San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-06
This story was commenced August 81
C2PPiStOl'S Gift.
by HUGH CONWAY.
PART ].
TOLD by PHILIP BRAND, NJ D., LONDON.


dering where l was and how | got there. |
even began to grow nervous. All sorts of
horrible travellers tales ran through my head
IL was In Just such places as this that .unsus-
peCtlng yOyagerS were stated TO have been
murdered, and robbed, by Just such unmiti-
gated rufiians as my hOSt-I can tell you that
altogether | spent most pleasant night
10 make matters worse and more dismal,
the storm still ragged outside. The wind
moaned through the trees, but it had again
changed, and | knew from the sound on the
wlndOw-paneS that heavy rain had succeed
ed snow. As the big drops of water found
their way down the large Old-faShOned
chimney, the fire Kissed and spluttered like a
spiteful vixen. Everything combined to de
prlye me of what dogs sleep could by sheer
persistency snatch.
think | tried every position which an Ordi-
nary man, not an acrobat, Is capable of adopt
Ing with the assistance of a common wooden
chair. | even lay down on the hard flags l
actually tried the table. propped up the up
per half of my body against the corner walls
of the room; but found no rest. At last |
gave up all idea of sleeping, and fully
aroused myself. cOmfOrted myself by saw
ing that my misery was only tempOrary-that
the longest night must come TO an end.
My companion had by now succumbed to
fatigue, or to the combined effects of fatigue
and gin-and-water. His head was hanging
sideways, and he slept in a most uncOmtOrta-
BILE attitude. | chuckled as | looked at him,
feeling quite sure that if such "A clOd was cap
able OF dreaming at all, his dreams must be
worse even than mine. | filled another pine
pOBed the SmOldering logs into a blaze. and
sat almost nose and knees over the fire, find
ing some amusement in specializing upon the
condition OF the churl before me, and thank
ing the Lord | was not like unto this man.
Suddenly an idea flashed across me-
had seen this fellow before But when
or where | could not remember. His feat
ureS, as | looked at them with keener inter
est, seemed to grow more and more familiar
to me Where could | have met himP Some
where or other, but where? | Tacked my
brain to associate him with some scene, some
event Although he was but an ordinary
COuntryman, such rs one sees scores of in
days ride, only differing from his kind on ac-
count of his unpleasant face, felt sure we
were Old acquaintance. When he awOke for
a moment and changed his strained attitude
my feeling grew stronger and stronger. Yet
puzzle and puzzle as | would | could not call
TO mind a former encounter; so at last be-
gan TO think the supposed recognition was
pure fancy on my part.
Having smoked out several pipes, thought
that cigar would be a slight break to the
mOnOtOny of the nights proceedings So
drew out my case and looked at its contents.
Among the weeds was one of a lighter color
than the others. As | took il out ! said to
myself, why, old Brand gave me that one
when | was last at his house. CuriOuISly
enough that cigar was the missing link in the
Chain of my memory. As / held it in my
hand | knew at once why ny hosts ugly face
seemed familiar to me.
About a fortnight before, being in town,
had spent the evening with the doctor He
was not alone, and was introduced to tall
pale young man named CarriStOn. He was
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
50 much about art | eventually decided that
he was one of the doctors many artist friends.
Art is hobby he hacks about on gramdly.
Mem. Brands own attempts at pictures are
simply atrOciOusD
Just before left, Carriston, the doctors
back being turned, asked me to step INTO an
other room. There he showed me the por-
trait of a man. IL seemed very clcverly
drawn, and | presumed he wanted me to
crticiSe il.
81 am precious bad judge" said
IL am Tot asking you to pass an opinion"
said Carri.ton. ii want to beg favor OF
you. | am almost ashamed TO beg it on SO
short an acquaintance"
lie seemed modest, and not in want of
money, 50 encouraged him to proceed.
81 heard you say you were guing into the
country" be resumed Il want to ask you
If by any chance you should meet the Origi-
nal of that drawing, to telegraph mt once to
DR.. Brand"
whereabouts does he live?"
81 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.
He thanked me, and then gave me a small
photograph of the picture. This photograph
he 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,
Ia 90 n
1t not been for the strange cigar in my case
bringing back CarriStOnS unusual request to
my mind, the probabilities are that should
not have thought again OF the matter. Now,
by a remarkable 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.
Il wonder what did with the photo" |
said. | turned out my letter-case. There 1t
was, right enough! Shading it with one
hand, | carefully compared it with the sleep
er.
Not doubt about it! So far as photo
graph taken from picture can go, it was the
man himself. The same ragged beard, the
same coarse features, the same Surly look.
Young CarTistOn was evidently a wonderful
hand at knocking off likeness. Moreover,
In case had felt any doubt in the matter, a
printed note at the bottom of the photograph
said that one joint was missing from a right
hand finger. Sure enough, my friend lacked
that small portion of his miSbegOtten frame.
This discovery threw me into an ecstasy of
delight. laughed so loudly that almost
awOke the rufiian. / guessed | was going to
take glorious revenge for all the discOmforts
j had suffered. No one, felt sure, could be
looking for such fellow as 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 putting a spoke in
the wheel of one who had been within an ace
N IN death | resolved
ment got back to civilization, to send the
desired Intelligence to Brand, and hope for
the best.