Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-07-23

win ueoPoAinB COlOT III MS DcOnZeQ
cheeks
@If you mean in print, possibly yes,
but, between ourselves, you saved my
life. Simmons, and we both know its
at was all chance Another man In
my place would have done Just the same,
and anyhow you've more than made it
level Your story fixed me-gave me
the best chance any man ever had 10
show what he can do Pm In the postal
department., just back from Tennessee.
On two weeks holiday-hrst I've had
since that scrape"
Livingston grasped Simmons hand.
Il congratulate you If the Govern
ment had more like you But don't
let's moralize- Two weeks holiday?
Simmons" here LivingstOn's tones sud
denly became confidential, while his
manner and expression indicated conf
dence.
~Pm glad we've met. I am in a guam
dairy Can you give me ten minutes
nOw?"
IAN hour-an night if can be of any
service"
simmons, said Livingston, earnestly,
you are just the man. Pm in earnest
I'll tell you the story. Maybe you can
help me. You know every corner in
New York"
Then Livingston recited the facts in
the fewest words possible. Simmons
reflected.
~You want to keep the thing shady.
1 see II we can find him you have
some way 10 get him out OF town, ! sup
POse-until it is fixed up, or blows over
His first open break? I mean since he
reformed-if he has refOrmed23
~Why, Beauchampe is not that sort of
a man at ALI" Livingston replied quickly
1T is impossible He was abroad years
studying. Hundreds know all about him
nnlu rod hos a ~
well. you saw him strike the usher
in the theater. You are sure of that.
quite. The entire affair surprised me
stunned me. There is a mystery some
where, Simmons 1 can't believe Beau
champe was in his senses-no one who
knows him could be made TO believe he
would be guilty of the conduct wit
messed. Then the suddenness of the
change-what would transform a man
like Beauchampe into a rufian in twelve
or fifteen minutes?n
~Tve seen it DONE" said Simmons
~Absinthe is bad-and mixing It with
! other drinks isworse. Anyhow, under
stand what you want I don't care what
your reason is; it's a pity OF his relatives,
II he has any. We will go right TO work
on It. ana not waste a minute / know
just where 10 begin, and am always
well heeled-second nature, I guess"
Simmons laughed as he led the way.
There is q queer little hole not far
from the theater. l know the man that
has the place. We will look in there.
You can look around you. I will
proprietor. No danger there
the proprietor would lose all he has
rather than have anything happen to
me in his place If he should be so I'M
fortunate, nothing could save him from
going back to prisOn-if he should es-
cape the gallows. We are old acquaint-
ances.7
Livingston thought he had never
looked upon more dangerous men than
those who glanced furtively at him when
his companion disappeared in an offset
in the wall at the upper end Of the dive
@Black Steye7 presided over. More
brutal faces he had seen and described,
grOsser passions were craven in the faces
Of men he had seen in other haunts; in
none, however, had he encountered such
sinister cOuntenances; the eyes turned
upon him, that he felt examining him,
measuring him physically, mentally and
morally, were baleful; murder slumbered
in some, and shOne steadily, coldly in
others.
For the first time in his life Livingston
shivered with fear.
The sensation was so new to him, that
| he was angry with himself. He re-
l.
and looked deliberately over the faces
lifted TO his own.
Apparently no one there eVinced more
interest in him than in the tobacco
stained floor they spat on. Simmons re-
/ Joined him at the end Of five minutes,
and they left the dive without speaking.
: When they stood on the pavement again
Simmons said:
~Our man was there"
@In that placed" LiVingstOn's looks as
well as his tones discredited the state
ment. %If you are quite sure, Simmons,
that settles 1t; at the same time, the
proof must be powerful TO convince me.
/ Why, that crowd gave me a cold chill
/ I'd as soon make my bed in a cave with
rattlesnakes as to trust my life to that
gang"
@And you would be right there.
/ Nearly every man there has killed his
man-and some have helped TO kill more
than one, and two or three I noticed
{ have served full time for murder, or been
/ knows our man. He made no bones
/ about telling me. Why he was
so outspoken I can't tell-unless he is
/ afraid Of mel won't say without good
cause. Steve would give all he has in
/ the world to read my gravestOne. Our
| man is
Simmons halted, looked at Livingston
| WIN AAACAGlg AANCACSNs AnGAA m0lhCu OH
! again, saying:
~You may as we'll prepare yourself for
! disagreeable news, Mr.. Livingston.
~Out with it; but cut it short, Sim
mons"
"Well, you are all Wrong-dead wrong.
/ Your man is full-bloWn double, as near
/ as can make Out-and I don't often
make mistakes. don't care in this
case-Id rather be mistaken on your
/ account after what you'Ve told me
what do you mean by a full-blown
double2"
~Your friend has two sides, one for
decent people and one for the crowd
back there
Simmons lifted his left thumb to his
| shoulder. @Best not worry over it, Mr.
| Livingston, but he is bound to come to
| grief sooner or later. It's only a ques-
/ ton of time with the smartest of them. n
There is some mistake You are
/ talking of another man altogether. 1t
| is impossible"
/ 1--WE are all liable to mistakes" said
/ Simmons, slowly. at is coming pretty
close this time. He told Steve he had
/ got into a scrape, and changed his hat
and coat in there. He went out the
back way, crossed a fence, and walked
out on the next street The simplest
thing in the world. He walked through
a saloon after he jumped the fence.
4 Il don't believe Beauchampe could be
paid TO do it," said Livingston %Nor
would you, Simmons, II you could see
him and talk with him five minutes.
Livingston spoke with considerable
| feeling, at first with spirit, then a shade
| OF disappointment was manifested.
~YOur business make you suspicious;
you can't help it, but the thing is i'm
! possible"
| aThara.s q ,,,,5 al l.. - -, -.