The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-12-24
THE STORY OF A MIME.
By BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted, 1885, by 11o ,hto,, Miflin & Co., anil
published by arrangement with then.l

publlSflcu by arrangement With them.
quite worn in its cnfoltlings Harlowc's quick
eye had noticed this, but he speedily became
interested and absorbed in the other papers.
Thatcher lapscd into contemplation of the fire.
"Well," said Harlowe, finally turning to his
client, "here's enough to unseat Gaslwiler, or
close his mouth. As to the rest, it's good
reading-but needn't tell you--l,o legal evil
dence. But it's proof enough to stop them
from ever trying it again-whcn the exist
ence of this record is made known Bribery Is
hard thing to fix OH a man; the only witness
is naturally particeps crminis;-b it would
not he easy for them to explain away this ras-
calls record. One or two things don't under
stand: What's this opposite the Hon. KS
name, Took the medicine nicely, and feels
better!' and here, just in the margin, after Us,
Must he labored withr"
II suppose our California slang borrows
largely from the medical and spiritual pro-
fession," returned Thatcher. But isn't it
odd that man should keep IL conscientious
record of his own villainya"
Harlowe, little abashed at his want Of
knowledge Of American metaphor, now felt
himself at bone. well, no. It's not UNI
usual. In one of those books yonder there
is the record of case where u man,
who had committed series of nal1eless
atrocities, extending over q period Of years,
absolutely kept memorandum Of them in
his pocket diary 1t was produced in court.
Why, my dear fellow, one half of our bust
ness arises from tho fact that men and
women are i'll the habit of keeping letters and
documents that they might - l don't say.
you know, that they ought, that's II question
Of sentiment or cthics-but that they might
Destroy
Thatcher half mechanically took the tcle-
gram of poor Carmen and threw it in the
fire. Harlowe noticed the act and smiled.
"1'll venture to say, however, that there's
nothing in the bag that !.on lost that need
give you |, moments uneasiness. It's only
your rascal or fool who carries with him that
which makes him his own detective"
u had FRIEND" continued Harlowe, "a
clever fellow enough, but who was so foolish
as to seriously complicate himself with
woman. He was himself the soul of honor,
and at the beginning of their correspondence
he proposed that they should each return tho
others letters with their answer. They did
SO for years, but it cost him ten thousand
dollars and no end of trouble after ALL"
"Whys" asked Thatcher simply.
Because he was such an egotistit.a. ass as
to keep the letter proposing it, which she had
duly returned, among his papers as II scnti-
mental record Of course somebody evcntu-
ally found it,
Good night" said Thatcher, rising
abruptly. If l stayed here much longer
should begin to disbelieve my own mother"
Il have known OF such hereditary traits"
returned Harlowe with laugh. But come,
you must not go without the champagne"
He led the way to tho adjacent room, which
proved to be only the ante-chanber of
another, on the threshold of which Thatcher
stopped with genuine surprise. 1t was an
elegantly furnished library.
"Sybarite: Why was never here before."
Because you came rs a client; tonight
You are my guest. All who enter here leave
their business, with their hats, in the hall.
Look; there isn't IL law book Oh those shelves:
that table never was defacetl by tito
deed or parchment. You look puzzled!
Well, it was within OF mine to put my resi-
dence and my workshop under the same roof,
yet SO distinct that they would never inter-
fere with each other. You know the house
above is let out u dodgers. | occupy the first
floor with my mother and sister, and this il
my parlor l do my work in that severe
t1,o$ -, T
play. A man must have so:l.ethii,. else in
life than mere business. l lind it l,ss harn,-
tul and expensive to have my pleasure here.
Thatcher had sunk modify III tie embrace
ing arms of an easy chair. He va, ,iinlsin.
deeply; he was fond of hooks, too, and, like
all men who have Jared hard and led wander
ing lives, he knew the value OF cultivated r,-
pose. Like all men who have been Obliged
to sleep under blankets and in the open air.
he appreciated the luxuries OF linen sheets
and frescoed roof. 1t is, by the way, only
your sick city clerk or you dyspeptic clergy.
man, who fancy that have found in the
bad bread. fried steaks, and trowzy flannel:
Of mountain picnici:,s the true art Of
living. And it is q somewhat notable fac,
that your true nountaineer or your gentle
man who has been obliged to honestly trough
t,"does not, as general thing, write hooks
about its advantages, or implore their fellow
mortals to come and share their solitude and
their discomforts.
Thoroughly approaching the taste and com
fort Of Harlowe's library, yet half cnvious Of
its owner. and half suspicious that his OWL
earnest life for the past few years might have
been different, Thatcher suddenly started from
his seat and walked towards q parlor easel