Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-05-21
No..21

have brought about the same result.
I knew nothing of the man, except
that he bore token from my best
friend. / was ignorant even of his
rame, for from the first l understood
Lamar to be an alias. At his motives
I could hardly guess, but il was most.
probable that he was n political exile.
At all events, association with him
could not change my condition for the
worse. There would be at least the
prospect of n decent livelihood; and.
very alluring that prospect was. In
short, il was difficult 10 discover how
should be the loser. A moderately
successful practitioner would have
smiled at such an estimate as had
placed upon my services, but the ex-
periences of the last year had not been
conducive of over-confidence. So, now
that / had put myself under this
strangers orders, / lost no time In
asking him what the first of them
might be. He replied that he 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
by ten o'clock tomorrow morning"
Not so. We must depart tonight"
he answered, decisively.
What? Tonight? There is no train
at this hour"
Il comprehend But prefer car
riage beyond the environs. One can
be obtained, can it not?''
"Yes"
Then arrange for il at once. You
may return for a time, If there is need"
Here was haste with a vengeance.
Stilh if he desired it, so should it be.
IL mattered little t. 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 !. "Will you
await It here?'
No. But I will return in the time
set" said he. First pledge me again
to maintain faith"
gave the promise, and saw him step
out into the night, without concerning
myself greatly as to the probable out
come of our alliance. Then went my
way to rouse up the owner of a livery
stable near by and to bargain with him
for vehicle. Although he had never
profited by my patronage, he knew me
to be physician, and therefore sup
posedly subject to late calls from dis
tant patients. / had decided to drive
to Merton. town about 20 miles away,
on the line of railway we would use in
our journey. The man exacted q stiff
price for the carriage, but there was
no haggling over it, for I got as much
pleasure as he from the exorbitant sum
he demanded; there was certainly moro
of novelty for me in participating in
such u transaction.
When, at the time appointed. Lamar
returned to the Office, he carried small
black satchel, which apparently con-
tanned oil the effects he cared TO take
with him. The carriage was at the
door. the driver grumbling to himself
at the long ride which lay before him.
Once in the vehicle. Lamar settled him
self comfortably In his corner and
lighted cigar. The satchel was on
the seat beside him. i observed that
his hand never left IL. Neither of us
spoke often in the course of the drive.
There were questions burned to ask.
but II was altogether likely that they
would not be answered. AS his en-
ploye, 1 felt compelled to respect his
moods. and his present one was certain
ly that Of reticence. Although the
road was good, and the motion of the
vehicle easy, / felt no drowsiness; my
strange companion supplied me with
abundant food for reflection. Our
Jehu took his time, and the horses were
not ambitious, but before daylight our
destination had been reached. A
sleepy attendant led US to our rooms
in the Merton hotel, and little later /
was slumbering as peacefully as II I
had been slowed away In my dingy
quarters In the city, with never pros
pect of an adventure more unusual
than an encounter with q dunning
creditor.