Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-04-01
CHAPTER H.-CoNTINuEp.

Inc streets were empty of foot-pas-
sengers as l trudged briskly 1.-THE night
was chilly to my hotel. A fog, held at
bay by a 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 We're
n score of surmises chasing each other
into blind alleys. 1 had walked some
rs yards, when an impulse moved me to
halt and look backward. Gerard man.
sion, its mansard roofs sharply out
lined against the purple armament,
crowned the top of the hill; and its
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
its victim vitality and virility. To
the right and left were other palaces;
and | recalled the histories of the men
who built them, and shuddered. The
loneliness Of the spot, n solitude grim
with spectral activities, was awful.
Suddenly I 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 sayagely; then the heavy
lids fell.
"a fine night" saidI |.
CAV" he returned, coldly.
'The temples of Plutus," | continued
snake a brave showing by starlight"
He icrked his hand in the direction oil
Telegraph Hill. "There, sir, lies Dago-
town: there, the Greek quarter. Hard
" n stones throw from MS is China
town. where opium fiends and pesti-
lence run amuck; and here - ne
laughed harshly-"is Mob Hill"
The somber significance OF his words
could not be misunderstood. Once in
Chicago I had heard famous an
orcbst address his associates. At my
urgent request, a Pole whom l had be.
fricnded stood my sponsor and saved
mo broken head, possibly broken
neck The dominant note OF the
sneech had been truly dcmoniac sug'
aestion. The actual words of the speak
o.. wore void of offense (from an official
noint of view; but beneath the velvety
periods was the snarl Of the wild beast
nurlington's apostrophe, commonplace
enough, brought to mind the Chlcagc
don with its flaming gas jets and
brutal odors. :,
"Come." he said, abruptly, I'VE shall
IN catch cold loafing in this bitter
,";nd Tn chilled to the marrow al
ready" .uoo
1--WE might wear each others clothes,
10 said. answering my unspoker
thouphts; "but J." he sighed, "am pass
NV prime by the by, I've seen yor
historic Your name is Livingston-Hugc
livingston
eyes"
"And YOU write--fairly well for be
o;nner. but there's nothing in it; moi
snoad and butter. My name is Burling
.an You arc stranger here? Just 80
40 brotber craftsman let me welcome
,ou TO Cosmopolis. There is lots Of
Material here, hard and soft DO yo'
nropose to work it up" -,
His questions, and certain warmtl
=. manner. put me on my guard.
= L,dcred if he had seen me leave th'
Nouse of his enemy
"My plans are uncertain r
.C,1rsc II. I'm frozen. VIII yot
,a5ae me in glass of hot brandy-and
wy ..S,hanL YOU, no. I'm past due at my
Intel. Good night"
eve shall certainly meet again. NJ
roturned, carelessly; "and So Mr' hi'
inpston, ou revoir."
trhe next morning, slipping my coffee
naropraph in one Of the dailles sea
.pad INV reflections. IT proclaimed
briefly the immediate departure Of !. Dur !,
,;nrton for lands unknown. At ]
l.a,ooL had left this man at the cor
oor Of California and Kearny streets
he a no forms Of the Enquirer went t.
pa 'ralk. according to Dr.. Holmes !
nading up the ground for crops o
.1nucht Assuredly my conversation
...,,h burlington had brought fort
On abundant harvest.