The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-06
>8aflowe leaned Back, with his
thumbs in the armholes Of his waistcost.
CHAPTER VIII.

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 ne-
tive land, at your special urgency. I did
not deem it necessary. But, shortly after
reaching San Francisco, my fears OF q
pursuit were renewed and lntenslhed. !
had made the acquaintance of rough
fellow sailor, part 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
nv name an aristocratic one, was vain OF
the permission to assume it, and during
the time we remained in San Francisco,
he aired it everywhere he went, and
formed new acauaintances under it. 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 nv knowledge goes"
"Indeed!" sarcastically interposed the
banker, but with secret increase OF anx-
iety. -Andto whom may that have been"
ITO a 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, i first met him at
horse.race. Some desperadoes surround
ed and threatened me with their revolvers
drawn. He extricated me by his GOODNESS
and courage. It was signal service, but
did not then reveal my true name. That
revelation was made afterward, when ne
kindly visited me at the hospital, where
was living low with fever-ln fact, not
expected to recover.
1He not only gave me money, but was
also the frstto offer some condolences. de
had lust secured for his sister-a mere
child, but whose rare beauty was the Won
der of the town-a legal divorce from o
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 point
of death, I told him my real name and
history. He laughed at me, called me a
q weak, timorous dolt, and advised me, In
case of recovery, to hasten home and ex!
pose the real story of the forgery. I did
recover, but was still too cowardly to act
upon his advice. He quilted me at last,
and never saw him again.
Gilbert Marlowe burst into harsh,
discordant laugh, which, however. could
not wholly disguise his excitement. He
had recognized this man as his cousin
from the first, and he resolved to persist
in the policy of pretending to ignore him.
But the story that was being unfolded
was SO plausible, and the fidelity with
which it coincided with Boncourt's state
ments, began to give him fresh alarm.
However, the opportunity was presented
for him to discover whether or not he was
really inl, Boncourt's power; and this he
deemed great point. Better have one
enemy than two--better, a 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 Adele!
-Ha, hal" laughed the banker. 1T is
astonishing how one can become interest
ed in q sheer fabrication. But come; I'll
still humor you. So you told your ro-
mantle story to this Goncourt?"
"Boncourt.
so. And suppose you were, likewise,
soft enough to give him tangible proofs
of it's correctness?"
mo, I wasn't"
What! Your strength of mind must
have been exceptional. You gave him
nothing at all in your gushing exposition
of your imaginary wrongs? No written
or signed paper, for instance, altogether
exculpating you?" .
Il was not such fool. I told him Of
my possessing such proof, but gave him
nothing"
The banker was straightway immensely
relieved. The man before hin might,
even at that moment, have the dreaded
paper on his person; but he alone was to
be bought off, or otherwise silenced, in
stead Of the dangerous Boncourt. Come
what might, the latter might be safely
defed.
Go on with your yarn. if you intend
spinning it out" said Mr.. Marlowe, con-
cealing his satisfaction, and yawning,
with pretended weariness. I've said l
would hear it, and never 60 back Oh
ny word. But" with glance at the
clock, Its a quarter past nine already:
there are visitors in the garden, and We
may be interrupted at any moment.
"Oh, I shan't particularly heed an in
terruption for my part" was the collect
ed reply; and then the story went on:
There isn't great , more to tell.
l recovered my health, rs I sid. Then l
Joined the company Of adventures that
we're just setting out for the new discov-
cries at Puget Sound. The vulgar bearer
80 nf ho
schooner foundsred at sea of Cape Dis
appointment.
lone man alone was saved, and that
was I. I foa.ed about all night, clingine
| to q hen-coop; was picked up by whaler
| bound from Vancouver's Island to Homo
| lulu, and remained as one of the crew for
| two years.
The rest OF my story can be OF no in
terest to you, at least for the present,
save that have continued to bear my
| false name up to this hour.
Hob Bently, the bearer Of my name,
was among the unfortunates, whose
bodies were cast up on the rocks. His
body was identified, in good faith, as
mine, by the prospectors who Glanced to
be in the neighborhood. and some of
whom he had made the Acquaintance Of
in San Francisco, of course, under my
name. That is all.
Gilbert Marlowe laughed again, and
in a more natural and assured tone.
-Scoundrel as you unques:ionably are,
you posses some talent, said he. And
do you expect me to believe your highly
colored, but preposterous story?'
You already believe it; you cannot
dupe me as you used to do, was the firm
rejoinder. Take care that you do not
dhpe yourself, instead, Gilbert Marlowe.