Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26

Shots sometimes at the most unlikely of
pursuits; and never very far from the
mark. well, my man." have heard him
say. II can see by your fingers that you
play some musical instrument for your
livelihood, but 1t Is a rather curious one
something quite out of my line" The man
afterward Informed us that he earned a
few copperS by blowing Rule Britannia
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 as
tonish my ward companions on &C.
casion, and never lost an opportunity OF
practicing. 1t was not mere curiosity,
then. which led me to lean back on the
cushions and analyZe the quiet, middle
aged man in front of me.
I used to do the thing systematically, and
my train Of reflections ran somewhat in
this wise: General appearance. vulgar.
fairly opulent and extremely self-possessed
looks like a man who could outchaff a
bargee and yet be at mis- ease in middle
class society. Eyes well set together and
nose rather prominent-would be a good
long-range markSman. Cheeks fabby, but
the softness of expression redeemed by q
sQuare-cut Jaw and well-set lower lip. On
the whole. a powerful type. Now for the
hands-rather disappointed there. Thought
he was a self-made man by the look 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 tanning on the backs OF the
hands; on the contrary, they are very
white with blue projecting veins end long.
delicate fingers. Couldn't be an artist with
that face. and yet he has the hands of a
man engaged in delicate manipulations. 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 opinion that he was photog-
rapher). Clothes not worn in any particu-
lar part Coat made of tweed and fairly
DID, but the left elbow, far as can see
II, has as much of the fluff left on as the
right. which is seldom the case with men
rIrN 10 rxyrff ir1or i0hf ha
mercial traveller, but the little pocket book
in the waistcoat is wanting, nor has he any
of those handy valises. suggestive of sam
pleS''
I give these brief headings of my ideas
merely to demonstrate my method of ar
irving at q conclusion. AS yet had OBJ
tanned nothing but negative results; but
now. to use chemical metaphor, i was in
a position to pour Oft this solution of dis
solved possibilities and examine the resi-
due. / found myself reduced to a very
limited number of occupations. He was
neither q lawyer nor a clergyman, in spite
OF soft felt hat and somewhat clerical
cut about the necktie. I was wavering now
between pawnbroker and horse dealer; but
there was too much character about his
face for the former; and he lacked that ex-
traordinary equine atmosphere which hangs
about the latter, even in his hours of re-
taxation; so / formed provisional dag
noSiS of betting man of methodistcal per-
suasions. the latter clause being inserted in
Difference to his hat and necktie.
Pray, do not think that reasoned 1t cut
like this in my own mind. 1t is only now,
sitting down with pen and paper, that
can see the successive steps. As 1t was, I
had formed my conclusion within sixty
seconds of the time when I drew my hat
down over my eyes and uttered the mental
ejaculation with which my narrative be-
gins.
1 did not feel quite satisfied even then
with my deduction. However, as a leading
question would-to pursue my chemical
analORy-act a q m
mined to try one. There was Times ly-
Ing by my companion. and / thought the
opportunity too good to be neglected.
DO you mind my looking at your pa
peri" i asked.
Certainly. sir. certainly" said he most
urbanely, handing 1t across.
/ glanced down it's columns until my eye
rested upon the list of the latest betting
"Hullo?' 1 said, they are laying odds
upon the favorite for the Cambridgeshire.
But perhaps" 1 added. looking up. you
are not interested in these matters?"
"Snares, sirP' said he Violently; "wiles |
of the enemyI Mortals are but given a !
few years to live, how can they squander |
them SO! They have not even an eye to
their poor worldly interests" he added In !
a quieter tone, cor they would never back |
a single horse at such short odds with a |
Held of thirty"
There was something in this speech of |
his which tickled me immensely / suppose |
IL was the odd way in which,she blended |
religious intolerance with worldly wisdom
I laid the Times aside with the conviction |
that / should be able to spend the next |
two hours to better purpose than in Its |
perusal.
"You speak as If you understood the |
at any rate" I remarked.
Yes, SIR" he answered; Few men In |
England understood these things better |
In the old days before / changed my pro- |
fession. But that Is all over now
Changed your profession?' said !, In |
Yes; 1 changed my name, too" |
"Indeed?' said /.
Yes; you see, a man wants a real fresh |
start when his eyes become opened, so he |
has new deal all round, so to speak. |
Then he gets a fair chance"
There was short pause here, as SEEM |
ed to be on delicate ground in touching |
pm my companions antecedents, and he /
did not volunteer any information. broke |
the silence by Offering him a cheroot
mo, thanks" said he; II have given up
tobacco. 1t was the hardest wrench of /
ALL was that 1t does me good to smell /
thu Whin OF yOrrr wead Toll he o11