Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
ERRANT IN THE ROCKIES
AN IRISH GENTLEMANS ADVENTURE IN
AMERICA
BY JUSTIN HuNrLEY MCCARTHY, p. AND ALBERT DELPTr
[WRrrrrr ron PTrrsBuRe pIsrArcHl

rect glance seemed to embarrass the lady,
for she blushed slightly, and spoke in the
plaintive, imploring tone Of o child: "You
Fave seen Mason?" he being the agent
through whom Talbot had briefly negotiated
before calling on her. "You accept, I hope,
the conditions which he has named?"
sYes, madam"
"Ah, that is we'll. I am glad to hear il. !"
She drew small syringe from case on the
table beside her. II am obliged to use NOR
phine when I suffer so much. am so i'll. I"
Lightly and skillfully she injected the
drug under the skin above her left shoulder.
Almost Immediately her head fell back
heavily upon the cushion Of the chair.
Talbot watched her in amazement, asking
himself if the woman could be crazy. For q
minute she remained Motionless, in deep
prostration; then suddenly starting up as if
waking from refreshing nap, she rose, and
throwing back her hair with q coquettish
gesture, said: 'I feel quite cured. Now we
can talk. Mason told me your name, but I
have forgotten it. ="
Talbot Power"
"Ah, thanks"
The young man could hardly conceal his
surprise. This animated lady could not be
the one whom he bad been studying some
come almost brilliant and the indolent figure
almost energetic. She took q Russian
cigarette from silver case and touched q
bell After lighting her cigarette she rested
her arm upon the table and graeiously re-
peated:
'eYes, you please me very much, mon
sieur. think that my trip will last year.
Mason has asked me to give you three
months salary in advance. You shall have
six. In several weeks we shall be able to
Judge of each other, and either Of Us shall
have the right to break the engagement if
not satisfied with the other"
The woman's confidence and her gener-
osity touched him. Il am very grateful for
your words, madam" he said, ''but must
decline your offer, for it would give me the
lions share OF the bargain. Let us keep to
the conditions fixed by Mason. It Is fair
that I should receive q quarters salary be-
fore starting, since am quite penniless, but
have no right to accept more"
Mrs. Relitska lightly shrugged her shoul-
ders and replied dryly, "As you choose,
Monsieur" There was short silence; then,
stretching out her hand to the young man
with an almost feline movement, she added,
''Then we do agree?"
Entirely"
81 am to start in three days for a ram
bling, roaming tourof the Rocky Mountains
region. 1t shall be your duty, if you please,
to be guIde-not IN an ordinary sense, but
as protector, adviser and champion-for
me and the young lady who is to be my only
companion. We are good travellers, and
have come across the Atlantic, as well as
this far across America, without male es-
cort but the Rockies make US afraid, and 50
we will trust our safety to you, sir.
A short talk about the part of country to
be visited, and the means Of transit, ended
the interview. An hour later Talbot re-
Joined Mason, the intermediary agent.
''Well, how did the interview go of?''
Mason asked.
Every well, was the reply.
The Irishman was in better spirits than
he had been for months, and gave acrisp ac-
count Of his call.
ST don't know much about this lady,"
Mason said, "only you did one fOolish
thing"
"What wBs that?''
when you were offered six months pay
you ought to have taken it. 1t was guar
snty against her caprices; but after all you