The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-07

| 0"uO' Hy leeAHS grew stronger and
stronger. Yet puzzle and puzzle as
would, L could not call to mind a for.
mer encounter; so at last [ began to
think the supposed recognition was
pure fancy on my part
Having smoked out several pipes. ]
thought that cigar would be q Sight
break to the mOnotony of the nights
proceedings. So 1 drew out nv case
and looked at its contents. Among the
weeds was one of lighter color than
the Others. As took it out / said to
myself: why, old Brand gave me that
one when l was last at his house" Gu
riOusly enough, that cigar was the
missing link in the chain of my men,
DRY. As held it in my hand 1 knew ct
once why my hosts ugly face seemed
familiar to me.
About fortnight before, being in
town, l had spent the evening with Ike
doctor. He was not alone, and was
introduced to a tall, pale young man
named Carriston. He was a pleasant,
polite young fellow, although rot much
in my line. At first judged him to
be wOuld-be poet of the fashionable
miserable school; but finding that he
and Brand talked so much about art,
eventually decided that he was one of
the doctors many artist friends. Art is
a hobby he hacks about on grandly
(Mem. Brands own attempts at pict-
ures are simply atrociousD
just before | left, Carriston. the doc
tors back being turned, asked me to
step into another room. There he
showed me the portrait of man. 1t
seemed very cleverly drawn. ard pre-
sumed he wanted me to criticise it.
Il am a precious bad Judge" said.
Il am not asking You to pass an
opinion" said GARRISON. Il want to
leg a favor of You. | am almost
ashamed to beg it on so short an ac-
quaintance.
He seemed modest and not in want
of money, so encouraged him to pro-
coed.
Il heard You say you were going into
the country" he resumed Il want to
ask you II by any chance you should
meet the original of that drawing, TO
telegraph at once to DIR. Brand"
Whereabouts does he live?'
Il have no idea. If chance throws
him in your way, please do as | ask "
Certainly | WILL said, seeing the
Young man made the request in solemn
earnest
lie thanked me and then gave me a
small photograph of the picture. This
photograph be begged me to keep in
my pocket book, so that l might refer
to it in case met the man he wanted
L put it there, went my way and. am
sorry to say, forgot all about it. Had
it not been for the strange cigar in my
case bringing back Carriston's unusual
request to my mind, the probabilities
are that l should not have thought
again of the matter. Now. by re-
markable coincidence, l was spending
the night with the very man who, so
far as my memory served me, must
have sat for the portrait shown me at
Brands house.
II wonder what / did with the
photo?" SAID. L turned out my let
ter-case. There It was, right enough!
Shading it with one hand, | carefully
compared it with the sleeper.
Not a doubt about it. So far as a
photograph taken from a picture can
90, it was the man himself. The elme
ragged beard, the same coarse features,
the same surly look. Young Carriason
was evidently a wonderful hand at
knocking off Il likeness. Moreover, in
case | had felt any douOt on the matter,
a printed note on the bottom of The
photograph said that one joint wss
missing from a right-hand finger Sule
enough, my friend lacked that small
portion of his misbegotten frame.
This discovery threw me into an 60,
stasy of delight. l laughed so loudly
that | almost woke the ruffian. |
guessed | was going to take glorious
revenge for all the discomforts | had
suffered. No one, felt sure, could be
looking for such fellow rs this to do
any good to him. l was quite happy in
the thought, and for the remainder of
the night gloated over the idea of put
ting a spoke in the wheel of one who
had been within an ace of causing my
death. / resolved, the moment | got
back to civilization, to send the desired
intelligence to Brand, and hope for the
best.
III.
The end of that wretched night came
at last When the welcome morning
broke found that a great change had
taken place out-of- doors. The fierce
had been the farewell of
the frost. The heavy rain that followed
had filled the roads with slushy and