The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-08
Wntten Tor the ABNu,Ar
A BOLD GAME;
OR.
WOVEN OF MANY TAdtADSD
RY WELDON ). COBB, JR.
CHAPTER VII

BY WELDON !. COB
CHAPTER VII.

| iHE r.
Ii was the morning following the return
Of Edwin Amory to Paterson, that Parton
arose from his bed, has body but partially
rested by the disturbed slumber Of the
] previous night. All through the night
visions Of his companions singular recogni
ton Of the man at whose presence he, too,
had started, haunted his dreams, and he
was somewhat surprised to observe that
the accustomed form he was wont to see
IN the adjoining bed chamber was not there
As Mayhem might have gone out for an
early walk, he reasoned, there was no
occasion for anxiety or fear. He dressed
himself, read a chapter from his bible as
Was his wont. aud then descended to the
ground floor Of the house Breakfast was
ready for hin, being upon the table, and
without waiting for Mayhew appearances,
he concluded his morning meal, and then
observing 1t was nearly time for the days
labor, he went to the door, looked around
the little garden for Mayhem, and then
hastened toward the works.
At noon, to his surprise, when he re-
turned to his boarding house no trace Of
Mayhem could be discovered T. man
had not been seen by Mrs. Arden since
lnC CNCiiIik DCiOIC. 81 Stic o6lu. Ills Ocu
had been slept on, but not in the evening
previous. Repairing to his room, Robert
observed what in the morning had escaped
hls notice-a a note lying upon the wash
stand, folded and directed To him. He
opened 1t ia an expectancy of finding some
excuse for the temporary absence Of his
companion. In this, however, he was dis
appointed. In the crude chirography Of
Mayhem he rea
Nv DEAR FRIEND | cannot explain
the mystery If last evening to you. 1
cannot even tell you Of my Intentions or
proposed whereabouts Accept the thanks
Of grateful man and forget one who
seems fated to be haunted with shadows
Of the dreary past wherever he goes.
- M"
The reading Of the letter was a surprise
to Robert Parton. He had observed that
Mayhem had been much agitated the pre-
vIous evening and had attributed it to
many causes, but he had not anticipated
the flight Of the tramp. From the tenor
Of the note, however, he now knew that
Mayhem had placed many mile between
himself and the mysterious stranger.
Accepting the flight as matter beyond
his control, he resumed work that after
loon, his mind filled with speculations and
surmises. Thinking 50 Of the mysterious
stranger who had evidently causeu all the
trouble, he was surprised, as he looked up
from his work, to see through the open
window the face and form Of the same
] person Just emerging from the yard and
! going toward the office.
"Where hdUe / seen that face before r.
he murmured, his eyes plainly indicating
the surprise and puzzling wonderment
which he evidently experienced. Some
internal remembrance come dim memory
of those features, 80 striking yet 50 dull,
came into his mind. He had seen that
face before-where or when he could not
now remember. Some fancied resem-
blance, perhaps, but where had he seen
the original Of that semblance
He resnHed his work with q speculative
gleau Id rs eye, meanwhile wondering
Strangely at tins man who had 90 startled
his companion, James Mayhem, his now
fugitive friend-and whose real identity
was g source Of more than ordinary mys-
terry to hlmself-but all his brain absorbing
thoughts did not unravel the mystery
around this stranger.
"Who is that man queried he, AZ that
evening he was vending his way home
from his daily work with fellow work.
man. Edwin Amory had just passed ahead
Of him but had not perceived him.
"That Oh that is our book-keeper
Mr.. AmOry."
The name did not sound at all familiar
to I.obert Parton, and he pursued his way
homeward without any further interroga
tions or thoughts relative 10 the man, ex
cept 50 far as he seemed concerned in th,
liIht Of James Mayhem. He remainet
in his room until the evening shadows be
gan to gather, and then took . rambl
among the solitary hiIlsides which stretches
far and wide behind the Tremayne villa
wrapped in deep thought.
There was o beautiful drive leadin
across the hills and upon broad, leve
plateau. Along this road Robert Parto
walked, his mind upon the disappearanc
oi his companion and former friend, no
noticing the beautiful diversity of scener
around him. Az he went on, merged |
speculations Of the past, present and fu
ture, it was not until he had reached
point where the smooth broad road turne
abruptly and vered close TO the edge Of
steep precipice, that he was awakened frOI
his reverie by . quick startling scream