The Columbus journal., 1888-06-13
PART II.

Desi1l0S against pie OF DaleS IN front OF tht
ware house, loft'ly tapping his chin with hi.
p;nchbeck headed cane and listening to Mr.
| McMurray. That gentleman, in his anxiet,
| leat the church should actually lose Proctor
had resorted to the desperate remedy of ar
appeal to Standish. The old man kept hi.
malicious eyes fixed upon him, and grinnins
| with enjoyment of his embarrassment, bu
under the grin he looked haggard ant
anxious.
$50 the boy has a mind to take the part o
bis old friend! He'd stick by the hulk be
cause it's going down! Tut! tut, There:
stupidity for you"
II do not talk in metaphor about hulks
only thought it likely, from my knowledge
of you, you might presume on your acquaint
ance with the lad and his generous nature tC
draw him into trouble, and l warn you wha,
the result will be to him"
'.It will ruin him to be known as even my
friend. understand"
McAiurray hesitated. After all, why moi
give .Standish a hint of the detective on his
track! If lie would escape, all difficulty
would be over Enquiries of Il significant
kind have been made for you this week, Maj
Standish, ," he said.
$50 have leen told"
IL DO not know to what part of your pasi
areer they refer"
"And you'd better not ask too closely, Mac
Dan Standish has led a hot life, l tell you.
with vicious wink that made the deacon
shutlder from hat to boots
"Well, l have discharged my duty" he
said, after an irresolute pause. at is most
probable that young Proctor will come to
seek you this afternoon"
And if he comes, l am not to see him?'
with an attempt at a jocular tone that had
more terrible force in it even to the cold
blooded hearer than any painful outcry.
''Nhy, man, l am pushed nearer to tile wall
today than anybody knows. As for this boy
WE'LL no matter what he is to me. l gave
up something for him once. 1t seems Is if
had the right to ask his help now, When
when death has me by the throat" He
looked vacantly, quickly about him, at the
boxes, the cars rattling by, at the head of his
cane. McMurray thought he had been drink
ing. 81 am sorry l troubled myself about
il, )" he said, with dignity. GOOD day, Maj.
Standishn
''Good day." efrecting a fiourishing bow
with his unsteady hand. "Take old Dan to
point your next sermon, will you! I've lived
by my wits. I've made myself the compan-
ion of poets-of mobiles, sir! And now when
the end comes, damn it, man, haven't a
friend!"
Mr.. McMurray hurried nervously away,
picking his steps among the boxes and bales.
Standish stood a moment looking at tho
ground, and then turned and stumped up the
narrow rickety stairs that led to the top Of
the building. He did not know what especial
sin of old times was coming back to give him
the last blow, nor did he care. That was all
fair enough. 1t seemed to him sometimes,
comparing his life with that Of other men,
that he had lived just like a beast from hour
to hour, out of whatever impulse was in him
He was ready to meet any old abomination
of his past life and take the punishment
"rve had the dance, and I'll pay the piper"
he said, kicking open tho door of his room
and going in.
"But-the boyT
Now the majors cockloft was in reality q
garret room covering the whole sixth story
of the warehouse. The beams overhead, the
plastered walls, the half dozen squat dormer
windows, the pine floor, were as clean as
lime and scrubbing could make them 1t
looked, in fact like big white plain with a
little camping ground at one end, in which
was q crate with a good fire, tent bed
neatly made, a table with pens and paper
laid in exact order, the ''Men Of our Day."
out Of which the major furnished obituaries
at ten minutes notice for The Camera, and
an odd volume Of Appletons Cyclopedia,
out Of which he drew its supplies of science.
Great decency of cleanliness everywhere, but
nothing to eat If there had been, perhaps
the majors acts in the next hour would have
been less guilty in the eyes of religious
people. But when it comes to looking out in
the world from q starving body, q man is apt
to slip the orthodox leashes and follow his
own notions Of right and wrong.
He took of his black coat carefully,
hung it up, threw his braces loose
down his back, and sat down in his shirt
sleeves before the fire, his hands ON his fat
knees. He wished, duly, Madeline was here
to puzzle it out for him; remarking half aloud,
that if that girl undertook to write a leader
it would be bosh, but in every thing else she
never failed to hit the nail plump on the
head There was q round roly poly brown
crock in the window, in which bloomed a
buttony little rose, one Of the Burgundy sort,
red, fresh and pungent Madeline had left it
It was like her somehow, the major thought
Do what he would, his thoughts would 60
hack tn thu Uirl and 0fho voayn eho had livo3