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

word as il to emphasize it,-"of a place
near the sea, solitary, remote. Is it
not sop
Eyes, I remember" said I, my
thoughts flashing back to the CONVEX
sntion on the last night with Perez.
my. health is precarious," he con-
tinued. II wish to be not disturbed,
to be guarded from intrusion, as well
as to receive medical attention when
necessary"
"In other words,' I suggested, "you
wish me to accompany you to the spot
YOU have mentioned, to remain with
you, and to see to it that you have the
privacy you desire"
1T is as you have said"
"You ask speedy decision?"
Immediate"
looked at him doubtfully, as we'll
might after receiving such proposal.
He gagged my thoughts, no doubt, for
he pressed me OH the point where re-
sistance would be weakest.
"You will be amply remunerated,"
said he. MAY I ask the terms which
will be agreeable, and which will suf-
fee to repay your loss in leaving the
city,"
The appearance of the room might
have told him how little that loss would
be. More to test him than with any
well-defned idea as to the value of my
services, said:
1.-TWO thousand dollars year, and
expenses, with an allowance for clos
ing up my affairs here"
ut is agreed. Let us bind the bar
gain" And with that he drew from
his pocket roll of bills and held them
out TO me.
"When shall the arrangement take
effect?" I asked.
"Now, from this moment. Shall it
be sop
hesitated, but only for an instant.
The sight of the money ovcrpowered
my doubts--it represented SO much to
one whose fortunes were so desperate.
"Yes," said l, from this moment
And I took the roll of bills.
l had acted upon impulse, but it
may be that long deliberation would
have brought about the same result.
l knew nothing of the man, except
that he bore a token from my best
friend. I was ignorant even of his
name, for from the first l understood
Lamar to be an alias. At his motives
l could hardly guess, but it was most
probable that he was a political exile.
At all eyents, association with him
could not change my condition for the
worse. There would be at least the
prospect Of decent livelihood; and
very alluring that prospect was. In
short, it was difficult to discover how |
should be the loser. A moderately
successful practitioner would have
smiled at such an estimate as I had
placed upon my services, but the cx-
periences of the last year had not been
conducive of ovcr-contidence. SO, now
that I had put myself under this
strangers orders, 1 lost no time in
asking him what the first of them
might be. He replied that lie was anX-
ious to leave the city at once.
There is little to detain me- said I.
II dare say I can be at your disposal
ny zen y clOck (O-llOlTOW morning.
"Not so. We must depart tonight"
he answered, decisively.
What? Tonight? There is no train
at this hour"
II comprehend. But prefer car
riage beyond the environs. One can
be obtained, can it not?"
"Yes."
''Then arrange for it at once. You
may return for time, if there is need"
Here was haste with vengeance.
Still, if he desired it, so should it be.
1t mattered little IT, me how the night
was passed. He was paying for his
right to command, and he should have
the worth of his money.
"A conveyance shall be at the door
in half an hour" said l. Twill you
await it here?'
mo. But l will return in the time
set" said he. "First pledge me again
to maintain faith"
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK