The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-28
oW FIRST PUBLISHED
CHAPTER X.-CoNrrxuED.


they encountered a stranger, who would
have been noticeable almost anywhere. he
was a tall, broad-shouldered man, but
paunt as a greyhound, and tanned almost to
blackness by the sun. He wore a great
beard and mustache. so sun-scorched that
it had grown to be Of no particular color.
He was dressed in respectable pilot cloth,
and wore his double-breasted peacoat close
but.oned. A broad-brimmed soft felt hat
was stuck carelessly at the back Of his head,
and he smoked short black pipe, an al
most incredible thing for a man with re-
spectacle exterior to do in the streets OF
Upnor on q Sunday. In those days, when
almost all men shaved scrupulously, the
beard alone would have given the stranger
a wild and outlandish aspect. But apart
from this there was at first sight something
outre in the mans appearance-a something
in the large pale gray blue eyes, which, IN
their contrast with the tanned skin, looked
almost colorless-an expression as OF one
lost, look altogether weird and uncanny.
the stranger nodded as he passed, and
said "Good-day" in civil fashion, and Red
wood returned his salute.
That's an odd looking fellow now" said
Redwood. turning hundred yards further
on TO look after him.
''But what troubled face, George dear,
replied his wife. "The man looks as il had
gone through a world Of misery"
''You women folk" retorted George
s'are always fsncying things. I'd lay a
wager for my own part that the fellow was
one of those rollicking chaps that never
know what trouble is from year TO year"
YOU'D lose your wager, George" his
wife responded, TRANQUILITY, but l don't
suppose that either of us1l be able to find
out anything about him, SO where's the use
OF quarreliug"
"Ah" said George, comfortably pressing
the arm which lay within his own. where's
the use of quarrelingP
They entered the church yard, filed with
scattered groups Of church-goers, exchang-
ing harvest notes, news OF the market, ana
ali the little gossip of the place. The old
church clock, by which all clocks and
watches in and about Upnor were regulated,
showed yet seven minutes to the hour. and
George and his wife fingered at the church
yard gate and changed good mornings"
with their nelRhbors. w hist they stood
thus the bearded man came in sight again,
looking uncertainty about him, as if in
search of some one TO appeal to.
GEORGE" said Mrs. Redwood, "there is
that man again. He wants TO speak to
some one. l can tell it by his manner"
Redwood had already set foot forward
with intent to cross over TO the stranger,
when the man turned and eccosted the in
dividual nearest to him-an old fellow who,
though a thousand times odder than him.
self in aspect, excited neither curiosity nor
u. henr dad sr.1 aAo
of the general law, and was the more re-
marka ble'in that respect because the beard
was of a most strange and unusual red. Elf
locks of the same color fell below his ears.
A much battered, unbrushed, old silk hat,
good deal too big for him obscured his
brows, and he wore blue glasses with sort
of bIinker on either side. He was bent
double a. the hams, and his hands quivered
paralytically on the pair of sticks which
supported him.
He was dressed in very shabby and dirty
black broadcloth, and what with his gem
eral slovenIiness, his shuffiing step, and
hang-dog carriage of the head looked to be
q very disreputnble old man indeed.
The stranger stretched out hand and
laid it on the old mans shoulder as he shut
fled past.
~ say. matey." he began.
The old man gave nervous start, as il
the grip and the sudden accost had fairly
frightened him.
"rm not a goin' to hurt you," said the
stranger. you've got nothing to jump
like that for. Tell me the way to Reynolds
farm"
"I-know-not :" the old man answered.
with a strong foreign accent, and as if he
found bis words with difficulty. II am ere
sree monce. No more"
He waved one of his sticks in the direc-
ton of the church yard gate, as If to indi-
cate that there were people there who would
be able to give the information asked for,
and so shuffied paralytically on again. The
stranger turned in obedience to the gesture
and Redwood made another step forward.
II beg your pardon If Pm wrong" he
said, "but my wife here thought you wanted
information. Can / give you anyP'
"Why, yes" the stranger answered. "If
you know the country side you can"
WELL" said Redwood, with little
laugh. 81 ought to know that if know
nothing else."
81 want to find the way to Reynolds
farm" said the stranger, knocking the ashes
from his pipe on the palm of his great
brown hand.
That's easily DONE" said Redwood.
"There's the farm house over yonder; that
red-hrick building with the three poplars
behind it. But youth find nobody there.
The place has been going to rack and ruin
this two years past"
Nobody there" said the stranger, falling
back a step and staring at him. Nobody
therel Not Mrs. Potter2n
mo" said George; nobody"
Look here, matey,n said the stranger,
hooking him by the coat and speaking with
look and manner curiously and almost
patheticelly composed. 1--we had deal OF
trouble lately, an l make mistakes. Thi!
is Upuor in the county of Worcestershire
amt itF
''Of course" Redwood affirmed.
"Well, look here,n said the man, eff yot
belong about here, you can't have helped
hearing talk o me. My name is Sam Pot
ter. My uncle was old Jack Reynolds
and when he died he left me everything
I'm very glad to meet you, Mr.. Potter, >
Redmond answered cordially, putting out
his hand
Sam Potter took it half mechanically
And my missis isn't hereg" he said. awe
hadn't been married month when we los
sight of each other. l know she got to
England, for I've talked with the mar
aboard the ship she sailed in. I've been try
ing for this two years to get here, and why
she isn't here before me don't know
"George, DEAR" Mrs. Redwood inter
posed, don't you trouble about church thi
morning"
YOU'RE right, my dear" said George
81 won't. Come down to my house, Mr.
Potter; if you don't mind we'll have talk
and maybe / can be of service to you
You've been away long time, haven
youw
ga ooodish tfyna ~ ratrrnad Potta- ,assi,,