Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-30


you are very strong" he said, visit
fully. will you stand, if necessary,
between my son and Burlington?"
THAT" I replied, grimly, lis in the
bond"
BLOOD tells" he continued, still clasp
ing my hand. II have some qualities
which men value. but bastard strain
flows in my veins. should have cut
poor figure in the middle ages. Well,
we'll, you have put new life into me-
the tones of his voice strengthened per-
ceptibly-"and shall not be migrate
full. If you do your duty, as know you
will, the reward will be commensurate"
"Yes," 1 said, heartily, "the prize is
worth working for"
He glanced ut me queerly.
II was not thinking of the money"
he muttered.
The streets were empty of foot-pas-
sengers as trudged briskly (the night
was chilly) to my hotel. A fog, held at
bay by high wind, was impending and
likely to roll in from the ocean before
dawn; but the sky above the city was
clear and starlit. In my pocket was an
address, my destination on the morrow;
in my heart was hope; in my head were
score of surmises chasing each other
into blind alleys. l had walked some
rs yards, when an impulse moved me to
halt and look backward. Gerard's man
sion. its mansard roofs sharply out
lined against the purple armament,
crowned the top of the hill; and it's
massive proportions, in such striking
contrast to the bodily presence of the
owner, impressed me sadly. The very
stones of his palace proclaimed the
Titanic efforts which had piled one
upon another. The lust of millions,
like monstrous bat, had sucked from
it's victim vitality and virility. To
the right and left were other palaces;
and I recalled the histories of the men
who built them, and shuddered. The
loneliness of the spot, a solitude grim
with spectral activities, was awful.
Suddenly l became aware that an
other beside myself was intently re-
| garding the house above. In the shad-
ows across the street, leaning against
a lamp-post, stood man absorbed in
contemplation. Fancy urged me to
approach him.
1t was Burlington.
recognized him at once from
Gerard's description. His eyes coun-
tered mine savagely; then the heavy
lids fell.
ga fine night" said I.
cay" he returned, coldly.
1.-THE temples of Plutus," continued,
make brave showing by starlight"
He jerked his hand in the direction of
Telegraph HILL "There, sir, lies Dago-
town; there, the Greek quarter. Hard
| ly stones throw from us is China
town, where opium fiends and pesti-
lence run amuck; and here" he
laughed harshly-"is Mob HILL"
The somber significance of his words
| could not be misunderstood. Once in
Chicago I had heard famous an
archist address his associates. AT my
urgent request, Pole whom had be-
fricnded stood my sponsor and saved
me broken head, possibly a broken
neck. The dominant note of the
| speech had been truly dcmoniac sug-
| gestion. The ac: ual words of the speak
er were void of otfense Qrom an official
point of view); but beneath the velvety
| periods was the snarl of the wild beast.
Burlngton's apostrophe, commonplace
enough, brought to mind the Chicago
den, with its flaming gas jets and
brutal odors.
Come" he said, abruptly, 1--WE shall
! 1,ofb onf,,I, <olJ lonSrrr The I, ~,
wind. I'm chilled to the marrow al
ready"
We paced a few steps in silence.
I'VE might wear each others clothes, y
he said, answering my unspolen
thoughts; but L." he sighed, lam past
my prime. BY the by, I've seen you
before. Your name is Iivingston-Hugo
Livingstone"
yes"
And you write-fairly we'll for be-
ginner; but there's nothing in it; not
bread and butter. My name is Burling-
ton. You are stranger here? Just So
AS u brother craftsman let me welcome
you to Cosmopolis. There is lots OF
material here, hard and soft. Do you
propose to work it up?"
His questions, and a certain warmth
of manner. put me on my guard.
wondered if he had seen me leave the
house of his enemy.
MY plans are uncertain"
Curse it, Pm frozen. Will you
pledge Inc in glass of hot brapdy-and.
water?"
"Thanls you, no. I'm past due at my
hotel. Good night
1--WE shall certainly meet again." he
returned, carelessly; "and SO, Mr.. Liv.
ingston, au revoir."
The next morning, slipping my coffee
a paragraph in one of the dailies sea-
soned my reflections. 1t proclaimed
briefly the immediate departure of Bur.
lington for lands unknown. At II
o'clock l had left this man at the cor.
ner of California and Kearny streets;
and the forms of the Enquirer went tc
press at three.
Talk, according to DR.. Holmes, is
spading up the ground for crops OF
thought. Assuredly my conversation
with Burlington had brought forth
already an abundant harvest.
(To be continued)