The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-05-16

tBre Hsrie In Gabriel conroy." scribner
for hay.l

Mr.. Hsmlin had not found the eli
mate OF San Antonio conducive to thai
strict repose that his physician had rec
ommended. and left il the next day
with an accession OF feverish energy
that was new 10 him. He had idled
away three days of excessive heat al
Sacrazsnto, aud on the fourth had
flown 10 the mountains, and found
himself on the morning OF the first
cool day at Wingdam.
"Anybody here know" he demand
ed Of his faithful henchman, as Pete
brought in his clothes. freshly brush
ed for the morning toilette.
mo, Sahi"
"Nor want TO, ehY" continued the
cynical Jack, leisurely getting out Of
bed.
Pete reflected. Deere is two O. desc
var Yeastern tourists-dem folks as 10
goin' round inspsctin de country
down In dc parler. Jess come over
from the Big Trees. Irsokon dsy's
some o. de same party--dem Frisco
ohapa--Mass Dumphy aud de oddsrs
has bin onloadin' TO. Dey's mighty
green. and de boys along de road has
been fillin' 'em up. It's Jess 30 much
water on the dried apples dat Pete
Dumphy's been shown into 'em. -
Jack smiled grimly.
"l reckon you nsedn't bring up my
breakfast, Pete Ill 60 down"
The party thus obscurely referred TO
by Pete, were Mr. and Mrs. Rsynor,
who had been "doing" the Big Trees,
under the intelligent guidance OF .
Ban Francisco editor who had besn
dsputizsd by Mr.. Dumphy to represent
Californian hospitality. They were
exceedingly surprised. during break
fast, by the entrance OF Q pale. hand
some, languid gentleman. accurately
dressed, whose infinite neatness sham
ed their own bedraggled appearances,
and Who, accompanied by his own ssr-
want, advanced. and quietly took . seat
opposite the tourists and their guide.
Mrs. Raynor at once became conscious
Of some negligence in her toilet, and
after n moments embarrassment sxcus-
cd herself and withdrew. Mr.. Raynor,
impressed with the appearance OF the
stranger, tslegrsphed his curiosity by
elbowing the editor, who, however, for
some reason best known to himself,
failed TO respond. Possibly he reeog-
nizsd the presence OF the notorious
Mr.. Jack Hamlin in the dsrk-eysd
stranger, aud may have had ample
reasons for rsfraiping from voicing the
popular reputation Of that gentleman
before his face, or possibly he may
have been insttentivs. Howbeit. after
Mr. Hamlin's entrance he pretsrmitted
the hymn OF California praise, aud be-
came reticent and absorbed In his NOR
ming paper. Mr.. Hamlin waited for
the lady to retire, and then, calmly ig-
noring the presence OF any other indi-
vidual, languidly drew from bis pocket
Q revolver and bowie.knifs. and placing
them in m easy, habitusl manner on
either side Of his plate. glanced care
lsssly over the table. aud then called
Pete TO his side.
Tell them. said Jack. quietly, that
I want some large potatoes ask them
what they mean by putting those little
things on the table. Tell them to be
quick. - your rIns ioauoa'"
Eyes. ssh, said Pete promptly, with
out relaxing o muscle OF his serious
ebony face.
"well-take it along with you"
But here the curiosity Of Mr.. Ray
nor, who had been jnst commenting
on the really enormous size OF the po-
tatoes, got the best Of his prudencs. -
Failing to make his companion respond
to his repeated elbowings, he leaned
over the table toward the lsnguia
stranger.
Excuse me, SIR" be said politely,
''but did I understand you to say that
you thought these potatoes small--that
there are really larger ones to be bsdf'
Its the first time" returned Jack,
gravely. "that ever was insulted by
having a ,eAole potato brought to me-
/ didn't know il was possible before. -
Perhaps in this part Of the country the
vegetables are poor. I'm stranger to
this section. I take it you are too.
But because am n stranger ! don't see
why should be imposed upon.
"Ah, see, said the mystiied Ray
nor, "but il / might ask another ques-
tion--you'll excuse me il i am imperti-
nent-I noticed that you just now ad-
vised your servant to take his gun into
the kitchen with him.-surely"-
Pete" interrupted Mr.. Hamlin,
languidiy. els q good niger. I
shouldn't like TO lose him Perhaps
you're right-may he am . little over.
cautious. But when O man has lost
two servants by gunshot wounds in
side OF three months, IL makes him
careful"
The perfect uneoncsrn of the speak.
or, the rsticsnce Of his companion, and
the dead silence Of the room In which
this extraordinary speech was uttered,
filed the measure Of Mr.. Raynor's as.
Constituent.