San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-25
A CHANCE OBSERVATION.

One day while studying sun spots with my
telescope, which was fine and powerful in
strument, it occurred to me to fit my terres-
trial eve piece to the tube and amuse myself
looking around the country. had fire,
auently tested the power of my glass by read
ing the time on church clock in neighbor
ing town, and counting lightning rods Oh
distant buildings and in various other ways,
and never tired of making fresh tests
On this day had been through my rou
tine, and, while sweeping the glass slowly
around for fresh objects Of interest, saw,
through vista in a distant piece Of woods,
two men carrying a small but seemingly
heavy trunk.
knew the woods perfectly, having become
familiar with every square yard of it in my
cunning expeditions
The sight of two men carrying trunk in
the woods was singular enough to excite my
curiosity. Ispeculated on their probable er
rand. and, remembering that there was a
railroad station not far from there, decided
that they were on their way to intercept a
train.
As | watched. the two men, putting the
trunk down and Using it for a seat, began an
animated conversation, which, judged, was
an argument My opinion was based on theil
gestures and facial expressions, which
could see plainly.
One of the men was much taller than the
other, much better dressed, and had much
finer features The other, who was Of low
stature, but very powerful looking, owing tt
great breadth of shoulders and depth Ct chest
was dressed like a laborer
| could see these men so plainly that il
seemed strange that could not hear then
voices; and felt so much like an eavesdrop
per that when they started simultaneously
and looked in my direction | instinctively
shrank back to avoid observation
They must have heard some noise which
startled them, for they rose quickly anc
stood in attitudes which betokened expect
| ancy They stood thus alert. watchful anC
| apparently listening, for few instants, anc
then resumed their seats, as if what had dis
| turbed them was no longer an object O.
anxiety
| The tall man soon rose, in a decisive
sort of way, and the other, rather reluctantly
as | thought, walked away CONCLUDED
that the tall man had sent him back for SOM
forgotten piece of baggage, 1t seemed nat
ural that the relations OF the two men should
J bethOse of master and servant, but coulC
mot understand the equality indicated b,
the mutual labor Of carrying the trunk, o
the apparently familiar air OF discussion.
No; I was mistaken in my Surmise; tn
servant, if he were such, had not gone NOR
than few steps, for here he was again
bearing pickax and spade.
The tall man in the meantime had bee
walking about as if selecting a spot to bur.
the trunk, for he pointed to large holloy
beside granite bowlder, where the servan
began digging, after having cleared away til
leaves which had collected there.
While the servant was digging the maste
sat on the bowlder watching him at work
and smoking cigar which l saw him tax
from pocket cigarette case and light.
When the hole was ready tho two me
lifted the trunk into 1t and the shsrt one GOV
cred it with earth he had thrown out an
then carefully covered the place with leave.
The spot selected was q good one for cha pun
pose, as the hollow merely looked a littl
shallower than before.
After the short man had carefully col
cealed the tools beneath projecting part c
the rock and filed the crevice with leave.
the two held short conversation and SEP
arated, going in different directions, the ia
man toward the railroad station and th
other in the direction from which they ha
come with the trunk Just as the men di
appeared l heard steps coming up the obsery
atory stairs.
drew long breath, as one does after hay
ing finished chapter in an interesting bool
and, turning from my glass, saw servar
bringing me a telegram 1t bore the al
nouncement Of a near relatives death, and
drove from my mind all thought of the O
Currenco which had just engrossed my after
ton so thoroughly.
As soon as 1 could get train 1 was on m
way to a distant city, where had to repr
sent my family at the funeral Of my la
} relative.
Circumstances connected with business De
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