St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-02-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
: A DISPENSATlON +
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best hotel the place could boast oi
was surprised, not to say fiattered, to
see a gentleman, gold-headed as te
his cane, ard evidently rich and in.
Huential. to judge from his servan,
and luggage, alight from the coach
with all the appearance of one who
was going to stay week in the
place. He was distinctly an Ameri.
can, with twinkling gray eye, a
long aquiline nose, a clean-shaven
upper lip and small goatee, which
he smoothed meditatively as he stood
like long-legged Colossus of Rhodes,
in trousering of very broad check
pattern, surveying the pride of the
proprietor's heart, namely, the hotel.
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.
I'VE have, sir; our stable yards are
considerable. And l say it IN praise
of your shanty that it reminds me of
my stables in Connecticut. / 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 to slow to give offense because
he was the 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
everybody.
Certainly" he replied, "for a week
or as much longer as YOU like"
swell, / guess only want to stay
u week. You see, 1 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 a
bit to see. whether the place is worth
working on large scale, as we do it
in America. But l say, boss, this
place is real duh after Brisbane;
isn't there any theater or place of
amusement? 1 reckon l shall die of
dullness right here"
The landlord, already under the
distinguished patronage of Viscount
Thurlton, 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 sup
posed to be concerned in daring
coach robbery committed some little
time before in the neighborhood.
"Ah! That would be interesting"
said the stranger. Il should like to
see that. Stuck up the coach. did hep
swell, they say he did, but he him.
self swears that he is innocent. and
that he was in Brisbane at the time
the coach was stopped. If you would
care to hear the trial, sir, / can get
you seat easily"
81 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 NOR
row, and by his influence secure him
a good seat, just to enable him to |
while away the time until Viscount |
Thurlton came along.
It 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 pro-
ceedings, but was seen and known by
everyone as the friend Of viscount
Ihurlton. and wealthy American
who WIS going to buy the new dig
ring township to work it" as an
ordinary man might work a potato
patch.
The prisoner was standing in the
lock with his eyes cast down listen
n9 in despair to the conclusive evi-
1ence against him. Presently ne
raised his eyes at some direct qucs-
ion from the judge, and was about
% speak when his eye fell upon the
stranger sitting on the bench. He
paused and staggered, then gripped
It the air, and fell senseless in the
lock.
when at last he was brought round
,e stood up, and. pointing to the
stranger. gasped for breath and tried
o speak.
.sWhat is it, my man?" said the
ndee. .sSteady yourself. ask again,
--S ,,ru ANYTHING 10 s,ay in your de-
ense?" j
s.Oh, yoar honor!" said the prisoner.
i last, 81 am saved-saved at the last
roment. have already said that ]
- n Brisbane at the time OF the
lINbery, and there II the man who
= prove it. Il,