The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-05-18
| Copyright lsaS,
by the Author

kept up that cold defiant silence which
Britishers, when journeying with stran.
gers, love. But when the fourth time
we found ourselves laundering north
together we broke the ice-hy the usual
means, of course-bv means of the door
sash and the weather; and presently,
rs the last CLEAN of Greater London
faded out behind us, we We're chatting
like old acquaintances, exchanging sem
timents, cigars and cards, My COM
panion was back in England from ten
years roughing it in the far west, he
told ne; he was tired of life on the raw
edge of civilization. and he had made n
little pile. So he meant to start stock
breeding. and settle down.
For time our chat was ordinary
chat, on commonplace themes. But
when we returned from the refreShment
room at Bletchley and found ourselves
left alone in the compartment, our talk
soon turned on topics deep and strange;
for in the midst of testing story he
ceased abruptly, looked moody and
threw away newly-lit cigar, Then he
stared at me, pondered, frowned, got
up, sat down and suddenly began a story
of very different sort.
-Four times in as many months, g"
said he, I'VE have ridden north to-
gether, YOU and |, Four times fate has
thrown us together IN the same train.
in the same carriage, in the same com
par,ment We must not ride together
any more, Next time, If You value life
all 1s,,,a B,
curse; I'm fatal to my friends"
stared at him in wonder, almost in
fear. This tall, broad-shouldereti.
fourteen-stone, hale, ;hirty-five-years-
old, beer-drinking Englishman-lover
of horses, cricket, foothall--as common
place ss any individual gently bred
may be--;o talk hike that, Instructive
" l sided toward the window. over
which the check-cord ran. Re saw the
movement
oh, no." said he, don't mistake me.
TIM no; mad, my dear fellow; not the
least bit mad, assure you. You have
nothing ~ fear from me 81 long as vou
avoid me and don't become my chum.
You are just the man I'll like u have
with me long nights out ranching; hut
then, You see, you'd die before the year
was up, I'm fatal to my friends"
lis this jolSee' said, "or are You
talking in Your sleep, or what?'
Its Just straight, solid, sober, down
RICH; earnest" was the reply, Listen,
and Judge for yourself"
And then he began his story, telling
IL much rs write it down, For con-
venience and concealment let me call
him Stone.
Ten wears before. Young Stone had
left Nor;humhvia for the prairjeS, tax
ing with him Liverpool man 10 learn
10 ranch. -Four months they spen, to
geiher. learning the trade and liking il.
One day they rode 10 the nearest town,
for dip into something like civiGza-
fion again. and after a week Of il they
stariS; hack 10 the ranch. Al the last
inn on the roadside they stopped for =
drink 81 lager, and before they had
ridden hundred yards further on.
Stone went back for a glove that he
had let, on the bar; the other man rode
slowly forward.
y got the glove said Stone, a. he
told me the story. Il mounted again
and rode after Fred. There was a oeut;
in the road. and for time could see
nothing u him But a. turned The
bend his horse came neiEhiuC towards
M. r;Gerles> Poor FCed law dead II