The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-10-20
PR0VIDENTIAL.

fKUVlUENllAL.
At sunset in little town in Queens
land the proprietor Of the best hotel the
place could boast of was surprised, not
to say battered, to see a gentleman,
gold-headed us to cane, and evidently
rich and influential to judge from his
servant and luggage, alight from the
coach with all the appearance of one
who was going to stay at least week
i'll the. place. He was distinctly Ameri-
can, with twinkling gray eye, u long
aQuiline nose, a clean-shaven upper lip
and small goatee which he smoothed
meditatively as he stood like Il long
legged Colossus Of Rhodes, in trousering
Of n very broad check pattern, surveying
the pride of the proprietor's heart-name-
~, the hotel.
Il guess it's not unlike my stables in
Connecticut he said presently, rs the
proprietor came down to meet him.
You must have fine stables, then, y
was the reply offered gently in the hope
of turning away not the great man him.
self, but only his wrath.
I'VE have, sir; our stables are consid-
L
shanty that it reminds me of my stables
i'll Connecticut. l suppose you can give
us loose box for a week maybe?
The landlord recognized the free and
easy American with plenty of money
the kind of man who was never slow to
give offenSe because he was master of
the situation by reason of the almighty
dollar: he recognized the colonel and
the general, the man who travels as
he lists the wide world over, and gets
ready respect and Difference from every
body.
Certainly" he replied; ''for a week OF
as much longer as you like
Well, l guess l only want to stay a
week: You see l arranged to wait here
for Eiscount Thurlton, who is going to
join me next Thursday, and then were
going along to the new diggings just to
reckon things up bit to see whether
the, place is worth working Oh large
scale as we do it in America. But l say,
boss, this place is real dull after Bris-
bane: isn't there any theater or place of
amusement: l reckon shall die OF dull
ness right here
The landlord, already under the distin-
guished patronage of Viscount Thurlton,
became oily. almost greasy, in his man
ner. He explained that there was no
troupe at the theater at present, and that
the only excitement was the trial of a
man who was supposed to be concerned
III daring coach robbery committed
some little time before in the neighbor-
hood
All! that would be interesting" said
the stranger. Il should like to see that.
Stuck up the coach, did hep
We'll, they say he did, but he himself
swears that he is innocent, and that he
was III Brisbane at the time the coach
was stopped. If you would care to hear
the trial, sir, can get you seat cas-
lily"
Il guess I'll take you up," returned
the stranger, and it was agreed that the
proprietor should escort the great man to
the courthouse on the morrow, and by
his influence secure him good seat, just
to enable him to while away the time
until Viscount Thurlton came along.
,, 1t so happened, however, that when
they arrived the body of the court was
full, so that the distinguished looking
American was accommodated with a seat
on the bench, where he not only had a
good view of the proceedings, but was
seen ana known by everyone as the
1rlend OF Viscount Thurlton, and veal,
tiny American who was going to buy u1
the new digging township to work it,
as an ordinary man might work a potato
patch.
ne prisoner was standing in the dock
with his eyes cast down listening in do
spair to the conclusive evidence against
him. Presently he raised his ewes a,
some direct question from the judge, and
was about to speak when his eyes fell
upon the stranger sitting ON the bench
He paused and staggered. then gripDed
at the air and fell senseless in the dock
When at last he was brought round he
stood up and. pointing to the stranger
SasHtd Tor breath and tried to speak.
W nat Is Il. my mAny' said the Judge
STEADY yourself. | ask again, have YOU
anything to say in your own defense?''
On, your honor said the prisoner at
laSt. am saved-saved at the last
moment. have already said that I was
III Brisbane at the time of the robbery
ana there is the man who can prove it.
All eyes followed the direction of his
finger and rested upon the stranger, who
started. looked confused. then irritated
and finally bewildered, as if he fancied
tn" prisoner must be mad.
ii that gentleman will answer my
urcStiCn. resumed the prisoner Il
think | shall bc able to prove to every
one that | was i'll Brisbane ut the time
said"
The stranger shifted in his seat nerv.
Gus Y. and at last said in tones of annoy,
Your honor. Eve never to my knowl
{ lgc set eyes on the prisoner before, and
l cont see how ! can tx up his limo.
cencc. Besides. l guess l didn't come
here to be questioned by every son of q
gun that holds up a mail coach-I beg
your pardon, your honor, but you'll allow
the annoyance is considerable anyhow"
His honor admitted it was, but straight
way appealed to the strangers better
feelings ON behalf Of the prisoner until
h. was somewhat Modified and remarked
'"Waal, if he thinks it's straight wire
he can start in, and I'll answer his Ques
items. l don't mind taking him up O.,
that
The stranger was then sworn, and as
he stood in the witness box the prisone,
addressed him.
Sir he said, do you remember on
the Sd of July man running after your
hat in the street in Brisbane, and bring
in: it back to you ON the pavement?'
II can't say that l do replied the
stranger utter a little thought; mo- l
DO you not remember his saying that
he was out Of work and his three chill
dren were starving? And then can YOU
not recall giving him sovereign and
saving, Here's shilling for you?''
The stranger was silent as if he wished
TO remember the occurrence, but present.
]y he shook his head slowly and said
mo. it's no use-yOu must be mistakine
me for someone else
'Stay!' cried the prisoner again, in q
voice of terrible tension, for it was his
last chance; ''do you remember, before
giving the sovereign. that the man told
You he had fought in the Crimean wal
and could show wounds-that he had
wouldn't help him? Yes, you must re-
member his showing you the scars-one
at the back Of the head, another on his
right breast
Tho stranger interrupted him with :
Sudden exclamation. ~ 10, do! Th,
scar ON your breast is long one-a sabre
rnt. Your honor, remember meeting
this man! Imust apologize; his life wa.
in my hands, and | nearly let him fall
through. He is the man saw in Bris
bane."