The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-01-08

1 ASVAAACAs tAe CIsSuSOO AsAS SsAosuCA 8str
tudc. my feeling grew stronger and
stronger. Yet puzzle and puzzle as
would, could not call to mind for
mer encounter; SO at last began t
think the supposed recognition wa:
pure fancy on my part
Having smoked out several pipes.
thought that o cigar would be slight
break to the m0notony of the night's
proceedings. So / drew out my case
and looked ut its contents. Among the
weeds was one of lighter color thar
the others. As took it out / said to
myself: ..Why. old Brand gave me that
one when was last at his house" Gu
riously enough. that cigar was the
missing link in the chain of my mem
ory. As held it in my hand I knew u
once why my hosts ugly face seemed
familiar to me.
About fortnight before. being in
town, l had spent the evening with Tic
doctor. He was not alone, and I was
introduced to a tall. pale young man
named Carr;ston. He was o pleasant,
polite young fellow. although not much
in my line. At first judged him to
be a 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 oil
the doctors many artist friends. Art is
q hobby he hacks about on grandly.
mem. 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 a man. 1t
seemei very cleverly drawn. and pre-
sumed he wanted me to criticise it.
Il am precious bad Judge" l said.
Il am not asking you to pass an
opinion" said Carriston. II want to
leg favor of you. ! am almost
ashamed to beg it on so short an ac-
quaintancc."
He seemed modest and not in want
of money, SO l encouraged him to pro-
coed.
Il heard you say you were going into
the country" he resumed. Il want to
ask you if by any chance you should
meet the original of that drawing, TO
telegraph at once to DR.. Brand"
whereabouts does he live?'
Il have no idea. If chance throws
him in your way. please do rs 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 might refer
to it in case met the man he wanted.
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 4 re-
markable coincidence. 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.
81 wonder what 1 did with the
photo?' said. 1 turned out my let
ter-case. There it was, right enough!
Shading it with one hand, l carefully
compared it with the sleeper.
Not a doubt about it! So far rs 4
photograph taken from a picture can
go. it was the man himself. The cVme
ragged beard, the same coarse features,
the same surly look. Young Carriaton
was evidently wonderful hand at
knocking off a likeness. Moreover. in
case had felt any douot on the mater.
a printed note on the bottom of the
photograph said that one joint was
missing from right-hand finger. Sufe
enough. my friend lacked that small
portion of his misbegotten frame.
This discovery threw me into an co.
stasy of delight I laughed so loudly
that l almost woke the rufiian. I
guessed l was going to take glorious
revenge for all the discomforts I had
suffered. No one, felt sure, could be
looking for such fellow rs this to do
any good to him. was quite happy in
the thought. and for the remainder of
the night gloated over the idea of put
ting spoke in the wheel of one who
had been within an ace of causing my
death. l 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 great change had
taken place out-Of-doors. The fierce
snOw-storm had been the farewell of
the frost The heavy rain that followed
had filled the roads with slushy and
rapidiy-thawing snow. l managed to
extOrt some sort of breakfast from
my host then, having recompensed
him according to my promise, not his
deserts, started, as soon rs l could, on
the bare back of my unfortunate steed,
for Midcombe, which place. after my
nights experiences, seemed gifted with
merits not its own.
l was surprised, on leaving the
house, to find that it was of larger di-
mansions than. from the little / saw of
it during the night. had imagined. 1t
YVES altogether better class of resi-
dence than had supposed. My surly
friend accompanied me until he placed
me on the main road. where 1 could
make no possible mistake. He was
kind enough to promise to assist any
one might send out in getting the
dOg-cart once more under way.
l found my way to Midcombe without
much trouble. 1 took off my Thugs,
had a wash. and, like sensible man for
once, went to bed. But did not forget
to send boy straight off to the nearest
telegraph station. My message to
Brand was brief one. 1t simply said:
Tell your friend l have found his
man." This duty done, dismissed all
speculation as to the result from my
mind and settled down to make up ar
rears of sleep