The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-01-11


crisp bank notes. Clearly I am at large
with the permission Of the authorities,
though for how long shall stay so re
mains to be seen. Meanwhile will try to
seem at my ease and ~ much as possible
like other people. | must remember that
my name is John Jones' and that | come
from-let us say Chicago. No one who
does not know me can contradict that, and
II meet anybody who Is acquainted with
me | shall be only too delighted. will
say, My dear sir may | inquire for whom
you take mef and he will reply, Certain
ly; take you for So-and-so. Then shall
have ascertained my own name mt all
events
"Inasmuch AZ | probably have no &C
quaintances in Boston will strike imme-
diately for some place that know, and
where presumably am known. That,
take it, Is clever notion. No lunatic
would have hit upon it am sure. How
ever, 1t Is the most prevalent weakness of
lunatid to be confident of their own sanity
and must be on my guard against indulg
ing in any symptom Of dementia that can
avoid. Tomorrow morning will take an
early train for New York. | am pretty
familiar with that town and ought to
encounter some former acquaintance of
where suppose; possibly friends. Strange
that | should remember places so dis
tinctly and yet have no memory Of persons
save in dim and confused way. | sup
pose that | ought to be able to remember
the number of some houses or places of
business where people that | know hang
out, but confound me if | can. It's
use Now what is that fellow staring at
me for, | wonderS"
The person referred to was standing in
the lobby of the hotel near the desk, with
his hands in his pockets. He seemed rather
under middle age, was somewhat stout
and had a red beard. Withal he had q
Jolly face and merry eye. Santa Claus,
before he grew Old might have looked just
so. All these characteristics were to be
noticed ut glance as he came across the
lobby and lifted his derby hat politely in
speaking.
81 hope you will pardon the liberty
take" he said in II pleasant voice, but ]
have reason for asking you to tell me your
name, if you will be so kind"
Certainly" replied the other, flushing
despite himself to the roots of his hair.
my name is Jones-er-Johu Jones, of
Chicago
The face of the red bearded man fell.
81 imagined that we had n ct before"
Then he added, Are you well acquainted
with BostonY
Never was here before"
"Reallyp' This with an unconscious
touch OF the ccmmiseration with which
Bostonians commonly regard people of the
outside world. You are an entire stranger
them"
Don't know IA soul"
Upon my word that's not cheerful"
said the red bearded man. My name is
Farquhar Frederick Farquhar Now,
should you take it amiss if invited you
to play game of billiards? I've nothing
to do myself for an hour and it will pass
the time"
Il shall be delighted" replied the sol
distant Mr.. Jones.
Five minutes later two men were knock
ing the balls about at three ball caroms.
Although Mr.. Jones was evidently the
more expert, making from time to time an
exceptionally brilliant shot, he played
nervously and irregularly, so that his OPP
ponent beat him two games of fifty points
up in succession. Finally Mr.. Farquhar
said;
81 guess you've got enough of this. It's
$50 o'clock now. Since you are such an
entire stranger here very likely you have
nothing in particular to do. What do you
say to coming with me and taking dinner
ut my house? Pot luck, you know"
Il shall be delighted" responded Mr..
Jones. at is most kind of you to offer
hospitality to IA person so entirely unknown
| to you as myself"
ooh, we are not quite SO stiff as most
| Bostonians of the conventional type"
| laughed his new acquaintance. II am a
bachelor, and you will meet only my sis
ter"
II shall have to come as am"
"Of course. No evening dress is requi-
site, You will be received quite informally,
| | assure you. and must content yourself
with plain dinner. If you are ready we
will walk along without further delay"
Ten minutes brisk walk brought the two
companions to their destination-a coy
| little house around a corner from Mount
Vernon street. Farquhar took Jones into
what he called his 'den"-a typical bach
elor's apartment, lined with books and
adorned with all sorts of pipes, various Gu
rious weapons and hunting trophies, which
last the owner had procured during an ex-
petition through far western wilds. Hav-
ing smoked u cigarette together they vent
down stairs, and the guest was introduced
In the drawing room to Miss Farquhar.
His first impression was TINT she was alto
gether the most beautiful girl he had ever
seen. She was very blond, with eyes Of
that rare blue which is likened to the vio-
let. Her nose was perfection, and when
she smiled two rows of the pearliest teeth
Imaginable were revealed. Her hair, gath
cred in a simple knot at the back of her
head In the classical style, set off to ad-
vantage the pure outline of her profile.
She was rather under than above the mid
die height, her figure having the graceful
roundness which tall women usually lack.
Nothing could be more engaging than the
sweet simplicity of her manner, at once
cordial and modest, without consciousness.
Jones correctly surmised that she was about
twenty years old.
AT the table she did the honors charm
ingly In the beginning of conversation
she addressed to Jones number of polite
and not inquisitive questions respecting
himself; but finding him reticent concern
ing his own affairs she turned the talk into
other channels. To his own surprise, the
guest found himself completely at ease and
was pleasantly discoursng huently OF
abstract topics, having great deal to say
In particular about certain curiosities o
marine life, faunal and floral, which ap