Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-18
DARK DEEDS.
CHAPTER I'LL tCoyrISuEp).
BY HENRY W. NEsFIELD.

Dera Iney were situated III ran Mail,
and were as splen lid a the average run
OF bachelor apartments that are to be
found In that part OF LondOn-four or
i've rooms saitc. hung with different
colored silks, furnishe1 with rich divans,
exquisite little tables OF arabeslue work
manship, glittering mirrors, curiously
wrought brass lamps. and all sorts of OBJ
jects of ,7rfR. In fact, the whole Of the
costly arrangements showed that the own
or delighted In the Oriental style Of
luxury.
Ii was difficult for any ordinary person,
upon entering this sybaritical abode. when
feeling the soft Persian mats beneath his
feet and beholdlng the magnitcence OF
the rooms, 10 believe that within few
yards of him lay the cold pavements
where the outcasts of London nightly
huddled together, homeless, starving,
wi hout hope, without friends, save one -
the policeman oftentimes, as the
daily pape show, take them up as vag
rants and give them "a nights shelter in
the cells.
John clancy thought OF these things
as he surveyed the scene before him.
A Negro ad In Turkish costume show
ed them into the aloon, AID then 81 emily
disappeared behind p.r4aere TO inform
his master OF their arrival.
'tcturgis has been great deal in the
East said George Atwood feel ng that
he ought to make some remark. 'lle has
wonderful collection of rental knick-
knacks. china, swords, and other things.
Jack ma le no RESPONSE. His thoughts
were far away, and his spri was Tuning
as he retec ell upon the in ustice that
gave this man the right to call all this
splendor his, viii st La arus lay dying at
his gate.
'Ah, there you are, Atwood" eXcIaim-
ed Captain Sturgis, as he entered from
his bed room, gorgeouSly arrayed in a
dark velvet smoking costume. ''How 60
you do, Delaney? Glad TO see you'll Light
up a cigarette, and make yourself at
home"
Drinks were brought in by the duslsy
attendant. The lamps were turned up.
and George Atwood began 10 feel perfect
ly happy.
Captain Sturgis took a contemplate de-
light in inviting men whom he knew TO he
IN poor cir ums.ances to view his splen-
did quarters. 1t pleased his vanity to feel
that his possessions were so envied. and
he derived cruel satisfaction in watching
the pauper's expire sion of astonshment
as he gazed at the prOdigal evidence of his
hosts wealth.
80 you really are Socialist De-
laney, he drawled. as he leane back
upon a couch, and eyed his visitor with
evident amusement. And what do you
propose TO do with all the bl ated aristo-
crats?' he ntinued In the same strain.
%. hope you will give every BODY due warn
Ing when the town is to be sacked.
''Yes, | am a Socialist, Captain Stur-
gis," replied Delaney, and | am not
ashamed of owning 1t. At the same time
/ do not think you need be alarmed about
the safety of your p' sse 'sions on that ac-
count No doubt, as my friends all say,
am omewhat too advanced in my opin-
IONS"
40 doubt you are" acluiesced Stur-
gis, with a scarcely concealed sheer.
Five hundred year. paid quarterly
would probably go far iowa DIS altering
them"
II hope not > returned Jack warmly;
land ! do not know why you should say
so, cons dering that our acquaintance is
such brief one"
'sThat will d.. Jack" exclaimed Mr..
Atwood; don't lose your temper We
came here 10 have pleasant evening. not
to argue about such nonsense as Social
ism. That is a nice trol nv OF arms, Stur-
gis, , he aide , as If by way of changing
the conversation.
eyes, " replied Sturgis. lifting beau
tifully inlaid scimitar down from the wall;
''Just look at this. 1t was taken from a
Sikh BY an old uncle of mine. See how
delcately the blade is inlaid-all with
gold! Look out!' he ed, as Atwood be-
gan TO handle the weapon somewhat care
lessly; lit Is as sharp As a razor. You
could slice sheet of tissue paper down
with 1t.
George Atwood felt the edge of the
blade upon his thumb nail. 1t was, in
deed, as the captain had remarked, as
sharp as razor.
Just the sort OF thing" continued
Sturgis. in a bantering tone, Ito slice of
the heads OF the kno k-kneed capitalists
oh, Delaney! Couldn't you NOW them
down beau fully he exclaimed, swing
ing the sword through the air with a
whizzing sound as he spoke.
lack made no reply. He saw that Cap
tain Sturgis wished to irritate him, and
he wisely held his tongue.
The ,ening passed very tediously for
him. lie was determined to keep his
temper, but II cost him many an effort to
do so. for he was frequently provoked.
On the other hand, Atwood SCENE, "a
happy as q boy out Tor holiday. There
was plenty to smoke and drink and that
alone was quite sufficient to make him
perfectly content
1t was in the small hours OF the morn
ing that they rose TO depart Jack would
Lave left long before. but he knew that
bis companions would have attributed MS
doing so to bad temper, so he stayed until
Atwood proposed TO 90.
IL will see you down stairs, said the
Captain, rs they were about to depart.
He took candle In his hand 10 light the
way, the lights upon the staircase having
been all turned out.
Jack was the last to leave the room,
and. as he did SO. he slammed the door
after him.
'Confound Il, man., cried Sturgis-
''why, you've locked me out The door
has q snap-lock, and won't open without
my key"
Haven't You got 1t on your" asked
Delaney. / really am very sorry"
''Sssry" exclaimed the angry Captain,