The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-06-15

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of view.
"Iissed, by Jingo" I heard at my
elbow, and turning saw my partner
of the cab stretching his neck to watch
the late-comers. He laughed, and
slapped me Familiarity on the shoulder,
"Well, old man, we caught her.
Let's sit down"
/ did not relish his unconventional
familiarity, and felt somewhat disin-
clined to continue the acquaintance;
but long, tiresome journey was be-
fore us, through country 80 we'll
known to me as to be divoid of any
interest, and being an exceedingly
poor traveller, silently acquiesced.
Once comfortably seated, and divest-
ed of our wet outer garments heaved
sigh of relief, and proceeded to in
vestigate, for the first time, my self
invited companion. He was man of
medium build, with no particularly
noticeable features save a pair of pene-
trating, steel-gray eyes, which, even
from their deep sockets, seemed to
pierce me through and through, and
hold me with power almost hypnotic.
A broad-brimmed SLOUGH hat,
jerked down almost to the eyes, con-
cealed o high, intellectual forehead.
Now and then gray hair appeared in
the closely-cut brown mustache, which
adorned his upper lip; On his head,
too, an occasional streak of gray COM
bined with the brown, His ner-
vous anxiety in the cab had en-
tirely vanished. He thrust one hand
carelessly into his trousers pocket,
and after big yawn settled back in
his seat. The swagger, unconcerned
air impressed me with the idea that he
was character, but for lack of a
theme l failed to open the converse
ton.
Presently he again looked at his
watch, and as he replaced that much
bothered time-piece in his vest pocket
my attention was attracted to a very
peculiar watch-chain. A skein of silk
joined a series of peculiar white links
He noticed my curiosity, and smiled
patronizingly.
"Never saw the like before, eh?"he
said "strange thing to carry about,
but killed it myself, you see."
"Killed it yourself !" I echoed, eye
ing him with respectful curiosity ;
"you killed what? What is it?"
Nothing" he laughed, evidently
amused at my surprised look. ''The
thing tried to bite, so ended its
earthly career, as they say. It's the
backbone of a rattlesnake.
With an exclamation of wonder, !
leaned over and scrutinized the curio
closely. He seemed to enjoy my sud
den display of interest, for giving me
the chain in my own hands to exam
inc, he accurately described how he
had mounted the vertebr@, and made
of them such a unique chain.
Il killed this fellow in the noun
tains," he explained. "Rattlesnakes
are very plentiful out where I'm from.
They're dangerous vermin, too. "
'You are Westerner?" ventered
to question.
"That's where you're right, he an.
swered, his bright eyes glistening,
"and proud of 1t. Direct from Wash.
ington State. First time I've ever
been east of Missouri in my life.
Travelled pretty far though. Been
from Panama to Hudson Bay; from
Frisco to st. Louis; and, if I live
next summer, I'll take in Europe and
Africa"
looked at him. "And now?'
"Now," he answered in lower
tone, drawing closer and glancilg
seriously around the car, which con-
tanned but q few other passengers,
"now Pm on my way to that much.
talked-of city of New York, on little
matter of business, and incidentally
to see the sights.
"Ah am returning to New York,
my home, after an extended business
trip, and anxious to get there, too.
1t was desire to reach home that
hauled me out of bed so early this
morning. Otherwise it would have
had to be some very important bust
ness, indeed"
Stranger" he said, sitting up sud-
denly and looking me full in the face,
you're q right smart chap. My bust
ness in New York is very important.
I'm going there to sell al interest in a
gold-mine.
"Gold-minep I exclaimed, sitting
back SO abruptly that my head came
in rather unpleasant contact with the
edge of the seat. IA gold mine, did
you say?"
"Why, yes" he replied, paying no