Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-16
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-.Copyright. 1905. by j LIppincott Company.
self in the country; but 1t is n rarely
vigorous ambition that thrives on
grinding monotony and grows strong
through years of scmi-starvation; mine
was not made of such sturdy stuff. Had
Lamar sprouted horns and displayed
cloven hoof | might have experienced
qualms, but scarcely wcll-defined re-
grets.
Three hours later was again in the
city, and the few ties which had bound
me to it were severed. The landlord
took my departure philosophically;
payment of the arrears of rent seemed
to reconcile him to losing the tenant.
A nearby practitioner gladly agreed
to give room to my books until they
should be sent for, and junkman drove
an easy bargain for my furniture. A
valise was capacious enough to receive
the few effects l cared to take away.
and even its contents might have been
parted with without great sorrow.
There were no patients to worry about,
and few questions to answer. To such
as were put replied that had secured
an appointment in the country; and
even my professional brother did not
think it worth while to push the in.
quiry further. In short, my neighbors
manifested no more curiosity about me
than about the vanished builder of
last years birds nest still swinging
on n bough of the half-dead tree at the
corner.
1t would have been easy to return
to Merton long before the appointed
time, but l tarried in town to enjoy a
luxury which had charmed my fancy
on many day when the cravings of
hunger possessed me. There was a res.
taurant, famous far and near, gas
tronomic Mecca to which many pill
grims journeyed joyously, under whose
roof was determined to dine. Often
bad I surveyed its glories from the
pavement without, prowling about the
place in fascination at the picture Of
good cheer visible through its windows.
Now was privileged to enter, strong
in the consciousness that n roll of bills,
still of goodly size in spite of the pay
ments made from it, nestled in my
pocket. Let it be confessed, how
ever, that as I stepped through the
doorway my hand was clutched about
the money, us if in fear that it might
vanish. Not until I had dined and tho
account had been liquidated did the
dread of an awakening from so pleas
ant dream disappear. The remem-
brance of that solitary feast will be
always with me; for it brought the
first convincing proof that the old
period of stress was at an end.
A suburban train bore me to Merton
early in the evening. I went at once
to my employers room. Before leaving
the city l had secured timetables of
the road on which we were to make our
Journey, and had found that through
express stopped at the town at ten
o'clock. Lamar was well pleased with
this bit of information. He had not
quilted his quarters in my absence, he
said, and none of the hotel servants,
except the somnolent porter who adj
mitted us, had had glimpse of his
face, for he had kept out of Sight
when food and drink were brought to
his room. A little before ten o'clock
Isettled our reckoning, and we left the
hotel by side door, reaching the sta.
ton just as the train rolled up to the
platform. My companion chose coach
in which there We're few passengers
and, picking out dark corner, buried
his face in his upturned coat collar
and pretended to sleep. One of his
hands was clasped about the strap of
his little valise, and not orce in the
course of the journey did he loosen his
grip upon it.
There was weary ride of several
hours. and then an equally weary wait
at n junction at which we were to take
a train over = branch line; but long
before the lazy folll-if there We're
any sluggards in that workaday region
were stirring, our travel by rail had
been completed. We left the cars at
BASKERVILLE, the station nearest Rod
neytown, which was separated from the
railway by u ten-mile stretch of coun-
try. AS it happened Sam Carpenter, the
owner of livery stable near by, who
usually supplied conveyances to per-
sons desiring to reach the village, was
an acquaintance of my boyhood days.
With him was soon in friendly dis
course.
1--WE got patient with me, SAM"
said I, "and he wants to breathe pure
sea-breezes. Pm taking him down to
the old place. He needs good air and
quiet"
"Wall ,hewon't gitmuch else, 1 guess"
said the man, with all the contempt of
the railroad town for place less blest.
"Want steady nag, don't We? Take
q boy along, or drive yerself?"
"Ncver mind about the boy; I know
the way" answered. "I'll see that tho
team gets back to you this afternoon"
A little later drove up to the station
where Lamar had been awaiting me-
He climbed into the buggy with an
agility which was surprising, consider
ing his appearance of illness, and settled
down beside me with the valise still in
in his hands. offered to stow it away
with my sole piece of luggage back Of
the seat, but he shook his head.
1T is my preference to keep it," said
he. ut is not q burden"
The morning was fresh and clear, and
as we drove along the charm of it
gained possession of my senses. for
got the fatigue of the night in stuffy
q =