The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-09-06


the window, gnawed his mustache in
restless thought mechanically counting
the few street lamps now visible through
the storm.
Suddenly movement in the bed, and
both watchers started forward to see the
longed for sanity in the eyes of Dale
Everett feebly turned from one to the
other. Gradually memory crept into
them, now steadily fixed on Latour; the |
wasted fingers crept out to his hand, and
as the Creole bowed his head over them
Dale whispered feebly:
"Letter-came-dear old boyr'
Then, closing his eyes in very weari-
ness of content he slept softly.
will he get well?" Adrien whispered
eagerly.
"How the devil can l tell?" again an
swered old Minot, this time rather husk-
lily and with suspicious moisture in his
eyes. And he blew his nose trumpet
like before he added, "Watching and
tonics and he's all right now"
Since the day his appointment as ca
Diet reached him in Paris, Latour had
never felt the joy that now thrilled
through him. When the doctor left he
sat before the glowing Goals dreaming,
while the snow fell faster without and
darkness crept into the sick room. But
he heard nothing save the regular breath
ing of his sleeping friend, saw moth
ing but pictures of the long past in the
glowing vistas of the sea coal.
Suddenly he felt light touch on his
shoulder.
"Tapped twice, and feared to disturb
him." the new conner said, jerking his
head toward the sleeper. "How's he
getting 'lons?"
Better. Any luckT Adrien replied
anxiously.
The other motioned him into the par
lor and closed the door before he an
, swered, quietly:
"Luck's not in my line, general. Dicl
Peerman's reputation was made by trust
ing to something better'n that. NJ
luck"
The speaker was wiry, medium sized
q and close shaven. He was dressed il
q scrupulous black, with natty boots anC
a stitched tan gloves. The hat he had no
+ removed was flat trimmed, with broat
band of Grape. He was an ordinary man
: with two extraordinary things abou
q him: one that, coming from the furiou
storm, there was no speck of moistur
=, on shiny hat or glossy boots; the othe
!. the cool, incisive, meaningless stare c
4 of his keen, gray eyes. Yet Capt Ricf
ard Peerman was the sharpest detectiv
n Uncle Sam had ever paid for unearthin
paymaster's little game" in war c
"clicking the bracelets" round felon
d wrists in peace.
"a $50 you cannot find any clew?" Lator
asked YEARLY; but he eagerly seized tn
card the other extended by way of al
swer.
"Toughest case l ever worked up c
no clew," the detective said placidl
"Tens O thousands of 'em exactly all
in this town. But when Dick Peerma
goes for a thief or a woman, either ma
as we'll come down."
The Creole mad read the card over AZ
over by the f:tful freight Without
ply he threw An heavy army cloak, al
whispering TIE other to wait stole o
and softly closed the door.
Through bowling storm and blindil
snow the driver of u Glanced on c
= steered Latour over the East Side, whe
e tenements swarm With human ver1nl
NJ where poverty and pestllence stalk ha
A in hand through mazes of their ceasel'
carnival. Miles they struggled nor
4 ward, out Of the closer district. to wht
progress had not yet crowded his victi
so closely; then they stopped before
tall, dingy house, and Latour, spring.
? out, assembled the crazy stair and paut
at every landing.
At last he halted, food of wond
ing, plying tenderness sweeping his II
as he looked around that cherries no
W, of poverty.
tel Twice he raised his hand, twice
sly paused before he tapped nervously VI
'ou the door. The answer came prompt
49,, sharp, but again he caught his bre
Ecu hard before he ventured to lift the CT
~, w latch.
Cne Over very small fire, in a clean
leu almost bare room, sat Miss Tabitha
nc and her brother. She was only sh
~, more angular, he far less rotund t
''ol of yore; but over the faces of both t
our and poverty had Enthusiastically pas
"a, their hands.
'hN Nonsense, Brother Standish! l
aiV- hear rap. Come in!' were the We
use that carried the visitor back on Fl
l. ,, of memory and pity.
~ Surprise, greeting and explana
WI were soon over, and Latour asked I
, ~ iously:
l'''o "Where is Bonnie?
'nie "She is rather later than usual
'ioh evening"" Miss Tabitha answered al
sure sure getically "She usually returns by e
P1 ~ lamplight."
Il a' "Where from?' queried Latour il
Ia. tiently.
'k a SIT is a very long distance" the
eVy;; ster went on as indirectly as ever,
olt the artist photographer detains h
-, this season"
.Vie, and she now, fortunately"
bad c...I;oh ,,,,t :, ..bas beon able to 81
day eSa',a ,,'orl, -
ugh' "Work! A night like this! I
=, Godl have found her! Adrien cri
wing " i1,,,a nnsvorino at random
Jaw spinster's voluble cackle and the
pun questions of her brother, the [
t ad- &c., ioooa tbo roo,n nervouslv. ever
asoii again pressing his face against the
sys. little pane, or pausing to catch her
oranI upon the creaking stair.