Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-17
He seemed modest, and not in want q,


He seemed modest and not in want OF
money, so encouraged him TO proceed.
II heard you say you were going into the
country" he resumed. IL want TO ask you
n by any chance you should meet the origi.
nal OF that drawing, to telegraph at once 10
Dr. Brand"
whereabouts does he live?"
II have no idea. If chance throws him In
your way please do as ask"
certainly will /" L said seeing the young
man made the request i'm solemn earnest.
He thanked me, and then gave me a small
photograph of the picture This Photograph
he begged me TO keep in my pOcket-book, 50
that might refer to il in case met the man
he wanted. put 1t there, went my way,
and, am sorry to say forgot all about II. Had
II not been for the strange cigar in my case
bringing back CarTlstOn's unusual request to
my mind, the probabilities are that | should
not have thought again OF the matter. Now,
by remarkable coincidence, / was spending
the night with the very man who, so far as
my memory served me, must have sat for the
portrait shown me at Brands house.
II wonder what l did with the photo"
said. l turned ont my letter-caSe. There il
was, right enough Shading it with one
hand, carefully compared 1t with the sleep
er.
Not doubt about it! SO far as n photo
graph taken from a picture can go, it was the
man himself The same ragged beard, tho
same coarse features, the same Surly look.
Young GARRISON was evidently a wonderful
hand at knocking off a likeness. Moreover,
In case had felt any doubt i'm the matter, q
printed note at the bottom of the photograph
said that one joint was missing from right
hand finger. Sure enough, my friend lacked
that small portion of his mlsbegOtten frame.
This discovery threw me into an ecstasy of
delight. laughed so loudly that almost
awoke the ruffian. guessed was going to
a n o. fOr a for IA
j had suffered. No one, felt sure, could be
looking for such a fellow as this to do any
good TO him. / was quite happy in the
thought and for the remainder of the night
glOated over tho idea OF putting spoke in
the wheel of one who had been within an ace
Of causing my death. L resolved, the mo-
ment got back to civilization, to send the
desired intelligence to Brand, and hope for
the best
II.
The end of that wretched night came al
last. When the welcome morning broke
found that great change had taken place
out of doors. The fierce snowStOrm had been
the farewell of the frost. The heavy rain
that followed had filed the roads with Slushy
and rapidly-thawing snow. managed to eX-
tort some sort of a breakfast from my host
then, having recompensed him according TO
my promise, not his deserts. started, as soon
as could, on the bare back of my unfortu-
nate steed, for Midcombe, which place, after
my nights experiences, seemed gifted with
merits not its own.
| was surprised upon leaving the house to
find it was of larger dimensions than, from
the little saw of it during the night, had
imagined. Ii was altogether better class of
residence than | had supposed. My surly
friend accompanied me until he had placed
me on the main road, where could make no
possible mistake. lie was kind enough to
promise TO assist any one might send out in
getting the dOg-cart once more under way.
Then, with a hearty wish on my part that
might never again meet with his like, We
parted.
| found my way to Mldcombe without much
trouble. / took off my things, had a wash,
and, like sensible man for once, went to
bed. But i did not forget TO send boy
straight off TO the nearest telegraph station.
Ny message to Brand was a brief one. 1t
simply said:-"Tell your friend have found
his man." This duty done, dismissed all
speculation as to the result from my mind,
and settled down TO make up arrears of sleep.
was surprised at the reply received that
same evening from Brand:-"We shall be
with you as soon as we can get down to-mOr-
row. Meet us at station" From this il was
clear that my friend was wanted particular
all the better! turned 10 the time table and
found that, owing to changes and delays,
they could not get to c., the nearest sta
ton to MidcOmbe until three o'clock in the
afternoon. l inquired about the crippled
dog-cart. 1t had been brought in; so | left
strict instructions that shaft of some sort
was to be rugged in time for me to drive over
the next day and meet the doctor and his
friend.
They came as promised. 1t was a comfort
TO see friends of any description, so gave
them hearty welcome. CaITiston took hold
of both my hands, and shook them so warm.
~ that began 10 feel l had discovered q
long-lost father of his in my friend. | had
almost forgotten the young fellows appear.
ance, or he looked very different man to-
day from the one had seen when last we
met. Then he was wan, pensive, romantic,
poetical-looking sort of fellow; now he seem.
ed full of energy, vitality, and grit Poor
old Brand looked as serious as an undertaken
engaged in h"1ying his OWN her.
TO BE CONTINUED.