The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-05-20

kept up that cold defiant silence which
Brlhshers, when iourneying with stran.
gers love. But when the fourth time
we found ourselves laundering north
together we broke the ice-by the usual
lmeans, of course-by means of the door
sash and the weather and presently,
4zs the last CLEAN of Greater London
fa,.rd out behind u.s. we We're chatting
Aike Odd acquaintance, exchanging SEN
timents, cigars and cards. My COM
paninn was back in England from ten
ys..rs' roughing it in the far west, he
sold me; he was tired of life on the raw
edge of civilization, and he had made a
little pile. So he meant to start stock
breeding. and settle down.
For u time our chat was ordinary
-rhat, on commonplace themes. But
when I'VE returned from the refreshment
room at Blctchley and found ourselves
left alone in the compartment, our talk
soon tnrned on topics deep and strange;
for in the midst of jesting story he
ceased abruptly, looked moody and
threw away ncwly-lit cigar. Then he
stared at me, pondered, frowned, got
up, sat down and suddenly began story
uof very different sort.
.'iFonr times in as many months"
said he, 1--WE have ridden north to-
sz.siter, you and l. -Four times fate has
rthruwn us together in the same train,
lin the same carriage, in the same com
ypsxntrpent. We must not ride together
any more. Next time, it you value life
n all. avoid me. For I'm man with
curse: I'm fatal to my friends"
stared at him in wonder, almost in
5Hcar. This tall, broad-shouldered,
;aonras,rn-stone. hale, thirty y-fve-years-
old, beer-drinking Englishman-lover
If horses, cricket, football-as common
place as any individual gently bred
Ynnay be-:to talk like that! Instructive
4y sifled toward the window, over
x9iich the check-cord ran. He saw the
movement.
-'Oh, no." said he, "don't mistake me.
Tim not mad, my dear fellow; not the
least bit mad, l assure you. You have
nOahing to fear from me so long us you
avoid me and don't become my chum.
Ven are just the man I'd like to have
u,th me long nights out ranching; but
Chen, you sec, you'd die before the year
-xvas mp. I'm fatal to my friends"
lis rhis joke?" said, ''or are you
4Alking in your sleep, or what?"
-'It's just straight solid, sober, down
right earnest" was the reply. "Listen,
aud judge for yourself"
And then he began his story, telling
1t mnch as write it down. For con-
venience and concealment let me call
him Stone.
Ten years before, young Stone had
IetE Northumbria for the prairies, TAX
ing with him Liverpool man to learn
- ranch. -Four months they speni to-
gether, learning the trade and liking it.
Ono day they rode TO the nearest town,
Har \ dip into something like civiliza-
xS0n again, and after a week OF 1t they
starred back to the ranch. At the last
jfnn ON the roadside they stopped for a
sdsink of lager, and before they had
ridden hundred yards further on,
aBt0ue went back for glove that he
had Ds,ft on the bar; the other man rode
slowly forward.
al got the glove" said Stone, as he
Ftold me the story. 81 mounted again
,aad rode after Fred There was bend
IN the road, and for a time could see
nothing of him. But us turned the
bead his horse came neighing towards
ne, riderless Poor Fred lay dead In
che road, in front of me-dead, with Q
brokcn neck-thrown, ana a frst-class
-horzeman too!
AsWcll, you don't think much of that
do You? Might happen to anyone
that hut what do you say to girl
1uE there, who was friendly with me
sslrspping off just as suddenly. She was
- Yaakee farmers daughter. a pretty
shing in a big yellow sunbonnet, and 1
whife spotted blue gown. Wherever
ssde on the ranch. was sure to lnee
Nancy, riding too. ] liked TO meet hel
11A talk, Though we always kept q
u@s length, mind you. Well, she diet
- keLly supstrolfe. tbs settlemsn'