The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-19

I had the advantage of studying under
4 master of the art, who used to cleo
trify both his patients and his clinical
classes by long shots, sometimes at the
most unlikely of pursuits; and never
very far from the mark. "Well, my
man." 1 have heard him say; II can see
by your fingers that YOU play some
musical instrument for your livelihood.
but it is a rather curious one-some-
thing quite out of my line The man
afterward informed us that he earned
a few coppers by blowing Rule Brit
annia" on a coffee pot, the spout of
which was pierced to form a rough
flute. Though a novice in the art,
was still able to astonish my ward COM
paniOns on occasions, and I never lost
an opportunity of practcing. 1t was
not mere curiosity, then, which led me
to lean back on the cushions and an
-ilyZe the quiet, middle-aged man in
, front Of me.
| used to do the thing Systematically,
and my train of reflections ran some
what in this wise: General appear
ance, vulgar fairly opulent and eX-
tremely lf-possessed-look like a
man who could outchaff a bargee, and
yet be at his ease in middle-class So
ciety Eyes we'll set together and nose
rather prominent-wOuld be good
long-range marksman. Cheeks habby,
but the softness of expression re-
deemed by a square-cut jaw and a
well-set lower lip. On the whole, a
powerful type. Now for the hands
rather disappointed there. Thought
h. q al -, do llNr "a Of
him. but there is no callous in the
palm and no thickness at the joints.
Has never been engaged in any real
physical work, / should think. No tan
ming on the backs of the hands: on the
contrary, they are very white, with
blue projecting veins and long. deli
cate fingers. Couldn't be an artist
with that face, and yet he has the
hands of a man engaged in delicate
mampulations. No red acid spots upon
his clothes. no Ink stains, no nitrate
of silver marks upon the hands (this
helps to negative my half-formed opin-
ION that he was a photographer.
Clothes not worn in any particular
part Coat made of tweed and fairly
old; but the left elbow, as far as / can
sec 1t, has as much of the fluff left on
as the right, which is seldom the case
with men who do much writing Might
be commercial traveller, but the little
pocketbook in the waistcoal is want
ing. nor has he any of those handy
valises, suggestive of samples"
I give these brief headings of my
ideas merely to demonstrate my method
of arriving at conclusion. AS yet ]
-. It 1T, I'D . .;.,.
suits; but now. to use q chemical meta
phor / was in a position to pour off
this solution of dissolved possibilities
and examine the residue. / found my
self reduced to very limited number
of occupations. He was neither law
yer nor n clergyman, in spite of n soft
felt hat. and a somewhat clerical cut
about the necktie. / was waverine
now between pawnbroker and horse
dealer. but there was too much char
acter about his face for the former
and he lacked that extraordinary
equine atmosphere which hangs abou:
the latter even in his hours of relaxa.
tion; so / formed a provisional dag
nosis of betting man of methodistical
persuasions, the latter clause being in.
serted in Difference to his hat and neck.
tie.
Pray. do not think that I reasoned II
out like this in my own mind. 1t Is
only now. sitting down with pen and
paper, that j can see the successive
steps. AS 1t was, had formed my con.
clusion within sixty seconds of tho
time when I drew my hat down ovcl
my eyes and uttered the mental ejacu.
, lation with which my narrative begins
did not feel quite satisfied even ther
with my deduction. However, as @
leading question would-to pursue my
chemical analogy-act as my litmu,
paper, determined to try one. There
was Times lying by my companion
and thought the opportunity too goot
to be neglected.
DO you mind my looking at your
paper?" asked.
Certainly, sir certainly" said ht
most urbanely, handing is across.
glanced down its columns until my
eye rested upon the list of the lates
betting.
''Hullow said, "they are laying
odds upon the favorite for the Cam
bridgeshire. But perhaps" l added
looking up. "you are not interested II
these matters?'
''Snares, sir!' said ne violently
A'wiIes Of the enemy Mortals are bu