Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-03
XXII.

XXI.
Whatever business was occupying
Lamar, it was not the sort to be dis
posed of quickly. Hour after hour
passed, and still he did not rejoin lrs. At
last climbed the stairs and, knocking
at the door of his room, asked if there
was anything he desired us to do.
AT present, nothing" he answered.
"No use tryin' to nudge him." John
son observed, when 1 returned to the
living-room. Hell let us know fast
enough when the time comes. You'd
better get some sleep, doctor, if you
can curl up comfortable in chair. I'll
stand watch"
Nothing better suggesting itself, I
tried to follow the fisherman's advice,
at first with very Indifferent success.
The events of the evening had not been
Of the sort to make one sleepy. So l
sat in my corner spcculating on the
probable outcome of the encounter.
What Lamar's plans would Ike it was
difficult to foretell. Physically lie was
in poor condition to undertake further
flight from his enemies, yet he would
hardly dare to remain without cstab-
fishing small standing army. john
son had covered himself with glory, but
he was but one man; and l did not
enumeratc myself as part of the bel
ligerent force. Again, the excitement
and worry the presence of his enemies
must cause would certainly have an
extremely bad effect upon Lamar. ag-
gravatng his disease and cutting short
even the scant allowance Of time had
estimated as his. II anything could
have overcome my extreme rpulsion
for him, it must have been the cool
courage he had displayed in the face
of danger; but, though l appreciated
1t, could not bring myself to more
kindly feeling for the man who had ex-
hibited it in such trying circumstances.
What would Dorothy have to say such
part OF the tale as | couh tell her?
was thinking more Of her and less of
Lamar, when my eyes closed for weari
ness.
Johnson's hand on my shoulder
brought me back from my dreams.
lies called for you," he said. ale
wants You to go up to his room
Every we'll; I'll go; hut what's the
time?" asked, grinding my knuckIcs
into my eyes.
"'Most six o'clock. The suns just
risin'."
Reaching the head of the stairs,
heard Lanar's voice from the rear
room, one which he had never before
invited Inc to enter.
"Come in," he said. 81 regret to have
detained you SO long, but my task is at
last completed"
In spite of his efforts to maintain the
old steady tone, his voice sounded
hoarsc and full of weariness; and all
that it suggested was more than borne
out by his face, upon which fell the cold
light OF the morning, revealing with
pitilcss distinctness the traces of the
struggle Of an indomitable will against
physical weakness. His pallor was
ghastly, the skin was drawn above the
temples, the cheeks were sunken, the
lines about the mouth were grown to
burrows. His eyes burned with a fever
ish fire. The hand which rested on the
desk at which he sat shook, nOtwith-
standing its support had never seen
the man in such n state-so completely
mastered by his infirmities. How he
had been able to work through the night
was almost beyond comprehension,
though the bottle of brandy at his e.
bow showed that he had had the aid OF
n stimnlant. 1t had carried him
through, but at fearful price. Plain
ly, it was no longer question of weeks
or months with him; his days, perhaps
his hours, were numbered.
On the desk before him lay a sealed
letter, n check book, IL sheet Of paper
covered with figures and the little black
valise which he had guarded so Jealous
ly on oul journey TO Rodneytown. and
which | had not rested eyes upon since
the day of our arrival.
He n,otoued me to a seat beside him.
CDR. Norris" said he, "last nights
visitation warned me to perform GER
tain duties which, in view of my fail
ure of health, had too long been neg
lected. l desire your assistance in the
completion of them"
81 am at your orders," said I. "For
the little while that remains for you,"
l added, to myself.
He opened the hand bag and took
from it paper, which, upon being un-
folded, appeared to be petition or
agreement of some sort; for appended
to several closely-written paragraphs
was long list of signatures. He gave
me no time, however, to decipher either
text OF names. Striking match, he set
fire to the document, which was burn
ing briskly before he dropped it to the
floor. As the flame grew I saw that
about it lay several little heaps of
fluffy ash, no doubt all that remained
of other papers he had chosen to put
out Of the way. He watched the fire