Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-07
By HARRY WOOD RYN0 Dis


ant generous gentleman he is-or
rather" land her face changed at some
Irecollection) cor rather. was
l caught her up eagerly. Was"
echoed. Wasn't he the sam, as -,
this last timer
No. that he wasn't, sir. I thought
TO myself, thinks l. MIR. Farnbam
must have been disappointed ia love or
something, ne was SO grumpy and
dull Always before when ne came he
had good word for me; How do you
do, GinnieY or smile and a nod. but
new he went by me without a sign, for
all the world as if he'd never seen me
before, though I've been here since l
was seventeen; that's six years ago.
when L spoke to him first, why, he
looked up and answered in num-
Ding way, never even saying my name,
BUT, then, poor gentleman, / suppose
he was too sick to think of anybody ex-
cept himself
did he look Strangely 1 went on
to question.
oh. don't know about that sir, ex-
cept for the green shade he had to
wear over his eyes; l suppose his face
was much the same. Only didn't get
many chances to see it, and all his jol-
{ iy ways and smiles were goDe, so that
made difference. l was so glad when
saw his baggage coming up, for
there's never been a gentleman SO po-
pular with us girls as Mr.. F'arnham;
but except for his giving me something
when he went away he might almost
as well not have been in the hotel"
Would you have recognized his
voice" / asked, eff you had not seen
him?'
4 would when he was well and like
hisself, sir, in a minute, but not this
time, because of the bad cold he'd got
on the voyage, which he said was the
worst he'd ever had. He did nothing
but cough and wheeze, and could only
speak in hoarse sort of whisper"
These details were all L could ex-
tract from "Ginnie," the chambermaid:
but before left the hotel l bethought
Inc to examine the visitors book for
Farnham's name, wishing to look at
the handwriting, which. IL his, felt
sure l could not fail to recognize.
Evidently he had not considered it
worth while to write in the visitors
book on this occasion, though 1 found
that he had scrawled his name on a
visit some months before.
Having by dint Of some exertion
foud the cabman who had driven
Farnham from the hotel to the railway
depot, 1 made sure that his luggage
had been checked" to Denver, and so
set forth again, with n feeling that l
had something to go upon.
1t was just breakfast time when /
arrived, but the business world of Den
yer. Col, and the great West is astir
at an hour which would appear unusu-
al in England. l asked for MIR. Farm
ham, and was told by a young clerk
that he had returned to Denver three
or four days previously. He had not
been at the offices, as he was some
what unwell as yet. but IL 1 chose
could see Mr.. Bennett, who would tell
me when he might be expected.
1 remembered Bennett, now that /
was reminded OF his existence, as an
energetic young fellow, hlgu in Farm
hams confidence, who probably knew
as much about the mining and other
financial interests as did his employer
j said therefore, that / would see Mr..
Bennett by all means.
He came in to me briskly in n few
moments. surprised and, he said, de-
lighted TO see me again. Yes, 1t was
quite true that Mr. Farnham had re-
turned, but was as yet unable to be
troubled by business affairs.
You look i'll, Mr.. Stanton remarked
Bennett II guess you've had a tire
some journey. l know what q nasty
run that is between Chicago and Den
YER"
Il believe l am bit knocked up" I
said, though 1 ought to be able to
stand trifie like that and think moth
Ing or 1t. 1 should be glad 70 see Mr..
Farnham. 1 suppose such an old friend
as | might venture to call on him, even
though he isn't feeling as fit as L
should like to think him. II he isn't
likely to turn up here presently might
drive to the house, and he'd give me
breakfast, 1 dare say"