The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-05
az MAURICE THOMPSON.
1892 and Ises ty Robert Borncr's Sons.


venture which, although at the time
it appeared to have no connection with
his future, introduced an active ele-
ment into the drama of his life.
At the entrance to a dark alley, q
struggle was going on between two
persons, and Fairfax heard, through
his open carriage-window, low cries of
anger and distress. He signaled his
driver to stop, and at once sprang out
and ran to the spot. A burly man
was choking and beating a small
hunchback, who fought with tooth and
nail like tiger cat. Fairfax called to
the big fellow to let 20 his hold OF the
dwarf's neck, and not being needed,
dealt him heavy blow on the ear
with his fist. A watchman appeared
at this moment and reached the spot
lust as the rufian was trying to rise
from where the cuff had landed him.
Some time was spent by Fairfax in ex-
planning to the officer his connection
with the matter.
The little deformed man declared
that his powerful assailant was trying
to rob him of O small amount Of silver
money, but the accused stoutly main
tanned that the money was his and
that the other had stolen it from him.
The light of q distant lamp set at
the gate of a private house permitted
Fairfax to see the dwarf's features but
dimly, yet they were 30 unusual, 80
hideous indeed, that they fixed them
selves firmly in his memory. The
watchman knew both of the COM
batants and, laying his hand on the
little fellows strangely distorted
shoulder, called him Crapaud Crapou-
sin.
"Crapaud Crapousin," he growled,
as he shook Kim rudely, 'you are al
ways into mischief! How many times
must I chuck you in jail?"
OF course Fairfax got away from
this scene as soon as he could. The
delay, however, was longer than this
brief telling may make it appear.
When he reached Chateau dor his
right hand, with which he had deliv-
cred the blow on the mans ear, was
paining him greatly, and later he dis.
covered that he had broken O finger
on the fellows skull.
"But you must have it attended to
at once" said Mr.. Vernon; 'tfor-
tunately there is a skillful surgeon
present." and forthwith he hurried
Fairfax into room apart from the
company, and sent servant to bring
Colonel Loring.
sits nothing" Fairfax insisted, as
o matter of form; but his pain was by
no means hidden, and his hand was
beginning to swell.
"a gentleman should never strike
with his unarmed hand" said Mr..
Vernon. "Why didn't you shoot the
scoundrel?"
81 shot him with the only weapon I
chanced to have" replied Fairfax,
with grim half smile.
The music was swelling merrily and
ripping through the house; the dan
GERS were flashing back and forth and
in and out; and the breeze coming in
at the open windows and doors gently
famed the flushed young faces as they
wbirled.
When Colonel Loring approached
and Mr.. Vernon was about to speak,
Fairfax looked up and saw before him
Pierre Rameau. He could not help
showing his surprise and astonish-
ment.
"Let me present my friend, Colonel
Philip Loring, Mr.. Fairfax. Colonel
Loriug is an expert surgeon; he will
dsa! cunningly with your hurt hand. !"
Fairfax was staring, glaring, his
lips compressed: his chin thrust out,
his face white and rigid. He did not
hear a word that Mr.. Vernon said.
"Don't offer me your hand, Pierre
Rameau, you base and conscienceless
villain" he exclaimed in low, meas
ured tone of voice, husky with rage.
He appeared about to spring upon
Loring and throttle him.
Colonel Loring without changing
countenance turned to Mr.. Vernon
and, with a simple infection of in
quiry, said:
''Wbat does this man mean?"
The wrath and the insulting epi-
thets seemed not to have affected him
in any way. Not a line of his face
had changed it's expression. He
turned his eyes slowly and with a pc
culiar steadiness from Fairfax to his
host and stood in an erect but su-
premely Indifferent attitude.
The Indignation of Fairfax was IT.
repressible; he could not be still.
Doubtless he would have made a
memorable scene Of it if he had been
left free to act.
Mr.. Vernon stepped between the
two men and made q gesture that
meant command for them to be
silent, and when he spoke it was
scarcely above his breath.
'Ehis is my house, Mr.. Fairfax;
you are both my friends and my
guests; if you are enemies to each
other, let me beg you not to make q
scene here"
q never had the honor of seeing
the gentleman BEFORE" said Loring,
in tone that gave no suggestion OF
feeling, unless it might have been
that C hint Of contempt rang in it.
"You are the robber, Pierre Ra-
meau," Fairfax boldly declared. "You
cannot put me aside with your cool
effrontery. I have seen your face
once before; I would know it twenty