Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-06
!: SHORT STORY q:
: OF The DAY !.
@
PROVlDENTlAl..
PROViDENTIAL.

From the London star.
At sunset IL a little town in Queensland
the proprietor Of tae best hotel the place
could boast Vi was surprised, not 10 say
nattcred, 70 see Il gentleman, So!d-headed
a. 10 his cane, and evidently TIcsI and in
nu,ntiai, TO Judge from his servant and
luggage, allgnJ from the coach with al
tn Appearance OF one EhO was going 10
stay at least Il week in the place. He was
distinctly an American, with Il twiukiiag
gray eye, Il long aquiIine nose, a clean
.EAFen upper up ana small goatee which
he smootned mrditatiyely a. he stood like
lCng-leggcd Colossus of Rhodes. in
tFouserinS Of very broad check pattern,
surveying the pride Of The proprietor :
heart, namely, the hotel.
1 guess il : not unlike my stables In
Connecticut he said presently, as the pro-
prIetor came DOWN 10 meet him.
You must have line stables, then was
the reply, offered gently, in the hope OF
turning away not the great man himself,
but oHIy his wrath.
We nave, sir. our stable yards are con-
siderable. AND ] say IL in praise Of your
shaHty that IL reminds me OF my stables
IN Connecticut / suppose you can give Us
u loose box for 4 week maybe?
The landlord recognized the free and
easy American with plenty Of .nOney-the
Kind Of man who was never slow TO give
oHense because ne was master OF the STU
alton by reason OF the almighty dollar:
he recognized the colonel and the gen
eral," 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"
We'll, l guess ! only want to stay a
week. You see, ! arranged to wait here
for Eiscount Tnurlton. who Is going TO Join
me next Thursday, and then were gong
along TO the new diggings just 10 reckon
things up a bit TO see whether the place
IS worth working on large scale, as we
do IL in America. But / say, DOES, ms
place is real dull after Brisbane; ism l
there any theater place of amusement?
i reckon / shall die Of dullness right mere
The landlord. already under tne dlStil-
guished patronage OF NiScOunt IhuEiton,
became oily, almost greasy, in his manner
He explained that there was no troupe at
the theater at present, and that the only
excitement was the trial OF man who was
supposed TO be concerned n q daring coach
robbery committed some little time DetOFe
in the neighborhOOd.
''Ah! That would be interesting" said
the stranger Il should ike 10 see that
Stuck up the coach, did hc2''
Well. they say he did, but he himself
Ewe2rs that he is innocent, and that he was
in Brisbane at the time the coach was
trial. sir, / can get yOU a seat easily.
Il guess I'll take you up, returned the
stranger, and IL was agreed that the pro-
priefor should escort the great man 10
the court house on the morrow, and b. his
influence secure him a good seat, just 10
enable him TO while away the time until
Niscount Thurlton came along.
il 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 anu
known by everyone as the friend OF VS.
count Thurlton, and wealthy AI iis-lla,l
who was going to buy up the new digging
township 10 work it, as an ordinary man
might work a potato patch.
The prisoner was standing in the dock
with his eyes cast down listening in despair
20 the conclusive evidence against him.
Presently he raised 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
geued. 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 stranger,
gasped for breath and tried TO speak.
STEADY yourself" ! ask again, have you
anything to say in your defense
oh, your honor said the prisoner at
last u am saved-saved at the last mo-
mcnt. l have already said that l was in
Brisbane at the time of the robbery, and
there is the man who can prove. it,
finger and rested upon the stranger, who
started. looked confused. then iTritated,
and finally bewildered. as if he fancied the
prisoner must be mad.
IF that gentleman will answer my ques-
ton resumed the prisoner, Il think
shall be able TO prove TO everyone that
was In Brisbane at the time ! said
The stranger shifted in his seat nervous
~. and at last said in tones of annoyance
and eXpostuiation:
Your honor I've never TO my knoTl-
edge set eyes on the prisoner before, and 1
don't see how / can fix up his innocence.
Besides. guess ] didn't come here to be
questioned by every son of a gun that
holds up 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 feel
ings on behalf Of the prisoner until he WAS
somewhat modified, and remarked: WAL
N f..C an f.lrr
in, and I'll answer his questions. l don't
mind taking him up on that
The stranger was then sworn, and as he
stood In the witness box the prisoner adj
Sir, he said. do you remember on the
3rd OF July a man running after your hat
in the street in Brisbane and bringing 1t
back to you on the pavement
Il can't say that l do, replied the
stranger. after little thought: mo. /
DO you not remember his saying that
he was out of work and his three children
were starving? And then can you not re-
call giving him a sovereign and saying:
Here's shilling for your ."
The stranger was silent. as II he wished
20 remember the occurrence. but presently
he shook his head ana said: Mo: it's no
use-you must be mistaking me for some
one else
Stay" cried the prisoner again. in
voice of terrible tension, for ii was his
last chance. DO you remember, before
giving the sovereign. that the man told
you he had fought in the Crimean war and
could show wounds-that he had helped
his country, but his country wouldn't help
him? Yes You must remember his show
ing you the scars-ore at the back of the
head. another on HIS right breast
The stranger Interrupted him with a sud-
den exclamation: y do, | do The scar
on Your breast is a long one-a saber cut
Your honor. / remember meeting this man,
must apologize; his life was In my hands.
and l nearly let him fall through. He is
the man ! saw in Brisbane"
There was a profound sensation in court
as the prisoner stcadied himself and wiped
the cold moisture from his brow
can you remember the date on which
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