Wichita daily eagle., 1886-04-17
A STRANGE CLIENT.


the wide e1panse Of Murley heights, and ap
parently exuiting in its untranmelled frea
dozn. Opposition TO its wild will upo'
these downs there was none The only de
fance Of the keen Vikings blast was foun,
IN tie person of the solitary pedestrian witt
was daring enough to have defied the threat
ened snow-storm in his eagerness TO journey
from Ettisdale TO Mrr,ey Coombe. He wa
@ little man. and bent and shriveled with
cares and toll, if not with age. Blu. hi
heed and neck were of the true English bull
dog type and upon his faoe there wa
stamped an expression Of indomitable reso
luton resolution and unwavering persever
ence. He was dressed in rusty ard thread
hare suit of black, which to the average oh
server would doubtless have marked him out
as belonging to the large and saddened army
OF the shabby genteel.
When some two-thirds o; the weary eigh,
miles between the two villages had been ac.
complished, an ominous numbness seized upon
the wayfarer's limbs, his gait became un
certain, and strange darkness seemed tc
close in upon the horizon Of his vision.
-If there were q cottage anywhere nigh
- i could get warm in lie solilo
quized I'm nigh per.shed with cold but
there's no house nearsr than DonalGson's
farm However, l shall soon be there
and
He reeled, gave a helpless little cry,
iurched heavily forward, and lay-a sense
less, Spider-like object-on the damp turf.
II he bad moi indeed received chill" he
was in imminent danger of taking one. For
tunately succor was at hand
A geutlemaa's gig was rattllng ovec the
curve Of the hillside at pace which told
either OF confident ho-semanShip or OF an
errand which brooked no needless delay.
Fitch. what is the meaning OF tnis''
asked ta. sta!Nart young driver OF his
servant
The groom bestowed a single perfunctory
glance upon the prostrate form, and
answered, Drunk, sir.
-Quite as likely overcome by cold and
fatigue. The poor fellow looks ill-clai and
thin, anyh how and Frank Archer followed
his arrest OF the horse by transfer OF the
reins TO his attendant In another second he
was trying to arouse the sleeper; he shook
him, he shouted in his ear-without efrect
The man is in a stui Of some time kind.
1t will not lie safe to leave him thus" said
Frank in dismay.
There's no house nigh, sir
Wen just have to drive back to Murley
with him You and can lift him into ths
trap, fancy. | shall be late for my ap-
point,nent, but when life is at stake bust
ness must wait
The groom, whatever his private opinion
OF his masters quixotic conduct, obeyed o.
ders, like the model satellite he was. with
no word Of deIuur. and being champion in
rural feats of strength, found his allotted
task light In Z very brief space the gis
was climbing the hill it had 50 lately de-
scended
Either the disturbance OF removal. or tho
motion and TIE renewed breeze created by
the drive, or both combined, gradually re-
vived the snfer. He frs: groanei, thei
shifted his head uneasily on Fitch's sup
porting shoulder, then unclosed hah-vacant
eyes, AMI murmured inarti ulate words,
which sounded like sorry ry-troub!e-couldn't
help-cold" His friend in need fooled his
horse straight into the yard Of the chief
Murley hotel
The explanation was soon given, the
stranger assisted within DOOR, and a sur
gson summoned.
"rll be responsible for damages, but l
can't stay for Clarke's report said Fra1k
Archer. and again he set out on his journey
ion that the patient had sustained no serious
harm. and would quickly recover, adding
But another half-hour in the opea.
where Mr. Archer found him, might
easily have produced much greater
mischief; in his weak state, fatal
consequences even might have ensued He
was rescued in the very nick Of time. and
should be grateful accordingly
Perhaps the way farer was grateful. as he
rested in the warm and well-lighted inn
parlor Immediately in the rear Of the bar:
as the dusk crept on in the street without
ne grew more and mora himself, and began
to listen TO such stray scraps Of
gossiping conversation reached him
through the half open door A tiny group
Of Murley idlers was in the passage beyond,
and their words were full Of interest TO the
listener.
-Mnrrell carries his head as high as ever,
though his mill is TO bs sold, and all the
knows ss he's ruined. said one,
in cynical tones, absolutely devoid o: sym
pathy
I'm sorry for his daughter answered
another. = { is no fault OF Miss Carries, and
it'll cost her her sweatheart Old Archer
won't give his permission for that match
now, il know him, and young
Master Frank must choose between h:s
fortune and his fancy. l hate to see young
people crossed, but fact is fact
Hush, Here Is Miss Nurren.- cried
third
swcst, girlish voice was inquiring fo-
the invalid Before the occupant Of the
parlor was aware. be was confronted with
the vision O. fair, biushinS maiden-a
vision whereat he started, turned ashy
pale, treInb!ei from head TO foot To
bis eyes il was as though the grave had
given up its dead
Il thought you might like some fruit, and
% have veutured 10 bring these the girl
MD, bravely and simply, placing on the
liable u basket Of exceedingly fine oranges
md apples Il am 50 glad you are better:
hard in the village Of your accident, or
1lnaE
sAnd IL Miss xurreIl can do kind act
b any body, she will,- said the innkeeper's
wife, eNusively.
The recipient Of this graceful and ssnsrous |
attention stammersd repiv that was neither |