Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-11

some chronic malady, even deeper in
debt than I, and changing physicians
simply because the charity of the first
was worn out: such was the shadow
of a practice which appeared never like
ly to round out into reality. My
garments of decent black became shiny
with use, while my bell-pull lost its
polish through rust. If looked as
hungry as / often felt, it was no wonder
that the ailing passed me by. Little
by little the few articles in my posses
sion of which there was not absolute
need disappeared. Some were sold out
right; others were lodged with pawn
brokers.
This state of things continued for
more than year, my lot growing more
miserable day by day. At long inter
walls letters came from Perez. My re-
plies were mailed with the promptness
of a man whose time hangs heavy OH
his hands. There was no attempt in
my letters to conceal my troubles;
there was q certain relief in setting
forth an indictment of the world in
general and my neighbors in particular.
More than once I was sorely tempted
TO seek q loan from him, but pride
stood in the way. had not quite
reached the point of utter defeat, but
was very close to it. Not word had
been heard of Mrs. Loring and her
niece, who, for all knew, might be in
Europe, Asia, Africa, or America. Let
tiers had come from Mrs. Peck, telling
me that she was at her home in Maine,
awaiting the return of her husband
from another voyage round the Horn.
Her health, she was happy to add, ap-
peared to be reestablished.
AS has been set forth, the test of
endurance went on for more than q
twelvemonth. II was ended in strange
manner, without warning. and at a
time when l was near to despair. The
landlord had attempted again to col
lect q part of the money due him-he
could scarcely be said to have bounded
me for it, inasmuch as he had suffered
SO undesirable a tenant to fall several
months in arrears-and once more he
had been put off with excuses and apol-
ogies. He had not been harsh in his
replies, but it was easy to understand
that his patience was fairly exhausted.
He had left me still in possession, but
feared that few days more would
see me turned into the street and al
most as hopeless as shipwrecked sail
or on a barren island. In either case
starvation would be quite among the
possibilities.
After a frugal supper tried to read,
but with very slight success, my
thoughts wandering repeatedly from
the book to the approaching crisis in
my affairs. 1t must have been for
hours that | sat brooding over my per-
plexities. At last, more discouraged
than ever by the unvarying trend of
the reflections, l started to my feet,
and, crossing to the window, raised
the curtain and peered out. 1t was
later than ] supposed, for the lights
had disappeared from the houses across
the way and the pavement seemed to be
deserted. Turning back to my desk,
filled a pipe. Tobacco was the sole
luxury left to me, and the stock in
my pouch was running low.
There came q knock at the door,
light tap thrice repeated. AS l an
swered the summons man stepped
into the room, and. with a quick mo-
ton, closed the door behind him He
was of medium height, thin, sallow-
faced, hooked-nosed, with crisp, black
hair and mustache shot with gray.
"Dr. Alfred Morris?" he asked.
bowed and motioned him to q chair.
Designating the invitation, he drew
letter from his pocket.
"For you-this," said he.
The envelope bore no address. Break
ing the seal, l drew out a sheet OF
paper on which was written: Let the
bearer command all good Offices In
place of the name of the writer was a
Greek cross with three dots beside it.
A second glance at the words above the
device satisfied any doubts as to the
identity of the man whose hand had
penned them.
"'rhis is the best of introductions,"
said I. pray be seated. In what way
can assist you?"
ut is n matter of confidential char
acter," he answered, with glance
about the room.
"You may speak freely. There is no
one to play the eavesdropper."
"That is well. l will endeavor to
trespass upon but little of your time"
He spoke with peculiar slowness,
almost hesitancy (as if picking his
words with great carel, and with u
marked accent, which at once betrayed
that English was not his native tongue.
You may command me- said l.
"But pardon me, your name is not given
in this note"
my name9 All, you may call me La
mar"
He came closer and fixed pair of
piercing eyes upon me.
"Dr. Norris" said he, II request you
to suffer me to pass by my reasons for
coming here"
"Your credentials are enough" said
I. "Rest assured shall question you
on no point you prefer not to explain"
"And I may request also secrecy, in
any event, regarding this meeting?
II give you my word, as have said,
that you may command me-
He paused, as if to reach decision
in some matter of great moment. /
studied him with increasing curiosity,
my interest fired by the strange Cir
cumstances of his visit.
II make you, then, a proposition"
he said, at last. 81 wish to obtain the
right of your time and attendance"
l stared at him in blank amazement.
What could he mean? Did he propose
to retain me as his private physician?
Was he sufficiently wealthy to indulge
in such luXuries? His dress told moth