dingy window4 ,she was pulling the light canoe up from the water4 ,he checked his impulse to offer assistance4 ,when the girl sprang lightly up the bank1 ,plonville sighed and concluded he had done enough work for the day4 ,as he reached the road1 he noticed that the white figure in the distance did not take the way to the hotel1 but towards one of the neighboring ,chateaux4 ,in the afternoon1 ,plonville worked long at his invention1 and made progress4 ,he walked back to his hotel with the feeling of self- satisfaction which indolent men have on those rare occasions when they are industrious4 ,he had been uninterrupted1 and his resolutions were again heroic4 ,what had been done one afternoon might be done all afternoons4 ,he would think no more of the vision he had seen and he would work only after lunch1 thus avoiding the necessity of revealing himself1 or of being a concealed watcher of her actions4 ,of course she came always in the morning1 for the ,english are a methodical people1 and ,plonville was so learned in their ways that he knew what they did one day they were sure to do the next4 ,an extraordinary nation1 ,plonville said to himself with a shrug of his shoulders1 but then of course1 we cannot all be ,french4 ,it is rather a pity that temptation should step in just when a man has made up his mind not to deviate from a certain straight line of conduct4 ,there was to be a ball that night at the big hotel4 ,plonville had refused to have anything to do with it4 ,he had renounced the frivolities of life4 ,he was there for rest1 quiet1 and study4 ,he was adamant4 ,that evening the invitation was again extended to him1 the truth being that there was a scarcity of young men1 as is usually the case at such functions4 ,plonville was about to re-state his objections to frivolity when through the open door he caught a glimpse of two of the arriving guests ascending the stair4 ,the girl had on a long opera cloak with some fluffy white material round the neck and down the front4 ,a filmy lace arrangement rested lightly on her fair hair4 ,it was the lady of the canoe--glorified4 ,plonville wavered and was lost4 ,he rushed to his room and donned his war paint4 ,say what you like1 evening dress improves the appearance of a man4 ,besides this1 he had resumed the ,de once more1 and his back was naturally straighter4 ,de ,plonville looked well4 ,they were speedily introduced1 of course4 ,de ,plonville took care of that1 and the manager of the ball was very grateful to him for coming1 and for looking so nice4 ,there was actually an air of distinction about ,de ,plonville4 ,she was the ,hon4 ,margaret ,stansby1 he learned4 ,besides being unfair1 it would be impossible to give their conversation4 ,it would read like a section from ,ollendorf's ,french-,english exercises4 ,de ,plonville1 as has been said1 was very proud of his ,english1 and1 unfortunately1 the ,hon4 ,margaret had a sense of humor4 ,he complimented her by saying that she talked ,french even better than he talked ,english1 which1 while doubtless true1 was not the most tactful thing ,de ,plonville might have said4 ,it was difficult to listen to such a statement given in his ,english1 and refrain from laughing4 ,margaret1 however1 scored a great victory and did not laugh4 ,the evening passed pleasantly1 she thought2 delightfully1 ,de ,plonville thought4 ,it was hard after this to come down to the prosaic work of completing a cloth canoe-tent1 but1 to ,de ,plonville's credit1 he persevered4 ,he met the young lady on several occasions1 but never by the coast4 ,the better they became acquainted the more he wished to have the privilege of rescuing her from some deadly danger2 but the opportunity did not come4 ,it seldom does1 except in books1 as he bitterly remarked to himself4 ,the sea was exasperatingly calm1 and ,miss ,margaret was mistress of her craft1 as so many charming women are4 ,he thought of buying a telescope and watching her1 for she had told him that one of her own delights was looking at the evolutions of the ironclads through a telescope on the terrace in front of the ,chateau4 ,at last1 in spite of his distractions1 ,de ,plonville added the finishing touches to his notable invention1 and all that remained was to put it to a practical test4 ,he chose a day when that portion of the ,french navy which frequents the ,rade d',hyres was not in sight1 for he did not wish to come within the field of the telescope at the ,chateau terrace4 ,he felt that he would not look his best as he paddled his new-fangled boat4 ,besides1 it might sink with him4 ,there was not a sail in sight as he put forth4 ,even the fishing boats of ,carqueyranne were in shelter4 ,the sea was very calm1 and the sun shone brightly4 ,he had some little difficulty in getting seated1 but he was elated to find that his invention answered all expectations4 ,as he went further out he noticed a great buoy floating a long distance away4 ,his evil genius suggested that it would be a good thing to paddle out to the buoy and back4 ,many men can drink champagne and show no sign1 but few can drink success and remain sober4 ,the eccentric airs assumed by noted authors prove the truth of this4 ,de ,plonville was drunk1 and never suspected it4 ,the tide1 what little there is of it in the ,mediterranean1 helped him1 and even the gentle breeze blew from the shore4 ,he had some doubts as to the wisdom of his course before he reached the gigantic red buoy1 but when he turned around and saw the appalling distance to the coast1 he shuddered4 ,the great buoy was of iron1 apparently boiler plate1 and there were rings fastened to its side4 ,it was pear-shaped with the point in the water1 fastened to a chain that evidently led to an anchor4 ,he wondered what it was for4 ,as he looked up it was moved by some unseen current1 and rolled over as if bent on the destruction of his craft4 ,forgetting himself1 he sprang up to ward it off1 and instantly one foot went through the thin waterproof that formed the bottom and sides of his boat4 ,he found himself struggling in the water almost before he realized what had happened4 ,kicking his foot free from the entanglement that threatened to drag him under1 he saw his invention slowly settle down through the clear1 green water4 ,he grasped one of the rings of the buoy1 and hung there for a moment to catch his breath and consider his position4 ,he rapidly came to the conclusion that it was not a pleasant one1 but further than that he found it difficult to go4 ,attempting to swim ashore would be simply one form of suicide4 ,the thing to do was evidently to get on top of the buoy1 but he realized that if he tried to pull himself up by the rings it would simply roll him under4 ,he was surprised to find1 however1 that such was not the case4 ,he had under- estimated both its size and its weight4 ,he sat down on top of it and breathed heavily after his exertions1 gazing for a few moments at the vast expanse of shimmering blue water4 ,it was pretty1 but discouraging4 ,not even a fishing-boat was in sight1 and he was in a position where every prospect pleases1 and only man is in a vile situation4 ,the big iron island had an uncomfortable habit every now and then of lounging partly over to one side or the other1 so that ,de ,plonville had to scramble this way or that to keep from falling off4 ,he vaguely surmised that his motions on these occasions lacked dignity4 ,the hot sun began to dry the clothes on his back1 and he felt his hair become crisp with salt4 ,he recollected that swimming should be easy here1 for he was on the saltest portion of the saltest open sea in the world4 ,then his gaze wandered over the flat lands about ,les ,salins where acres of ground were covered artificially with ,mediterranean water so that the sun may evaporate it1 and leave the coarse salt used by the fishermen of the coast4 ,he did not yet feel hungry1 but he thought with regret of the good dinner which would be spread at the hotel that evening1 when1 perhaps1 he would not be there4 ,he turned himself around and scanned the distant ,islands of ,gold1 but there was as little prospect of help from that quarter as from the mainland4 ,becoming more accustomed to the swayings of the big globe1 he stood up4 ,what a fool he had been to come so far1 and he used ,french words between his teeth that sounded terse and emphatic4 ,still there was little use thinking of that4 ,here he was1 and here he would stay1 as a ,president of his country had once remarked4 ,the irksomeness and restraint of his position began to wear on his nerves1 and he cried aloud for something--anything--to happen rather than what he was enduring4 ,something happened4 ,from between the ,islands1 there slowly appeared a great modern ,french ship of war1 small in the distance4 ,hope lighted up the face of ,de ,plonville4 ,she must pass near enough to enable his signalling to be seen by the lookout4 ,heavens6 how leisurely she moved6 ,then a second war vessel followed the first into view1 and finally a third4 ,the three came slowly along in stately procession4 ,de ,plonville removed his coat and waved it up and down to attract attention4 ,so intent was he upon this that he nearly lost his footing1 and1 realizing that the men-of- war were still too far away1 he desisted4 ,he sat down as his excitement abated1 and watched their quiet approach4 ,once it seemed to him they had stopped1 and he leaned forward1 shading his eyes with his hand1 and watched them eagerly4 ,they were just moving--that was all4 ,suddenly1 from the black side of the foremost battle-ship1 there rolled upward a cloud of white smoke1 obscuring the funnels and the rigging1 thinning out into the blue sky over the top-masts4 ,after what seemed a long interval the low1 dull roar of a cannon reached him1 followed by the echo from the high hills of the island1 and later by the fainter re-echo from the mountains on the mainland4 ,this depressed ,de ,plonville1 for1 if the ships were out for practice1 the obscuring smoke around them would make the seeing of his signalling very improbable2 and then that portion of the fleet might return the way it came1 leaving him in his predicament4 ,from the second ironclad arose a similar cloud1 and this time far to his left there spurted up from the sea a jet of water1 waving in the air like a plume for a moment1 then dropping back in a shower on the ruffled surface4 ,the buoy was a target6 ,as ,de ,plonville realized its use1 he felt that uncomfortable creeping of the scalp which we call1 the hair standing on end4 ,the third cannon sent up its cloud1 and ,de ,plonville's eyes extended at what they saw4 ,coming directly towards him was a cannon ball1 skipping over the water like a thrown pebble4 ,his experience in the navy--at ,paris--had never taught him that such a thing was possible4 ,he slid down flat on the buoy1 till his chin rested on the iron1 and awaited the shock4 ,a hundred yards from him the ball dipped into the water and disappeared4 ,he found that he had ineffectually tried to drive his nails into the boiler plate1 until his fingers' ends were sore4 ,he stood up and waved his arms1 but the first vessel fired again1 and the ball came shrieking over him so low that he intuitively ducked his head4 ,like a pang of physical pain1 the thought darted through his brain that he had instigated a censure on the bad firing of these very boats4 ,doubtless they saw a man on the buoy1 but as no man had any business there1 the knocking of him off by a cannon ball would be good proof of accuracy of aim4 ,the investigation which followed would be a feather in the cap of the officer in charge1 whatever the verdict4 ,de ,plonville1 with something like a sigh1 more than suspected that his untimely death would not cast irretrievable gloom over the fleet4 ,well1 a man has to die but once1 and there is little use in making a fuss over the inevitable4 ,he would meet his fate calmly and as a ,frenchman should1 with his face to the guns4 ,there was a tinge of regret that there would be no one to witness his heroism4 ,it is always pleasant on such occasions to have a war correspondent1 or at least a reporter1 present4 ,it is best to be as comfortable as possible under any circumstances1 so ,de ,plonville sat down on the spheroid and let his feet dangle toward the water4 ,the great buoy for some reason floated around until it presented its side to the ships4 ,none of the balls came so near as those first fired--perhaps because of the accumulated smoke4 ,new features of the situation continued to present themselves to ,de ,plonville as he sat there4 ,the firing had been going on for some time before he reflected that if a shot punctured the buoy it would fill and sink4 ,perhaps their orders were to fire until the buoy disappeared4 ,there was little comfort in this suggestion4 ,firing had ceased for some minutes before he noticed the fact4 ,a bank of thinning smoke rested on the water between the buoy and the ships4 ,he saw the ironclads move ponderously around and steam through this bank turning broadside on again in one1 two1 three1 order4 ,he watched the evolution with his chin resting on his hands1 not realizing that the moment for signalling had come4 ,when the idea penetrated his somewhat dazed mind1 he sprang to his feet1 but his opportunity had gone4 ,the smoke of the first gun rose in the air1 there was a clang of iron on iron1 and ,de ,plonville found himself whirling in space3 then sinking in the sea4 ,coming breathless to the surface1 he saw the buoy revolving slowly1 and a deep dinge in its side seemed to slide over its top and disappear into the water1 showing where the shot had struck4 ,the second boat did not fire1 and he knew that they were examining the buoy with their glasses4 ,he swam around to the other side1 intending to catch a ring and have it haul him up where he could be seen4 ,before he reached the place the buoy was at rest again1 and as he laboriously climbed on top more dead than alive1 the second ship opened fire4 ,he lay down at full length exhausted1 and hoped if they were going to hit they would hit quick4 ,life was not worth having on these conditions4 ,he felt the hot sun on his back1 and listened dreamily to the cannon4 ,hope was gone1 and he wondered at himself for feeling a remote rather than an active interest in his fate4 ,he thought of himself as somebody else1 and felt a vague impersonal pity4 ,he criticised the random firing1 and suspected the hit was merely a fluke4 ,when his back was dry he rolled lazily over and lay gazing up at the cloudless sky4 ,for greater comfort he placed his hands beneath his head4 ,the sky faded1 and a moment's unconsciousness intervened4 ,this won't do1 he cried1 shaking himself4 ,if ,i fall asleep ,i shall roll off4 ,he sat up again1 his joints stiff with his immersion1 and watched the distant ironclads4 ,he saw with languid interest a ball strike the water1 take a new flight1 and plunge into the sea far to the right4 ,he thought that the vagaries of cannon-balls at sea would make an interesting study4 ,are you injured8 cried a clear voice behind him4 ,mon ,dieu6 shouted the young man in a genuine fright1 as he sprang to his feet4 ,oh1 ,i beg pardon1 as if a rescuer need apologize1 ,i thought you were ,m4 ,de ,plonville4 ,i am ,de ,plonville4 ,your hair is grey1 she said in an awed whisper2 then added1 and no wonder4 ,mademoiselle1 replied the stricken young man1 placing his hand on his heart1 it is needless to deny--,i do not deny--that ,i was frightened-- but--,i did not think--not so much as that1 ,i regret4 ,it is so--so-- theatrical--,i am deeply sorrowful4 ,please say no more1 but come quickly4 ,can you come down8 ,step exactly in the middle of the canoe4 ,be careful--it is easily upset--and sit down at once4 ,that was very nicely done4 ,mademoiselle1 allow me at least to row the boat4 ,it is paddling1 and you do not understand it4 ,i do4 ,please do not speak until we are out of range4 ,i am horribly frightened4 ,you are very1 very brave4 ,hs--s--sh4 ,miss ,stansby wielded the double-bladed paddle in a way a ,red ,indian might have envied4 ,once she uttered a little feminine shriek as a cannon ball plunged into the water behind them2 but as they got further away from the buoy those on the iron-clads appeared to notice that a boat was within range1 and the firing ceased4 ,miss ,stansby looked fixedly at the solemn young man sitting before her2 then placed her paddle across the canoe1 bent over it1 and laughed4 ,de ,plonville saw the reaction had come4 ,he said sympathetically3-- ,ah1 ,mademoiselle1 do not1 ,i beg4 ,all danger is over1 ,i think4 ,i am not frightened1 don't think it1 she cried1 flashing a look of defiance at him1 and forgetting her admission of fear a moment before4 ,my father was an ,admiral4 ,i am laughing at my mistake4 ,it is salt4 ,what is8 asked her astonished passenger4 ,in your hair4 ,he ran his fingers through his hair1 and the salt rattled down to the bottom of the canoe4 ,there was something of relief in his laugh4 99 99 99 99 99 ,de ,plonville always believes the officers on board the gunboats recognized him4 ,when it was known in ,paris that he was to be married to the daughter of an ,english ,admiral1 whom rumor said he had bravely saved from imminent peril1 the army lieutenant remarked that she could never have heard him speak her language--which1 as we know1 is not true4 ,a ,,new ,,explosive4 ,the ,french ,minister of ,war sat in his very comfortable chair in his own private yet official room1 and pondered over a letter he had received4 ,being ,minister of ,war1 he was naturally the most mild1 the most humane1 and least quarrelsome man in the ,cabinet4 ,a ,minister of ,war receives many letters that1 as a matter of course1 he throws into his waste basket1 but this particular communication had somehow managed to rivet his attention4 ,when a man becomes ,minister of ,war he learns for the first time that apparently the great majority of mankind are engaged in the manufacture or invention of rifles1 gunpowders1 and devices of all kinds for the destruction of the rest of the world4 ,that morning1 the ,minister of ,war had received a letter which announced to him that the writer of it had invented an explosive so terrible that all known destructive agencies paled before it4 ,as a ,frenchman1 he made the first offer of his discovery to the ,french ,government4 ,it would cost the ,minister nothing1 he said1 to make a test which would corroborate his amazing claims for the substance1 and the moment that test was made1 any intelligent man would recognize the fact that the country which possessed the secret of this destructive compound would at once occupy an unassailable position in a contentious world4 ,the writer offered personally to convince the ,minister of the truth of his assertions1 provided they could go to some remote spot where the results of the explosion would do no damage1 and where they would be safe from espionage4 ,the writer went on very frankly to say that if the ,minister consulted with the agents of the police1 they would at once see in this invitation a trap for the probable assassination of the ,minister4 ,but the inventor claimed that the ,minister's own good sense should show him that his death was desired by none4 ,he was but newly appointed1 and had not yet had time to make enemies4 ,france was at peace with all the world1 and this happened before the time of the ,anarchist demonstrations in ,paris4 ,it was but right1 the letter went on1 that the ,minister should have some guarantee as to the bona fides of the inventor4 ,he therefore gave his name and address1 and said if the ,minister made inquiries from the police1 he would find nothing stood in their books against him4 ,he was a student1 whose attention1 for years1 had been given to the subject of explosives4 ,to further show that he was entirely unselfish in this matter1 he added that he had no desire to enrich himself by his discovery4 ,he had a private income quite sufficient for his needs1 and he intended to give1 and not to sell1 his secret to ,france4 ,the only proviso he made was that his name should be linked with this terrible compound1 which he maintained would secure universal peace to the world1 for1 after its qualities were known1 no nation would dare to fight with another4 ,the sole ambition of the inventor1 said the letter in conclusion1 was to place his name high in the list of celebrated ,french scientists4 ,if1 however1 the ,minister refused to treat with him he would go to other ,governments until his invention was taken up1 but the ,government which secured it would at once occupy the leading position among nations4 ,he entreated the ,minister1 therefore1 for the sake of his country1 to make at least one test of the compound4 ,it was1 as ,i have said1 before the time of the ,paris explosions1 and ministers were not so suspicious then as they are now4 ,the ,minister made inquiries regarding the scientist1 who lived in a little suburb of ,paris1 and found that there was nothing against him on the books of the police4 ,inquiry showed that all he had said about his own private fortune was true4 ,the ,minister therefore wrote to the inventor1 and named an hour at which he would receive him in his private office4 ,the hour and the man arrived together4 ,the ,minister had had some slight doubts regarding his sanity1 but the letter had been so straightforwardly written1 and the appearance of the man himself was so kindly and benevolent and intelligent that the doubts of the official vanished4 ,i beg you to be seated1 said the ,minister4 ,we are entirely alone1 and nothing you say will be heard by any one but myself4 ,i thank you1 ,monsieur le ,ministre1 replied the inventor1 for this mark of confidence2 for ,i am afraid the claims ,i made in the letter were so extraordinary that you might well have hesitated about granting me an interview4 ,the ,minister smiled4 ,i understand1 he said1 the enthusiasm of an inventor for his latest triumph1 and ,i was enabled thus to take1 as it were1 some discount from your statements1 although ,i doubt not that you have discovered something that may be of benefit to the ,war ,department4 ,the inventor hesitated1 looking seriously at the great official before him4 ,from what you say1 he began at last1 ,i am rather afraid that my letter misled you1 for1 fearing it would not be credited ,i was obliged to make my claims so mild that ,i erred in under-estimating rather than in over-stating them4 ,i have the explosive here in my pocket4 ,ah6 cried the ,minister1 a shade of pallor coming over his countenance1 as he pushed back his chair4 ,i thought ,i stated in my note that you were not to bring it4 ,forgive me for not obeying4 ,it is perfectly harmless while in this state4 ,this is one of the peculiarities--a beneficent peculiarity if ,i may so term it--of this terrible agent4 ,it may be handled with perfect safety1 and yet its effects are as inevitable as death1 saying which1 he took out of his pocket and held up to the light a bottle filled with a clear colorless liquid like water4 ,you could pour that on the fire1 he said1 with no other effect than to put out the blaze4 ,you might place it under a steam hammer and crush the bottle to powder1 yet no explosion would follow4 ,it is as harmless as water in its present condition4 ,how1 then1 said the ,minister1 do you deal with it8 ,again the man hesitated4 ,i am almost afraid to tell you1 he said2 and if ,i could not demonstrate to your entire satisfaction that what ,i say is true1 it would be folly for me to say what ,i am about to say4 ,if ,i were to take this bottle and cut a notch in the cork1 and walk with it neck downwards along the ,boulevard des ,italiens1 allowing this fluid to fall drop by drop on the pavement1 ,i could walk in that way in safety through every street in ,paris4 ,if it rained that day nothing would happen4 ,if it rained the next or for a week nothing would happen1 but the moment the sun came out and dried the moisture1 the light step of a cat on any pavement over which ,i had passed would instantly shatter to ruins the whole of ,paris4 ,impossible6 cried the ,minister1 an expression of horror coming into his face4 ,i knew you would say that4 ,therefore ,i ask you to come with me to the country1 where ,i can prove the truth of what ,i allege4 ,while ,i carry this bottle around with me in this apparently careless fashion1 it is corked1 as you see with the utmost security4 ,not a drop of the fluid must be left on the outside of the cork or of the bottle4 ,i have wiped the bottle and cork most thoroughly1 and burned the cloth which ,i used in doing so4 ,fire will not cause this compound1 even when dry1 to explode1 but the slightest touch will set it off4 ,i have to be extremely careful in its manufacture1 so that not a single drop is left unaccounted for in any place where it might evaporate4 ,the ,minister1 with his finger-tips together and his eyes on the ceiling1 mused for a few moments on the amazing statement he had heard4 ,if what you say is true1 he began at last1 don't you think it would be more humane to destroy all traces of the experiments by which you discovered this substance1 and to divulge the secret to no one8 ,the devastation such a thing would cause1 if it fell into unscrupulous hands1 is too appalling even to contemplate4 ,i have thought of that1 said the inventor2 but some one else--the time may be far off or it may be near--is bound to make the discovery4 ,my whole ambition1 as ,i told you in my letter1 is to have my name coupled with this discovery4 ,i wish it to be known as the ,lambelle ,explosive4 ,the secret would be safe with the ,french ,government4 ,i am not so sure of that1 returned the ,minister4 ,some unscrupulous man may become ,minister of ,war1 and may use his knowledge to put himself in the position of ,dictator4 ,an unscrupulous man in the possession of such a secret would be invincible4 ,what you say1 replied the inventor1 is undoubtedly true2 yet ,i am determined that the name of ,lambelle shall go down in history coupled with the most destructive agent the world has ever known1 or will know4 ,if the ,government of ,france will build for me a large stone structure as secure as a fortress1 ,i will keep my secret1 but will fill that building with bottles like this1 and then---- ,i do not see1 said the ,minister1 that that would lessen the danger1 if the unscrupulous man ,i speak of once became possessed of the keys2 and1 besides1 the mere fact that such a secret existed would put other inventors upon the track1 and some one else less benevolent than yourself would undoubtedly make the discovery4 ,you admitted a moment ago that the chances were a future investigator would succeed in getting the right ingredients together1 even without the knowledge that such an explosive existed4 ,see what an incentive it would be to inventors all over the world1 if it were known that ,france had in its possession such a fearful explosive6 ,no ,government has ever yet been successful in keeping the secret of either a gun or a gunpowder4 ,there is1 of course1 said ,lambelle1 much in what you say2 but1 equally of course1 all that you say might have been said to the inventor of gunpowder1 for gunpowder in its day was as wonderful as this is now4 ,suddenly the ,minister laughed aloud4 ,i am talking seriously with you on this subject1 he exclaimed1 as if ,i really believed in it4 ,of course1 ,i may say ,i do nothing of the kind4 ,i think you must have hypnotized me with those calm eyes of yours into crediting your statements for even a few moments4 ,all that ,i say1 said the inventor quietly1 can be corroborated to- morrow4 ,make an appointment with me in the country1 and if it chances to be a calm and sunny day you will no longer doubt the evidence of your own eyes4 ,where do you wish the experiment to be made8 asked the ,minister4 ,it must be in some wild and desolate region1 on a hill-top for preference4 ,there should be either trees or old buildings there that we can destroy1 otherwise the full effects can hardly be estimated4 ,i have a place in the country1 said the ,minister1 which is wild and desolate and unprofitable enough4 ,there are some useless stone buildings1 not on a hill-top1 but by the edge of a quarry which has been unworked for many years4 ,there is no habitation for several miles around4 ,would such a spot be suitable8 ,perfectly so4 ,when would it be convenient for you to go8 ,i will leave with you to-night1 said the ,minister1 and we can spend the day to-morrow experimenting4 ,very well1 answered ,lambelle1 rising when the ,minister had told him the hour and the railway station at which they should meet4 ,that evening1 when the ,minister drove to the railway station in time for his train1 he found ,lambelle waiting for him1 holding1 by a leash1 two sorry-looking dogs4 ,do you travel with such animals as these8 asked the ,minister4 ,the poor brutes1 said ,lambelle1 with regret in his voice1 are necessary for our experiments4 ,they will be in atoms by this time to- morrow4 ,the dogs were put into the railway-van1 and the inventor brought his portmanteau with him into the private carriage reserved for the use of the ,minister4 ,the place1 as the ,minister of ,war had said1 was desolate enough4 ,the stone buildings near the edge of the deserted quarry were stout and strong1 although partly in ruins4 ,i have here with me in my portmanteau1 said ,lambelle1 some hundreds of metres of electric wire4 ,i will attach one of the dogs by this clip1 which we can release from a distance by pressing an electric button4 ,the moment the dog escapes he will undoubtedly explode the compound4 ,the insulated wire was run along the ground to a distant elevation4 ,the dog was attached by the electric clip1 and chained to a doorpost of one of the buildings4 ,lambelle then carefully uncorked his bottle1 holding it at arm's length from his person4 ,the ,minister looked on with strange interest as ,lambelle allowed the fluid to drip in a semicircular line around the chained dog4 ,the inventor carefully re-corked the bottle1 wiped it thoroughly with a cloth he had with him1 and threw the cloth into one of the deserted houses4 ,they waited near1 until the spots caused by the fluid on the stone pavement in front of the house had disappeared4 ,by the time we reach the hill1 said ,lambelle1 it will be quite dry in this hot sun4 ,as they departed towards the elevation1 the forlorn dog howled mournfully1 as if in premonition of his fate4 ,i think1 to make sure1 said the inventor1 when they reached the electrical apparatus1 that we might wait for half an hour4 ,the ,minister lit a cigarette1 and smoked silently1 a strange battle going on in his mind4 ,he found himself believing in the extraordinary claims made by the inventor1 and his thought dwelt on the awful possibilities of such an explosive4 ,will you press the electric lever8 asked ,lambelle quietly4 ,remember that you are inaugurating a new era4 ,the ,minister pressed down the key1 and then1 putting his field-glass to his eye1 he saw that the dog was released1 but the animal sat there scratching its ear with its paw4 ,then1 realizing that it was loose1 it sniffed for a moment at the chain4 ,finally1 it threw up its head and barked1 although the distance was too great for them to hear any sound4 ,the dog started in the direction the two men had gone1 but1 before it had taken three steps1 the ,minister was appalled to see the buildings suddenly crumble into dust1 and a few moments later the thunder of the rocks falling into the deserted quarry came toward them4 ,the whole ledge had been flung forwards into the chasm4 ,there was no smoke1 but a haze of dust hovered over the spot4 ,my ,god6 cried the ,minister4 ,that is awful6 ,yes1 said ,lambelle quietly2 ,i put more of the substance on the flagging than ,i need to have done4 ,a few drops would have answered quite as well1 but ,i wanted to make sure4 ,you were very sceptical1 you know4 ,the ,minister looked at him4 ,i beg of you1 ,m4 ,lambelle1 never to divulge this secret to the ,government of ,france1 or to any other power4 ,take the risk of it being discovered in the future4 ,i implore you to reconsider your original intention4 ,if you desire money1 ,i will see that you get what you want from the secret funds4 ,lambelle shrugged his shoulders4 ,i have no desire for money1 he said2 but what you have seen will show you that ,i shall be the most famous scientist of the century4 ,the name of ,lambelle will be known till the end of the world4 ,but1 my ,god1 man6 said the ,minister1 the end of the world is here the moment your secret is in the possession of another4 ,with you or me it would be safe3 but who can tell the minds of those who may follow us8 ,you are putting the power of the ,almighty into the hands of a man4 ,lambelle flushed with pride as the pale-faced ,minister said this4 ,you speak the truth6 he cried1 it is the power of ,omnipotence4 ,then1 implored the ,minister1 reconsider your decision4 ,i have labored too long1 said ,lambelle1 to forego my triumph now4 ,you are convinced at last1 ,i see4 ,now then1 tell me3 will you1 as ,minister of ,france1 secure for your country this greatest of all inventions8 ,yes1 answered the ,minister2 no other power must be allowed to obtain the secret4 ,have you ever written down the names of the ingredients8 ,never1 answered ,lambelle4 ,is it not possible for any one to have suspected what your experiments were8 ,if a man got into your laboratory--a scientific man--could he not1 from what he saw there1 obtain the secret8 ,it would be impossible1 said ,lambelle4 ,i have been too anxious to keep the credit for myself1 to leave any traces that might give a hint of what ,i was doing4 ,you were wise in that1 said the ,minister1 drawing a deep breath4 ,now let us go and look at the ruins4 ,as they neared the spot the official's astonishment at the extraordinary destruction became greater and greater4 ,the rock had been rent as if by an earthquake1 to the distance of hundreds of yards4 ,you say1 said the ,minister1 that the liquid is perfectly safe until evaporation takes place4 ,perfectly1 answered ,lambelle4 ,of course one has to be careful1 as ,i told you1 in the use of it4 ,you must not get a drop on your clothes1 or leave it anywhere on the outside of the bottle to evaporate4 ,let me see the stuff4 ,lambelle handed him the bottle4 ,have you any more of this in your laboratory8 ,not a drop4 ,if you wished to destroy this1 how would you do it8 ,i should empty the bottle into the ,seine4 ,it would flow down to the sea1 and no harm would be done4 ,see if you can find any traces of the dog1 said the ,minister4 ,i will clamber down into the quarry1 and look there4 ,you will find nothing1 said ,lambelle confidently4 ,there was but one path by which the bottom of the quarry could be reached4 ,the ,minister descended by this until he was out of sight of the man above2 then he quickly uncorked the bottle1 and allowed the fluid to drip along the narrowest part of the path which faced the burning sun4 ,he corked the bottle1 wiped it carefully with his handkerchief1 which he rolled into a ball1 and threw into the quarry4 ,coming up to the surface again1 he said to the mild and benevolent scientist3 ,i cannot find a trace of the dog4 ,nor can ,i1 said ,lambelle4 ,of course when you can hardly find a sign of the building it is not to be expected that there should be any remnants of the dog4 ,suppose we get back to the hill now and have lunch1 said the ,minister4 ,do you wish to try another experiment8 ,i would like to try one more after we have had something to eat4 ,what would be the effect if you poured the whole bottleful into the quarry and set it off8 ,oh1 impossible6 cried ,lambelle4 ,it would rend this whole part of the country to pieces4 ,in fact1 ,i am not sure that the shock would not be felt as far as ,paris4 ,with a very few drops ,i can shatter the whole quarry4 ,well1 we'll try that after lunch4 ,we have another dog left4 ,when an hour had passed1 ,lambelle was anxious to try his quarry experiment4 ,by-and-by1 he said1 the sun will not be shining in the quarry1 and then it will be too late4 ,we can easily wait until to-morrow1 unless you are in a hurry4 ,i am in no hurry1 rejoined the inventor4 ,i thought perhaps you might be1 with so much to do4 ,no1 replied the official4 ,nothing ,i shall do during my administration will be more important than this4 ,i am glad to hear you say so1 answered ,lambelle2 and if you will give me the bottle again ,i will now place a few drops in the sunny part of the quarry4 ,the ,minister handed him the bottle1 apparently with some reluctance4 ,i still think1 he said1 that it would be much better to allow this secret to die4 ,no one knows it at present but yourself4 ,with you1 as ,i have said1 it will be safe1 or with me2 but think of the awful possibilities of a disclosure4 ,every great invention has its risks1 said ,lambelle firmly4 ,nothing would induce me to forego the fruits of my life-work4 ,it is too much to ask of any man4 ,very well1 said the ,minister4 ,then let us be sure of our facts4 ,i want to see the effects of the explosive on the quarry4 ,you shall1 said ,lambelle1 as he departed4 ,i will wait for you here1 said the ,minister1 and smoke a cigarette4 ,when the inventor approached the quarry1 leading the dog behind him1 the ,minister's hand trembled so that he was hardly able to hold the field-glass to his eye4 ,lambelle disappeared down the path4 ,the next instant the ground trembled even where the ,minister sat1 and a haze of dust arose above the ruined quarry4 ,some moments after the pallid ,minister looked over the work of destruction1 but no trace of humanity was there except himself4 ,i could not do otherwise1 he murmured1 ,it was too great a risk to run4 ,,the ,,great ,,pegram ,,mystery4 7,with apologies to ,dr4 ,conan ,doyle1 and our mutual and lamented friend the late ,sherlock ,holmes47 ,i dropped in on my friend1 ,sherlaw ,kombs1 to hear what he had to say about the ,pegram mystery1 as it had come to be called in the newspapers4 ,i found him playing the violin with a look of sweet peace and serenity on his face1 which ,i never noticed on the countenances of those within hearing distance4 ,i knew this expression of seraphic calm indicated that ,kombs had been deeply annoyed about something4 ,such1 indeed1 proved to be the case1 for one of the morning papers had contained an article1 eulogizing the alertness and general competence of ,scotland ,yard4 ,so great was ,sherlaw ,kombs's contempt for ,scotland ,yard that he never would visit ,scotland during his vacations1 nor would he ever admit that a ,scotchman was fit for anything but export4 ,he generously put away his violin1 for he had a sincere liking for me1 and greeted me with his usual kindness4 ,i have come1 ,i began1 plunging at once into the matter on my mind1 to hear what you think of the great ,pegram mystery4 ,i haven't heard of it1 he said quietly1 just as if all ,london were not talking of that very thing4 ,kombs was curiously ignorant on some subjects1 and abnormally learned on others4 ,i found1 for instance1 that political discussion with him was impossible1 because he did not know who ,salisbury and ,gladstone were4 ,this made his friendship a great boon4 ,the ,pegram mystery has baffled even ,gregory1 of ,scotland ,yard4 ,i can well believe it1 said my friend1 calmly4 ,perpetual motion1 or squaring the circle1 would baffle ,gregory4 ,he's an infant1 is ,gregory4 ,this was one of the things ,i always liked about ,kombs4 ,there was no professional jealousy in him1 such as characterizes so many other men4 ,he filled his pipe1 threw himself into his deep-seated arm-chair1 placed his feet on the mantel1 and clasped his hands behind his head4 ,tell me about it1 he said simply4 ,old ,barrie ,kipson1 ,i began1 was a stockbroker in the ,city4 ,he lived in ,pegram1 and it was his custom to---- ,,come ,,in6 shouted ,kombs1 without changing his position1 but with a suddenness that startled me4 ,i had heard no knock4 ,excuse me1 said my friend1 laughing1 my invitation to enter was a trifle premature4 ,i was really so interested in your recital that ,i spoke before ,i thought1 which a detective should never do4 ,the fact is1 a man will be here in a moment who will tell me all about this crime1 and so you will be spared further effort in that line4 ,ah1 you have an appointment4 ,in that case ,i will not intrude1 ,i said1 rising4 ,sit down2 ,i have no appointment4 ,i did not know until ,i spoke that he was coming4 ,i gazed at him in amazement4 ,accustomed as ,i was to his extraordinary talents1 the man was a perpetual surprise to me4 ,he continued to smoke quietly1 but evidently enjoyed my consternation4 ,i see you are surprised4 ,it is really too simple to talk about1 but1 from my position opposite the mirror1 ,i can see the reflection of objects in the street4 ,a man stopped1 looked at one of my cards1 and then glanced across the street4 ,i recognized my card1 because1 as you know1 they are all in scarlet4 ,if1 as you say1 ,london is talking of this mystery1 it naturally follows that he will talk of it1 and the chances are he wished to consult me about it4 ,anyone can see that1 besides there is always--,come in6 ,there was a rap at the door this time4 ,a stranger entered4 ,sherlaw ,kombs did not change his lounging attitude4 ,i wish to see ,mr4 ,sherlaw ,kombs1 the detective1 said the stranger1 coming within the range of the smoker's vision4 ,this is ,mr4 ,kombs1 ,i remarked at last1 as my friend smoked quietly1 and seemed half-asleep4 ,allow me to introduce myself1 continued the stranger1 fumbling for a card4 ,there is no need4 ,you are a journalist1 said ,kombs4 ,ah1 said the stranger1 somewhat taken aback1 you know me1 then4 ,never saw or heard of you in my life before4 ,then how in the world---- ,nothing simpler4 ,you write for an evening paper4 ,you have written an article slating the book of a friend4 ,he will feel badly about it1 and you will condole with him4 ,he will never know who stabbed him unless ,i tell him4 ,the devil6 cried the journalist1 sinking into a chair and mopping his brow1 while his face became livid4 ,yes1 drawled ,kombs1 it is a devil of a shame that such things are done4 ,but what would you8 as we say in ,france4 ,when the journalist had recovered his second wind he pulled himself together somewhat4 ,would you object to telling me how you know these particulars about a man you say you have never seen8 ,i rarely talk about these things1 said ,kombs with great composure4 ,but as the cultivation of the habit of observation may help you in your profession1 and thus in a remote degree benefit me by making your paper less deadly dull1 ,i will tell you4 ,your first and second fingers are smeared with ink1 which shows that you write a great deal4 ,this smeared class embraces two sub-classes1 clerks or accountants1 and journalists4 ,clerks have to be neat in their work4 ,the ink-smear is slight in their case4 ,your fingers are badly and carelessly smeared2 therefore1 you are a journalist4 ,you have an evening paper in your pocket4 ,anyone might have any evening paper1 but yours is a ,special ,edition1 which will not be on the streets for half-an-hour yet4 ,you must have obtained it before you left the office1 and to do this you must be on the staff4 ,a book notice is marked with a blue pencil4 ,a journalist always despises every article in his own paper not written by himself2 therefore1 you wrote the article you have marked1 and doubtless are about to send it to the author of the book referred to4 ,your paper makes a specialty of abusing all books not written by some member of its own staff4 ,that the author is a friend of yours1 ,i merely surmised4 ,it is all a trivial example of ordinary observation4 ,really1 ,mr4 ,kombs1 you are the most wonderful man on earth4 ,you are the equal of ,gregory1 by ,jove1 you are4 ,a frown marred the brow of my friend as he placed his pipe on the sideboard and drew his self-cocking six-shooter4 ,do you mean to insult me1 sir8 ,i do not--,i--,i assure you4 ,you are fit to take charge of ,scotland ,yard to-morrow----4 ,i am in earnest1 indeed ,i am1 sir4 ,then ,heaven help you1 cried ,kombs1 slowly raising his right arm4 ,i sprang between them4 ,don't shoot6 ,i cried4 ,you will spoil the carpet4 ,besides1 ,sherlaw1 don't you see the man means well4 ,he actually thinks it is a compliment6 ,perhaps you are right1 remarked the detective1 flinging his revolver carelessly beside his pipe1 much to the relief of the third party4 ,then1 turning to the journalist1 he said1 with his customary bland courtesy-- ,you wanted to see me1 ,i think you said4 ,what can ,i do for you1 ,mr4 ,wilber ,scribbings8 ,the journalist started4 ,how do you know my name8 he gasped4 ,kombs waved his hand impatiently4 ,look inside your hat if you doubt your own name8 ,i then noticed for the first time that the name was plainly to be seen inside the top-hat ,scribbings held upside down in his hands4 ,you have heard1 of course1 of the ,pegram mystery----4 ,tush1 cried the detective2 do not1 ,i beg of you1 call it a mystery4 ,there is no such thing4 ,life would become more tolerable if there ever was a mystery4 ,nothing is original4 ,everything has been done before4 ,what about the ,pegram affair8 ,the ,pegram--ah--case has baffled everyone4 ,the ,evening ,blade wishes you to investigate1 so that it may publish the result4 ,it will pay you well4 ,will you accept the commission8 ,possibly4 ,tell me about the case4 ,i thought everybody knew the particulars4 ,mr4 ,barrie ,kipson lived at ,pegram4 ,he carried a first-class season ticket between the terminus and that station4 ,it was his custom to leave for ,pegram on the #e4cj train each evening4 ,some weeks ago1 ,mr4 ,kipson was brought down by the influenza4 ,on his first visit to the ,city after his recovery1 he drew something like #cjj in notes1 and left the office at his usual hour to catch the #e4cj4 ,he was never seen again alive1 as far as the public have been able to learn4 ,he was found at ,brewster in a first-class compartment on the ,scotch ,express1 which does not stop between ,london and ,brewster4 ,there was a bullet in his head1 and his money was gone1 pointing plainly to murder and robbery4 ,and where is the mystery1 may ,i ask8 ,there are several unexplainable things about the case4 ,first1 how came he on the ,scotch ,express1 which leaves at six1 and does not stop at ,pegram8 ,second1 the ticket examiners at the terminus would have turned him out if he showed his season ticket2 and all the tickets sold for the ,scotch ,express on the #bast are accounted for4 ,third1 how could the murderer have escaped8 ,fourth1 the passengers in the two compartments on each side of the one where the body was found heard no scuffle and no shot fired4 ,are you sure the ,scotch ,express on the #bast did not stop between ,london and ,brewster8 ,now that you mention the fact1 it did4 ,it was stopped by signal just outside of ,pegram4 ,there was a few moments' pause1 when the line was reported clear1 and it went on again4 ,this frequently happens1 as there is a branch line beyond ,pegram4 ,mr4 ,sherlaw ,kombs pondered for a few moments1 smoking his pipe silently4 ,i presume you wish the solution in time for to-morrow's paper8 ,bless my soul1 no4 ,the editor thought if you evolved a theory in a month you would do well4 ,my dear sir1 ,i do not deal with theories1 but with facts4 ,if you can make it convenient to call here to-morrow at #h a4m4 ,i will give you the full particulars early enough for the first edition4 ,there is no sense in taking up much time over so simple an affair as the ,pegram case4 ,good afternoon1 sir4 ,mr4 ,scribbings was too much astonished to return the greeting4 ,he left in a speechless condition1 and ,i saw him go up the street with his hat still in his hand4 ,sherlaw ,kombs relapsed into his old lounging attitude1 with his hands clasped behind his head4 ,the smoke came from his lips in quick puffs at first1 then at longer intervals4 ,i saw he was coming to a conclusion1 so ,i said nothing4 ,finally he spoke in his most dreamy manner4 ,i do not wish to seem to be rushing things at all1 ,whatson1 but ,i am going out to-night on the ,scotch ,express4 ,would you care to accompany me8 ,bless me6 ,i cried1 glancing at the clock1 you haven't time1 it is after five now4 ,ample time1 ,whatson--ample1 he murmured1 without changing his position4 ,i give myself a minute and a half to change slippers and dressing gown for boots and coat1 three seconds for hat1 twenty-five seconds to the street1 forty-two seconds waiting for a hansom1 and then seven at the terminus before the express starts4 ,i shall be glad of your company4 ,i was only too happy to have the privilege of going with him4 ,it was most interesting to watch the workings of so inscrutable a mind4 ,as we drove under the lofty iron roof of the terminus ,i noticed a look of annoyance pass over his face4 ,we are fifteen seconds ahead of our time1 he remarked1 looking at the big clock4 ,i dislike having a miscalculation of that sort occur4 ,the great ,scotch ,express stood ready for its long journey4 ,the detective tapped one of the guards on the shoulder4 ,you have heard of the so-called ,pegram mystery1 ,i presume8 ,certainly1 sir4 ,it happened on this very train1 sir4 ,really8 ,is the same carriage still on the train8 ,well1 yes1 sir1 it is1 replied the guard1 lowering his voice1 but of course1 sir1 we have to keep very quiet about it4 ,people wouldn't travel in it1 else1 sir4 ,doubtless4 ,do you happen to know if anybody occupies the compartment in which the body was found8 ,a lady and gentleman1 sir2 ,i put 'em in myself1 sir4 ,would you further oblige me1 said the detective1 deftly slipping half-a-sovereign into the hand of the guard1 by going to the window and informing them in an offhand casual sort of way that the tragedy took place in that compartment8 ,certainly1 sir4 ,we followed the guard1 and the moment he had imparted his news there was a suppressed scream in the carriage4 ,instantly a lady came out1 followed by a florid-faced gentleman1 who scowled at the guard4 ,we entered the now empty compartment1 and ,kombs said3 ,we would like to be alone here until we reach ,brewster4 ,i'll see to that1 sir1 answered the guard1 locking the door4 ,when the official moved away1 ,i asked my friend what he expected to find in the carriage that would cast any light on the case4 ,nothing1 was his brief reply4 ,then why do you come8 ,merely to corroborate the conclusions ,i have already arrived at4 ,and may ,i ask what those conclusions are8 ,certainly1 replied the detective1 with a touch of lassitude in his voice4 ,i beg to call your attention1 first1 to the fact that this train stands between two platforms1 and can be entered from either side4 ,any man familiar with the station for years would be aware of that fact4 ,this shows how ,mr4 ,kipson entered the train just before it started4 ,but the door on this side is locked1 ,i objected1 trying it4 ,of course4 ,but every season ticket-holder carries a key4 ,this accounts for the guard not seeing him1 and for the absence of a ticket4 ,now let me give you some information about the influenza4 ,the patient's temperature rises several degrees above normal1 and he has a fever4 ,when the malady has run its course1 the temperature falls to three- quarters of a degree below normal4 ,these1 facts are unknown to you1 ,i imagine1 because you are a doctor4 ,i admitted such was the case4 ,well1 the consequence of this fall in temperature is that the convalescent's mind turns toward thoughts of suicide4 ,then is the time he should be watched by his friends4 ,then was the time ,mr4 ,barrie ,kipson's friends did not watch him4 ,you remember the #bast1 of course4 ,no8 ,it was a most depressing day4 ,fog all around and mud under foot4 ,very good4 ,he resolves on suicide4 ,he wishes to be unidentified1 if possible but forgets his season ticket4 ,my experience is that a man about to commit a crime always forgets something4 ,but how do you account for the disappearance of the money8 ,the money has nothing to do with the matter4 ,if he was a deep man1 and knew the stupidness of ,scotland ,yard1 he probably sent the notes to an enemy4 ,if not1 they may have been given to a friend4 ,nothing is more calculated to prepare the mind for self-destruction than the prospect of a night ride on the ,scotch ,express1 and the view from the windows of the train as it passes through the northern part of ,london is particularly conducive to thoughts of annihilation4 ,what became of the weapon8 ,that is just the point on which ,i wish to satisfy myself4 ,excuse me for a moment4 ,mr4 ,sherlaw ,kombs drew down the window on the right hand side1 and examined the top of the casing minutely with a magnifying glass4 ,presently he heaved a sigh of relief1 and drew up the sash4 ,just as ,i expected1 he remarked1 speaking more to himself than to me4 ,there is a slight dent on the top of the window-frame4 ,it is of such a nature as to be made only by the trigger of a pistol falling from the nerveless hand of a suicide4 ,he intended to throw the weapon far out of the window1 but had not the strength4 ,it might have fallen into the carriage4 ,as a matter of fact1 it bounced away from the line and lies among the grass about ten feet six inches from the outside rail4 ,the only question that now remains is where the deed was committed1 and the exact present position of the pistol reckoned in miles from ,london1 but that1 fortunately1 is too simple to even need explanation4 ,great heavens1 ,sherlaw6 ,i cried4 ,how can you call that simple8 ,it seems to me impossible to compute4 ,we were now flying over ,northern ,london1 and the great detective leaned back with every sign of ennui1 closing his eyes4 ,at last he spoke wearily3 ,it is really too elementary1 ,whatson1 but ,i am always willing to oblige a friend4 ,i shall be relieved1 however1 when you are able to work out the ,a ,b ,c of detection for yourself1 although ,i shall never object to helping you with the words of more than three syllables4 ,having made up his mind to commit suicide1 ,kipson naturally intended to do it before he reached ,brewster1 because tickets are again examined at that point4 ,when the train began to stop at the signal near ,pegram1 he came to the false conclusion that it was stopping at ,brewster4 ,the fact that the shot was not heard is accounted for by the screech of the air- brake1 added to the noise of the train4 ,probably the whistle was also sounding at the same moment4 ,the train being a fast express would stop as near the signal as possible4 ,the air-brake will stop a train in twice its own length4 ,call it three times in this case4 ,very well4 ,at three times the length of this train from the signalpost towards ,london1 deducting half the length of the train1 as this carriage is in the middle1 you will find the pistol4 ,wonderful6 ,i exclaimed4 ,commonplace1 he murmured4 ,at this moment the whistle sounded shrilly1 and we felt the grind of the air-brakes4 ,the ,pegram signal again1 cried ,kombs1 with something almost like enthusiasm4 ,this is indeed luck4 ,we will get out here1 ,whatson1 and test the matter4 ,as the train stopped1 we got out on the right-hand side of the line4 ,the engine stood panting impatiently under the red light1 which changed to green as ,i looked at it4 ,as the train moved on with increasing speed1 the detective counted the carriages1 and noted down the number4 ,it was now dark1 with the thin crescent of the moon hanging in the western sky throwing a weird half-light on the shining metals4 ,the rear lamps of the train disappeared around a curve1 and the signal stood at baleful red again4 ,the black magic of the lonesome night in that strange place impressed me1 but the detective was a most practical man4 ,he placed his back against the signal-post1 and paced up the line with even strides1 counting his steps4 ,i walked along the permanent way beside him silently4 ,at last he stopped1 and took a tapeline from his pocket4 ,he ran it out until the ten feet six inches were unrolled1 scanning the figures in the wan light of the new moon4 ,giving me the end1 he placed his knuckles on the metals1 motioning me to proceed down the embankment4 ,i stretched out the line1 and then sank my hand in the damp grass to mark the spot4 ,good ,god6 ,i cried1 aghast1 what is this8 ,it is the pistol1 said ,kombs quietly4 ,it was66 99 99 99 99 99 ,journalistic ,london will not soon forget the sensation that was caused by the record of the investigations of ,sherlaw ,kombs1 as printed at length in the next day's ,evening ,blade4 ,would that my story ended here4 ,alas6 ,kombs contemptuously turned over the pistol to ,scotland ,yard4 ,the meddlesome officials1 actuated1 as ,i always hold1 by jealousy1 found the name of the seller upon it4 ,they investigated4 ,the seller testified that it had never been in the possession of ,mr4 ,kipson1 as far as he knew4 ,it was sold to a man whose description tallied with that of a criminal long watched by the police4 ,he was arrested1 and turned ,queen's evidence in the hope of hanging his pal4 ,it seemed that ,mr4 ,kipson1 who was a gloomy1 taciturn man1 and usually came home in a compartment by himself1 thus escaping observation1 had been murdered in the lane leading to his house4 ,after robbing him1 the miscreants turned their thoughts towards the disposal of the body--a subject that always occupies a first-class criminal mind before the deed is done4 ,they agreed to place it on the line1 and have it mangled by the ,scotch ,express1 then nearly due4 ,before they got the body half- way up the embankment the express came along and stopped4 ,the guard got out and walked along the other side to speak with the engineer4 ,the thought of putting the body into an empty first-class carriage instantly occurred to the murderers4 ,they opened the door with the deceased's key4 ,it is supposed that the pistol dropped when they were hoisting the body in the carriage4 ,the ,queen's evidence dodge didn't work1 and ,scotland ,yard ignobly insulted my friend ,sherlaw ,kombs by sending him a pass to see the villains hanged4 ,,death ,,cometh ,,soon ,,or ,,late4 ,it was ,alick ,robbins who named the invalid the ,living ,skeleton1 and probably remorse for having thus given him a title so descriptively accurate1 caused him to make friends with the ,living ,skeleton1 a man who seemed to have no friends4 ,robbins never forgot their first conversation4 ,it happened in this way4 ,it was the habit of the ,living ,skeleton to leave his hotel every morning promptly at ten o'clock1 if the sun was shining1 and to shuffle rather than walk down the gravel street to the avenue of palms4 ,there1 picking out a seat on which the sun shone1 the ,living ,skeleton would sit down and seem to wait patiently for someone who never came4 ,he wore a shawl around his neck and a soft cloth cap on his skull4 ,every bone in his face stood out against the skin1 for there seemed to be no flesh1 and his clothes hung as loosely upon him as they would have upon a skeleton4 ,it required no second glance at the ,living ,skeleton to know that the remainder of his life was numbered by days or hours1 and not by weeks or months4 ,he didn't seem to have energy enough even to read1 and so it was that ,robbins sat down one day on the bench beside him1 and said sympathetically3-- ,i hope you are feeling better to-day4 ,the ,skeleton turned towards him1 laughed a low1 noiseless1 mirthless laugh for a moment1 and then said1 in a hollow1 far-away voice that had no lungs behind it3 ,i am done with feeling either better or worse4 ,oh1 ,i trust it is not so bad as that1 said ,robbins2 the climate is doing you good down here1 is it not8 ,again the ,skeleton laughed silently1 and ,robbins began to feel uneasy4 ,the ,skeleton's eyes were large and bright1 and they fastened themselves upon ,robbins in a way that increased that gentleman's uneasiness1 and made him think that perhaps the ,skeleton knew he had so named him4 ,i have no more interest in climate1 said the ,skeleton4 ,i merely seem to live because ,i have been in the habit of living for some years2 ,i presume that is it1 because my lungs are entirely gone4 ,why ,i can talk or why ,i can breathe is a mystery to me4 ,you are perfectly certain you can hear me8 ,oh1 ,i hear you quite distinctly1 said ,robbins4 ,well1 if it wasn't that people tell me that they can hear me1 ,i wouldn't believe ,i was really speaking1 because1 you see1 ,i have nothing to speak with4 ,isn't it ,shakespeare who says something about when the brains are out the man is dead8 ,well1 ,i have seen some men who make me think ,shakespeare was wrong in his diagnosis1 but it is generally supposed that when the lungs are gone a man is dead4 ,to tell the truth1 ,i am dead1 practically4 ,you know the old ,american story about the man who walked around to save funeral expenses2 well1 it isn't quite that way with me1 but ,i can appreciate how the man felt4 ,still ,i take a keen interest in life1 although you might not think so4 ,you see1 ,i haven't much time left2 ,i am going to die at eight o'clock on the #cjth of ,april4 ,eight o'clock at night1 not in the morning1 just after table d'hte4 ,you are going to what6 cried ,robbins in astonishment4 ,i'm going to die that day4 ,you see ,i have got things to such a fine point1 that ,i can die any time ,i want to4 ,i could die right here1 now1 if ,i wished4 ,if you have any mortal interest in the matter ,i'll do it1 and show you what ,i say is true4 ,i don't mind much1 you know1 although ,i had fixed ,april the #cjth as the limit4 ,it wouldn't matter a bit for me to go off now1 if it would be of any interest to you4 ,i beg you1 said ,robbins1 very much alarmed1 not to try any experiments on my account4 ,i am quite willing to believe anything you say about the matter--of course you ought to know4 ,yes1 ,i do know4 answered the ,living ,skeleton sadly4 ,of course ,i have had my struggle with hope and fear1 but that is all past now1 as you may well understand4 ,the reason that ,i have fixed the date for ,april #cjth is this3 you see ,i have only a certain amount of money--,i do not know why ,i should make any secret of it4 ,i have exactly #bdj francs today1 over and above another #ajj francs which ,i have set aside for another purpose4 ,i am paying #h francs a day at the ,golden ,dragon2 that will keep me just thirty days1 and then ,i intend to die4 ,the ,skeleton laughed again1 without sound1 and ,robbins moved uneasily on the seat4 ,i don't see1 he said finally1 what there is to laugh about in that condition of affairs4 ,i don't suppose there is very much2 but there is something else that ,i consider very laughable1 and that ,i will tell you if you will keep it a secret4 ,you see1 the ,golden ,dragon himself--,i always call our innkeeper the ,golden ,dragon1 just as you call me1 the ,living ,skeleton4 ,oh1 ,i--,i--beg your pardon1 stammered ,robbins1 ,i----4 ,it really doesn't matter at all4 ,you are perfectly right1 and ,i think it a very apt term4 ,well1 the old ,golden ,dragon makes a great deal of his money by robbing the dead4 ,you didn't know that1 did you8 ,you thought it was the living who supported him1 and goodness knows he robs them when he has a chance4 ,well1 you are very much mistaken4 ,when a man dies in the ,golden ,dragon1 he1 or his friends rather1 have to pay very sweetly for it4 ,the ,dragon charges them for re-furnishing the room4 ,every stick of furniture is charged for1 all the wall-paper1 and so on4 ,i suppose it is perfectly right to charge something1 but the ,dragon is not content with what is right4 ,he knows he has finally lost a customer1 and so he makes all he can out of him4 ,the furniture so paid for1 is not re-placed1 and the walls are not papered again1 but the ,dragon doesn't abate a penny of his bill on that account4 ,now1 ,i have inquired of the furnishing man1 on the street back of the hotel1 and he has written on his card just the cost of mattress1 sheets1 pillows1 and all that sort of thing1 and the amount comes to about #ej francs4 ,i have put in an envelope a #ej-;franc note1 and with it the card of the furniture man4 ,i have written a letter to the hotel-keeper1 telling him just what the things will cost that he needs1 and have referred the ,dragon to the card of the furniture man who has given me the figures4 ,this envelope ,i have addressed to the ,dragon1 and he will find it when ,i am dead4 ,this is the joke that old man ,death and myself have put up on our host1 and my only regret is that ,i shall not be able to enjoy a look at the ,dragon's countenance as he reads my last letter to him4 ,another sum of money ,i have put away1 in good hands where he won't have a chance to get it1 for my funeral expenses1 and then you see ,i am through with the world4 ,i have nobody to leave that ,i need worry about1 or who would either take care of me or feel sorry for me if ,i needed care or sympathy1 which ,i do not4 ,so that is why ,i laugh1 and that is why ,i come down and sit upon this bench1 in the sunshine1 and enjoy the posthumous joke4 ,robbins did not appear to see the humor of the situation quite as strongly as the ,living ,skeleton did4 ,at different times after1 when they met he had offered the ,skeleton more money if he wanted it1 so that he might prolong his life a little1 but the ,skeleton always refused4 ,a sort of friendship sprang up between ,robbins and the ,living ,skeleton1 at least1 as much of a friendship as can exist between the living and the dead1 for ,robbins was a muscular young fellow who did not need to live at the ,riviera on account of his health1 but merely because he detested an ,english winter4 ,besides this1 it may be added1 although it really is nobody's business1 that a ,nice ,girl and her parents lived in this particular part of the ,south of ,france4 ,one day ,robbins took a little excursion in a carriage to ,toulon4 ,he had invited the ,nice ,girl to go with him1 but on that particular day she could not go4 ,there was some big charity function on hand1 and one necessary part of the affair was the wheedling of money out of people's pockets1 so the ,nice ,girl had undertaken to do part of the wheedling4 ,she was very good at it1 and she rather prided herself upon it1 but then she was a very nice girl1 pretty as well1 and so people found it difficult to refuse her4 ,on the evening of the day there was to be a ball at the principal hotel of the place1 also in connection with this very desirable charity4 ,robbins had reluctantly gone to ,toulon alone1 but you may depend upon it he was back in time for the ball4 ,well1 he said to the ,nice ,girl when he met her1 what luck collecting1 to-day8 ,oh1 the greatest luck1 she replied enthusiastically1 and whom do you think ,i got the most money from8 ,i am sure ,i haven't the slightest idea--that old ,english ,duke1 he certainly has money enough4 ,no1 not from him at all2 the very last person you would expect it from--your friend1 the ,living ,skeleton4 ,what6 cried ,robbins1 in alarm4 ,oh1 ,i found him on the bench where he usually sits1 in the avenue of the palms4 ,i told him all about the charity and how useful it was1 and how necessary1 and how we all ought to give as much as we could towards it1 and he smiled and smiled at me in that curious way of his4 ',yes1' he said in a whisper1 ',i believe the charity should be supported by everyone2 ,i will give you eighty francs4' ,now1 wasn't that very generous of him8 ,eighty francs1 that was ten times what the ,duke gave1 and as he handed me the money he looked up at me and said in that awful whisper of his3 ',count this over carefully when you get home and see if you can find out what else ,i have given you4 ,there is more than eighty francs there4' ,then1 after ,i got home1 ,i---- ,but here the ,nice ,girl paused1 when she looked at the face of ,robbins1 to whom she was talking4 ,that face was ghastly pale and his eyes were staring at her but not seeing her4 ,eighty francs1 he was whispering to himself1 and he seemed to be making a mental calculation4 ,then noticing the ,nice ,girl's amazed look at him1 he said3 ,did you take the money8 ,of course ,i took it1 she said1 why shouldn't ,i8 ,great ,heavens6 gasped ,robbins1 and without a word he turned and fled1 leaving the ,nice ,girl transfixed with astonishment and staring after him with a frown on her pretty brow4 ,what does he mean by such conduct8 she asked herself4 ,but ,robbins disappeared from the gathering throng in the large room of the hotel1 dashed down the steps1 and hurried along the narrow pavements toward the ,golden ,dragon4 ,the proprietor was standing in the hallway with his hands behind him1 a usual attitude with the ,dragon4 ,where1 gasped ,robbins1 is ,mr4--,mr4---- and then he remembered he didn't know the name4 ,where is the ,living ,skeleton8 ,he has gone to his room1 answered the ,dragon1 he went early to- night1 he wasn't feeling well1 ,i think4 ,what is the number of his room8 ,no4 #dj1 and the proprietor rang a loud1 jangling bell1 whereupon one of the chambermaids appeared4 ,show this gentleman to ,no4 #dj4 ,the girl preceded ,robbins up the stairs4 ,once she looked over her shoulder1 and said in a whisper1 ,is he worse8 ,i don't know1 answered ,robbins1 that's what ,i have come to see4 ,at ,no4 #dj the girl paused1 and rapped lightly on the door panel4 ,there was no response4 ,she rapped again1 this time louder4 ,there was still no response4 ,try the door1 said ,robbins4 ,i am afraid to1 said the girl4 ,why8 ,because he said if he were asleep the door would be locked1 and if he were dead the door would be open4 ,when did he say that8 ,he said it several times1 sir2 about a week ago the last time4 ,robbins turned the handle of the door2 it was not locked4 ,a dim light was in the room1 but a screen before the door hid it from sight4 ,when he passed round the screen he saw1 upon the square marble-topped arrangement at the head of the bed1 a candle burning1 and its light shone on the dead face of the ,skeleton1 which had a grim smile on its thin lips1 while in its clenched hand was a letter addressed to the proprietor of the hotel4 ,the ,living ,skeleton had given more than the eighty francs to that deserving charity4 ,,high ,,stakes4 ,the snow was gently sifting down through the white glare of the electric light when ,pony ,rowell buttoned his overcoat around him and left the ,metropolitan ,hotel1 which was his home4 ,he was a young man1 not more than thirty1 and his face was a striking one4 ,it was clean cut and clean shaven4 ,it might have been the face of an actor or the face of a statesman4 ,an actor's face has a certain mobility of expression resulting from the habit of assuming characters differing widely4 ,rowell's face1 when you came to look at it closely1 showed that it had been accustomed to repress expression rather than to show emotion of any kind4 ,a casual look at ,pony ,rowell made you think his face would tell you something2 a closer scrutiny showed you that it would tell you nothing4 ,his eyes were of a piercing steely gray that seemed to read the thoughts of others1 while they effectually concealed his own4 ,pony ,rowell was known as a man who never went back on his word4 ,he was a professional gambler4 ,on this particular evening he strolled up the avenue with the easy carriage of a man of infinite leisure4 ,he hesitated for a moment at an illy-lighted passage-way in the middle of a large building on a side street1 then went in and mounted a stair4 ,he rapped lightly at a door4 ,a slide was shoved back and a man inside peered out at him for a moment4 ,instantly the door was opened1 for ,pony's face was good for admittance at any of the gambling rooms in the city4 ,there was still another guarded door to pass1 for an honest gambling-house keeper can never tell what streak of sudden morality may strike the police1 and it is well to have a few moments' time in which to conceal the paraphernalia of the business4 ,of course1 ,mellish's gambling rooms were as well known to the police as to ,pony ,rowell1 but unless some fuss was made by the public1 ,mellish knew he would be free from molestation4 ,mellish was a careful man1 and a visitor had to be well vouched for1 before he gained admission4 ,there never was any trouble in ,mellish's rooms4 ,he was often known to advise a player to quit when he knew the young gambler could not afford to lose1 and instances were cited where he had been the banker of some man in despair4 ,everybody liked ,mellish1 for his generosity was unbounded1 and he told a good story well4 ,inside the room that ,pony ,rowell had penetrated1 a roulette table was at its whirling work and faro was going on in another spot4 ,at small tables various visitors were enjoying the game of poker4 ,hello1 ,pony1 cried ,bert ,ragstock1 are you going to give me my revenge to-night8 ,i'm always willing to give anyone his revenge4 answered ,pony imperturbably1 lighting a fresh cigarette4 ,all right then2 come and sit down here4 ,i'm not going to play just yet4 ,i want to look on for a while4 ,nonsense4 ,i've been waiting for you ever so long already4 ,sit down4 ,you ought to know by this time1 ,bert1 that when ,i say a thing ,i mean it4 ,i won't touch a card till the clock begins to strike #ab4 ,then ,i'm wid ye4 ,pshaw1 ,pony1 you ought to be above that sort of thing4 ,that's superstition1 ,rowell4 ,you're too cool a man to mind when you touch a card4 ,come on4 ,that's all right4 ,at midnight1 ,i said to myself1 and at midnight it shall be or not at all4 ,the old gamblers in the place nodded approval of this resolution4 ,it was all right enough for ,bert ,ragstock to sneer at superstition1 because he was not a real gambler4 ,he merely came to ,mellish's rooms in the evening because the ,stock ,exchange did not keep open all night4 ,strange to say ,ragstock was a good business man as well as a cool gambler4 ,he bemoaned the fate that made him so rich that gambling had not the exhilarating effect on him which it would have had if he had been playing in desperation4 ,when the clock began to chime midnight ,pony ,rowell took up the pack and began to shuffle4 ,now1 old man1 he said1 ,i'm going in to win4 ,i'm after big game to- night4 ,right you are4 cried ,bert1 with enthusiasm4 ,i'll stand by you as long as the spots stay on the cards4 ,in the gray morning1 when most of the others had left and even ,mellish himself was yawning1 they were still at it4 ,the professional gambler had won a large sum of money2 the largest sum he ever possessed4 ,yet there was no gleam of triumph in his keen eyes4 ,bert might have been winning for all the emotion his face showed4 ,they were a well matched pair1 and they enjoyed playing with each other4 ,there1 cried ,pony at last1 haven't you had enough8 ,luck's against you4 ,i wouldn't run my head any longer against a brick wall1 if ,i were you4 ,my dear ,pony1 how often have ,i told you there is no such thing as luck4 ,but to tell the truth ,i'm tired and ,i'm going home4 ,the revenge is postponed4 ,when do ,i meet the enemy again8 ,pony ,rowell shuffled the cards idly for a few moments without replying or raising his eyes4 ,at last he said3 ,the next time ,i play you1 ,bert1 it will be for high stakes4 ,good heavens1 aren't you satisfied with the stakes we played for to- night8 ,no4 ,i want to play you for a stake that will make even your hair stand on end4 ,will you do it8 ,certainly4 ,when8 ,that ,i can't tell just yet4 ,i have a big scheme on hand4 ,i am to see a man to-day about it4 ,all ,i want to know is that you promise to play4 ,pony1 this is mysterious4 ,i guess you're not afraid ,i will flunk out4 ,i'm ready to meet you on any terms and for any stake4 ,enough said4 ,i'll let you know some of the particulars as soon as ,i find out all ,i want myself4 ,good-night4 ,good-night to you1 rather1 said ,bert1 as ,mellish helped him on with his overcoat4 ,you've won the pile3 robbing a poor man of his hard- earned gains6 ,oh1 the poor man does not need the money as badly as ,i do4 ,besides1 ,i'm going to give you a chance to win it all back again and more4 ,when ,ragstock had left1 ,pony still sat by the table absent-mindedly shuffling the cards4 ,if ,i were you1 said ,mellish1 laying his hand on his shoulder1 ,i would put that pile in the bank and quit4 ,the faro bank8 asked ,pony1 looking up with a smile4 ,no1 ,i'd quit the business altogether if ,i were you4 ,i'm going to myself4 ,oh1 we all know that4 ,you've been going to quit for the last twenty years4 ,well1 ,i'm going to quit1 too1 but not just yet4 ,that's what they all say1 of course1 but ,i mean it4 ,in the early and crisp winter air ,pony ,rowell walked to the ,metropolitan ,hotel and to bed4 ,at #c that afternoon the man he had an appointment with1 called to see him4 ,you wanted to see me about an ,insurance policy1 the visitor began4 ,an agent is always ready to talk of business4 ,now1 were you thinking of an endowment scheme or have you looked into our new bond system of insurance8 ,the twenty-pay-life style of thing seems to be very popular4 ,i want to ask you a few questions1 said ,pony4 ,if ,i were to insure my life in your company and were to commit suicide would that invalidate the policy8 ,not after two years4 ,after two years1 in our company1 the policy is incontestable4 ,two years8 ,that won't do for me4 ,can't you make it one year8 ,i'll tell you what ,i will do1 said the agent1 lowering his voice1 ,i can ante-date the policy1 so that the two years will end just when you like1 say a year from now4 ,very well4 ,if you can legally fix it so that the two years come to an end about this date next year ,i will insure in your company for #ajj1jjj4 ,the agent opened his eyes when the amount was mentioned4 ,i don't want endowments or bonds1 but the cheapest form of life insurance you have1 and---- ,straight life is what you want4 ,straight life it is1 then1 and ,i will pay you for the two years or say1 to make it sure1 for two years and a half down1 when you bring me the papers4 ,thus it was that with part of the money he had won1 ,pony ,rowell insured his life for #ajj1jjj1 and with another part he paid his board and lodging for a year ahead at the ,metropolitan ,hotel4 ,the remainder he kept to speculate on4 ,during the year that followed he steadily refused to play with ,bert ,ragstock1 and once or twice they nearly had a quarrel about it--that is as near as ,pony could come to having a row with anybody1 for quarrelling was not in his line4 ,if he had lived in a less civilized part of the community ,pony might have shot1 but as it was quarrels never came to anything1 therefore he did not indulge in any4 ,a year from the date of our last game8 ,what nonsense it is waiting all that time4 ,you play with others1 why not with me8 ,think of the chances we are losing1 complained ,bert4 ,we will have a game then that will make up for all the waiting1 answered ,rowell4 ,at last the anniversary came and when the hour struck that ushered it in ,pony ,rowell and ,bert ,ragstock sat facing each other1 prepared to resume business on the old stand4 ,ah1 said ,bert1 rubbing his hands1 it feels good to get opposite you once more4 ,pony1 you're a crank4 ,we might have had a hundred games like this during the past year1 if there wasn't so much superstition about you4 ,not quite like this4 ,this is to be the last game ,i play1 win or lose4 ,i tell you that now1 so that there won't be any talk of revenge if ,i win4 ,you don't mean it6 ,i've heard talk like that before4 ,all right4 ,i've warned you4 ,now ,i propose that this be a game of pure luck4 ,we get a new pack of cards1 shuffle them1 cut1 then you pull one card and ,i another4 ,ace high4 ,the highest takes the pot4 ,best two out of three4 ,do you agree8 ,of course4 ,how much is the pile to be8 ,one hundred thousand dollars4 ,oh1 you're dreaming4 ,isn't it enough8 ,thunder6 ,you never saw #ajj1jjj4 ,you will get the money if ,i lose4 ,say1 ,pony1 that's coming it a little strong4 ,one hundred thousand dollars6 ,heavens and earth6 ,how many business men in this whole city would expect their bare word to be taken for #ajj1jjj8 ,i'm not a business man4 ,i'm a gambler4 ,true1 true4 ,is the money in sight8 ,no2 but you'll be paid4 ,your money is not in sight4 ,i trust you4 ,can't you trust me8 ,it isn't quite the same thing1 ,pony4 ,i'll trust you for three times the money you have in sight1 but when you talk about #ajj1jjj you are talking of a lot of cash4 ,if ,i can convince ,mellish here that you will get your money1 will you play8 ,you can convince me just as easily as you can ,mellish4 ,what's the use of dragging him in8 ,i could convince you in a minute1 but you might still refuse to play4 ,now ,i'm bound to play this game and ,i can't take any risks4 ,if my word and ,mellish's isn't good enough for you1 why1 say so4 ,all right1 cried ,bert4 ,if you can convince ,mellish that you will pay if you lose ,i'll play you4 ,rowell and ,mellish retired into an inner room and after a few minutes reappeared again4 ,mellish's face was red when he went in4 ,he was now a trifle pale4 ,i don't like this1 ,bert1 ,mellish said1 and ,i think this game had better stop right here4 ,then you are not convinced that ,i am sure of my money8 ,yes1 ,i am1 but---- ,that's enough for me4 ,get out your new pack4 ,you've given your word1 ,mellish1 said ,pony1 seeing the keeper of the house was about to speak4 ,don't say any more4 ,for such a sum two out of three is too sudden4 ,make it five out of nine1 put in ,bert4 ,i'm willing4 ,the new pack of cards was brought and the wrappings torn off4 ,you shuffle first2 ,i'll cut1 said ,rowell4 ,his lips seemed parched and he moistened them now and then1 which was unusual for so cool a gambler4 ,mellish fidgeted around with lowered brow4 ,bert shuffled the cards as nonchalantly as if he had merely a #e bill on the result4 ,when each had taken a card1 ,bert held an ace and ,pony a king4 ,pony shuffled and the turn up was a spot in ,pony's hand and queen in that of his opponent4 ,bert smiled and drops began to show on ,pony's forehead in spite of his efforts at self-control4 ,no word was spoken by either players or onlookers4 ,after the next deal ,pony again lost4 ,his imperturbability seemed to be leaving him4 ,he swept the cards from the table with an oath4 ,bring another pack1 he said hoarsely4 ,bert smiled at him across the table4 ,he thought1 of course1 that they were playing for even stakes4 ,mellish couldn't stand it any longer4 ,he retired to one of the inner rooms4 ,the first deal with the new pack turned in ,pony's favor and he seemed to feel that his luck had changed1 but the next deal went against him and also the one following4 ,it's your shuffle1 said ,rowell1 pushing the cards towards his opponent4 ,bert did not touch the cards1 but smiled across at the gambler4 ,what's the matter with you8 ,why don't you shuffle8 ,i don't have to1 said ,bert1 quietly1 ,i've won five4 ,rowell drew his hand across his perspiring brow and stared at the man across the table4 ,then he seemed to pull himself together4 ,so you have1 he said1 ,i hadn't noticed it4 ,excuse me4 ,i guess ,i'll go now4 ,sit where you are and let us have a game for something more modest4 ,i don't care about these splurges myself and ,i don't suppose you do-- now4 ,thanks1 no4 ,i told you this was my last game4 ,as to the splurge1 if ,i had the money ,i would willingly try it again4 ,so long4 ,when ,mellish came in and saw that the game was over he asked where ,pony was4 ,he knew when he had enough1 ,i guess1 answered ,bert4 ,he's gone home4 ,come in here1 ,bert4 ,i want to speak with you1 said ,mellish4 ,when they were alone ,mellish turned to him4 ,i suppose ,pony didn't tell you where the money is to come from8 ,no1 he told you4 ,that was enough for me4 ,well1 there's no reason why you should not know now4 ,i promised silence till the game was finished4 ,he's insured his life for #ajj1jjj and is going to commit suicide so that you may be paid4 ,my ,god6 cried ,bert1 aghast4 ,why did you let the game go on8 ,i tried to stop it1 but ,i had given my word and you---- ,well1 don't let us stand chattering here4 ,he's at the ,metropolitan1 isn't he8 ,then come along4 ,hurry into your coat4 ,mellish knew the number of ,rowell's room and so no time was lost in the hotel office with inquiries4 ,he tried the door1 but1 as he expected1 it was locked4 ,who's that8 cried a voice within4 ,it's me--,mellish4 ,i want to speak with you a moment4 ,i don't want to see you4 ,bert wants to say something4 ,it's important4 ,let us in4 ,i won't let you in4 ,go away and don't make a fuss4 ,it will do no good4 ,you can get in ten minutes from now4 ,look here1 ,pony1 you open that door at once1 or ,i'll kick it in4 ,you hear me8 ,i want to see you a minute1 and then you can do what you like1 said ,bert1 in a voice that meant business4 ,after a moment's hesitation ,rowell opened the door and the two stepped in4 ,half of the carpet had been taken up and the bare floor was covered with old newspapers4 ,a revolver lay on the table1 also writing materials and a half-finished letter4 ,pony was in his shirt sleeves and he did not seem pleased at the interruption4 ,what do you want8 he asked shortly4 ,look here1 ,pony1 said ,bert1 ,i have confessed to ,mellish and ,i've come to confess to you4 ,i want you to be easy with me and hush the thing up4 ,i cheated4 ,i stocked the cards4 ,you're a liar1 said ,rowell1 looking him straight in the eye4 ,don't say that again1 cried ,ragstock1 with his fingers twitching4 ,there's mighty few men ,i would take that from4 ,you stocked the cards on me8 ,i'd like to see the man that could do it6 ,you were excited and didn't notice it4 ,you're not only a liar1 but you're an awkward liar4 ,i have lost the money and ,i'll pay it4 ,it would have been ready for you now1 only ,i had a letter to write4 ,mellish has told you about the insurance policy and my will attached to it4 ,here they are4 ,they're yours4 ,i'm no kicker4 ,i know when a game's played fair4 ,bert took the policy and evidently intended to tear it in pieces1 while ,mellish1 with a wink at him1 edged around to get at the revolver4 ,ragstock's eye caught the name in big letters at the head of the policy1 beautifully engraved4 ,his eyes opened wide1 then he sank into a chair and roared with laughter4 ,both the other men looked at him in astonishment4 ,what's the matter8 asked ,mellish4 ,matter8 ,why1 this would have been a joke on ,pony4 ,it would do both of you some good to know a little about business as well as of gambling4 ,the ,hardfast ,life ,insurance ,company went smash six months ago4 ,it's the truth this time1 ,pony1 even if ,i didn't stock the cards4 ,better make some inquiries in business circles before you try to collect any money from this institution4 ,now1 ,pony1 order up the drinks1 if anything can be had at this untimely hour4 ,we are your guests so you are expected to be hospitable4 ,i've had all the excitement ,i want for one night4 ,we'll call it square and begin over again4 ,,where ,,ignorance ,,is ,,bliss4 ,the splendid steamship ,adamant1 of the celebrated ,cross ,bow line1 left ,new ,york on her ,february trip under favorable auspices4 ,there had just been a storm on the ocean1 so there was every chance that she would reach ,liverpool before the next one was due4 ,capt4 ,rice had a little social problem to solve at the outset1 but he smoothed that out with the tact which is characteristic of him4 ,two ,washington ladies--official ladies--were on board1 and the captain1 old ,british sea-dog that he was1 always had trouble in the matter of precedence with ,washington ladies4 ,capt4 ,rice never had any bother with the ,british aristocracy1 because precedence is all set down in the bulky volume of ,burke's ,peerage1 which the captain kept in his cabin1 and so there was no difficulty4 ,but a republican country is supposed not to meddle with precedence4 ,it wouldn't1 either1 if it weren't for the women4 ,so it happened that ,mrs4 ,assistant-,attorney-to-the-,senate ,brownrig came to the steward and said that1 ranking all others on board1 she must sit at the right hand of the captain4 ,afterwards ,mrs4 ,second-,adjutant-to- the-,war-,department ,digby came to the same perplexed official and said she must sit at the captain's right hand because in ,washington she took precedence over everyone else on board4 ,the bewildered steward confided his woes to the captain1 and the captain said he would attend to the matter4 ,so he put ,mrs4 ,war-,department on his right hand and then walked down the deck with ,mrs4 ,assistant-,attorney and said to her3 ,i want to ask a favor1 ,mrs4 ,brownrig4 ,unfortunately ,i am a little deaf in the right ear1 caused1 ,i presume1 by listening so much with that ear to the fog horn year in and year out4 ,now1 ,i always place the lady whose conversation ,i wish most to enjoy on my left hand at table4 ,would you oblige me by taking that seat this voyage8 ,i have heard of you1 you see1 ,mrs4 ,brownrig1 although you have never crossed with me before4 ,why1 certainly1 captain1 replied ,mrs4 ,brownrig2 ,i feel especially complimented4 ,and ,i assure you1 madam1 said the polite captain1 that ,i would not for the world miss a single word that1 etc4 ,and thus it was amicably arranged between the two ladies4 ,all this has nothing whatever to do with the story4 ,it is merely an incident given to show what a born diplomat ,capt4 ,rice was and is to this day4 ,i don't know any captain more popular with the ladies than he1 and besides he is as good a sailor as crosses the ocean4 ,day by day the good ship ploughed her way toward the east1 and the passengers were unanimous in saying that they never had a pleasanter voyage for that time of the year4 ,it was so warm on deck that many steamer chairs were out1 and below it was so mild that a person might think he was journeying in the tropics4 ,yet they had left ,new ,york in a snow storm with the thermometer away below zero4 ,such1 said young ,spinner1 who knew everything1 such is the influence of the ,gulf ,stream4 ,nevertheless when ,capt4 ,rice came down to lunch the fourth day out his face was haggard and his look furtive and anxious4 ,why1 captain1 cried ,mrs4 ,assistant-,attorney1 you look as if you hadn't slept a wink last night4 ,i slept very well1 thank you1 madam4 replied the captain4 ,i always do4 ,well1 ,i hope your room was more comfortable than mine4 ,it seemed to me too hot for anything4 ,didn't you find it so1 ,mrs4 ,digby8 ,i thought it very nice1 replied the lady at the captain's right1 who generally found it necessary to take an opposite view from the lady at the left4 ,you see1 said the captain1 we have many delicate women and children on board and it is necessary to keep up the temperature4 ,still1 perhaps the man who attends to the steam rather overdoes it4 ,i will speak him4 ,then the captain pushed from him his untasted food and went up on the bridge1 casting his eye aloft at the signal waving from the masthead1 silently calling for help to all the empty horizon4 ,nothing in sight1 ,johnson8 said the captain4 ,not a speck1 sir4 ,the captain swept the circular line of sea and sky with his glasses1 then laid them down with a sigh4 ,we ought to raise something this afternoon1 sir1 said ,johnson2 we are right in their track1 sir4 ,the ,fulda ought to be somewhere about4 ,we are too far north for the ,fulda1 ,i am afraid1 answered the captain4 ,well1 sir1 we should see the ,vulcan before night1 sir4 ,she's had good weather from ,queenstown4 ,yes4 ,keep a sharp lookout1 ,johnson4 ,yes1 sir4 ,the captain moodily paced the bridge with his head down4 ,i ought to have turned back to ,new ,york1 he said to himself4 ,then he went down to his own room1 avoiding the passengers as much as he could1 and had the steward bring him some beef-tea4 ,even a captain cannot live on anxiety4 ,steamer off the port bow1 sir1 rang out the voice of the lookout at the prow4 ,the man had sharp eyes1 for a landsman could have seen nothing4 ,run and tell the captain1 cried ,johnson to the sailor at his elbow1 but as the sailor turned the captain's head appeared up the stairway4 ,he seized the glass and looked long at a single point in the horizon4 ,it must be the ,vulcan1 he said at last4 ,i think so1 sir4 ,turn your wheel a few points to port and bear down on her4 ,johnson gave the necessary order and the great ship veered around4 ,hello6 cried ,spinner1 on deck4 ,here's a steamer4 ,i found her4 ,she's mine4 ,then there was a rush to the side of the ship4 ,a steamer in sight6 was the cry1 and all books and magazines at once lost interest4 ,even the placid1 dignified ,englishman who was so uncommunicative1 rose from his chair and sent his servant for his binocular4 ,children were held up and told to be careful1 while they tried to see the dim line of smoke so far ahead4 ,talk about lane routes at sea1 cried young ,spinner1 the knowing4 ,bosh1 ,i say4 ,see6 we're going directly for her4 ,think what it might be in a fog6 ,lane routes6 ,pure luck1 ,i call it4 ,will we signal to her1 ,mr4 ,spinner8 gently asked the young lady from ,boston4 ,oh1 certainly1 answered young ,spinner4 ,see there's our signal flying from the masthead now4 ,that shows them what line we belong to4 ,dear me1 how interesting1 said the young lady4 ,you have crossed many times1 ,i suppose1 ,mr4 ,spinner4 ,oh1 ,i know my way about1 answered the modest ,spinner4 ,the captain kept the glasses glued to his eyes4 ,suddenly he almost let them drop4 ,my ,god6 ,johnson1 he cried4 ,what is it1 sir8 ,she's flying a signal of distress1 too6 ,the two steamers slowly approached each other and1 when nearly alongside and about a mile apart1 the bell of the ,adamant rang to stop4 ,there1 you see1 said young ,spinner to the ,boston girl1 she is flying the same flag at her masthead that we are4 ,then she belongs to the same line as this boat8 ,oh1 certainly1 answered ,mr4 ,cock-,sure ,spinner4 ,oh1 look6 look6 look6 cried the enthusiastic ,indianapolis girl who was going to take music in ,germany4 ,everyone looked aloft and saw running up to the masthead a long line of fluttering1 many-colored flags4 ,they remained in place for a few moments and then fluttered down again1 only to give place to a different string4 ,the same thing was going on on the other steamer4 ,oh1 this is too interesting for anything1 said ,mrs4 ,assistant4 ,i am just dying to know what it all means4 ,i have read of it so often but never saw it before4 ,i wonder when the captain will come down4 ,what does it all mean8 she asked the deck steward4 ,they are signalling to each other1 madam4 ,oh1 ,i know that4 ,but what are they signalling8 ,i don't know1 madam4 ,oh1 see6 see6 cried the ,indianapolis girl1 clapping her hands with delight4 ,the other steamer is turning round4 ,it was indeed so4 ,the great ship was thrashing the water with her screw1 and gradually the masts came in line and then her prow faced the east again4 ,when this had been slowly accomplished the bell on the ,adamant rang full speed ahead1 and then the captain came slowly down the ladder that led from the bridge4 ,oh1 captain1 what does it all mean8 ,is she going back1 captain8 ,nothing wrong1 ,i hope4 ,what ship is it1 captain8 ,she belongs to our line1 doesn't she8 ,why is she going back8 ,the ship1 said the captain slowly1 is the ,vulcan1 of the ,black ,bowling ,line1 that left ,queenstown shortly after we left ,new ,york4 ,she has met with an accident4 ,ran into some wreckage1 it is thought1 from the recent storm4 ,anyhow there is a hole in her1 and whether she sees ,queenstown or not will depend a great deal on what weather we have and whether her bulkheads hold out4 ,we will stand by her till we reach ,queenstown4 ,are there many on board1 do you think1 captain8 ,there are thirty-seven in the cabin and over #hjj steerage passengers1 answered the captain4 ,why don't you take them on board1 out of danger1 captain8 ,ah1 madam1 there is no need to do that4 ,it would delay us1 and time is everything in a case like this4 ,besides1 they will have ample warning if she is going down and they will have time to get everybody in the boats4 ,we will stand by them1 you know4 ,oh1 the poor creatures1 cried the sympathetic ,mrs4 ,second-,adjutant4 ,think of their awful position4 ,may be engulfed at any moment4 ,i suppose they are all on their knees in the cabin4 ,how thankful they must have been to see the ,adamant4 ,on all sides there was the profoundest sympathy for the unfortunate passengers of the ,vulcan4 ,cheeks paled at the very thought of the catastrophe that might take place at any moment within sight of the sister ship4 ,it was a realistic object lesson on the ever-present dangers of the sea4 ,while those on deck looked with new interest at the steamship plunging along within a mile of them1 the captain slipped away to his room4 ,as he sat there there was a tap at his door4 ,come in1 shouted the captain4 ,the silent ,englishman slowly entered4 ,what's wrong1 captain1 he asked4 ,oh1 the ,vulcan has had a hole stove in her and ,i signalled---- ,yes1 ,i know all that1 of course1 but what's wrong with us8 ,with us8 echoed the captain blankly4 ,yes1 with the ,adamant8 ,what has been amiss for the last two or three days8 ,i'm not a talker1 nor am ,i afraid any more than you are1 but ,i want to know4 ,certainly1 said the captain4 ,please shut the door1 ,sir ,john4 99 99 99 99 99 ,meanwhile there was a lively row on board the ,vulcan4 ,in the saloon ,capt4 ,flint was standing at bay with his knuckles on the table4 ,now what the devil's the meaning of all this8 cried ,adam ,k4 ,vincent1 member of ,congress4 ,a crowd of frightened women were standing around1 many on the verge of hysterics4 ,children clung1 with pale faces1 to their mother's skirts1 fearing they knew not what4 ,men were grouped with anxious faces1 and the bluff old captain fronted them all4 ,the meaning of all what1 sir8 ,you know very well4 ,what is the meaning of our turning-round8 ,it means1 sir1 that the ,adamant has eighty-five saloon passengers and nearly #ejj intermediate and steerage passengers who are in the most deadly danger4 ,the cotton in the hold is on fire1 and they have been fighting it night and day4 ,a conflagration may break out at any moment4 ,it means1 then1 sir1 that the ,vulcan is going to stand by the ,adamant4 ,a wail of anguish burst from the frightened women at the awful fate that might be in store for so many human beings so near to them1 and they clung closer to their children and thanked ,god that no such danger threatened them and those dear to them4 ,and dammit1 sir1 cried the ,congressman1 do you mean to tell us that we have to go against our will--without even being consulted--back to ,queenstown8 ,i mean to tell you so1 sir4 ,well1 by the gods1 that's an outrage1 and ,i won't stand it1 sir4 ,i must be in ,new ,york by the #bgth4 ,i won't stand it1 sir4 ,i am very sorry1 sir1 that anybody should be delayed4 ,delayed8 ,hang it all1 why don't you take the people on board and take 'em to ,new ,york8 ,i protest against this4 ,i'll bring a lawsuit against the company1 sir4 ,mr4 ,vincent1 said the captain sternly1 permit me to remind you that ,i am captain of this ship4 ,good afternoon1 sir4 ,the ,congressman departed from the saloon exceeding wroth1 breathing dire threats of legal proceedings against the line and the captain personally1 but most of the passengers agreed that it would be an inhuman thing to leave the ,adamant alone in mid-ocean in such terrible straits4 ,why didn't they turn back1 ,captain ,flint8 asked ,mrs4 ,general ,weller4 ,because1 madam1 every moment is of value in such a case1 and we are nearer ,queenstown than ,new ,york4 ,and so the two steamships1 side by side1 worried their way toward the east1 always within sight of each other by day1 and with the rows of lights in each visible at night to the sympathetic souls on the other4 ,the sweltering men poured water into the hold of the one and the pounding pumps poured water out of the hold of the other1 and thus they reached ,queenstown4 99 99 99 99 99 ,on board the tender that took the passengers ashore at ,queenstown from both steamers two astonished women met each other4 ,why6 ,mrs4--,general--,,weller666 ,you don't mean to say you were on board that unfortunate ,vulcan6 ,for the land's sake1 ,mrs4 ,assistant ,brownrig6 ,is that really you8 ,will wonders never cease8 ,unfortunate1 did you say8 ,mightily fortunate for you1 ,i think4 ,why6 weren't you just frightened to death8 ,i was1 but ,i had no idea anyone ,i knew was on board4 ,well1 you were on board yourself4 ,that would have been enough to have killed me4 ,on board myself8 ,why1 what do you mean8 ,i wasn't on board the ,vulcan4 ,did you get any sleep at all after you knew you might go down at any moment8 ,my sakes1 ,jane1 what are you talking about8 ,down at any moment8 ,it was you that might have gone down at any moment or1 worse still1 have been burnt to death if the fire had got ahead4 ,you don't mean to say you didn't know the ,adamant was on fire most of the way across8 ,mrs4--,general--,weller66 ,there's some horrible mistake4 ,it was the ,vulcan4 ,everything depended on her bulkheads1 the captain said4 ,there was a hole as big as a barn door in the ,vulcan4 ,the pumps were going night and day4 ,mrs4 ,general looked at ,mrs4 ,assistant as the light began to dawn on both of them4 ,then it wasn't the engines1 but the pumps1 she said4 ,and it wasn't the steam1 but the fire1 screamed ,mrs4 ,assistant4 ,oh1 dear1 how that captain lied1 and ,i thought him such a nice man1 too4 ,oh1 ,i shall go into hysterics1 ,i know ,i shall4 ,i wouldn't if ,i were you1 said the sensible ,mrs4 ,general1 who was a strong-minded woman2 besides1 it is too late4 ,we're all safe now4 ,i think both captains were pretty sensible men4 ,evidently married1 both of 'em4 ,which was quite true4 ,,the ,,departure ,,of ,,cub ,,mclean4 ,of course no one will believe me when ,i say that ,mellish was in every respect1 except one1 an exemplary citizen and a good-hearted man4 ,he was generous to a fault and he gave many a young fellow a start in life where a little money or a few encouraging words were needed4 ,he drank1 of course1 but he was a connoisseur in liquors1 and a connoisseur never goes in for excess4 ,few could tell a humorous story as well as ,mellish1 and he seldom dealt in chestnuts4 ,no man can be wholly bad who never inflicts an old story on his friends1 locating it on some acquaintance of his1 and alleging that it occurred the day before4 ,if ,i wished to write a heart-rending article on the evils of gambling1 ,mellish would be the man ,i would go to for my facts and for the moral of the tale4 ,he spent his life persuading people not to gamble4 ,he never gambled himself1 he said4 ,but if no attention was paid to his advice1 why then he furnished gamblers with the most secluded and luxurious gambling rooms in the city4 ,it was supposed that ,mellish stood in with the police1 which was1 of course1 a libel4 ,the idea of the guardians of the city standing in with a gambler or a gambling house6 ,the statement was absurd on the face of it4 ,if you asked any policeman in the city where ,mellish's gambling rooms were1 you would speedily learn that not one of them had ever even heard of the place4 ,all this goes to show how scandalously people will talk1 and if ,mellish's rooms were free from raids1 it was merely ,mellish's good luck1 that was all4 ,anyhow1 in ,mellish's rooms you could have a quiet1 gentlemanly game for stakes about as high as you cared to go1 and you were reasonably sure there would be no fuss and that your name would not appear in the papers next morning4 ,one night as ,mellish cast his eye around his well-filled main room he noticed a stranger sitting at the roulette table4 ,mellish had a keen eye for strangers and in an unobtrusive way generally managed to find out something about them4 ,a stranger in a gambling room brings in with him a certain sense of danger to the habitus4 ,who is that boy8 whispered ,mellish to his bartender1 generally known as ,sotty1 an ex-prize fighter and a dangerous man to handle if it came to trouble4 ,it rarely came to trouble there1 but ,sotty was1 in a measure1 the silent symbol of physical force1 backing the well-known mild morality of ,mellish4 ,i don't know him1 answered ,sotty4 ,whom did he come in with8 ,i didn't see him come in4 ,hadn't noticed him till now4 ,mellish looked at the boy for a few minutes4 ,he had the fresh1 healthy1 smooth face of a lad from the country1 and he seemed strangely out of place in the heated atmosphere of that room1 under the glare of the gas4 ,mellish sighed as he looked at him1 then he turned to ,sotty and said3 ,just get him away quietly and bring him to the small poker room4 ,i want to have a few words with him4 ,sotty1 who had the utmost contempt for the humanitarian feelings of his boss1 said nothing1 but a look of disdain swept over his florid features as he went on his mission4 ,if he had his way1 he would not throw even a sprat out of the net4 ,many a time he had known ,mellish to persuade a youngster with more money than brains to go home1 giving orders at the double doors that he was not to be admitted again4 ,the young man rose with a look of something like consternation on his face and followed ,sotty4 ,the thing was done quietly1 and all those around the tables were too much absorbed in the game to pay much attention4 ,look here1 my boy1 said ,mellish1 when they were alone1 who brought you to this place8 ,i guess1 said the lad1 with an expression of resentment1 ,i'm old enough to go where ,i like without being brought4 ,oh1 certainly1 certainly1 said ,mellish1 diplomatically1 knowing how much very young men dislike being accused of youth1 but ,i like to know all visitors here4 ,you couldn't get in unless you came with someone known at the door4 ,who vouched for you8 ,see here1 ,mr4 ,mellish1 said the youth angrily1 what are you driving at8 ,if your doorkeepers don't know their own business why don't you speak to them about it8 ,are you going to have me turned out8 ,nothing of the sort1 said ,mellish1 soothingly1 putting his hand in a fatherly manner on the young fellow's shoulder4 ,don't mistake my meaning4 ,the fact that you are here shows that you have a right to be here4 ,we'll say no more about that4 ,but you take my advice and quit the business here and now4 ,i was a gambler before you were born1 although ,i don't gamble any more4 ,take the advice of a man who knows4 ,it doesn't pay4 ,it seems to have paid you reasonably well4 ,oh1 ,i don't complain4 ,it has its ups and downs like all businesses4 ,still1 it doesn't pay me nearly as well as perhaps you think1 and you can take my word that in the long run it won't pay you at all4 ,how much money have you got8 ,enough to pay if ,i lose1 said the boy impudently2 then seeing the look of pain that passed over ,mellish's face1 he added more civilly3 ,i have three or four hundred dollars4 ,well1 take my advice and go home4 ,you'll be just that much better off in the morning4 ,what6 ,don't you play a square game here8 ,of course we play a square game here1 answered ,mellish with indignation4 ,do you think ,i am a card-sharper8 ,you seem so cock-sure ,i'll lose my money that ,i was just wondering4 ,now1 ,i can afford to lose all the money ,i've got and not feel it4 ,are you going to allow me to play1 or are you going to chuck me out8 ,oh1 you can play if you want to4 ,but don't come whining to me when you lose4 ,i've warned you4 ,i'm not a whiner1 said the young fellow2 ,i take my medicine like a man4 ,right you are1 said ,mellish with a sigh4 ,he realized that this fellow1 young as he looked1 was probably deeper in vice than his appearance indicated and he knew the uselessness of counsel in such a case4 ,they went into the main room together and the boy1 abandoning roulette1 began to play at one of the card tables for ever-increasing stakes4 ,mellish kept an eye on him for a time4 ,the boy was having the luck of most beginners4 ,he played a reckless game and won hand over fist4 ,as one man had enough and rose from the table another eagerly took his place1 but there was no break in the boy's winnings4 ,pony ,rowell was always late in arriving at the gambling rooms4 ,on this occasion he entered1 irreproachably dressed1 and with the quiet1 gentlemanly demeanor habitual with him4 ,the professional gambler was never known to lose his temper4 ,when displeased he became quieter1 if possible1 than before4 ,the only sign of inward anger was a mark like an old scar which extended from his right temple1 beginning over the eye and disappearing in his closely-cropped hair behind the ear4 ,this line became an angry red that stood out against the general pallor of his face when things were going in a way that did not please him4 ,he spoke in a low tone to ,mellish4 ,what's the excitement down at the other end of the room8 ,every one seems congregated there4 ,oh1 answered ,mellish1 it's a boy--a stranger--who is having the devil's own luck at the start4 ,it will be the ruin of him4 ,is he playing high8 ,high8 ,i should say so4 ,he's perfectly reckless4 ,he'll be brought up with a sharp turn and will borrow money from me to get out of town4 ,i've seen a flutter like that before4 ,in that case1 said ,pony tranquilly1 ,i must have a go at him4 ,i like to tackle a youngster in the first flush of success1 especially if he is plunging4 ,you will soon have a chance1 answered ,mellish1 for even ,ragstock knows when he has enough4 ,he will get up in a moment4 ,i know the signs4 ,with the air of a gentleman of leisure1 somewhat tired of the frivolities of this world1 ,rowell made his way slowly to the group4 ,as he looked over their shoulders at the boy a curious glitter came into his piercing eyes1 and his lips1 usually so well under control1 tightened4 ,the red mark began to come out as his face paled4 ,it was evident that he did not intend to speak and that he was about to move away again1 but the magnetism of his keen glance seemed to disturb the player1 who suddenly looked up over the head of his opponent and met the stern gaze of ,rowell4 ,the boy did three things4 ,he placed his cards face downward on the table1 put his right hand over the pile of money1 and moved his chair back4 ,what do you mean by that8 cried ,ragstock4 ,the youth ignored the question1 still keeping his eyes on ,rowell4 ,do you squeal8 he asked4 ,i squeal1 said ,pony1 whatever the question and answer might mean4 ,then ,rowell cried1 slightly raising his voice so that all might hear3 ,this man is ,cub ,mc,lean1 the most notorious card-sharper1 thief1 and murderer in the west4 ,he couldn't play straight if he tried4 ,mc,lean laughed4 ,yes1 he said2 and if you want to see my trademark look at the side of ,greggs' face4 ,every man looked at ,pony1 learning for the first time that he had gone under a different name at some period of his life4 ,during the momentary distraction ,mc,lean swept the money off the table and put it in his pockets4 ,hold on1 cried ,ragstock1 seemingly not quite understanding the situation4 ,you haven't won that yet4 ,again ,mc,lean laughed4 ,it would have been the same in ten minutes4 ,he jumped up1 scattering the crowd behind him4 ,look to the doors1 cried ,pony4 ,don't let this man out4 ,mc,lean had his back to the wall4 ,from under his coat he whipped two revolvers which he held out1 one in each hand4 ,you ought to know me better than that1 ,greggs1 he said1 do you want me to have another shot at you8 ,i won't miss this time4 ,drop that4 ,the last command was given in a ringing voice that attracted every one's attention to ,sotty4 ,he had picked up a revolver from somewhere behind the bar and had come out with it in his hand4 ,mc,lean's eye seemed to take in every motion in the room and he instantly covered the bartender with one of the pistols as he gave the command4 ,drop it1 said ,mellish4 ,there must be no shooting4 ,you may go quietly4 ,no one will interfere with you4 ,you bet your sweet life they won't1 said ,mc,lean with a laugh4 ,gentlemen1 continued ,mellish1 the house will stand the loss4 ,if ,i allow a swindler in my rooms it is but right that ,i alone should suffer4 ,now you put up your guns and walk out4 ,good old ,mellish1 sneered ,mc,lean1 you ought to be running a ,sunday- school4 ,notwithstanding the permission to depart ,mc,lean did not relax his precautions for a moment4 ,his shoulders scraped their way along the wall as he gradually worked towards the door4 ,he kept ,pony covered with his left hand while the polished barrel of the revolver in his right seemed to have a roving commission all over the room1 to the nervous dread of many respectable persons who cowered within range4 ,when he reached the door he said to ,pony3 ,i hope you'll excuse me1 ,greggs1 but this is too good an opportunity to miss4 ,i'm going to kill you in your tracks4 ,that's about your size1 said ,pony putting his hands behind him and standing in his place1 while those near him edged away4 ,i'm unarmed1 so it is perfectly safe4 ,you will insure your arrest so blaze away4 ,dodge under the table1 then1 and ,i will spare you4 ,pony invited him to take up his abode in tropical futurity4 ,cub laughed once more good naturedly1 and lowered the muzzle of his revolver4 ,as he shoved back his soft felt hat1 ,mellish1 who stood nearest him1 saw that the hair on his temples was grey4 ,lines of anxiety had come into his apparently youthful face as he had scraped his way along the wall4 ,good-night1 all1 he shouted back from the stairway4 ,,old ,,number ,,eighty-,,six4 ,john ,saggart stood in a dark corner of the terminus1 out of the rays of the glittering arc lamps1 and watched engine ,number ,eighty-six4 ,the engineer was oiling her1 and the fireman1 as he opened the furnace-door and shovelled in the coal1 stood out like a red ,rembrandt picture in the cab against the darkness beyond4 ,as the engineer with his oil can went carefully around ,number ,eighty-six1 ,john ,saggart drew his sleeve across his eyes1 and a gulp came up his throat4 ,he knew every joint and bolt in that contrary old engine--the most cantankerous iron brute on the road--and yet1 if rightly managed1 one of the swiftest and most powerful machines the company had1 notwithstanding the many improvements that had been put upon locomotives since old ,eighty-six had left the foundry4 ,saggart1 as he stood there1 thought of the seven years he had spent on the foot-board of old ,eighty-six1 and of the many tricks she had played him during that period4 ,if1 as the poet says1 the very chains and the prisoner become friends through long association1 it may be imagined how much of a man's affection goes out to a machine that he thoroughly understands and likes--a machine that is his daily companion for years1 in danger and out of it4 ,number ,eighty-six and ,john had been in many a close pinch together1 and at this moment the man seemed to have forgotten that often the pinch was caused by the pure cussedness of ,eighty-six herself1 and he remembered only that she had bravely done her part several times when the situation was exceedingly serious4 ,the cry ,all aboard rang out and was echoed down from the high-arched roof of the great terminus1 and ,john with a sigh turned from his contemplation of the engine1 and went to take his seat in the car4 ,it was a long train with many sleeping-cars at the end of it4 ,the engineer had put away his oil-can1 and had taken his place on the engine1 standing ready to begin the long journey at the moment the signal was given4 ,john ,saggart climbed into the smoking-carriage at the front part of the train4 ,he found a place in one of the forward seats1 and sank down into it with a vague feeling of uneasiness at being inside the coach instead of on the engine4 ,he gazed out of the window and saw the glittering electric lights slide slowly behind1 then1 more quickly1 the red1 green1 and white lights of the signal lamps1 and finally there flickered swiftly past the brilliant constellation of city windows1 showing that the town had not yet gone to bed4 ,at last the flying train plunged into the country1 and ,saggart pressed his face against the cold glass of the window1 unable to shake off his feeling of responsibility1 although he knew there was another man at the throttle4 ,he was aroused from his reverie by a touch on the shoulder1 and a curt request1 ,tickets1 please4 ,he pulled out of his pocket a pass1 and turned to hand it to the conductor who stood there with a glittering1 plated1 and crystal lantern on his arm4 ,hello1 ,john1 is this you8 cried the conductor1 as soon as he saw the face4 ,hang it1 man1 you didn't need a pass in travelling with me4 ,they gave it to me to take me home1 said ,saggart1 a touch of sadness in his voice1 and ,i may as well use it as not4 ,i don't want to get you into trouble4 ,oh1 ,i'd risk the trouble1 said the conductor1 placing the lantern on the floor and taking his seat beside the engineer4 ,i heard about your worry to-day4 ,it's too bad4 ,if a man had got drunk at his post1 as you and ,i have known 'em to do1 it wouldn't have seemed so hard2 but at its worst your case was only an error of judgment1 and then nothing really happened4 ,old ,eighty-six seems to have the habit of pulling herself through4 ,i suppose you and she have been in worse fixes than that1 with not a word said about it4 ,oh1 yes1 said ,john1 we've been in many a tight place together1 but we won't be any more4 ,it's rough1 as you say4 ,i've been fifteen years with the company1 and seven on old ,eighty-six1 and at first it comes mighty hard4 ,but ,i suppose ,i'll get used to it4 ,look here1 ,john1 said the conductor1 lowering his voice to a confidential tone1 the president of the road is with us to-night2 his private car is the last but one on the train4 ,how would it do to speak to him8 ,if you are afraid to tackle him1 ,i'll put in a word for you in a minute1 and tell him your side of the story4 ,john ,saggart shook his head4 ,it wouldn't do1 he said2 he wouldn't overrule what one of his subordinates had done1 unless there was serious injustice in the case4 ,it's the new manager1 you know4 ,there's always trouble with a new manager4 ,he sweeps clean4 ,and ,i suppose that he thinks by 'bouncing' one of the oldest engineers on the road1 he will scare the rest4 ,well1 ,i don't think much of him between ourselves1 said the conductor4 ,what do you think he has done to-night8 ,he's put a new man on ,eighty-six4 ,a man from one of the branch lines who doesn't know the road4 ,i doubt if he's ever been over the main line before4 ,now1 it's an anxious enough time for me anyhow with a heavy train to take through1 with the thermometer at zero1 and the rails like glass1 and ,i like to have a man in front that ,i can depend on4 ,it's bad enough not to know the road1 said ,john gloomily1 but it's worse not to know old ,eighty-six4 ,she's a brute if she takes a notion4 ,i don't suppose there is another engine that could draw this train and keep her time1 said the conductor4 ,no6 ,she'll do her work all right if you'll only humor her1 admitted ,saggart1 who could not conceal his love for the engine even while he blamed her4 ,well1 said the conductor1 rising and picking up his lantern1 the man in front may be all right1 but ,i would feel safer if you were further ahead than the smoker4 ,i'm sorry ,i can't offer you a berth to-night1 ,john1 but we're full clear through to the rear lights4 ,there isn't even a vacant upper on the train4 ,oh1 it doesn't matter1 said ,saggart4 ,i couldn't sleep1 anyhow4 ,i'd rather sit here and look out of the window4 ,well1 so long1 said the conductor4 ,i'll drop in and see you as the night passes on4 ,saggart lit his pipe and gazed out into darkness4 ,he knew every inch of the road--all the up grades and the down grades and the levels4 ,he knew it even better in the murkiest night than in the clearest day4 ,now and then the black bulk of a barn or a clump of trees showed for one moment against the sky1 and ,saggart would say to himself1 ,now he should shut off an inch of steam1 or1 ,now he should throw her wide open4 ,the train made few stops1 but he saw that they were losing time4 ,eighty-six was sulking1 very likely4 ,thinking of the engine turned his mind to his own fate4 ,no man was of very much use in the world1 after all1 for the moment he steps down another is ready to stand in his place4 ,the wise men in the city who had listened to his defence knew so well that an engine was merely a combination of iron and steel and brass1 and that a given number of pounds of steam would get it over a given number of miles in a given number of hours1 and they had smiled incredulously when he told them that an engine had her tantrums1 and informed them that sometimes she had to be coddled up like any other female4 ,even when a man did his best there were occasions when nothing he could do would mollify her1 and then there was sure to be trouble1 although1 he added1 in his desire to be fair1 she was always sorry for it afterward4 ,which remark1 to his confusion1 had turned the smile into a laugh4 ,he wondered what ,eighty-six thought of the new man4 ,not much1 evidently1 for she was losing time1 which she had no business to do on that section of the road4 ,still it might be the fault of the new man not knowing when to push her for all she was worth and when to ease up4 ,all these things go to the making of time4 ,but it was more than probable that old ,eighty-six1 like ,gilpin's horse1 was wondering more and more what thing upon her back had got4 ,he'll have trouble1 muttered ,john to himself1 when she finds out4 ,the conductor came in again and sat down beside the engineer4 ,he said nothing1 but sat there sorting his tickets1 while ,saggart gazed out of the window4 ,suddenly the engineer sprang to his feet with his eyes wide open4 ,the train was swaying from side to side and going at great speed4 ,the conductor looked up with a smile4 ,old ,eighty-six1 he said1 is evidently going to make up for lost time4 ,she should be slowing down for crossing the ,g4 ,m4 line1 replied the engineer4 ,good heavens6 he cried a moment after1 we've gone across the ,g4 ,m4 track on the keen jump4 ,the conductor sprang to his feet4 ,he knew the seriousness of such a thing4 ,even the fastest expresses must stop dead before crossing on the level the line of another railway4 ,it is the law4 ,doesn't that fool in front know enough to stop at a crossing8 ,it isn't that4 said ,saggart4 ,he knows all right4 ,even the train boys know that4 ,old ,eighty-six has taken the bit between her teeth4 ,he can't stop her4 ,where do you pass ,no4 #f to-night8 ,at ,pointsville4 ,that's only six miles ahead1 said the engineer2 and in five minutes at this rate we will be running on her time and on her rails4 ,she's always late1 and won't be on the side track4 ,i must get to ,eighty-six4 ,saggart quickly made his way through the baggage-coach1 climbed on the express car1 and jumped on the coal of the tender4 ,he cast his eye up the track and saw glimmering in the distance1 like a faint wavering star1 the headlight of ,no4 #f4 ,looking down into the cab he realized the situation in a glance4 ,the engineer1 with fear in his face and beads of perspiration on his brow1 was throwing his whole weight on the lever1 the fireman helping him4 ,saggart leaped down to the floor of the cab4 ,stand aside1 he shouted2 and there was such a ring of confident command in his voice that both men instantly obeyed4 ,saggart grasped the lever1 and instead of trying to shut off steam flung it wide open4 ,number ,eighty-six gave a quiver and a jump forward4 ,you old fiend6 muttered ,john between his teeth4 ,then he pushed the lever home1 and it slid into place as if there had never been any impediment4 ,the steam was shut off1 but the lights of ,pointsville flashed past them with the empty side-track on the left1 and they were now flying along the single line of rails with the headlight of ,no4 #f growing brighter and brighter in front of them4 ,reverse her1 reverse her6 cried the other engineer1 with fear in his voice4 ,reverse nothing1 said ,saggart4 ,she'll slide ten miles if you do4 ,jump1 if you're afraid4 ,the man from the branch line promptly jumped4 ,save yourself1 said ,saggart to the stoker2 there's bound to be a smash4 ,i'll stick by you1 ,mr4 ,saggart1 said the fireman1 who knew him4 ,but his hand trembled4 ,the air-brake was grinding the long train and sending a shiver of fear through every timber1 but the rails were slippery with frost1 and the speed of the train seemed as great as ever4 ,at the right moment ,saggart reversed the engine1 and the sparks flew up from her great drivers like catharine wheels4 ,brace yourself1 cried ,saggart4 ,no4 #f is backing up1 thank ,god6 ,next instant the crash came4 ,two headlights and two cow-catchers went to flinders1 and the two trains stood there with horns locked1 but no great damage done1 except a shaking up for a lot of panic-stricken passengers4 ,the burly engineer of ,no4 #f jumped down and came forward1 his mouth full of oaths4 ,what the h--l do you mean by running in on our time like this8 ,hello1 is that you1 ,saggart8 ,i thought there was a new man on to-night4 ,i didn't expect this from you4 ,it's all right1 ,billy4 ,it wasn't the new man's fault4 ,he's back in the ditch with a broken leg1 ,i should say1 from the way he jumped4 ,old ,eighty-six is to blame4 ,she got on the rampage4 ,took advantage of the greenhorn4 ,the conductor came running up4 ,how is it8 he cried4 ,it's all right4 ,number ,eighty-six got her nose broke1 and served her right1 that's all4 ,tell the passengers there's no danger1 and get 'em on board4 ,we're going to back up to ,pointsville4 ,better send the brakesmen to pick up the other engineer4 ,the ground's hard tonight1 and he may be hurt4 ,i'm going back to talk to the president1 said the conductor emphatically4 ,he's in a condition of mind to listen to reason1 judging from the glimpse ,i got of his face at the door of his car a moment ago4 ,either he re-instates you or ,i go gathering tickets on a street-car4 ,this kind of thing is too exciting for my nerves4 ,the conductor's interview with the president of the road was apparently satisfactory1 for old ,number ,eighty-six is trying to lead a better life under the guidance of ,john ,saggart4 ,,playing ,,with ,,marked ,,cards4 ,i'm bothered about that young fellow1 said ,mellish early one morning1 to the professional gambler1 ,pony ,rowell4 ,why8 ,he comes here night after night1 and he loses more than he can afford1 ,i imagine4 ,he has no income1 so far as ,i can find out1 except what he gets as salary1 and it takes a mighty sight bigger salary than his to stand the strain he's putting on it4 ,what is his business8 ,he is cashier in the ,ninth ,national ,bank4 ,i don't know how much he gets1 but it can't be enough to permit this sort of thing to go on4 ,pony ,rowell shrugged his shoulders4 ,i don't think ,i would let it trouble me1 if ,i were you1 ,mellish4 ,nevertheless it does4 ,i have advised him to quit1 but it is no use4 ,if ,i tell the doorkeeper not to let him in here1 he will merely go somewhere else where they are not so particular4 ,i must confess ,i don't quite understand you1 ,mellish1 long as ,i have known you4 ,in your place1 now1 ,i would either give up keeping a gambling saloon or ,i would give up the moral reformation line of business4 ,i wouldn't try to ride two horses of such different tempers at the same time4 ,i've never tried to reform you1 ,pony1 said ,mellish1 with reproach in his voice4 ,no2 ,i will give you credit for that much sense4 ,it's all right with old stagers like you and me1 ,pony1 but with a boy just beginning life1 it is different4 ,now it struck me that you might be able to help me in this4 ,yes1 ,i thought that was what you were leading up to1 said ,rowell1 thrusting his hands deep in his trousers' pockets4 ,i'm no missionary1 remember4 ,what did you want me to do8 ,i wanted you to give him a sharp lesson4 ,couldn't you mark a pack of cards and get him to play high8 ,then1 when you have taken all his ready money and landed him in debt to you so that he can't move1 give him back his cash if he promises not to gamble again4 ,rowell looked across at the subject of their conversation4 ,i don't think ,i would flatter him so much as to even stock the cards on him4 ,i'll clean him out if you like4 ,but it won't do any good1 ,mellish4 ,look at his eyes4 ,the insanity of gambling is in them4 ,i used to think if ,i had #ajj1jjj1 ,i would quit4 ,i'm old enough now to know that ,i wouldn't4 ,i'd gamble if ,i had a million4 ,i stopped after ,i was your age4 ,oh1 yes1 ,mellish1 you are the virtuous exception that proves the rule4 ,you quit gambling the way the old woman kept tavern1 and ,rowell cast a glance over the busy room4 ,mellish smiled somewhat grimly1 then he sighed4 ,i wish ,i was out of it1 he said4 ,but1 anyhow1 you think over what ,i've been talking about1 and if you can see your way to giving him a sharp lesson ,i wish you would4 ,all right ,i will1 but merely to ease your tender conscience1 ,mellish4 ,it's no use1 ,i tell you4 ,when the snake has bitten1 the victim is doomed4 ,gambling isn't a simple thing like the opium habit4 99 99 99 99 99 ,reggie ,forme1 the bank cashier1 rose at last from the roulette table4 ,he was flushed with success1 for there was a considerable addition to the sum he had in his pockets when he sat down4 ,he flattered himself that the result was due to the system he had elaborately studied out4 ,nothing lures a man to destruction quicker than a system that can be mathematically demonstrated4 ,it gives an air of business to gambling which is soothing to the conscience of a person brought up on statistics4 ,the system generally works beautifully at first2 then a cog slips and you are mangled in the machinery before you know where you are4 ,as young ,forme left the table he felt a hand on his shoulder1 and looking around1 met the impassive gaze of ,pony ,rowell4 ,you're young at the business1 ,i see1 remarked the professional quietly4 ,why do you think that8 asked the youngster1 coloring1 for one likes to be taken for a veteran1 especially when one is an amateur4 ,because you fool away your time at roulette4 ,that is a game for boys and women4 ,have you nerve enough to play a real game8 ,what do you call a real game8 ,a game with cards in a private room for something bigger than half- dollar points4 ,how big8 ,depends on what capital you have4 ,how much capital can you command8 ,the cashier hesitated for a moment and his eyes fell from the steady light of ,rowell's1 which seemed to have an uncomfortable habit of looking into one's inmost soul4 ,i can bring #a1jjj here on ,saturday night4 ,all right4 ,that will do as a starter4 ,is it an appointment then8 ,yes1 if you like4 ,what time8 ,i generally get here pretty late1 but ,i can make an exception in your case4 ,what do you say to #aj o'clock8 ,that will suit me4 ,very well1 then4 ,don't fool away any of your money or nerve until ,i come4 ,you will need all you have of both4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the professional gambler and the amateur began their series of games a few minutes after ten in a little private room4 ,the young man became more and more excited as the play went on4 ,as for ,pony1 he was cool under any circumstances4 ,before an hour had passed the #a1jjj was transferred from the possession of ,forme into the pockets of the professional1 and by midnight the younger man was another #a1jjj in ,rowell's debt4 ,it isn't my practice1 said ,rowell slowly1 to play with a man unless he has the money in sight4 ,i've made an exception in your case1 as luck was against you1 but ,i think this has gone far enough4 ,you may bring me the #a1jjj you owe any day next week4 ,no particular hurry1 you know4 ,the young fellow appeared to be dazed4 ,he drew his hand across his brow and then said mechanically1 as if he had just heard his opponent's remark3 ,no hurry8 ,all right4 ,next week4 ,certainly4 ,i guess ,i'll go home now4 ,forme went out1 leaving ,rowell idly shuffling the cards at the small table4 ,the moment the young man had disappeared all ,rowell's indolence vanished4 ,he sprang up and put on his overcoat1 then slipped out by the rear exit into the alley4 ,he had made up his mind what ,forme would do4 ,mentally he tracked him from the gambling rooms to the river and he even went so far as to believe he would take certain streets on his way thither4 ,a gambler is nothing if not superstitious and so ,rowell was not in the least surprised when he saw the young man emerge from the dark stairway1 hesitate for a moment between the two directions open to him1 and finally choose the one that the gambler expected him to take4 ,the cold streets were deserted and so ,rowell had more difficulty in following his late victim unperceived than he would have had earlier in the evening4 ,several times the older man thought the pursued had become aware of the pursuit1 for ,forme stopped and looked around him2 once coming back and taking another street as if trying to double on the man who was following him4 99 99 99 99 99 ,rowell began to realize the difficulty of the task he had set for himself1 and as he had never had any faith in it anyhow1 he began to feel uncomfortable and to curse the tender heart of ,mellish4 ,if the youngster got the idea into his head that he was followed he might succeed in giving his pursuer the slip1 and then ,rowell would find himself with the fool's death on his conscience1 and what was to him infinitely worse1 with a thousand dollars in his pocket that had been unfairly won4 ,this thought made him curse ,mellish afresh4 ,it had been entirely against his own will that he had played with marked cards1 but ,mellish had insisted that they should take no chances1 and the veteran knew too well the uncertainties of playing a fair game where a great object lesson was to be taught4 ,it would make them look like two fools1 ,mellish had said1 if ,forme won the money4 ,in answer to this ,rowell had remarked that they were two fools anyhow1 but he had finally succumbed to ,mellish as the whole scheme was ,mellish's4 ,as ,rowell thought bitterly of these things his attention was diverted from the very matter he had in hand4 ,few men can pursue a course of thought and a fellow-creature at the same time4 ,he suddenly realized that young ,forme had escaped him4 ,rowell stood alone in the dimly-lighted silent street and poured unuttered maledictions on his own stupidity4 ,suddenly a voice rang out from a dark doorway4 ,what the devil are you following me for8 ,oh1 you're there1 are you8 said ,pony calmly4 ,i'm here4 ,now what do you want of me8 ,aren't you satisfied with what you have done to-night8 ,naturally not1 or ,i wouldn't be fool-chasing at such an hour as this4 ,then you admit you have been following me8 ,i never denied it4 ,what do you want of me8 ,do ,i belong to myself or do you think ,i belong to you1 because ,i owe you some money8 ,i do not know1 ,i am sure1 to whom you belong1 said ,rowell with his slow drawl4 ,i suspect1 however1 that the city police1 who seem to be scarce at this hour1 have the first claim upon you4 ,what do ,i want of you8 ,i want to ask you a question4 ,where did you get the money you played with to-night8 ,it's none of your business4 ,i presume not4 ,but as there are no witnesses to this interesting conversation ,i will venture an opinion that you robbed the bank4 ,the young man took a step forward1 but ,pony stood his ground1 using the interval to light another cigarette4 ,i will also venture an opinion1 ,mr4 ,rowell1 and say that the money came as honestly into my pocket as it did into yours4 ,that wouldn't be saying much for it4 ,i have the advantage of you1 however1 because the nine points are in my favor4 ,i have possession4 ,what are you following me for8 ,to give me up8 ,you admit the robbery1 then4 ,i admit nothing4 ,it won't be used against you4 ,as ,i told you1 there are no witnesses4 ,it will pay you to be frank4 ,where did you get the money8 ,where many another man gets it4 ,out of the bank4 ,i thought so4 ,now1 ,forme1 you are not such a fool as you look--or act4 ,you know where all that sort of thing leads to4 ,you haven't any chance4 ,all the rules of the game are against you4 ,you have no more show than you had against me to-night4 ,why not chuck it1 before it is too late8 ,it is easy for you to talk like that when you have my money in your pocket4 ,but that simply is another rule of the game4 ,the money of a thief is bound to go into someone else's pocket4 ,whoever enjoys the cash ultimately1 he never does4 ,now if you had the money in your pocket what would you do8 ,i would go back to ,mellish's and have another try4 ,i believe you1 said ,rowell with1 for the first time1 some cordiality in his voice4 ,he recognized a kindred spirit in this young man4 ,nevertheless it would be a foolish thing to do4 ,you have two chances before you4 ,you can become a sport as ,i am and spend your life in gambling rooms4 ,or you can become what is called a respectable business man4 ,but you can't be both4 ,in a very short time you will not have the choice4 ,you will be found out and then you can only be what ,i am-- probably not as successful as ,i have been4 ,if you add bank robbery to your other accomplishments then you will go to prison or1 what is perhaps worse1 to ,canada4 ,which career are you going to choose8 ,come down to plain facts4 ,what do you mean by all this talk8 ,if ,i say ,i'll quit gambling do you mean that you will return to me the thousand dollars and call the other thousand square8 ,if you give me your word of honor that you will quit4 ,and if ,i don't1 what then8 ,then on ,monday ,i will hand over this money to the bank and advise them to look into your accounts4 ,and suppose my accounts prove to be all right1 what then8 ,rowell shrugged his shoulders4 ,in that remote possibility ,i will give the thousand dollars to you and play you another game for it4 ,i see4 ,which means that you cheated to-night4 ,if you like to put it that way4 ,and what if ,i denounced you as a self-confessed cheat8 ,it wouldn't matter to me4 ,i wouldn't take the trouble to deny it4 ,nobody would believe you4 ,you're a cool hand1 ,pony1 ,i admire your cheek4 ,still1 you've got some silly elements in you4 ,oh1 you mean my trying to reform you8 ,don't make any mistake about that4 ,it is ,mellish's idea1 not mine4 ,i don't believe in you for a moment4 ,the young man laughed4 ,he reflected for a few seconds1 then said3 ,i'll take your offer4 ,you give me back the money and ,i will promise never to gamble again in any shape or form4 ,you will return the cash to the bank1 if you took it from there8 ,certainly4 ,i will put it back the first thing on ,monday morning4 ,then here is your pile1 said ,rowell1 handing him the roll of bills4 ,forme took it eagerly and1 standing where the light struck down upon him1 counted the bills1 while ,rowell looked on silently with a cynical smile on his lips4 ,thank you1 said the young man1 you're a good fellow1 ,rowell4 ,i'm obliged for your good opinion4 ,i hope you found the money correct8 ,quite right1 said ,forme1 flushing a little4 ,i hope you did not mind my counting it4 ,merely a business habit1 you know4 ,well1 stick to business habits1 ,mr4 ,forme4 ,good night4 ,rowell walked briskly back to ,mellish's4 ,forme walked toward the railway station and found that there was a train for ,chicago at #d in the morning4 ,he had one clear day and part of another before he was missed1 and as it turned out all trace of him was lost in the big city4 ,the bank found about #f1jjj missing4 ,two years after1 news came that ,forme had been shot dead in a gambling hall in ,southern ,texas4 ,we are two first-class fools1 said ,rowell to ,mellish1 and ,i for one don't feel proud of the episode1 so we'll say nothing more about it4 ,the gambling mania was in his blood4 ,gambling is not a vice2 it is a disease1 latent in all of us4 ,,the ,,bruiser',s ,,courtship4 ,while the ,northern ,bruiser sat in the chair in his corner and was being fanned he resolved to finish the fight at the next round4 ,the superior skill of his opponent was telling upon him1 and although the ,bruiser was a young man of immense strength1 yet1 up to that time1 the alertness and dexterity of the ,yorkshire ,chicken had baffled him1 and prevented him from landing one of his tremendous shoulder thrusts4 ,but even though skill had checkmated strength up to this point1 the ,chicken had not entirely succeeded in defending himself1 and was in a condition described by the yelling crowd as groggy4 ,when time was called the ,bruiser was speedily on his feet4 ,his face did not present the repulsive appearance so visible on the countenance of his opponent1 but the ,bruiser had experience enough to know that the body blows received in this fight had had their effect on his wind and staying powers2 and that although the ,chicken presented an appalling appearance with his swollen lips and cheeks1 and his eyes nearly closed1 yet he was in better trim for continuing the battle than the ,bruiser4 ,the ,chicken came up to the mark less promptly than his big antagonist1 but whether it was from weakness or lack of sight1 he seemed uncertain in his movements1 and the hearts of his backers sank as they saw him stagger rather than walk to his place4 ,before the ,chicken1 as it were1 fully waked up to the situation1 the ,bruiser lunged forward and planted a blow on his temple that would have broken the guard of a man who was in better condition than the ,chicken4 ,the ,yorkshireman fell like a log1 and lay where he fell4 ,then the ,bruiser got a lesson which terrified him4 ,a sickly ashen hue came over the purple face of the man on the ground4 ,the ,bruiser had expected some defence1 and the terrible blow had been even more powerful than he intended4 ,a shivering whisper went round the crowd1 ,he is killed1 and instantly the silenced mob quietly scattered4 ,it was every man for himself before the authorities took a hand in the game4 ,the ,bruiser stood there swaying from side to side1 his gaze fixed upon the prostrate man4 ,he saw himself indicted and hanged for murder1 and he swore that if the ,chicken recovered he would never again enter the ring4 ,this was a phase of prize-fighting that he had never before had experience of4 ,on different occasions he had1 it is true1 knocked out his various opponents1 and once or twice he had been knocked out himself2 but the ,chicken had fought so pluckily up to the last round that the ,bruiser had put forth more of his tremendous strength than he had bargained for1 and now the man's life hung on a thread4 ,the unconscious pugilist was carried to an adjoining room4 ,two physicians were in attendance upon him1 and at first the reports were most gloomy1 but towards daylight the ,bruiser learned with relief that the chances were in favor of his opponent4 ,the ,bruiser had been urged to fly1 but he was a man of strong common sense1 and he thoroughly understood the futility of flight4 ,his face and his form were too well known all around the country4 ,it would have been impossible for him to escape1 even if he had tried to do so4 ,when the ,yorkshire ,chicken recovered1 the ,bruiser's friends laughed at his resolve to quit the ring1 but they could not shake it4 ,the money he had won in his last fight1 together with what he had accumulated before--for he was a frugal man--was enough to keep him for the rest of his days1 and he resolved to return to the ,border town where he was born1 and where doubtless his fame had preceded him4 ,he buckled his guineas in a belt around him1 and with a stout stick in his hand he left ,london for the ,north4 ,he was a strong and healthy young man1 and had not given way to dissipation1 as so many prizefighters had done before1 and will again4 ,he had a horror of a cramped and confined1 seat in a stage coach4 ,he loved the free air of the heights and the quiet stillness of the valleys4 ,it was in the days of highwaymen1 and travelling by coach was not considered any too safe4 ,the ,bruiser was afraid of no man that lived1 if he met him in the open with a stick in his hand1 or with nature's weapons1 but he feared the muzzle of a pistol held at his head in the dark by a man with a mask over his face4 ,so he buckled his belt around him with all his worldly gear in gold1 took his own almost forgotten name1 ,abel ,trenchon1 set his back to the sun and his face to the north wind1 and journeyed on foot along the king's highway4 ,he stopped at night in the wayside inns1 taking up his quarters before the sun had set1 and leaving them when it was broad daylight in the morning4 ,he disputed his reckonings like a man who must needs count the pennies1 and no one suspected the sturdy wayfarer of carrying a fortune around his body4 ,as his face turned toward the ,north his thought went to the ,border town where he had spent his childhood4 ,his father and mother were dead1 and he doubted now if anyone there remembered him1 or would have a welcome for him4 ,nevertheless no other spot on earth was so dear to him1 and it had always been his intention1 when he settled down and took a wife1 to retire to the quiet little town4 ,the weather1 at least1 gave him a surly welcome4 ,on the last day's tramp the wind howled and the rain beat in gusts against him1 but he was a man who cared little for the tempest1 and he bent his body to the blast1 trudging sturdily on4 ,it was evening when he began to recognize familiar objects by the wayside1 and he was surprised to see how little change there had been in all the years he was away4 ,he stopped at an inn for supper1 and1 having refreshed himself1 resolved to break the rule he had made for himself throughout the journey4 ,he would push on through the night1 and sleep in his native village4 ,the storm became more pitiless as he proceeded1 and he found himself sympathizing with those poor creatures who were compelled to be out in it1 but he never gave a thought to himself4 ,it was nearly midnight when he saw the square church tower standing blackly out against the dark sky2 and when he began to descend the valley1 on the other side of which the town stood1 a thrill of fear came over him1 as he remembered what he had so long forgotten--that the valley was haunted1 and was a particularly dangerous place about the hour of midnight4 ,to divert his thoughts he then began to wonder who the woman was he would marry4 ,she was doubtless now sleeping calmly in the village on the hill1 quite unconscious of the approach of her lover and her husband4 ,he could not conceal from himself the fact that he would be reckoned a good match when his wealth was known1 for1 excepting the ,squire1 he would probably be the richest man in the place4 ,however1 he resolved to be silent about his riches1 so that the girl he married would little dream of the good fortune that awaited her4 ,he laughed aloud as he thought of the pleasure he would have in telling his wife of her luck1 but the laugh died on his lips as he saw1 or thought he saw1 something moving stealthily along the hedge4 ,he was now in the depth of the valley in a most lonesome and eerie spot4 ,the huge trees on each side formed an arch over the roadway and partially sheltered it from the rain4 ,he stood in his tracks1 grasped his stick with firmer hold1 and shouted valiantly1 ,who goes there8 ,there was no answer1 but in the silence which followed he thought he heard a woman's sob4 ,come out into the road1 he cried1 or ,i shall fire4 ,his own fear of pistols was so great that he expected everyone else to be terrorized by the threat of using them2 and yet he had never possessed nor carried a pistol in his life4 ,please--please don't fire1 cried a trembling voice1 from out the darkness4 ,i will do as you tell me4 ,and so saying the figure moved out upon the road4 ,trenchon peered at her through the darkness1 but whether she was old or young he could not tell4 ,her voice seemed to indicate that she was young4 ,why1 lass1 said ,trenchon1 kindly1 what dost thou here at such an hour and in such a night8 ,alas6 she cried1 weeping2 my father turned me out1 as he has often done before1 but to-night is a bitter night1 and ,i had nowhere to go1 so ,i came here to be sheltered from the rain4 ,he will be asleep ere long1 and he sleeps soundly4 ,i may perhaps steal in by a window1 although sometimes he fastens them down4 ,god's truth6 cried ,trenchon1 angrily4 ,who is thy brute of a father8 ,the girl hesitated1 and then spoke as if to excuse him1 but again ,trenchon demanded his name4 ,he is the blacksmith of the village1 and ,cameron is his name4 ,i remember him1 said ,trenchon4 ,is thy mother1 then1 dead8 ,yes1 answered the girl1 weeping afresh4 ,she has been dead these five years4 ,i knew her when ,i was a boy1 said ,trenchon4 ,thy father also1 and many a grudge ,i owe him1 although ,i had forgotten about them4 ,still1 ,i doubt not but as a boy ,i was as much in fault as he1 although he was harsh to all of us1 and now it seems he is harsh to thee4 ,my name is ,trenchon4 ,i doubt if any in the village now remember me1 although1 perhaps1 they may have heard of me from ,london1 he said1 with some pride1 and a hope that the girl would confirm his thoughts4 ,but she shook her head4 ,i have never heard thy name1 she said4 ,trenchon sighed4 ,this1 then1 was fame6 ,ah1 well6 he cried1 that matters not2 they shall hear more of me later4 ,i will go with thee to thy father's house and demand for thee admittance and decent usage4 ,but the girl shrank back4 ,oh1 no1 no6 she cried2 that will never do4 ,my father is a hard man to cross4 ,there are none in the village who dare contend with him4 ,that is as it may be1 said ,trenchon1 with easy confidence4 ,i1 for one1 fear him not4 ,come1 lass1 with me1 and see if ,i cannot1 after all these years1 pick out thy father's dwelling4 ,come1 ,i say1 thou must not longer tarry here2 the rain is coming on afresh1 and these trees1 thick as they are1 form scant protection4 ,it is outrageous that thou should wander in this storm1 while thy brutal father lies in shelter4 ,nay1 do not fear harm for either thee or me2 and as for him1 he shall not suffer if thou but wish it so4 ,and1 drawing the girl's hand through his arm1 he took her reluctantly with him1 and without direction from her soon stood before the blacksmith's house4 ,you see1 he said1 triumphantly1 ,i knew the place1 and yet ,i have not seen the town for years4 ,trenchon rapped soundly on the oaken door with his heavy stick1 and the blows re-echoed through the silent house4 ,the girl shrank timidly behind him1 and would have fled1 but that he held her firmly by the wrist4 ,nay1 nay1 he said3 believe me there is naught to fear4 ,i will see that thou art not ill-used4 ,as he spoke the window above was thrown up1 and a string of fearful oaths greeted the two1 whereat the girl once more tried to release her imprisoned wrist1 but ,trenchon held it lightly1 though with a grip like steel4 ,the stout old man thrust his head through the open window4 ,god's blight on thee6 he cried1 thou pair of fools who wish to wed so much that ye venture out in such a night as this4 ,well1 have your way1 and let me have my rest4 ,in the name of the law of ,scotland ,i pronounce ye man and wife4 ,there1 that will bind two fools together as strongly as if the ,archbishop spoke the words4 ,place thou the money on the steps4 ,i warrant none will venture to touch it when it belongs to me4 ,and with that he closed the window4 ,is he raving mad or drunk8 cried ,trenchon4 ,the girl gave a wailing cry4 ,alas6 alas6 she said2 he is neither4 ,he is so used to marrying folk who come from ,england across the ,border that he thinks not it his daughter who came with thee1 but two who wished to wed4 ,they come at all hours of the night and day1 and he has married us4 ,i am thy wife4 ,the astonished man dropped her wrist1 and she put her hands before her eyes and wept4 ,married6 cried ,trenchon4 ,we two married6 ,he looked with interest at the girl1 but in the darkness could see nothing of her4 ,the unheeded rain pelted on them both4 ,hast thou--he hesitated--hast thou some other lover1 since you weep8 ,the girl shook her head4 ,no one1 she said1 comes near us4 ,they fear my father4 ,then1 if this be true1 why dost thou weep8 ,i am not considered so bad a fellow4 ,i weep not for myself1 but for thee1 who through the kindness of thy heart hast been led into this trap4 ,believe me1 it was not my intention4 ,judging from thy voice1 my girl1 and if thou favorest thy mother1 as ,i think1 whom ,i remember well1 this is a trap that ,i shall make little effort to get my foot out of4 ,but thou art dripping1 and ,i stand chattering here4 ,once more ,i will arouse my father-in-law4 ,so saying1 he stoutly rapped again with his stick upon the door4 ,once more the window was pushed up1 and again the angry head appeared4 ,get you gone6 cried the maddened blacksmith1 but before he could say anything further ,trenchon cried out3 ,it is thy daughter here who waits4 ,open the door1 thou limb of hell1 or ,i will burst it in and cast thee out as thou hast done thy daughter4 ,the blacksmith1 who had never in his life been spoken to in tones or words like these1 was so amazed that he could neither speak nor act1 but one stout kick against the door so shook the fabric that he speedily saw another such would break into his domicile2 so1 leaving the window open that his curses might the better reach them1 the blacksmith came down and threw the barrier from the door1 flinging it open and standing on the threshold so as to bar all ingress4 ,out of the way1 cried ,trenchon1 roughly placing his hand on the other's breast with apparent lightness1 but with a push that sent him staggering into the room4 ,the young man pulled the girl in after him and closed the door4 ,thou knowest the way1 he whispered4 ,strike thou a light4 ,the trembling girl lit a candle1 and as it shone upon her face ,trenchon gave a deep sigh of happiness and relief4 ,no girl in the village could be more fair4 ,the blacksmith stood1 his fingers clenched with rage2 but he looked with hesitation and respect upon the burly form of the prizefighter4 ,yet the old man did not flinch4 ,throw aside thy stick1 he cried1 or wait until ,i can get me another4 ,trenchon flung his stick into the corner4 ,oh6 oh6 cried the girl1 clasping her hands4 ,you must not fight4 ,but she appealed to her husband and not to her father1 which caused a glow of satisfaction to rise from the heart of the young man4 ,get thee out of this house1 cried her father1 fiercely1 turning upon her4 ,talk not thus to my wife1 said ,trenchon1 advancing upon him4 ,thy wife8 cried the blacksmith1 in amaze4 ,my wife1 repeated the young man with emphasis4 ,they tell me1 blacksmith1 that thou art strong4 ,that thou art brutal ,i know1 but thy strength ,i doubt4 ,come to me and test it4 ,the old man sprang upon him1 and the ,bruiser caught him by the elbows and held him helpless as a child4 ,he pressed him up against the wall1 pushed his wrists together1 and clasped them both in his one gigantic hand4 ,then1 placing the other on the blacksmith's shoulder1 he put his weight upon him1 and the blacksmith1 cursing but helpless1 sank upon his knees4 ,now1 thou hardened sinner1 cried the ,bruiser1 bending over him4 ,beg from thy daughter on thy knees for a night's shelter in this house4 ,beg1 or ,i will thrust thy craven face against the floor4 ,the girl clung to her newly-found husband1 and entreated him not to hurt her father4 ,i shall not hurt him if he do but speak4 ,if he has naught but curses on his lips1 why then those lips must kiss the flags that are beneath him4 ,speak out1 blacksmith3 what hast thou to say8 ,i beg for shelter1 said the conquered man4 ,instantly the ,bruiser released him4 ,get thee to bed1 he said1 and the old man slunk away4 ,wife1 said ,abel ,trenchon1 opening his arms1 ,i have come all the way from ,london for thee4 ,i knew not then what drew me north1 but now ,i know that ,one wiser than me led my steps hither4 ,as far as erring man may promise ,i do promise thee that thou shalt ne'er regret being cast out this night into the storm4 ,,the ,,raid ,,on ,,mellish4 ,some newspapers differ from others4 ,one peculiarity about the ,argus was the frequency with which it changed its men4 ,managing editors came who were going to revolutionize the world and incidentally the ,argus1 but they were in the habit of disappearing to give place to others who also disappeared4 ,newspaper men in that part of the country never considered themselves full-fledged unless they had had a turn at managing the ,argus4 ,if you asked who was at the head of the ,argus the answer would very likely be3 ,well1 ,so-and-so was managing it this morning4 ,i don't know who is running it this afternoon4 ,perhaps the most weird period in the history of the ,argus was when the owners imported a crank from ,pittsburg and put him in as local editor1 over the heads of the city staff4 ,his name was ,mc,crasky1 christened ,angus or ,archie1 ,i forget which1 at this period of time4 ,in fact1 his ,christian name was always a moot point2 some of the reporters saying it was ,angus and others ,archie1 no one having the courage to ask him4 ,anyhow1 he signed himself ,a4 ,mc,crasky4 ,he was a good man1 which was rather an oddity on the staff1 and puzzled the reporters not a little4 ,most of his predecessors had differed much from each other1 but they were all alike in one thing1 and that was profanity4 ,they expressed disapproval in language that made the hardened printers' towel in the composing room shrink4 ,mc,crasky's great point was that the local pages of the paper should have a strong moral influence on the community4 ,he knocked the sporting editor speechless by telling him that they would have no more reports of prize-fights4 ,poor ,murren went back to the local room1 sat down at his table and buried his head in his hands4 ,every man on a local staff naturally thinks the paper is published mainly to give his department a show1 and ,murren considered a fight to a finish as being of more real importance to the world than a presidential election4 ,the rest of the boys tried to cheer him up4 ,a fine state of things1 said ,murren bitterly4 ,think of the scrap next week between the ,california ,duffer and ,pigeon ,billy and no report of it in the ,argus6 ,imagine the walk- over for the other papers4 ,what in thunder does he think people want to read8 ,but there was another surprise in store for the boys4 ,mc,crasky assembled them all in his room and held forth to them4 ,he suddenly sprung a question on the criminal reporter--so suddenly that ,thompson1 taken unawares1 almost spoke the truth4 ,do you know of any gambling houses in this city8 ,thompson caught his breath and glanced quickly at ,murren4 ,no1 he said at last4 ,i don't1 but perhaps the religious editor does4 ,better ask him4 ,the religious editor smiled and removed his corn-cob pipe4 ,there aren't any1 he said4 ,didn't you know it was against the law to keep a gambling house in this state8 ,yes1 sir6 ,then he put his corn- cob pipe back in its place4 ,mc,crasky was pleased to see that his young men knew so little of the wickedness of a great city2 nevertheless he was there to give them some information1 so he said quietly3 ,certainly it is against the law2 but many things that are against the law flourish in a city like this4 ,now ,i want you to find out before the week is past how many gambling houses there are and where they are located4 ,when you are sure of your facts we will organize a raid and the news will very likely be exclusive1 for it will be late at night and the other papers may not hear of it4 ,suppose1 said the religious editor1 with a twinkle in his eye1 as he again removed his corn-cob1 that--assuming such places to exist--you found some representatives of the other papers there8 ,they are a bad lot1 the fellows on the other papers4 ,if they are there1 said the local editor1 they will go to prison4 ,they won't mind that1 if they can write something about it1 said ,murren gloomily4 ,in his opinion the ,argus was going to the dogs4 ,now1 ,thompson1 said ,mc,crasky1 you as criminal reporter must know a lot of men who can give you particulars for a first-rate article on the evils of gambling4 ,get it ready for ,saturday's paper--a column and a half1 with scare heads4 ,we must work up public opinion4 ,when the boys got back into the local room again1 ,murren sat with his head in his hands1 while ,thompson leaned back in his chair and laughed4 ,work up public opinion1 he said4 ,mac had better work up his own knowledge of the city streets1 and not put ,bolder avenue in the ,east ,end1 as he did this morning4 ,the religious editor was helping himself to tobacco from ,murren's drawer4 ,are you going to put ,mellish on his guard8 he asked ,thompson4 ,i don't just know what ,i'm going to do1 said ,thompson2 are you8 ,i'll think about it1 replied the ,r4 ,e4 ,beastly poor tobacco1 this of yours1 ,murren4 ,why don't you buy cut plug8 ,you're not compelled to smoke it1 said the sporting editor1 without raising his head4 ,i am when mine is out1 and the other fellows keep their drawers locked4 ,thompson dropped in on ,mellish1 the keeper of the swell gambling rooms1 to consult with him on the article for ,saturday's paper4 ,mellish took a great interest in it1 and thought it would do good4 ,he willingly gave ,thompson several instances where the vice had led to ruin of promising young men4 ,all men gamble in some way or another1 said ,mellish meditatively4 ,some take it one way and some another4 ,it is inherent in human nature1 like original sin4 ,the beginning of every business is a gamble4 ,if ,i had #cj1jjj ,i would rather run my chance of doubling it at these tables here than ,i would1 for instance1 by starting a new newspaper or putting it on wheat or in railway stocks4 ,take a land boom1 for instance1 such as there was in ,california or at ,winnipeg--the difference between putting your money in a thing like that or going in for legitimate gambling is that1 in the one case1 you are sure to lose your cash1 while in the other you have a chance of winning some4 ,i hold that all kinds of gambling are bad1 unless a man can easily afford to lose what he stakes4 ,the trouble is that gambling affects some people like liquor4 ,i knew a man once who---- but you can read the whole article if you turn up the back numbers of the ,argus4 ,thompson told ,mellish about ,mc,crasky4 ,mellish was much interested1 and said he would like to meet the local editor4 ,he thought the papers should take more interest in the suppression of gambling dens than they did1 and for his part he said he would like to see them all stopped1 his own included4 ,of course1 he added1 ,i could shut up my shop1 but it would simply mean that someone else would open another1 and ,i don't think any man ever ran such a place fairer than ,i do4 ,mc,crasky called on the chief of police1 and introduced himself as the local editor of the ,argus4 ,oh1 said the chief1 has ,gorman gone1 then8 ,i don't know about ,gorman1 said ,mc,crasky2 the man ,i succeeded was ,finnigan4 ,i believe he is in ,cincinnati now4 ,when the chief learned the purport of the local editor's visit he became very official and somewhat taciturn4 ,he presumed that there were gambling houses in the city4 ,if there were1 they were very quiet and no complaints ever reached his ears4 ,there were many things1 he said1 that it was impossible to suppress1 and the result of attempted suppression was to drive the evil deeper down4 ,he seemed to be in favor rather of regulating1 than of attempting the impossible2 still1 if ,mc,crasky brought him undoubted evidence that a gambling house was in operation1 he would consider it his duty to make a raid on it4 ,he advised ,mc,crasky to go very cautiously about it1 as the gamblers had doubtless many friends who would give a tip and so frustrate a raid1 perhaps letting somebody in for damages4 ,mc,crasky said he would be careful4 ,chance played into the hands of ,mc,crasky and blew in on him a man who little recked what he was doing when he entered the local editor's room4 ,gus ,hammerly1 sport and man-about-town1 dropped into the ,argus office late one night to bring news of an event to the sporting editor4 ,he knew his way about in the office1 and1 finding ,murren was not in1 he left the item on his table4 ,then he wandered into the local editor's room4 ,the newspaper boys all liked ,hammerly1 and many a good item they got from him4 ,they never gave him away1 and he saw that they never got left1 as the vernacular is4 ,good-evening4 ,you're the new local editor1 ,i take it4 ,i've just left a little item for ,murren1 ,i suppose he's not in from the wrestle yet4 ,my name's ,hammerly4 ,all the boys know me and ,i've known in my time fourteen of your predecessors1 so ,i may as well know you4 ,you're from ,pittsburg1 ,i hear4 ,yes4 ,sit down1 ,mr4 ,hammerly4 ,do you know ,pittsburg at all8 ,oh1 yes4 ,borden1 who keeps the gambling den on ,x street1 is an old friend of mine4 ,do you happen to know how old ,borden's getting along8 ,yes1 his place was raided and closed up by the police4 ,that's just the old man's luck4 ,same thing in ,kansas ,city4 ,by the way1 ,mr4 ,hammerly1 do you know of any gambling houses in this city8 ,why1 bless you1 haven't the boys taken you round yet8 ,well1 now1 that's inhospitable4 ,mellish's is the best place in town4 ,i'm going up there now4 ,if you come along with me ,i'll give you the knock-down at the door and you'll have no trouble after that4 ,i'll go with you1 said ,mc,crasky1 reaching for his hat1 and so the innocent ,hammerly led the lamb into the lion's den4 ,mc,crasky1 unaccustomed to the sight1 was somewhat bewildered with the rapidity of the play4 ,there was a sort of semicircular table1 around the outside rim of which were sitting as many men as could be comfortably placed there4 ,a man at the inside of the table handled the cards4 ,he flicked out one to each player1 face downward1 with an expertness and speed that dazzled ,mc,crasky4 ,next he dealt out one to each player face upward and people put sums of money on the table beside their cards1 after looking at them4 ,there was another deal and so on1 but the stranger found it impossible to understand or follow the game4 ,he saw money being raked in and paid out rapidly and over the whole affair was a solemn decorum that he had not been prepared for4 ,he had expected fierce oaths and the drawing of revolvers4 ,here1 ,mellish1 said the innocent ,hammerly1 let me introduce you to the new local editor of the ,argus4 ,i didn't catch your name1 he said in a whisper4 ,my name's ,mc,crasky4 ,mr4 ,mc,crasky2 ,mr4 ,mellish4 ,mellish is proprietor here and you'll find him a first-rate fellow4 ,i am pleased to meet you1 said ,mellish quietly2 any friend of ,hammerly's is welcome4 ,make yourself at home4 ,edging away from the two1 ,mellish said in a quick whisper to ,sotty1 the bartender3 ,go and tell the doorkeeper to warn ,thompson1 or any of the rest of the ,argus boys1 that their boss is in here4 ,at #ab o'clock that night the local editor sat in his room4 ,is that you1 ,thompson8 he shouted1 as he heard a step4 ,yes1 sir2 answered ,thompson1 coming into the presence4 ,shut the door1 ,thompson4 ,now ,i have a big thing on for to-night1 but it must be done quietly4 ,i've unearthed a gambling den in full blast4 ,it will be raided to-night at #b o'clock4 ,i want you to be on the ground with ,murren2 will you need anybody else8 ,depends on how much you wish to make of it4 ,i want to make it the feature of to-morrow's paper4 ,i think we three can manage1 but bring some of the rest if you like4 ,the place is run by a man named ,mellish4 ,now1 if you boys kept your eyes open you would know more of what is going on in your own city than you do4 ,we haven't all had the advantage of metropolitan training1 said ,thompson humbly4 ,i will go there with the police4 ,you and ,murren had better be on the ground1 but don't go too soon1 and don't make yourselves conspicuous or they might take alarm4 ,here is the address4 ,you had better take it down4 ,oh1 ,i'll find the place all---- ,then ,thompson thought a moment and pulled himself together4 ,thanks1 he said1 carefully noting down the street and number4 ,the detachment of police drew up in front of the place a few minutes before #b o'clock4 ,the streets were deserted1 and so silent were the blue coats that the footsteps of a belated wayfarer sounded sharply in the night air from the stone pavement of a distant avenue4 ,are you sure1 said ,mc,crasky to the man in charge of the police1 that there is not a private entrance somewhere8 ,certainly there is1 was the impatient reply3 ,sergeant ,mc,collum and four men are stationed in the alley behind4 ,we know our business1 sir4 ,mc,crasky thought this was a snub1 and he was right4 ,he looked around in the darkness for his reporters4 ,he found them standing together in a doorway on the opposite side of the street4 ,been here long8 he whispered4 ,murren was gloomy and did not answer4 ,the religious editor removed his corn-cob and said briefly2 ,about ten minutes1 sir4 ,thompson was gazing with interest at the dark building across the way4 ,you've seen nobody come out8 ,nobody4 ,on the contrary1 about half a dozen have gone up that stairway4 ,is that the place1 sir8 asked ,thompson with the lamb-like innocence of the criminal reporter4 ,yes1 upstairs there4 ,what did ,i tell you8 said the religious editor4 ,thompson insisted it was next door4 ,come along1 said ,mc,crasky1 the police are moving at last4 ,a big bell in the neighborhood solemnly struck two slow strokes1 and all over the city the hour sounded in various degrees of tone and speed4 ,a whistle rang out and was distantly answered4 ,the police moved quickly and quietly up the stairway4 ,have you tickets1 gentlemen1 asked the man at the door politely2 this is a private assembly4 ,the police1 said the sergeant shortly1 stand aside4 ,if the police were astonished at the sight which met their gaze1 their faces did not show it4 ,but ,mc,crasky had not such control over his features and he looked dumbfounded4 ,the room was the same1 undoubtedly1 but there was not the vestige of a card to be seen4 ,there were no tables1 and even the bar had disappeared4 ,the chairs were nicely arranged and most of them were occupied4 ,at the further end of the room ,pony ,rowell stood on a platform or on a box or some elevation1 and his pale1 earnest face was lighted up with the enthusiasm of the public speaker4 ,he was saying3 ,on the purity of the ballot1 gentlemen1 depends the very life of the republic4 ,that every man should be permitted1 without interference or intimidation1 to cast his vote1 and that every vote so cast should be honestly counted is1 ,i take it1 the desire of all who now listen to my words4 7,great applause1 during which ,pony took a sip from a glass that may have contained water47 ,the police had come in so quietly that no one1 apparently1 had noticed their entrance1 except that good man ,mellish1 who hurried forward to welcome the intruders4 ,will you take a seat8 he asked4 ,we are having a little political talk from ,mr4 ,rowell1 sergeant4 ,rather an unusual hour1 ,mr4 ,mellish1 said the sergeant grimly4 ,it is a little late1 admitted ,mellish1 as if the idea had not occurred to him before4 ,the police who had come in by the back entrance appeared at the other end of the room and it was evident that ,rowell's oration had come to an untimely end4 ,pony looked grieved and hurt1 but said nothing4 ,we will have to search the premises1 ,mr4 ,mellish1 said the sergeant4 ,mellish gave them every assistance1 but nothing was found4 ,as the four men walked back together to the ,argus office1 ,mc,crasky was very indignant4 ,we will expose the police to-morrow1 he said4 ,they evidently gave ,mellish the tip4 ,i don't think so1 said ,thompson4 ,we will say nothing about it4 ,you forget yourself1 ,mr4 ,thompson4 ,it rests with me to say what shall go on the local page4 ,not with you4 ,i don't forget myself1 answered ,thompson sadly2 ,i've just remembered myself4 ,the ,directors of the ,argus appointed me local editor yesterday4 ,didn't they tell you about it8 ,that's just like them4 ,they forgot to mention the fact to ,corbin that he had been superseded and the manager went off fishing after appointing ,jonsey local editor1 so that for a week we had two local editors1 each one countermanding the orders of the other4 ,it was an awful week4 ,you remember it1 ,murren8 ,murren's groan seemed to indicate that his recollection of the exciting time was not a pleasant memory4 ,in case of doubt1 murmured the religious editor1 this time without removing his corn-cob1 obey the orders of the new man where the ,argus is concerned4 ,thompson1 old man1 ,i'm wid you4 ,when did the blow fall8 ,yesterday afternoon1 said ,thompson1 almost with a sob2 ,i'll be dismissed within a month1 so ,i am rather sorry4 ,i liked working on the ,argus--as a reporter4 ,i never looked for such ill luck as promotion4 ,but we all have our troubles1 haven't we1 ,mac8 ,mc,crasky did not answer4 ,he is now connected with some paper in ,texas4 ,,striking ,,back4 ,george ,streeter was in ,paris1 because he hoped and expected to meet ,alfred ,davison there4 ,he knew that ,davison was going to be in ,paris for at least a fortnight1 and he had a particular reason for wishing to come across him in the streets of that city rather than in the streets of ,london4 ,streeter was a young author who had published several books1 and who was getting along as well as could be expected1 until suddenly he met a check4 ,the check was only a check as far as his own self-esteem was concerned2 for it did not in the least retard the sale of his latest book1 but rather appeared to increase it4 ,the check was unexpected1 for where he had looked for a caress1 he received a blow4 ,the blow was so well placed1 and so vigorous1 that at first it stunned him4 ,then he became unreasonably angry4 ,he resolved to strike back4 ,the review of his book in the ,argus was vigorously severe1 and perhaps what maddened him more than anything else was the fact that1 in spite of his self-esteem he realized the truth of the criticism4 ,if his books had been less successful1 or if he had been newer as an author1 he might possibly have set himself out to profit by the keen thrusts given him by the ,argus4 ,he might have remembered that although ,tennyson struck back at ,christopher ,north1 calling him rusty1 crusty1 and musty1 yet the poet eliminated from later editions all blemishes which musty ,christopher had pointed out4 ,streeter resolved to strike back with something more tangible than a sarcastic verse4 ,he quite admitted1 even to himself1 that a critic had every right to criticise--that was what he was for--but he claimed that a man who pretended to be an author's friend and who praised his books to his face1 had no right to go behind his back and pen a criticism so scathing as that which appeared in the ,argus3 for ,streeter knew that ,alfred ,davison had written the criticism in the ,argus1 and ,davison had posed as his friend2 and had pretended as well1 that he had a great admiration for ,streeter's books4 ,as ,streeter walked down the ,boulevard des ,italians1 he saw1 seated in front of a caf1 the man whom he hoped to meet3 and furthermore1 he was pleased to see that the man had a friend with him4 ,the recognition of author and critic was mutual4 ,hallo1 ,streeter1 cried ,davison2 when did you come over8 ,i left ,london yesterday1 answered ,streeter4 ,then sit down and have something with us1 said ,davison1 cordially4 ,streeter1 this is my friend ,harmon4 ,he is an exile and a resident in ,paris1 and1 consequently1 likes to meet his countrymen4 ,in that case1 said ,streeter1 he is probably well acquainted with the customs of the place8 ,rather6 returned ,davison2 he has become so much of a ,frenchman--he has been so contaminated1 if ,i may put it that way--that ,i believe quite recently he was either principal or second in a duel4 ,by the way1 which was it1 ,harmon8 ,merely a second1 answered the other4 ,i don't believe in duelling myself1 continued ,davison3 it seems to me an idiotic custom1 and so futile4 ,i don't agree with you1 replied ,streeter1 curtly2 there is no reason why a duel should be futile1 and there seem to be many reasons why a duel might be fought4 ,there are many things1 worse than crimes1 which exist in all countries1 and for which there is no remedy except calling a man out2 misdemeanors1 if ,i may so term them1 that the law takes no cognisance of2 treachery1 for instance2--a person pretending to be a man's friend1 and then the first chance he gets1 stabbing him in the back4 ,harmon nodded his approval of these sentiments1 while ,davison said jauntily3 ,oh1 ,i don't know about that6 ,it seems to me these things1 which ,i suppose undoubtedly exist1 should not be made important by taking much notice of them4 ,what will you have to drink1 ,streeter8 ,bring me a liqueur of brandy1 said ,streeter to the garon who stood ready to take the order4 ,when the waiter returned with a small glass1 into which he poured the brandy with the deftness of a ,frenchman1 filling it so that not a drop more could be added1 and yet without allowing the glass to overflow1 ,streeter pulled out his purse4 ,no1 no6 cried ,davison2 you are not going to pay for this--you are drinking with me4 ,i pay for my own drinks1 said ,streeter1 surlily4 ,not when ,i invite you to drink with me1 protested the critic4 ,i pay for this brandy4 ,very well1 take it1 then6 said ,streeter1 picking up the little glass and dashing the contents in the face of ,davison4 ,davison took out his handkerchief4 ,what the devil do you mean by that1 ,streeter8 he asked1 as the color mounted to his brow4 ,streeter took out his card and pencilled a word or two on the pasteboard4 ,there1 he said1 is my ,paris address4 ,if you do not know what ,i mean by that1 ask your friend here2 he will inform you4 ,and with that the novelist arose1 bowed to the two1 and departed4 ,when he returned to his hotel1 after a stroll along the brilliantly- lighted ,boulevards1 he found waiting for him ,mr4 ,harmon and a ,frenchman4 ,i had no idea you would come so soon1 said ,streeter1 otherwise ,i would not have kept you waiting4 ,it does not matter1 replied ,harmon2 we have not waited long4 ,affairs of this kind require prompt action4 ,an insult lasts but twenty-four hours1 and my friend and principal has no desire to put you to the inconvenience of repeating your action of this evening4 ,we are taking it for granted that you have a friend prepared to act for you2 for your conduct appeared to be premeditated4 ,you are quite right1 answered ,streeter2 ,i have two friends to whom ,i shall be pleased to introduce you4 ,come this way1 if you will be so kind4 ,the preliminaries were speedily arranged1 and the meeting was to take place next morning at daylight1 with pistols4 ,now that everything was settled1 the prospect did not look quite so pleasant to ,streeter as it had done when he left ,london4 ,davison had asked for no explanation2 but that1 of course1 could be accounted for1 because this critical sneak must be well aware of the reason for the insult4 ,still1 ,streeter had rather expected that he would perhaps have simulated ignorance1 and on receiving enlightenment might have avoided a meeting to apologizing4 ,anyhow1 ,streeter resolved to make a night of it4 ,he left his friends to arrange for a carriage1 and see to all that was necessary1 while he donned his war-paint and departed for a gathering to which he had been invited1 and where he was to meet many of his countrymen and countrywomen1 in a fashionable part of ,paris4 ,his hostess appeared to be overjoyed at seeing him4 ,you are so late1 she said1 that ,i was afraid something had occurred to keep you from coming altogether4 ,nothing could have prevented me from coming1 said ,streeter1 gallantly1 where ,mrs4 ,woodford is hostess6 ,oh1 that is very nice of you1 ,mr4 ,streeter6 answered the lady2 but ,i must not stand here talking with you1 for ,i have promised to introduce you to ,miss ,neville1 who wishes very much to meet you4 ,she is a great admirer of yours1 and has read all your books4 ,there are not very many of them1 said ,streeter1 with a laugh2 and such as they are1 ,i hope ,miss ,neville thinks more of them than ,i do myself4 ,oh1 we all know how modest authors are6 replied his hostess1 leading him away to be introduced4 ,miss ,neville was young and pretty1 and she was evidently pleased to meet the rising young author4 ,i have long wanted to see you1 she said1 to have a talk with you about your books4 ,you are very kind1 said ,streeter1 but perhaps we might choose something more profitable to talk about8 ,i am not so sure of that4 ,doubtless you have been accustomed to hear only the nice things people say about you4 ,that is the misfortune of many authors4 ,it is a misfortune1 answered ,streeter4 ,what a writer needs is somebody to tell him the truth4 ,ah6 said ,miss ,neville1 that is another thing ,i am not so sure about4 ,mrs4 ,woodford has told you1 ,i suppose1 that ,i have read all your books8 ,did she add that ,i detested them8 ,even ,streeter was not able to conceal the fact that this remark caused him some surprise4 ,he laughed uneasily1 and said3 ,on the contrary1 ,mrs4 ,woodford led me to believe that you had liked them4 ,the girl leaned back in her chair1 and looked at him with half-closed eyes4 ,of course1 she said1 ,mrs4 ,woodford does not know4 ,it is not likely that ,i would tell her ,i detested your books while ,i asked for an introduction to you4 ,she took it for granted that ,i meant to say pleasant things to you1 whereas ,i had made up my mind to do the exact reverse4 ,no one would be more shocked than ,mrs4 ,woodford--unless1 perhaps1 it is yourself--if she knew ,i was going to speak frankly with you4 ,i am not shocked1 said the young man1 seriously2 ,i recognize that there are many things in my books that are blemishes4 ,of course you don't mean that1 said the frank young woman2 because if you did you would not repeat the faults in book after book4 ,a man can but do his best1 said ,streeter1 getting annoyed in spite of himself1 for no man takes kindly to the candid friend4 ,a man can but do his best1 as ,hubert said1 whose grandsire drew a longbow at ,hastings4 ,yes1 returned ,miss ,neville1 a man can but do his best1 although we should remember that the man who said that1 said it just before he was defeated4 ,what ,i feel is that you are not doing your best1 and that you will not do your best until some objectionable person like myself has a good serious talk with you4 ,begin the serious talk1 said ,streeter2 ,i am ready and eager to listen4 ,did you read the review of your latest book which appeared in the ,argus8 ,did ,i8 said ,streeter1 somewhat startled--the thought of the meeting that was so close1 which he had forgotten for the moment1 flashing over him4 ,yes1 ,i did2 and ,i had the pleasure of meeting the person who wrote it this evening4 ,miss ,neville almost jumped in her chair4 ,oh1 ,i did not intend you to know that6 she said4 ,who told you8 ,how did you find out that ,i wrote reviews for the ,argus8 ,you6 cried ,streeter1 astonished in his turn4 ,do you mean to say that you wrote that review8 ,miss ,neville sank back in her chair with a sigh4 ,there6 she said1 my impetuosity has1 as the ,americans say1 given me away4 ,after all1 you did not know ,i was the writer6 ,i thought ,davison was the writer4 ,i had it on the very best authority4 ,poor ,davison6 said ,miss ,neville1 laughing1 why1 he is one of the best and staunchest friends you have3 and so am ,i1 for that matter-- indeed1 ,i am even more your friend than ,mr4 ,davison2 for ,i think you can do good work1 while ,mr4 ,davison is foolish enough to believe you are doing it4 ,at this point in the conversation ,streeter looked hurriedly at his watch4 ,ah6 ,i see1 said ,miss ,neville2 this conversation is not to your taste4 ,you are going to plead an appointment--as if anyone could have an appointment at this hour in the morning6 ,nevertheless1 said ,streeter1 ,i have2 and ,i must bid you good-bye4 ,but ,i assure you that my eyes have been opened1 and that ,i have learned a lesson to-night which ,i will not soon forget4 ,i hope ,i may have the pleasure of meeting you again1 and continuing this conversation4 ,perhaps some time ,i may tell you why ,i have to leave4 ,streeter found his friends waiting for him4 ,he knew it was no use trying to see ,davison before the meeting4 ,there was a long drive ahead of them1 and it was grey daylight when they reached the ground1 where they found the other party waiting4 ,each man took his place and the pistol that was handed to him4 ,when the word ,fire6 was given1 ,streeter dropped his hand to his side4 ,davison stood with his pistol still pointed1 but he did not fire4 ,why don't you shoot1 ,george8 said ,davison4 ,harmon1 at this point1 rebuked his principal1 and said he must have no communication with the other except through a second4 ,oh6 said ,davison1 impatiently1 ,i don't pretend to know the rules of this idiotic game6 ,streeter stepped forward4 ,i merely wished to give you the opportunity of firing at me if you cared to do so1 he said2 and now ,i desire to apologize for my action at the caf4 ,i may say that what ,i did was done under a misapprehension4 ,anything that ,i can do to make reparation ,i am willing to do4 ,oh1 that's all right6 said ,davison2 nothing more need be said4 ,i am perfectly satisfied4 ,let us get back to the city2 ,i find it somewhat chilly out here4 ,and yet1 said ,harmon1 with a sigh1 ,englishmen have the cheek to talk of the futility of ,french duels6 ,,crandall',s ,,choice4 ,john ,crandall sat at his office desk and thought the situation over4 ,everybody had gone and he was in the office alone4 ,crandall was rather tired and a little sleepy1 so he was inclined to take a gloomy view of things4 ,not that there was anything wrong with his business2 in fact1 it was in a first-rate condition so far as it went1 but it did not go far enough2 that was what ,john thought as he brooded over his affairs4 ,he was making money1 of course1 but the trouble was that he was not making it fast enough4 ,as he thought of these things ,john gradually and imperceptibly went to sleep1 and while he slept he dreamt a dream4 ,it would be quite easy to pretend that the two persons who came to him in the vision1 actually entered the office and that he thought them regular customers or something of that sort1 while at the end of the story1 when everybody was bewildered1 the whole matter might be explained by announcing the fact that it was all a dream1 but this account being a true and honest one1 no such artifice will be used and at the very beginning the admission is made that ,john was the victim of a vision4 ,in this dream two very beautiful ladies approached him4 ,one was richly dressed and wore the most dazzling jewelry4 ,the other was clad in plain attire4 ,at first1 the dreaming ,mr4 ,crandall thought1 or dreamt he thought1 that the richly dressed one was the prettier4 ,she was certainly very attractive1 but1 as she came closer1 ,john imagined that much of her beauty was artificial4 ,he said to himself that she painted artistically perhaps1 but at any rate she laid it on rather thick4 ,about the other there was no question4 ,she was a beauty1 and what loveliness she possessed was due to the bounties of ,providence and not to the assistance of the chemist4 ,she was the first to speak4 ,mr4 ,crandall1 she said1 in the sweetest of voices1 we have come here together so that you may choose between us4 ,which one will you have8 ,bless me1 said ,crandall1 so much surprised at the unblushing proposal that he nearly awoke himself1 bless me1 don't you know that ,i am married8 ,oh1 that doesn't matter1 answered the fair young lady1 with the divinest of smiles4 ,doesn't it8 said ,mr4 ,crandall4 ,if you had the pleasure of meeting ,mrs4 ,crandall ,i think you would find that it did--very much indeed4 ,but we are not mortals2 we are spirits4 ,oh1 are you8 ,well1 of course that makes a difference1 replied ,mr4 ,crandall much relieved1 for he began to fear from the turn the conversation had taken that he was in the presence of two writers of modern novels4 ,this lady1 continued the first speaker1 is the spirit of wealth4 ,if you choose her you will be a very rich man before you die4 ,oh1 ho6 cried ,crandall4 ,are you sure of that8 ,quite certain4 ,well1 then ,i won't be long making my choice4 ,i choose her1 of course4 ,but you don't know who ,i am4 ,perhaps when you know1 you may wish to reverse your decision4 ,i suppose you are the spirit of power or of fame or something of that sort4 ,i am not an ambitious person2 money is good enough for me4 ,no1 ,i am the spirit of health4 ,think well before you make your choice4 ,many have rejected me1 and afterwards1 have offered all their possessions fruitlessly1 hoping to lure me to them4 ,ah1 said ,mr4 ,crandall1 with some hesitation4 ,you are a very pleasant young person to have around the house4 ,but why cannot ,i have both of you8 ,how does that strike you8 ,i am very sorry1 but ,i am not permitted to give you the choice of both4 ,why is that8 ,many people are allowed to choose both4 ,i know that2 still we must follow our instructions4 ,well1 if that is the case1 without wishing to offend you in the least1 ,i think ,i will stand by my first choice4 ,i choose wealth4 ,as he said this the other lady advanced toward him and smiled somewhat triumphantly as she held out her hand4 ,crandall grasped it and the first spirit sighed4 ,just as the spirit of wealth seemed about to speak1 there was a shake at the office door1 and ,mr4 ,john ,crandall saw the spirits fade away4 ,he rubbed his eyes and said to himself3 ,by ,george6 ,i have been asleep4 ,what a remarkably vivid dream that was4 ,as he yawned and stretched his arms above his head1 the impatient rattle at the door told him that at least was not a part of the dream4 ,he arose and unlocked the door4 ,hello1 ,mr4 ,bullion1 he said1 as that solid man came in4 ,you're late1 aren't you4 ,why1 for that matter1 so are you4 ,you must have been absorbed in your accounts or you would have heard me sooner4 ,i thought ,i would have to shake the place down4 ,well1 you know1 the policeman sometimes tries the door and ,i thought at first it was he4 ,won't you sit down8 ,thanks6 ,don't care if ,i do4 ,busy tonight8 ,just got through4 ,well1 how are things going8 ,oh1 slowly as usual4 ,slowly because we have not facilities enough1 but we've got all the work we can do4 ,does it pay you for what work you do8 ,certainly4 ,i'm not in this business as a philanthropist1 you know4 ,no4 ,i didn't suppose you were4 ,now1 see here1 ,crandall1 ,i think you have a good thing of it here and one of the enterprises that if extended would develop into a big business4 ,i know it4 ,but what am ,i to do8 ,i've practically no capital to enlarge the business1 and ,i don't care to mortgage what ,i have and pay a high rate of interest when1 just at the critical moment1 we might have a commercial crisis and ,i would then lose everything4 ,quite right2 quite right1 and a safe principle4 ,well1 that's what ,i came to see you about4 ,i have had my eye on you and this factory for some time4 ,now1 if you want capital ,i will furnish it on the condition that an accountant of mine examines the books and finds everything promising a fair return for enlarging the business4 ,of course ,i take your word for the state of affairs all right enough1 but business is business1 you know1 and besides ,i want to get an expert opinion on how much enlargement it will stand4 ,i suppose you could manage a manufactory ten or twenty times larger as easily as you do this one4 ,quite1 said ,mr4 ,crandall4 ,then what do you say to my coming round to-morrow at #i with my man8 ,that would suit me all right4 ,mr4 ,john ,crandall walked home a very much elated man that night4 99 99 99 99 99 ,well1 doctor1 said the patient in a very weak voice1 what is the verdict6 ,it is just as ,i said before4 ,you will have to take a rest4 ,you know ,i predicted this breakdown4 ,can't you give me something that will fix me up temporarily8 ,it is almost imperative that ,i should stay on just now4 ,of course it is4 ,it has been so for the last five years4 ,you forget that in that time you have been fixed up temporarily on several occasions4 ,now1 ,i will get you 'round so that you can travel in a few days and then ,i insist on a sea voyage or a quiet time somewhere on the continent4 ,you will have to throw off business cares entirely4 ,there are no ifs or buts about it4 ,look here1 doctor4 ,i don't see how ,i am to leave at this time4 ,i have been as bad as this a dozen times before4 ,you know that4 ,i'm just a little fagged out and when ,i go back to the office ,i can take things easier4 ,you see1 we have a big ,south ,american contract on hand that ,i am very anxious about4 ,new business1 you know4 ,i suppose you could draw your cheque for a pretty large amount1 ,mr4 ,crandall4 ,yes1 ,i can4 ,if money can bridge the thing over1 ,i will arrange it4 ,well1 money can't4 ,what ,i wanted to say was that if1 instead of having a large sum in the bank1 you had overdrawn your account about as much as the bank would stand1 would you be surprised if your cheque were not honored8 ,no1 ,i wouldn't4 ,well1 that is your state physically4 ,you've overdrawn your vitality account4 ,you've got to make a deposit4 ,you must take a vacation4 ,any other time1 doctor4 ,i'll go sure1 as soon as this contract is off4 ,upon my word ,i will4 ,you needn't shake your head4 ,a vacation just now would only aggravate the difficulty4 ,i wouldn't have a moment's peace knowing this ,south ,american business might be bungled4 ,i'd worry myself to death4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the funeral of ,mr4 ,crandall was certainly one of the most splendid spectacles the city had seen for many a day4 ,the papers all spoke highly of the qualities of the dead manufacturer1 whose growth had been typical of the growth of the city4 ,the eloquent minister spoke of the inscrutable ways of ,providence in cutting off a man in his prime1 and in the very height of his usefulness4 ,,the ,,failure ,,of ,,bradley4 ,the skater lightly laughs and glides1 ,unknowing that beneath the ice ,on which he carves his fair device ,a stiffened corpse in silence glides4 ,it glareth upward at his play2 ,its cold1 blue1 rigid fingers steal ,beneath the tracings of his heel4 ,it floats along and floats away4 --,unknown ,poem4 ,if ,i only had the courage1 said ,bradley1 as he looked over the stone parapet of the embankment at the dark waters of the ,thames as they flashed for a moment under the glitter of the gaslight and then disappeared in the black night to flash again farther down4 ,very likely ,i would struggle to get out again the moment ,i went over1 he muttered to himself4 ,but if no help came it would all be done with1 in a minute4 ,two minutes perhaps4 ,i'll warrant those two minutes would seem an eternity4 ,i would see a hundred ways of making a living1 if ,i could only get out again4 ,why can't ,i see one now while ,i am out4 ,my father committed suicide1 why shouldn't ,i8 ,i suppose it runs in the family4 ,there seems to come a time when it is the only way out4 ,i wonder if he hesitated8 ,i'm a coward1 that's the trouble4 ,after a moment's hesitation the man slowly climbed on the top of the stone wall and then paused again4 ,he looked with a shudder at the gloomy river4 ,i'll do it1 he cried aloud1 and was about to slide down1 when a hand grasped his arm and a voice said3 ,what will you do8 ,in the light of the gas-lamp ,bradley saw a man whose face seemed familiar and although he thought rapidly1 ,where have ,i seen that man before8 he could not place him4 ,nothing1 answered ,bradley sullenly4 ,that's right1 was the answer4 ,i'd do nothing of that kind1 if ,i were you4 ,of course you wouldn't4 ,you have everything that ,i haven't--food1 clothes1 shelter4 ,certainly you wouldn't4 ,why should you8 ,why should you1 if it comes to that8 ,because ten shillings stands between me and a job4 ,that's why1 if you want to know4 ,there's eight shillings railway fare1 a shilling for something to eat to-night and a shilling for something in the morning4 ,but ,i haven't the ten shillings4 ,so that's why4 ,if ,i give you the ten shillings what assurance have ,i that you will not go and get drunk on it8 ,none at all4 ,i have not asked you for ten shillings1 nor for one4 ,i have simply answered your question4 ,that is true4 ,i will give you a pound if you will take it1 and so if unfortunately you spent half of it in cheering yourself1 you will still have enough left to get that job4 ,what is the job8 ,i am a carpenter4 ,you are welcome to the pound4 ,i will take it gladly4 ,but1 mind you1 ,i am not a beggar4 ,i will take it if you give me your address1 so that ,i may send it back to you when ,i earn it4 ,by this time ,bradley had come down on the pavement4 ,the other man laughed quietly4 ,i cannot agree to that4 ,you are welcome to the money4 ,more if you like4 ,i merely doubled the sum you mentioned to provide for anything unseen4 ,unless you let me return it1 ,i will not take the money4 ,i have perfect confidence in your honesty4 ,if ,i had not1 ,i would not offer the money4 ,i cannot give you my address1 or1 rather1 ,i will not4 ,if you will pay the pound to some charity or will give it to someone who is in need1 ,i am more than satisfied4 ,if you give it to the right man and tell him to do the same1 the pound will do more good than ever it will in my pocket or in my usual way of spending it4 ,but how are you to know ,i will do that8 ,i am considered rather a good judge of men4 ,i am certain you will do what you say4 ,i'll take the money4 ,i doubt if there is anyone in ,london to-night who needs it much worse than ,i do4 ,bradley looked after the disappearing figure of the man who had befriended him4 ,i have seen that man somewhere before1 he said to himself4 ,but in that he was wrong4 ,he hadn't4 99 99 99 99 99 ,wealth is most unevenly and most unfairly divided4 ,all of us admit that1 but few of us agree about the remedy4 ,some of the best minds of the century have wrestled with this question in vain4 ,the poor ye have always with you is as true to-day as it was #ahjj years ago4 ,where so many are in doubt1 it is perhaps a comfort to meet men who have no uncertainty as to the cause and the remedy4 ,such a body of men met in a back room off ,soho ,square4 ,we are waiting for you1 ,bradley1 said the chairman1 as the carpenter took his place and the doors were locked4 ,he looked better than he had done a year before on the ,thames embankment4 ,i know ,i'm late1 but ,i couldn't help it4 ,they are rushing things at the exhibition grounds4 ,the time is short now1 and they are beginning to be anxious for fear everything will not be ready in time4 ,that's it1 said one of the small group1 we are slaves and must be late or early as our so-called masters choose4 ,oh1 there is extra pay1 said ,bradley with a smile1 as he took a seat4 ,comrades1 said the chairman1 rapping on the desk1 we will now proceed to business4 ,the secret committee has met and made a resolution4 ,after the lots are drawn it will be my task to inform the man chosen what the job is4 ,it is desirable that as few as possible1 even among ourselves1 should know who the man is1 who has drawn the marked paper4 ,perhaps it may be my own good fortune to be the chosen man4 ,one of the papers is marked with a cross4 ,whoever draws that paper is to communicate with me at my room within two days4 ,he is to come alone4 ,it is commanded by the committee that no man is to look at his paper until he leaves this room and then to examine it in secret4 ,he is bound by his oath to tell no one at any time whether or not he is the chosen man4 ,the papers were put into a hat and each man in the room drew one4 ,the chairman put his in his pocket1 as did the others4 ,the doors were unlocked and each man went to his home1 if he had one4 ,next evening ,bradley called at the room of the chairman and said3 ,there is the marked paper ,i drew last night4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the exhibition building was gay with bunting and was sonorous with the sounds of a band of music4 ,the machinery that would not stop for six months was still motionless1 for it was to be started in an hour's time by ,his ,highness4 ,his ,highness and suite had not yet arrived but the building was crowded by a well-dressed throng of invited guests--the best in the land as far as fame1 title or money was concerned4 ,underneath the grand stand where ,his ,highness and the distinguished guests were to make speeches and where the finger of nobility was to press the electric button1 ,bradley walked anxiously about1 with the same haggard look on his face that was there the night he thought of slipping into the ,thames4 ,the place underneath was a wilderness of beams and braces4 ,bradley's wooden tool chest stood on the ground against one of the timbers4 ,the foremen came through and struck a beam or a brace here and there4 ,everything is all right1 he said to ,bradley4 ,there will be no trouble1 even if it was put up in a hurry1 and in spite of the strain that will be on it to-day4 ,bradley was not so sure of that1 but he said nothing4 ,when the foreman left him alone1 he cautiously opened the lid of his tool chest and removed the carpenter's apron which covered something in the bottom4 ,this something was a small box with a clockwork arrangement and a miniature uplifted hammer that hung like the sword of ,damocles over a little copper cap4 ,he threw the apron over it again1 closed the lid of the chest1 leaned against one of the timbers1 folded his arms and waited4 ,presently there was a tremendous cheer and the band struck up4 ,he is coming1 said ,bradley to himself1 closing his lips tighter4 ,carpenter1 cried the policeman putting in his head through the little wooden door at the foot of the stage1 come here1 quick4 ,you can get a splendid sight of ,his ,highness as he comes up the passage4 ,bradley walked to the opening and gazed at the distinguished procession coming toward him4 ,suddenly he grasped the arm of the policeman like a vice4 ,who is that man in the robes--at the head of the procession8 ,don't you know8 ,that is ,his ,highness4 ,bradley gasped for breath4 ,he recognized ,his ,highness as the man he had met on the embankment4 ,thank you1 he said to the policeman1 who looked at him curiously4 ,then he went under the grand stand among the beams and braces and leaned against one of the timbers with knitted brows4 ,after a few moments he stepped to his chest1 pulled off the apron and carefully lifted out the machine4 ,with a quick jerk he wrenched off the little hammer and flung it from him4 ,the machinery inside whirred for a moment with a soft purr like a clock running down4 ,he opened the box and shook out into his apron a substance like damp sawdust4 ,he seemed puzzled for a moment what to do with it4 ,finally he took it out and scattered it along the grass-grown slope of a railway cutting4 ,then he returned to his tool chest1 took out a chisel and grimly felt its edge with his thumb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was admitted on all hands that ,his ,highness never made a better speech in his life than on the occasion of the opening of that exhibition4 ,he touched lightly on the country's unexampled prosperity1 of which the marvelous collection within those walls was an indication4 ,he alluded to the general contentment that reigned among the classes to whose handiwork was due the splendid examples of human skill there exhibited4 ,his ,highness was thankful that peace and contentment reigned over the happy land and he hoped they would long continue so to reign4 ,then there were a good many light touches of humor in the discourse-- touches that are so pleasing when they come from people in high places4 ,in fact1 the chairman said at the club afterwards 7confidentially1 of course7 that the man who wrote ,his ,highness's speeches had in that case quite outdone himself4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the papers had very full accounts of the opening of the exhibition next morning1 and perhaps because these graphic articles occupied so much space1 there was so little room for the announcement about the man who committed suicide4 ,the papers did not say where the body was found1 except that it was near the exhibition buildings1 and ,his ,highness never knew that he made that excellent speech directly over the body of a dead man4 ,,ringamy',s ,,convert4 ,mr4 ,johnson ,ringamy1 the author1 sat in his library gazing idly out of the window4 ,the view was very pleasant1 and the early morning sun brought out in strong relief the fresh greenness of the trees that now had on their early spring suits of foliage4 ,mr4 ,ringamy had been a busy man1 but now1 if he cared to take life easy1 he might do so1 for few books had had the tremendous success of his latest work4 ,mr4 ,ringamy was thinking about this1 when the door opened1 and a tall1 intellectual-looking young man entered from the study that communicated with the library4 ,he placed on the table the bunch of letters he had in his hand1 and1 drawing up a chair1 opened a blank notebook that had1 between the leaves1 a lead pencil sharpened at both ends4 ,good morning1 ,mr4 ,scriver1 said the author1 also hitching up his chair towards the table4 ,he sighed as he did so1 for the fair spring prospect from the library window was much more attractive than the task of answering an extensive correspondence4 ,is there a large mail this morning1 ,scriver8 ,a good-sized one1 sir4 ,many of them1 however1 are notes asking for your autograph4 ,enclose stamps1 do they8 ,most of them1 sir2 those that did not1 ,i threw in the waste basket4 ,quite right4 ,and as to the autographs you might write them this afternoon1 if you have time4 ,i have already done so1 sir4 ,i flatter myself that even your most intimate friend could not tell my version of your autograph from your own4 ,as he said this1 the young man shoved towards the author a letter which he had written1 and ,mr4 ,ringamy looked at it critically4 ,very good1 ,scriver1 very good indeed4 ,in fact1 if ,i were put in the witness-box ,i am not sure that ,i would be able to swear that this was not my signature4 ,what's this you have said in the body of the letter about sentiment8 ,not making me write anything sentimental1 ,i hope4 ,be careful1 my boy1 ,i don't want the newspapers to get hold of anything that they could turn into ridicule4 ,they are too apt to do that sort of thing if they get half a chance4 ,oh1 ,i think you will find that all right1 said the young man2 still ,i thought it best to submit it to you before sending it off4 ,you see the lady who writes has been getting up a ',ringamy ,club' in ,kalamazoo1 and she asks you to give her an autographic sentiment which they will cherish as the motto of the club4 ,so ,i wrote the sentence1 ',all classes of labor should have equal compensation4' ,if that won't do1 ,i can easily change it4' ,oh1 that will do first rate--first rate4 ,of course it is awful rot1 but ,i thought it would please the feminine mind4 ,awful what did you say1 ,mr4 ,scriver8 ,well1 slush--if that expresses it better4 ,of course1 you don't believe any such nonsense4 ,mr4 ,johnson ,ringamy frowned as he looked at his secretary4 ,i don't think ,i understand you1 he said1 at last4 ,well1 look here1 ,mr4 ,ringamy1 speaking now1 not as a paid servant to his master1 but---- ,now1 ,scriver1 ,i won't have any talk like that4 ,there is no master or servant idea between us4 ,there oughtn't to be between anybody4 ,all men are free and equal4 ,they are in theory1 and in my eye1 as ,i might say if ,i wanted to make it more expressive4 ,scriver1 ,i cannot congratulate you on your expressive language1 if ,i may call it so4 ,but we are wandering from the argument4 ,you were going to say that speaking as----,well1 go on4 ,i was going to say that1 speaking as one reasonably sensible man to another1 without any gammon about it2 don't you think it is rank nonsense to hold that one class of labor should be as well compensated as another4 ,honestly now8 ,the author sat back in his chair and gazed across the table at his secretary4 ,finally1 he said3 ,my dear ,scriver1 you can't really mean what you say4 ,you know that ,i hold that all classes of labor should have exactly the same compensation4 ,the miner1 the blacksmith1 the preacher1 the postal clerk1 the author1 the publisher1 the printer--yes1 the man who sweeps out the office1 or who polishes boots1 should each share alike1 if this world were what it should be--yes1 and what it will be4 ,why1 ,scriver1 you surely couldn't have read my book---- ,read it8 why1 hang it1 ,i wrote it4 ,you wrote it8 ,the deuce you did6 ,i always thought ,i was the author of ---- ,so you are4 ,but didn't ,i take it all down in shorthand1 and didn't ,i whack it out on the type-writer1 and didn't ,i go over the proof sheets with you4 ,and yet you ask me if ,i have read it6 ,oh1 yes1 quite right1 ,i see what you mean4 ,well1 if you paid as much attention to the arguments as you did to the mechanical production of the book1 ,i should think you would not ask if ,i really meant what ,i said4 ,oh1 ,i suppose you meant it all right enough--in a way--in theory1 perhaps1 but---- ,my dear sir1 allow me to say that a theory which is not practical1 is simply no theory at all4 ,the great success of ',gazing ,upward1' has been due to the fact that it is an eminently practical work4 ,the nationalization of everything is not a matter of theory4 ,the ideas advocated in that book1 can be seen at work at any time4 ,look at the ,army1 look at the ,post ,office4 ,oh1 that's all right1 looking at things in bulk4 ,let us come down to practical details4 ,detail is the real test of any scheme4 ,take this volume1 ',gazing ,upward4' ,now1 may ,i ask how much this book has netted you up to date8 ,oh1 ,i don't know exactly4 ,somewhere in the neighborhood of #bj1jjj4 ,very well then4 ,now let us look for a moment at the method by which that book was produced4 ,you walked up and down this room with your hands behind your back1 and dictated chapter after chapter1 and ,i sat at this table taking it all down in shorthand4 ,then you went out and took the air while ,i industriously whacked it out on the type-writer4 ,i wish you wouldn't say 'whacked1' ,scriver4 ,that's twice you've used it4 ,all right3--typographical error--,for 'whacked' read 'manipulated4' ,then you looked over the type-written pages1 and ,i erased and wrote in and finally got out a perfect copy4 ,now ,i worked as hard--probably harder--than you did1 yet the success of that book was entirely due to you1 and not to me4 ,therefore it is quite right that you should get #bj1jjj and that ,i should get two pounds a week4 ,come now1 isn't it8 ,speaking as a man of common sense4 ,speaking exactly in that way ,i say no it is not right4 ,if the world were properly ruled the compensation of author and secretary would have been exactly the same4 ,oh1 well1 if you go so far as that1 replied the ,secretary1 ,i have nothing more to say4 ,the author laughed1 and the two men bent their energies to the correspondence4 ,when the task was finished1 ,scriver said3 ,i would like to get a couple of days off1 ,mr4 ,ringamy4 ,i have some private business to attend to4 ,when could you get back8 ,i'll report to you on ,thursday morning4 ,very well1 then4 ,not later than ,thursday4 ,i think ,i'll take a couple of days off myself4 99 99 99 99 99 ,on ,thursday morning ,mr4 ,johnson ,ringamy sat in his library looking out of the window1 but the day was not as pleasant as when he last gazed at the hills1 and the woods1 and green fields4 ,a wild spring storm lashed the landscape1 and rattled the raindrops against the pane4 ,mr4 ,ringamy waited for some time and then opened the study door and looked in4 ,the little room was empty4 ,he rang the bell1 and the trim servant-girl appeared4 ,has ,mr4 ,scriver come in yet8 ,no1 sir1 he haven't4 ,perhaps the rain has kept him4 ,mr4 ,scriver said that when you come back1 sir1 there was a letter on the table as was for you4 ,ah1 so there is4 ,thank you1 that will do4 ,the author opened the letter and read as follows3 ,,my ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,ringamy1--,your arguments the other day fully convinced me that you were right1 and ,i was wrong 7,ah6 ,i thought they would1 murmured the author74 ,i have therefore taken a step toward putting your theories into practice4 ,the scheme is an old one in commercial life1 but new in its present application1 so much so that ,i fear it will find no defenders except yourself1 and ,i trust that now when ,i am far away 7,dear me1 what does this mean6 cried the author7 you will show any doubters that ,i acted on the principles which will govern the world when the theories of ',gazing ,upward' are put into practice4 ,for fear that all might not agree with you at present1 ,i have taken the precaution of going to that undiscovered country1 from whose bourne no extradition treaty forces the traveler to return--sunny ,spain4 ,you said you could not tell my rendition of your signature from your own4 ,neither could the bank cashier4 ,my exact mutation of your signature has enabled me to withdraw #aj1jjj from your bank account4 ,half the profits1 you know4 ,you can send future accumulations1 for the book will continue to sell1 to the address of ,,adam ,,scriver4 ,poste ,restant1 ,madrid1 ,spain ,mr4 ,ringamy at once put the case in the hands of the detectives1 where it still remains4 ,a ,,slippery ,,customer4 ,when ,john ,armstrong stepped off the train at the ,union ,station1 in ,toronto1 ,canada1 and walked outside1 a small boy accosted him4 ,carry your valise up for you1 sir8 ,no1 thank you1 said ,mr4 ,armstrong4 ,carry it up for ten cents1 sir8 ,no4 ,take it up for five cents1 sir8 ,get out of my way1 will you8 ,the boy got out of the way1 and ,john ,armstrong carried the valise himself4 ,there was nearly half a million dollars in it1 so ,mr4 ,armstrong thought it best to be his own porter4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the bay window of one of the handsomest residences in ,rochester1 ,new ,york1 sat ,miss ,alma ,temple1 waiting for her father to come home from the bank4 ,mr4 ,horace ,temple was one of the solid men of ,rochester1 and was president of the ,temple ,national ,bank4 ,although still early in ,december1 the winter promised to be one of the most severe for many years1 and the snow lay crisp and hard on the streets1 but not enough for sleighing4 ,it was too cold for snow1 the weatherwise said4 ,suddenly ,miss ,alma drew back from the window with a quick flush on her face that certainly was not caused by the coming of her father4 ,a dapper young man sprang lightly up the steps1 and pressed the electric button at the door4 ,when the young man entered the room a moment later ,miss ,alma was sitting demurely by the open fire4 ,he advanced quickly toward her1 and took both her outstretched hands in his4 ,then1 furtively looking around the room1 he greeted her still more affectionately1 in a manner that the chronicler of these incidents1 is not bound to particularize4 ,however1 the fact may be mentioned that whatever resistance the young woman thought fit to offer was of the faintest and most futile kind1 and so it will be understood1 at the beginning1 that these two young persons had a very good understanding with each other4 ,you seem surprised to see me1 he began4 ,well1 ,walter1 ,i understood that you left last time with some energetically expressed resolutions never to darken our doors again4 ,well1 you see1 my dear1 ,i am sometimes a little hasty2 and1 in fact1 the weather is so dark nowadays1 anyhow1 that a little extra darkness does not amount to much1 and so ,i thought ,i would take the risk of darkening them once more4 ,but ,i also understood that my father made you promise1 or that you promised voluntarily1 not to see me again without his permission8 ,not voluntarily4 ,far from it4 ,under compulsion1 ,i assure you4 ,but ,i didn't come to see you at all4 ,that's where you are mistaken4 ,the seeing you is merely an accident1 which ,i have done my best to avoid4 ,fact6 ,the girl said1 ',won't you walk into the drawing-room1' and naturally ,i did so4 ,never expected to find you here4 ,i thought ,i saw a young lady at the window as ,i came up1 but ,i got such a momentary glimpse that ,i might have been mistaken4 ,then ,i will leave you and not interrupt---- ,not at all4 ,now ,i beg of you not to leave on my account1 ,alma4 ,you know ,i would not put you to any trouble for the world4 ,you are very kind1 ,i am sure1 ,mr4 ,brown4 ,i am indeed1 ,miss ,temple4 ,all my friends admit that4 ,but now that you are here--by the way1 ,i came to see ,mr4 ,temple4 ,is he at home8 ,i am expecting him every moment4 ,oh1 well1 ,i'm disappointed2 but ,i guess ,i will bear up for awhile-- until he comes1 you know4 ,i thought your last interview with him was not so pleasant that you would so soon seek another4 ,the fact is1 ,alma1 we both lost our tempers a bit1 and no good ever comes of that4 ,you can't conduct business in a heat1 you know4 ,oh1 then the asking of his daughter's hand was business--a mere business proposition1 was it8 ,well1 ,i confess he put it that way--very strongly1 too4 ,of course1 with me there would have been pleasure mixed with it if he had--but he didn't4 ,see here1 ,alma--tell me frankly 7of course he talked with you about it7 what objection he has to me anyhow4 ,i suppose you consider yourself such a desirable young man that it astonishes you greatly that any person should have any possible objection to you8 ,oh1 come now1 ,alma2 don't hit a fellow when he's down1 you know4 ,i don't suppose ,i have more conceit than the average young man2 but then1 on the other hand1 ,i am not such a fool1 despite appearances1 as not to know that ,i am considered by some people as quite an eligible individual4 ,i am not a pauper exactly1 and your father knows that4 ,i don't think ,i have many very bad qualities4 ,i don't get drunk2 ,i don't --oh1 ,i could give quite a list of the things ,i don't do4 ,you are certainly frank enough1 my eligible young man4 ,still you must not forget that my papa is considered quite an eligible father-in-law1 if it comes to that4 ,why1 of course1 ,i admit it4 ,how could it be otherwise when he has such a charming daughter8 ,you know ,i don't mean that1 ,walter4 ,you were speaking of wealth and so was ,i4 ,perhaps we had better change the subject4 ,by the way1 that reminds me of what ,i came to see you about4 ,what do---- ,to see me8 ,i thought you came to see my father4 ,oh1 yes--certainly--,i did come to see him1 of course1 but in case ,i saw you1 ,i thought ,i would ask you for further particulars in the case4 ,i have asked you the question but you have evaded the answer4 ,you did not tell me why he is so prejudiced against me4 ,why did he receive me in such a gruff manner when ,i spoke to him about it8 ,it is not a criminal act to ask a man for his daughter4 ,it is not1 ,i assure you4 ,i looked up the law on the subject1 and a young friend of mine1 who is a barrister1 says there is no statute in the case made and provided4 ,the law of the ,state of ,new ,york does not recognize my action as against the peace and prosperity of the commonwealth4 ,well1 he received me as if ,i had been caught robbing the bank4 ,now ,i propose to know what the objection is4 ,i am going to hear---- ,hush6 ,here is papa now4 ,miss ,alma quickly left the room1 and met her father in the hall4 ,mr4 ,brown stood with his hands in his pockets and his back to the fire4 ,he heard the gruff voice of ,mr4 ,temple say1 apparently in answer to some information given him by his daughter3 ,is he8 ,what does he want8 ,there was a moment's pause1 and then the same voice said3 ,very well1 ,i will see him in the library in a few minutes4 ,somehow the courage of young ,mr4 ,brown sank as he heard the banker's voice1 and the information he had made up his mind to demand with some hauteur1 he thought he would ask1 perhaps1 in a milder manner4 ,mr4 ,brown brightened up as the door opened1 but it was not ,miss ,alma who came in4 ,the servant said to him3 ,mr4 ,temple is in the library1 sir4 ,will you come this way6 ,he followed and found the banker seated at his library table1 on which he had just placed some legal-looking papers1 bound together with a thick rubber band4 ,it was evident that his work did not stop when he left the bank4 ,young ,brown noticed that ,mr4 ,temple looked careworn and haggard1 and that his manner was very different from what it had been on the occasion of the last interview4 ,good evening1 ,mr4 ,brown4 ,i am glad you called4 ,i was on the point of writing to you1 but the subject of our talk the other night was crowded from my mind by more important matters4 ,young ,mr4 ,brown thought bitterly that there ought not to be matters more important to a father than his daughter's happiness1 but he had the good sense not to say so4 ,i spoke to you on that occasion with a--in a manner that was--well1 hardly excusable1 and ,i wish to say that ,i am sorry ,i did so4 ,what ,i had to state might have been stated with more regard for your feelings4 ,then may ,i hope1 ,mr4 ,temple1 that you have changed your mind with---- ,no1 sir4 ,what ,i said then--that is1 the substance of what ,i said1 not the manner of saying it--,i still adhere to4 ,may ,i ask what objection you have to me8 ,certainly4 ,i have the same objection that ,i have to the majority of the society young men of the present day4 ,if ,i make inquiries about you1 what do ,i find8 ,that you are a noted oarsman--that you have no profession--that your honors at college consisted in being captain of the football team1 and---- ,no1 no1 the baseball club4 ,same thing1 ,i suppose4 ,quite different1 ,i assure you1 ,mr4 ,temple4 ,well1 it is the same to me at any rate4 ,now1 in my time young men had a harder row to hoe1 and they hoed it4 ,i am what they call a self-made man and probably ,i have a harsher opinion of the young men of the present day than ,i should have4 ,but if ,i had a son ,i would endeavor to have him know how to do something1 and then ,i would see that he did it4 ,i am obliged to you for stating your objection1 ,mr4 ,temple4 ,i have taken my degree in ,harvard law school1 but ,i have never practiced1 because1 as the little boy said1 ,i didn't have to4 ,perhaps if some one had spoken to me as you have done ,i would have pitched in and gone to work4 ,it is not too late yet4 ,will you give me a chance8 ,the position of cashier in your bank1 for instance8 ,the effect of these apparently innocent words on ,mr4 ,temple was startling4 ,he sprang to his feet and brought down his clenched fist on the table with a vehemence that made young ,mr4 ,brown jump4 ,what do you mean1 sir8 he cried1 sternly4 ,what do you mean by saying such a thing8 ,why1 ,i--,i--,i--mean---- stammered ,brown1 but he could get no further4 ,he thought the old man had suddenly gone crazy4 ,he glared across the library table at ,brown as if the next instant he would spring at his throat4 ,then the haggard look came into his face again1 he passed his hand across his brow1 and sank into his chair with a groan4 ,my dear sir1 said ,brown1 approaching him1 what is the matter8 ,is there anything ,i can---- ,sit down1 please1 answered the banker1 melancholy4 ,you will excuse me ,i hope1 ,i am very much troubled4 ,i did not intend to speak of it1 but some explanation is due to you4 ,a month from now1 if you are the kind of man that most of your fellows are1 you will not wish to marry my daughter4 ,there is every chance that at that time the doors of my bank will be closed4 ,you astonish me1 sir4 ,i thought---- ,yes1 and so every one thinks4 ,i have seldom in my life trusted the wrong man1 but this time ,i have done so1 and the one mistake seems likely to obliterate all that ,i have succeeded in doing in a life of hard work4 ,if ,i can be of any financial assistance ,i will be glad to help you4 ,how much8 ,well1 ,i don't know--#ej1jjj dollars perhaps or---- ,i must have #bej1jjj dollars before the end of this month4 ,two hundred and fifty thousand6 ,yes1 sir4 ,william ,l4 ,staples1 the cashier of our bank1 is now in ,canada with half a million of the bank funds4 ,no one knows it but myself and one or two of the directors4 ,it is generally supposed that he has gone to ,washington on a vacation4 ,but can't you put detectives on his track8 ,certainly4 ,then the theft would be made public at once4 ,the papers would be full of it4 ,there might be a run on the bank1 and we would have to close the doors the next day4 ,to put the detectives on his track would merely mean bringing disaster on our own heads4 ,staples is quite safe1 and he knows it4 ,thanks to an idiotic international arrangement he is as free from danger of arrest in ,canada as you are here4 ,it is impossible to extradite him for stealing4 ,but ,i think there is a law against bringing stolen money into ,canada4 ,perhaps there is4 ,it would not help us at the present moment4 ,we must compromise with him1 if we can find him in time4 ,of course1 even if the bank closed1 we would pay everything when there was time to realize4 ,but that is not the point4 ,it would mean trouble and disaster1 and would probably result in other failures all through one man's rascality4 ,then it all resolves itself to this4 ,staples must be found quietly and negotiated with4 ,mr4 ,temple1 let me undertake the finding of him1 and the negotiating1 also1 if you will trust me4 ,do you know him8 ,never saw him in my life4 ,here is his portrait4 ,he is easily recognized from that4 ,you couldn't mistake him4 ,he is probably living at ,montreal under an assumed name4 ,he may have sailed for ,europe4 ,you will say nothing of this to anybody8 ,certainly not4 ,i will leave on to-night's train for ,montreal1 or on the first train that goes4 ,young ,mr4 ,brown slipped the photograph into his pocket and shook hands with the banker4 ,somehow his confident1 alert bearing inspired the old man with more hope than he would have cared to admit1 for1 as a general thing1 he despised the average young man4 ,how long can you hold out if this does not become public8 ,for a month at least2 probably for two or three4 ,well1 don't expect to hear from me too soon4 ,i shall not risk writing4 ,if there is anything to communicate1 ,i will come myself4 ,it is very good of you to take my trouble on your shoulders like this4 ,i am very much obliged to you4 ,i am not a philanthropist1 ,mr4 ,temple1 replied young ,brown4 99 99 99 99 99 ,when young ,mr4 ,brown stepped off the train at the ,central ,station in ,toronto1 a small boy accosted him4 ,carry your valise up for you1 sir8 ,certainly1 said ,brown1 handing it to him4 ,how much do ,i owe you8 he asked at the lobby of the hotel4 ,twenty-five cents1 said the boy promptly1 and he got it4 ,brown registered on the books of the hotel as ,john ,a4 ,walker1 of ,montreal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mr4 ,walter ,brown1 of ,rochester1 was never more discouraged in his life than at the moment he wrote on the register the words1 ,john ,a4 ,walker1 ,montreal4 ,he had searched ,montreal from one end to the other1 but had found no trace of the man for whom he was looking4 ,yet1 strange to say1 when he raised his eyes from the register they met the face of ,william ,l4 ,staples1 ex-cashier4 ,it was lucky for ,brown that ,staples was looking at the words he had written1 and not at himself1 or he would have noticed ,brown's involuntary start of surprise1 and flush of pleasure4 ,it was also rather curious that ,mr4 ,brown had a dozen schemes in his mind for getting acquainted with ,staples when he met him1 and yet that the first advance should be made by ,staples himself4 ,you are from ,montreal1 said ,mr4 ,staples1 alias ,john ,armstrong4 ,that's my town1 said ,mr4 ,brown4 ,what sort of a place is it in winter8 ,pretty lively8 ,oh1 yes4 ,good deal of a winter city1 ,montreal is4 ,how do you mean1 business or sport8 ,well1 both4 ,generally where there's lots of business there's lots of fun4 ,yes1 that's so1 assented ,brown4 ,he did not wish to prolong the conversation4 ,he had some plans to make1 so he followed his luggage up to his room4 ,it was evident that he would have to act quickly4 ,staples was getting tired of ,toronto4 ,two days after ,brown had his plans completed4 ,he met ,staples one evening in the smoking-room of the hotel4 ,think of going to ,montreal8 asked ,brown4 ,i did think of it4 ,i don't know1 though4 ,are you in business there8 ,yes4 ,if you go1 ,i could give you some letters of introduction to a lot of fellows who would show you some sport1 that is1 if you care for snow-shoeing1 toboganning1 and the like of that4 ,i never went in much for athletics1 said ,staples4 ,i don't care much for exertion myself1 answered ,brown4 ,i come up here every winter for some ice-yachting4 ,that's my idea of sport4 ,i own one of the fastest ice-boats on the bay4 ,ever been out8 ,no1 ,i haven't4 ,i've seen them at it a good deal4 ,pretty cold work such weather as we've been having1 isn't it8 ,i don't think so4 ,better come out with me tomorrow8 ,well1 ,i don't care if ,i do4 ,the next day and the next they spun around the bay on the ice-boat4 ,even ,staples1 who seemed to be tired of almost everything1 liked the swiftness and exhilaration of the iceboat4 ,one afternoon1 ,brown walked into the bar of the hotel1 where he found ,staples standing4 ,see here1 ,armstrong4 he cried1 slapping that gentleman on the shoulder4 ,are you in for a bit of sport8 ,it's a nice moonlight night1 and ,i'm going to take a spin down to ,hamilton to meet some chaps1 and we can come back on the iceboat1 or if you think it too late1 you can stay over1 and come back on the train4 ,hamilton8 ,that's up the lake1 isn't it8 ,yes1 just a nice run from here4 ,come along--,i counted on you4 ,an hour later they were skimming along the frozen surface of the lake4 ,make yourself warm and snug1 said ,brown4 ,that's what the buffalo robes are for4 ,i must steer1 so ,i have to keep in the open4 ,if ,i were you ,i'd wrap up in those robes and go to sleep4 ,i'll wake you when we're there4 ,all right1 answered ,staples4 ,that's not a bad idea4 ,general ,george ,washington6 said young ,brown to himself4 ,this is too soft a snap altogether4 ,i'm going to run him across the lake like a lamb4 ,before he opens his eyes we'll have skimmed across the frozen lake1 and he'll find himself in the ,states again when he wakes up4 ,the only thing now to avoid are the air-holes and ice-hills1 and ,i'm all right4 ,he had been over the course before and knew pretty well what was ahead of him4 ,the wind was blowing stiffly straight up the lake and the boat silently1 and swifter than the fastest express1 was flying from ,canada and lessening the distance to the ,american shore4 ,how are you getting along1 ,walker1 cried ,staples1 rousing himself up4 ,first rate1 answered ,brown4 ,we'll soon be there1 ,staples4 ,that unfortunate slip of the tongue almost cost young ,mr4 ,brown his life4 ,he had been1 thinking of the man under his own name1 and the name had come out unconsciously4 ,he did not even notice it himself in time to prepare1 and the next instant the thief flung himself upon him and jammed his head against the iron rod that guided the rudder1 with such a force that the rudder stayed in its place and the boat flew along the ice without a swerve4 ,you scoundrel6 roared the bank-robber4 ,that's your game1 is it8 ,by the gods1 ,i'll teach you a lesson in the detective business6 ,athlete as young ,brown was1 the suddenness of the attack1 and the fact that ,staples clutched both hands round his neck and had his knee on his breast1 left him as powerless as an infant4 ,even then he did not realize what had caused the robber to guess his position4 ,for ,god's sake1 let me up6 gasped ,brown4 ,we'll be into an air-hole and drowned in a moment4 ,i'll risk it1 you dog6 till ,i've choked the breath out of your body4 ,brown wriggled his head away from the rudder iron1 hoping that the boat would slew around1 but it kept its course4 ,he realized that if he was to save his life he would have to act promptly4 ,he seemed to feel his tongue swell in his parched mouth4 ,his strength was gone and his throat was in an iron vice4 ,he struck out wildly with his feet and one fortunate kick sent the rudder almost at right angles4 ,instantly the boat flashed around into the wind4 ,even if a man is prepared for such a thing1 it takes all his nerve and strength to keep him on an iceboat4 ,staples was not prepared4 ,he launched head first into space and slid for a long distance on the rough ice4 ,brown was also flung on the ice and lay for a moment gasping for breath4 ,then he gathered himself together1 and slipping his hand under his coat1 pulled out his revolver4 ,he thought at first that ,staples was shamming1 but a closer examination of him showed that the fall on the ice had knocked him senseless4 ,there was only one thing that young ,mr4 ,brown was very anxious to know4 ,he wanted to know where the money was4 ,he had played the part of private detective well in ,toronto1 after the very best ,french style1 and had searched the room of ,staples in his absence1 but he knew the money was not there nor in his valise4 ,he knew equally well that the funds were in some safe deposit establishment in the city1 but where he could not find out4 ,he had intended to work on ,staples' fears of imprisonment when once he had him safe on the other side of the line4 ,but now that the man was insensible1 he argued that it was a good time to find whether or not he had a record of the place of deposit in his pocket-book4 ,he found no such book in his pockets4 ,in searching1 however1 he heard the rustling of paper apparently in the lining of his coat4 ,then he noticed how thickly it was padded4 ,the next moment he had it ripped open1 and a glance showed him that it was lined with bonds4 ,both coat and vest were padded in this way--the vest being filled with ,bank of ,england notes1 so the chances were that ,staples had meditated a tour in ,europe4 ,the robber evidently put no trust in ,safe ,deposits nor banks4 ,brown flung the thief over on his face1 after having unbuttoned coat and vest1 doubled back his arms and pulled off these garments4 ,his own1 ,brown next discarded1 and with some difficulty got them on the fallen man and then put on the clothes of mammon4 ,this is what ,i call rolling in wealth4 said ,brown to himself4 ,he admitted that he felt decidedly better after the change of clothing1 cold as it was4 ,buttoning his own garments on the prostrate man1 ,brown put a flask of liquor to his lips and speedily revived him4 ,staples sat on the ice in a dazed manner1 and passed his hand across his brow4 ,in the cold gleam of the moonlight he saw the shining barrel of ,brown's revolver covering him4 ,it's all up1 ,mr4 ,staples4 ,get on board the iceboat4 ,where are you going to take me to8 ,i'll let you go when we come to the coast if you tell me where the money is4 ,you know you are guilty of the crime of kidnapping1 said ,mr4 ,staples1 apparently with the object of gaining time4 ,so you are in some danger of the law yourself4 ,that is a question that can be discussed later on4 ,you came voluntarily1 don't forget that fact4 ,where's the money8 ,it is on deposit in the ,bank of ,commerce4 ,well1 here's paper and a stylographic pen1 if the ink isn't frozen-- no1 it's all right--write a cheque quickly for the amount payable to bearer4 ,hurry up1 or the ink will freeze4 ,there was a smile of satisfaction on the face of ,staples as he wrote the check4 ,there1 he said1 with a counterfeited sigh4 ,that is the amount4 ,the check was for #dhj1jjj dollars4 ,when they came under the shadow of the ,american coast1 ,brown ordered his passenger off4 ,you can easily reach land from here1 and the walk will do you good4 ,i'm going further up the lake4 ,when ,staples was almost at the land he shouted through the clear night air3 ,don't spend the money recklessly when you get it1 ,walker4 ,i'll take care of it1 ,staples1 shouted back young ,brown4 99 99 99 99 99 ,young ,mr4 ,brown sprang lightly up the steps of the ,temple mansion1 ,rochester1 and pressed the electric button4 ,has ,mr4 ,temple gone to the bank yet8 he asked the servant4 ,no1 sir2 he is in the library4 ,thank you4 ,don't trouble4 ,i know the way4 ,mr4 ,temple looked around as the young man entered1 and1 seeing who it was1 sprang to his feet with a look of painful expectancy on his face4 ,there's a little present for you1 said ,mr4 ,brown1 placing a package on the table4 ,four hundred and seventy-eight thousand3 ,bank of ,england notes and ,united ,states bonds4 ,the old man grasped his hand1 strove to speak1 but said nothing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,people wondered why young ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,brown went to ,toronto on their wedding tour in the depth of winter4 ,it was so very unusual1 don't you know4 ,,the ,,sixth ,,bench4 ,she was in earnest2 he was not4 ,when that state of things exists anything may happen4 ,the occurrence may be commonplace1 comic1 or tragic1 depending on the temperament and experience of the woman4 ,in this instance the result was merely an appointment--which both of them kept4 ,hector ,mc,lane came to ,paris with noble resolutions1 a theory of color1 and a small allowance4 ,paris played havoc with all of these4 ,he was engaged to a nice girl at home1 who believed him destined to become a great painter2 a delusion which ,mc,lane shared4 ,he entered with great zest into the life of a ,parisian art student1 but somehow the experience did not equal his anticipations4 ,what he had read in books--poetry and prose--had thrown a halo around the ,latin ,quarter1 and he was therefore disappointed in finding the halo missing4 ,the romance was sordid and mercenary1 and after a few months of it he yearned for something better4 ,in ,paris you may have nearly everything--except the something better4 ,it exists1 of course1 but it rarely falls in the way of the usually impecunious art student4 ,yet it happened that1 as luck was not against the young man1 he found it when he had abandoned the search for it4 ,mc,lane's theory was that art had become too sombre4 ,the world was running overmuch after the subdued in color4 ,he wanted to be able to paint things as they are1 and was not to be deterred if his pictures were called gaudy4 ,he obtained permission to set up his easel in the ,church of ,notre ,dame1 and in the dim light there1 he endeavored to place on canvas some semblance of the splendor of color that came through the huge rose window high above him4 ,he was discouraged to see how opaque the colors in the canvas were as compared with the translucent hues of the great window4 ,as he leaned back with a sigh of defeat1 his wandering eyes met1 for one brief instant1 something more beautiful than the stained glass1 as the handiwork of ,god must always be more beautiful than the handiwork of man4 ,the fleeting glimpse was of a melting pair of dark limpid eyes1 which1 meeting his1 were instantly veiled1 and then he had a longer view of the sweet face they belonged to4 ,it was evident that the young girl had been admiring his work1 which was more than he could hope to have the professor at ,julien's do4 ,lack of assurance was never considered1 even by his dearest friend1 to be among ,mc,lane's failings4 ,he rose from his painting stool1 bowed and asked her if she would not sit down for a moment2 she could see the-- the--painting so much better4 ,the girl did not answer1 but turned a frightened look upon him1 and fled under the wing of her kneeling duenna1 who had not yet finished her devotions4 ,it was evident that the prayers of the girl had been briefer than those of the old woman in whose charge she was4 ,where the need is greatest the prayer is often the shortest4 ,mc,lane had one more transitory glimpse of those dark eyes as he held open the swinging door4 ,the unconscious woman and the conscious girl passed out of the church4 ,this was how it began4 ,the painting of the colored window of ,notre ,dame now occupied almost all the time at the disposal of ,hector ,mc,lane4 ,no great work is ever accomplished without unwearied perseverance4 ,it was remarkable that the realization of this truth came upon him just after he had definitely made up his mind to abandon the task4 ,before he allowed the swinging door to close he had resolved to pursue his study in color4 ,it thus happened1 incidentally1 that he saw the young girl again1 always at the same hour1 and always with the same companion4 ,once he succeeded1 unnoticed by the elder1 in slipping a note into her hand1 which he was pleased and flattered to see she retained and concealed4 ,another day he had the joy of having a few whispered words with her in the dim shadow of one of the gigantic pillars4 ,after that1 progress was comparatively easy4 ,her name was ,yvette1 he learned1 and he was amused to find with what expert dexterity a perfectly guileless and innocent little creature such as she was1 managed to elude the vigilance of the aged and experienced woman who had her in charge4 ,the stolen interviews usually took place in the little park behind ,notre ,dame4 ,there they sat on the bench facing the fountain1 or walked up and down on the crunching gravel under the trees4 ,in the afternoons they walked in the secluded part of the park1 in the shadow of the great church4 ,it was her custom to send him dainty little notes telling him when she expected to be in the park1 giving the number of the bench1 for sometimes the duenna could not be eluded1 and was seated there with ,yvette4 ,on these occasions ,mc,lane had to content himself with gazing from afar4 ,she was so much in earnest that the particular emotion which occupied the place of conscience in ,mc,lane's being1 was troubled4 ,he thought of the nice girl at home1 and fervently hoped nothing of this would ever reach her ears4 ,no matter how careful a man is1 chance sometimes plays him a scurvy trick4 ,mc,lane remembered instances1 and regretted the world was so small4 ,sometimes a cry of recognition from one on the pavement to a comrade in the park1 shouted through the iron railings1 sent a shiver through ,mc,lane4 ,art students had an uncomfortable habit of roaming everywhere1 and they were boisterous in hailing an acquaintance4 ,besides1 they talked1 and ,mc,lane dreaded having his little intrigue the joke of the school4 ,at any moment an objectionable art student might drop into the park to sketch the fountain1 or the nurses and children1 or the back of the cathedral at one end of the park1 or even the low1 gloomy1 unimposing front of the ,morgue at the other4 ,he was an easy-going young fellow1 who hated trouble1 and perhaps1 knowing that the inevitable day of reckoning was approaching1 this accounted for the somewhat tardy awakening of his conscience4 ,he sometimes thought it would be best simply to leave ,paris without any explanation1 but he remembered that she knew his address1 having written to him often1 and that by going to the school she could easily find out where his home was4 ,so if there was to be a scene it was much better that it should take place in ,paris1 rather than where the nice girl lived4 ,he nerved himself up many times to make the explanation and bring down the avalanche1 but when the time came he postponed it4 ,but the inevitable ultimately arrives4 ,he had some difficulty at first in getting her to understand the situation clearly1 but when he at last succeeded there was no demonstration4 ,she merely kept her eyes fixed on the gravel and gently withdrew her hand from his4 ,to his surprise she did not cry1 nor even answer him1 but walked silently to and fro with downcast eyes in the shadow of the church4 ,no one1 he said1 would ever occupy the place in his heart that she held4 ,he was engaged to the other girl1 but he had not known what love was until he met ,yvette4 ,he was bound to the other girl by ties he could not break1 which was quite true1 because the nice girl had a rich father4 ,he drew such a pathetic picture of the loveless life he must in the future lead1 that a great wave of self-pity surged up within him and his voice quavered4 ,he felt almost resentful that she should take the separation in such an unemotional manner4 ,when a man gets what he most desires he is still unsatisfied4 ,this was exactly the way he had hoped she would take it4 ,all things come to an end1 even explanations4 ,well1 good-bye1 ,yvette1 he said1 reaching out his hand4 ,she hesitated an instant1 then without looking up1 placed her small palm in his4 ,they stood thus for a moment under the trees1 while the fountain beside them plashed and trickled musically4 ,the shadow of the church was slowly creeping towards them over the gravel4 ,the park was deserted1 except by themselves4 ,she tried gently to withdraw her hand1 which he retained4 ,have you nothing to say to me1 ,yvette8 he asked1 with a touch of reproach in his voice4 ,she did not answer4 ,he held her fingers1 which were slipping from his grasp1 and the shadow touched her feet4 ,yvette1 you will at least kiss me goodbye8 ,she quickly withdrew her hand from his1 shook her head and turned away4 ,he watched her until she was out of sight1 and then walked slowly towards his rooms on the ,boulevard ,st4 ,germain4 ,his thoughts were not comfortable4 ,he was disappointed in ,yvette4 ,she was so clever1 so witty1 that he had at least expected she would have said something cutting1 which he felt he thoroughly deserved4 ,he had no idea she could be so heartless4 ,then his thoughts turned to the nice girl at home4 ,she1 too1 had elements in her character that were somewhat bewildering to an honest young man4 ,her letters for a long time had been infrequent and unsatisfactory4 ,it couldn't be possible that she had heard anything4 ,still1 there is nothing so easy as point-blank denial1 and he would see to that when he reached home4 ,an explanation awaited him at his rooms on the ,boulevard4 ,there was a foreign stamp on the envelope1 and it was from the nice girl4 ,there had been a mistake1 she wrote1 but happily she had discovered it before it was too late4 ,she bitterly reproached herself1 taking three pages to do it in1 and on the fourth page he gathered that she would be married by the time he had the letter4 ,there appeared to be no doubt that the nice girl fully realized how basely she had treated a talented1 hard- working1 aspiring1 sterling young man1 but the realization had not seemingly postponed the ringing of the wedding-bells to any appreciable extent4 ,young ,mc,lane crushed the letter in his hand and used strong language1 as1 indeed1 he was perfectly justified in doing4 ,he laughed a hard dry laugh at the perfidy of woman4 ,then his thoughts turned towards ,yvette4 ,what a pity it was she was not rich6 ,like so many other noble1 talented men1 he realized he could not marry a poor woman4 ,suddenly it occurred to him that ,yvette might not be poor4 ,the more he pondered over the matter the more astonished he was that he had ever taken her poverty for granted4 ,she dressed richly1 and that cost money in ,paris4 ,he remembered that she wore a watch which flashed with jewels on the one occasion when he had seen it for a moment4 ,he wished he had postponed his explanation for one more day2 still1 that was something easily remedied4 ,he would tell her he had thrown over the other girl for her sake4 ,like a pang there came to him the remembrance that he did not know her address1 nor even her family name4 ,still1 she would be sure to visit the little park1 and he would haunt it until she came4 ,the haunting would give additional point to his story of consuming love4 ,anyhow1 nothing could be done that night4 ,in the morning he was overjoyed to receive a letter from ,yvette1 and he was more than pleased when he read its contents4 ,it asked for one more meeting behind the church4 ,i could not tell you to-day1 she wrote1 all ,i felt4 ,to-morrow you shall know1 if you meet me4 ,do not fear that ,i will reproach you4 ,you will receive this letter in the morning4 ,at twelve o'clock ,i shall be waiting for you on the sixth bench on the row south of the fountain-- the sixth bench--the farthest from the church4 ,,yvette4 ,mc,lane was overjoyed at his good luck4 ,he felt that he hardly merited it4 ,he was early at the spot1 and sat down on the last bench of the row facing the fountain4 ,yvette had not yet arrived1 but it was still half an hour before the time4 ,mc,lane read the morning paper and waited4 ,at last the bells all around him chimed the hour of twelve4 ,she had not come4 ,this was unusual1 but always possible4 ,she might not have succeeded in getting away4 ,the quarter and then the half hour passed before ,mc,lane began to suspect that he had been made the victim of a practical joke4 ,he dismissed the thought2 such a thing was so unlike her4 ,he walked around the little park1 hoping he had mistaken the row of benches4 ,she was not there4 ,he read the letter again4 ,it was plain enough--the sixth bench4 ,he counted the benches beginning at the church4 ,one--two--three--four--five4 ,there were only five benches in the row4 ,as he gazed stupidly at the fifth bench a man beside him said--,that is the bench1 sir4 ,what do you mean8 cried ,mc,lane1 turning toward him1 astonished at the remark4 ,it was there that the young girl was found dead this morning-- poisoned1 they say4 ,mc,lane stared at him--and then he said huskily-- ,who--was she8 ,nobody knows that--yet4 ,we will soon know1 for everybody1 as you see1 is going into the ,morgue4 ,she's the only one on the bench to-day4 ,better go before the crowd gets greater4 ,i have been twice4 ,mc,lane sank on the seat and drew his hand across his forehead4 ,he knew she was waiting for him on the sixth bench--the furthest from the church6