Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-06
PROYlDoNTlAL.
.NNN~~~r

At sunset In a little town of Queens.
land the proprietor of the best hotel
the place could boast of was surprised,
not to say fiattered, to see a gentle
Man, gold headed as to his cane, and
evidently rich and influential to Judge
from his servant and luggage, nlight
from the coach with all the appear.
ance Of one who was going to stay at
least a week in the place. He was dis
tinctly American, with a twinkling
gray eye, long aquiline nose, a clean
shayen upper lip and small goatee
which he smoothed meditatiyely as he
stood like a long legged Colossus of
Rhodes, In trousering of very broad
check pattern, surveying the pride OF
sthe proprletor's heart-namely, the no.
tel.
Il guess it's not unlike my stables in
Connecticut, he said presently, as the
proprietor came down to meet him.
You must have fine stables, them
was the reply offered gently in the
hope Of turning away not the great
man himself, but only his wrath.
cradle. And l say 1t in praise of your
7 ahanty that 1t reminds me of my sta.
bles In Connecticut. suppose you can
give us loose box for week may
be?'
The landlord recognized the free and
easy American witlLplenty OF money
the kind of man who was never slow
to give offence because he was master
Of the situation by reason of the al
mighty dollar; lie recognized the ''col-
onel" and the general" the man who
travels as he lists the wide world over,
and gets ready respect and Difference
from everybody.
Certainly" he replied; "for week
or as much longer as you like"
well, guess only want to stay a
week. You see arranged to wait here
for Viscount Thurlton, who Is going to
Join me next Thursday, and then we're
going along to the new diggings just to
reckon things up n bit to see whether
the place is worth working on large
scale as we do it in America. But
say, boss, this place is real dull after
Brisbane; isn't there. any theatre or
place OF amusement? reckon shall
die Of dullness right here
The landlord, already under the dis.
tinguished patronage of viscount
Thurlton, became oily, almost greasy,
IN his manner. He explained that there
was no troupe at the theatre at pres
ent, and that the only excitement was
the trial Of a man who was supposed
to be concerned in a daring coach rob-
berry committed some little time before
in the neighborhood.
All! that would be interesting said
the stranger. II should like to see that.
Stuck up the coach, did he?"
We'll, they say he did, but he him
Bef swears that he is innocent, and
that he was in Brisbane at the time
the coach was stopped. II you would
care to hear the trial, sir, can get
you a seat easily"
I II guess I'll take you up, returned
the stranger, and 1t was agreed that
Z the proprietor should escort the great
man to the courthouse OH the morrow,
and by his influence secure him good
seat, just to enable him to while away
the time until yiscount 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 d
seat on the bench. where he not only
had good view of the proceedings,
but was seen and known by every one
as the friend of Viscount Thurlton. and
wealthy American who was going to
buy up the new digging township to
''work IT. as an ordinary man might
work potato patch.
The prisoner was standing in the
dock with his eyes cast down listening
in despair to the conclusive evidence
against him. Presently he raised his
eyes at 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 stag
gered, then gripped at the air and fell
senseless In the dock.
When at last he was brought round
he stood up and, pointing at the strang,
er, gaspea for breath and tried to
speak.
'sWhat is 1t. my MANI said the
Judge. Steady yourself. ask again
have you anything to say in your owl
defence?''
'.Oh, Your Honor!' said the prisoner
at Inst. 81 am savedv-saved, at the last
moment. have already said that
was in Brisbane at the time of the rob
berry, and there is the man who car
prove it."
All eyes followed the direction Of hi
finger and rested upon the stranger
who started, lookeN eanfussd' then u