Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-01-14

thanking the Lord / WAS not Ike unto
this man Suddenly IN idea flashed
across me.
had seen this fellow before. But
when or where, ! could not remember.
His features. as | looked ut them with
kcener interest, seemed TO grow moro
and more familiar TO me. Where could
/ have met him? Somewhere or other,
but whereof | rackod my brain to as
sociate with him some scene some
event Although he was but an ordi-
nary countryman, such as ono sees
scores of in days ride, only differing
from this kind on account of his I'M
pleasant face, felt sure we were old ac-
quaintances. When be awoke for n
moment and changed his strained att'-
tudo, my feeling grew stronger and
stronger. Yet puzzle and puzzle as |
would, ] could not call to mind for.
mer encounter; so at last began 20
think the supposed recognition was
pure fancy on my part.
Having smoked out several pipes.
thought that cigar would be Slight
break TO the monotony Of the nights
procee lings. So | drew out my case
and locked at its contents. Among the
weeds was one OF lighter color than
p the others As took it out said TO
myself: "Why, old Brand gave me that
ouo when ! was last at his house" Gu.
riously enough. that cigar was the
T, ! missing link in the chain of my men,
= ory As held It in my hand | knew at
f, once why my hosts ugly face seemed
y familiar to me.
About fortnight before. being in
town. ] had spent the evening with the
I doctor He was not alone and | was
"a introduced TO a tall, pale young man
= named Carrston. lie was pleasant
!, polite young fellow. although not much
u in my line. At first judged him tC
-, be would-be poet OF the fashionabl,
:. miserable school; but finding that h,
y and Brand talked SO much about art,
eventually decided that he was one o
!, the doctors many artist fiicnds. Art i
II n hobby he hacks about on iTandly
y Mem. Brand s own attempts az pict
~ ures are simply atrociousD
~ just before left, Carrs,on. the doc
: tors back being turned, aske me {,
sep into another room. There h
~ showed me the portrait Of q man.
:, SCENE very clcyerl5 drawn. and pre-
sumed he wanted me 10 criticise il.
Il am precious bad Judge" / said
n 81 am not asking you to pass at
~ opinion, said Carriston. IL want &
~ leg favor of YOU. | am almos
~ ~ ashamed TO beg it on 20 short an &C
" quainiancc.
j., lie seemed modest and not in wan
's OF money, so | encouraged him TO pro
~ cccd
- Il heard You say YOU were going int,
" the country he resumed. Il want {,
.i" ask you 4 by any chance you shoul,
" meet the original Of that drawing. {,
's Telegraph at once to DIR. Brand"
o' "Wherelbouts does he liyc?'
l., Il have no idea. II chance throw
w him IN your way, please do as l ask.
nv Certainly VIII. said. seeing th
:" Young man made the request in solcmi
.cI earnest
a' he thanked me aDl then gave one
ni small photograph OF the picture. Thi
~ photograph b. begged me to keep il
~ ms pocket-bo1k. so that / might rcfe
~ 90 10 in case | met the man he wanted
/ put 10 here went my way and. au
nc sorry TO say, forgot all about it. Ha,
~ it not been Tor the strange cigar in m,
iu cas- bringing back Carri.ton'- uEuu
3. rc.ucs. 10 my mind, the probabiI tic
IN are that ! should not have though
III again Of the matter Now. by q re
:" markahle coincidence. ! WAS spcndin,
~ the night with the very man who. $,
u \ far rs my memory served me, mus
have sat Tor the portrait shown me a
>" Brands house.
~ ~ wonder what | did with Oh,
.. phO,o?' / said. | turned out my let
- ter-caSe There II was, right enough
y, Shad NJ it with one hand. | carefully
io compared Il with the sleeper.
y, Not a doubt about IL. 80 far as
n, photograph taken from picture car
~ 60, il was the man himself The sam,
ragged brard, the same coarse features
b, the same surly look. Young Carristoi
-. wa evidently wonl rlul hand a
knocking OIL Likeness Moreover. il
g, case had fit any douut on the matter
4 % pr nted note on the bottom OF th,
.j photograph slid that one Joint wa
.r missing from a right-hand finger Sur
enough my friend lacked that smal
II, portion Of his misbcgott.n frame.
~ This Il scovcry threw me into an &C
- stasy Of delight ! laughed 20 loudl,
!, that | almost woke The ruilian.
In guessed | was going to take a glorious
M reven for all the scomlorts / had
- suffered. No one. l felt sure. could b,
N looking for such q fellow ns this 20 do
"a any good TO him. / was quite happy IN
I, the thought, and for the remainder ol
'r the night gloa.ed over the idea Of put.
4 ting a spoke n the wheel Of on who
/. had been within an ac, of causing my
p death. ! resolved, the moment got
=. back 10 civil alton. 10 send the desired
a intelligence to Brand, and hope FOR the
I test
=, fIf.
+ The end o, that wrct. he'd night came
- af Nu.f