Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-05-28


Lamar's knock awakened me, and I
arose refreshed and ready TO carry out
the scheme outlined the night before.
\ clock on the mantel showed that
nearly half the day had slipped away
Dressing quickly, passed into my
I companions sitting where q
/ substantial breakfastwas spread on the
/ comfortable. II had been arranged
that ne should shun the hotel dining
room, and "a statement that Lamar. .as
| travelling under my professional care
could be relied upon TO quiet any curl
osity developed by our exclusiveness.
Lamar was seated at the table with a
half-fnished cup of coffee before him.
The light from the window fell upon
him, and for an instant repented tho
/ bargain between us; for his face was
! enc of the most repulsive 1t had ever
/ been my lot TO behold. The sallow-
/ ness ! had noticed was more pro-
/ nounced, and there were lines which
! had escaped the scrutiny by lamplight.
| The chin was long and pointed, the
cheeks were thin, and the forehead,
| though high enough TO indicate no lack
! of brain-pOwer, was narrow and
! wrinkled. There were hollows at the
| temples such as one often sees in suf-
! ferers from wasting diseases; with the
! dark circles under his eyes, they gave
him the look of man whose health was
| irretrievably sha tteTed, though, as it
| proved, his physical condition was no
| matter of immediate concern. As has
| been said, his nose was large and
| curved, and his hair and musfache were
streaked with gray. His teeth, which
he seldom showed, were large, discol-
orcd and irregular. His eyes, above
| which the brows met in bushy hedge,
We're small and deeply sunk in his head.
! There was hardly one of the mans fea-
lures which was pleasing, and com
| bined they made up a face almost
| gTotesque in its uncomeliness; yet in
| studying the expression of his counten-
| ance one forgot his ugliness. 1t is the
| business of the physician sometimes
| to consider more than mere bodily all
| ments, TO heed the signs and tokens of
the forces of the aniInatiDg spirit, to
| seek out the passions which have held
sway and dominated the existence of
| the patient. Deceived somewhat at
first by his appearance of decrepitude,
l tried to solve the problem Lamar
| presented from professional stand
point. There was power In his face;
power, viii, determination; much self
control, and more selfshness. Plain
ly, thought |, q man of bitter hates and
few affections, unscrupulous and re-
| sourceful, now a fugitive, and bearing
in his eye the look of dread of his pur-
suers.
What brought him TO such straits2
Over and over again asked myself the
question. That political intrigues had
made him an outlaw seemed to be the
most natural explanation, but it failed
to meet all the requirements of the
case. A political offender, once in the
United States, would be free TO go about
openly, yet here he was in hiding and
anxious TO reach q still more remote
refuge. His manner was that of one
accustomed to exercise authority. Why
should he have intrusted his fate 10 a
stranger, young and poor? Surely he
might have commanded a far more
powerfully ally. 1t was as if in his
game with fate he had chosen to risk
his all on the slenderest Of chances and
al the greatest odds.
He gave me time enough for these
reflections; for after the first saluta-
tions he relapsed into silence. Perhaps
he guessed what the trend of my
thoughts would be, and was willing to
allow me an opportunity to study him.
Not until my meal was finished did
he speak. He had lighted cigar, and
was watching the rings of smoke,
which he blew very shllfully.
80 far all has gone well," said he.
yet I would not delay; this I think
you % comprehend. 1t is, however,
my preference to travel by night. But
first let mo ask, you are still content
with the agrcement?'
Perfectly" said ]. It was not the
truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, but It served well
enough.
"Very good. Then to consideration
of an immediate matter. You will par
don me my slowness of speech In Eng
| lish-"
But you speak 1t WELL" broke in.
"I lived in England several years."
he answered, but no sooner was the
| explanation made than he appeared
TO regret it; for he added: But to our
| subject. Permit me to lay before you
q plan"
Pray proceed" said l, somewhat
| puzzled as to what was to come.
This it Is: That you, having this
afternoon to do with as you may, re-
turn to the city and there conclude
| such affairs as are pressing. 1t is most
| probable that another opportunity so
| excellent may not present itself"
His meaning was sufficiently patent.
| Once we should have reached our desti-
| nation he would prefer to have me
without an excuse for revisiting my
old heunts. Nothing, though, would
suit me better than TO fall in with his
desire. So I said:
''If you will allow me until nine
o'clock this evening, L promise to be
| free in every way TO accompany you
wherever you choose to go. My bust
| ness can be closed In short order. You
! may rest satisfied that shall say moth
ing of the change of my plans. In fact,
] don't expect TO excite any lively curl
osity; II will be merely case of an
other man dropping out of sight; the
| city Is too accustomed to such disap-
| pearances to worry about another add
ed TO the list. Believe me, 1 don't regret
our arrangement"
| Regret II, indeed! The salary offered
was ten times as large as my income
| for the last year. 1t would mean at
least plenty TO eat and plenty to wear,
n comfortable home and freedom from
the cures which had made life a bur
den. The wolf of poverty that had
haunted my door would be driven on
TO howl about the dwelling of the next
poor devil. At an earlier stage of my
! career ! might have hesitated, have
paused before consenting to bury my
self in the country; but it is a rarely
| vigorous ambition that thrives on
| grinding monotony and grows strong
through years Of semi-starvation; mine
was not made of such sturdy stuff. Had
Lamnr sprouted horns and displayed
cloven hoof / might have experienced
qualms, but scarcely wcll-defined re-
! grets.
Three hours later was again IN the
city, and the few ties which had bound
me TO it were severed. The landlord