Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-27
CHAPrER VIM.

MoMENToUs INTERVIEW.
"That I am Jasper Marlowe, whom you
have SO long supposed dead, you will
presently acknowledge, said the bankers
visitor. Il did not at first change my
name, after fleeing from family and ma
tive land, at your special urgency. did
not deem it necessary. But, shortly after
reaching San Francisco, my fears of a
pursuit were renewed and intensified. /
had made the acquaintance of rough
fellow part sailor, Fart desperado =
named Hob Bently, while on the voyage.
For slight consideration he gladly con-
sented to exchange names with me with
out questioning my intention. He deemed
my name an sristocratic one, was vain of
the permission to assume it, and during
the time we remained in San Francisco,
ne aired it everywhere he went, and
formed new acquaintances under it. 1 did
the same with his name. Thus we be-
came generally identified with our false
appellatives. Only once did reveal my
true name, and then to man who shortly
after quilted the coast, never to return,
SO far as my knowledge gods.
@Indeedl" sarcastically interposed the
banker, but with secret increase of anx-
iety. And to whom may that have been2"
ITO gambler--a finished sporting
character Of the name Of Alphonse Bon
court, continued the narrator; and then,
without noticing his hearers surprised
start, he went on, Il first met him at a
horse-race. Some desperadoes surround
ed and threatened me with their revolvers
drawn. He extricated me by his coolnesa
and courage It was a signal service, but
I did not then reveal nv true name. That
revelation was made afterward, when he
kindly visited me at the hospital, where
was lying low with fever--in fact, not
expected to recover.
%He not only gave me money, but was
also the first to offer some condolences. he
had Just secured for his sister-a mere
child, but whose rare beauty was the won
der Of the town--a legal divorce from 0
worthless Englishman who had induced
her to marry him. Then, just before his
visiting me, her little child had been lost
or stolen; the young mother was distract
ed, and her brother was spending money
like water in every direction, but without
success, to recover the boy.
these matters comprised the nature Of
his condolences in me. He told me OF the
birthmarks on the child, by which he
might be identified, and the like. In re.
turn, for believed myself on the poini
Of death, I told him my real name anG
history. He laughed at me, called me {
weak, timorous dolt, and advised me, II
case Of recovery, to hasten home and ex
pose the real story Of the forgery. die
recover, but was still too cowardly to ac
upon his advice. He quilted me ct last
and never saw him again.
Gilbert Marlowe burst into harsh
discordant laugh, which, however. coult
not wholly disguise his excitement. Fl,
had recognized this man as his cousin
from the first, and he resolved to persis
in the policy Of pretending to ignore him
But the story that was being unfoldet
was so plausible, and the fidelity will
which it coincided with Boncourt's state
ments, began to give him fresh alarm
However, the opportunity was presentes
for him to discover whether or not he wa
really I'M, Boncourt's power; and this b
deemed great point. Better have on
enemy than two-better, thousand fold
have TO deal with this poor, still feeble
and apparently helpless, returned wan
derer, than with the wide awake, pene
trative, self poised brother Of Adelel
Ha, hal" laughed the banker. 1T i
| astonishing how one can become interest
| ed in sheer fabrication. But come; II
still humor you. So you told your 70
mantle story to this Goncourt?"
4Boncourt.
SO. And suppose you were, likewise
soft enough to give him tangible proof
Of its correctness2'
No, I wasn't.
what! Your strength OF mind mus
have been exceptional. You gave hir
| nothing at all in your gushing expositio
| of your imaginary wrongs? No write
or signed paper, for instance, altogethe
exculpating you2"
Il was mot such fool. told him Q
my possessing such proof, but gave hiI
! nothing"
The banker was straightwsy immensel
| relieved. The man before him mighi
| even at that moment, have the dreade
paper on his person; but he alone was I
| be bought off, or otherwise silenced, in
4 stead Of the dangerous Boncourt. Com
what might, the latter might be safel
4 defed.
"Go on with your yarn, if you inten
\ spinning it out, said Mr.. Marlowe, con
cealing his satisfaction, and yawnint
/ with pretended weariness. I've said
would hear it. and I never go back 0
/ my word. But, with q glance at th
| clock, sits q quarter past nine alread,
/ there are visitors in the garden, and "
/ may be interrupted at any moment.
4Oh, shant particularly heed an II
terruption for my part, was the collect
ed reply; and then the story went on:
4 There isn't great deal more to tel
/ recovered my health, as said. Then
4 Joined the company Of adyenturers tn,
4 were Just setting out for the new disco,
cries at Puget Sound. The vulgar Deart
OF my name was Of the party. o.
schooner foundered at sea Of Cape Dii
4 appointment.
was I. 7 floated about all night, clingir
to q hem coop;. was picked up by o whal'
bound from Vancouver's Island to Hon,
lulu, And remained as one of the crew +
two years.
i sThe rest Of my story can be Of no II
terest to you, at least for the presen
save that 7 have continued to bear N
II false name up to this hour.
h. Hob Bently, the bearer Of my nam
was among the unfortunates, whoI
bodies were cast up on the rocks. ii
body was identified, in good faith. |
mine, by the prospectors who chanced I
be in the neighborhood. and some
whom he had made the acquaintance
A in San Francisco, of course, under N
name. That isall.
\ Gilbert MarlOWe laughed again, an
ID u more natural and assured tone.
sScoundrel as you unquestionably ar