Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-14
CHAPTER XIV

1 tried to put myself in place of tn,
man who had stolen his identity from
the dead. Were I he. thought. and
had done that of which believed he
he had been guilty. / woutl lose no
time in putting myself beyond the
reach of possible pursuit 1 would
have laid my plans with some exacti-
tude, and would have been prepared
for the necessity of flight / would
have thrown aside as many details of
my likeness to Harvey Farnham rs
nature had not provided me with. and
having set fire TO the room | lad occu.
pied, would have got out Of the hotel
as quietly and quickly as practicable
II 1t had been a comparatively easy
task for me to escape by means of the
creepers which clothed the side of the
house, the same means might well
have been employed by the man whose
movements / was mentally trying to
follow.
Success having attended my move
ments so far, / should have con,
straight to n railway station, and
would never have breathed freely until
] had left San Francisco well behint
me.
My hands were burnt, I was practi
cally without clothes. and hal suffered
considerable nervous shock. which
at another time l might have had leis
ure to feel and analyze.
But / did neither at the presen
juncture. l Simply procured a sim
portion of brandy neat, and drank IL AZ
gulp, purchased few articles Of
clothing from an accommodating wait
err, dressed myself with all speed. and
set off to the principal railway station
or depot OF San Francisco.
AS / got inside the station there was
certain hustle and stir OF departure
or arrival in the air. "Train going out
or coming in % 1 asked shortly of a
sleepy porter.
Going out-Salt Lake City" grumb
led the man in reply.
1 don't know why l instantly felt
the conviction that the bogus Farnham
was in that train, but l did feel it. and
so intensity that when / saw the long
| line of cars beginning to move il
| seemed to me that not to reach il and
| jump on board would mean the ruin OF
my life.
l have a dim recollection of person:
| shouting at me, of feeling q OBTAINING
hand trying to drag me back. l remem
| Der, too, thrashing out with consider
able force, Kidding myself OF my would
be preserver, l caught on by the rear
| platform, and after flying hopleSsly 70
an instant like ribbon in the wind al
the train Increased its speed got foot
hold, and climbed up the steps
l. AT the top was negro night porter
ash colored with fright. He helped t
pull me on board, and l tipped hin
generously, when / began to regain
my breath and scattered Wits fo
agreeing not to make any excitemen
by reporting the affair to the conduC
tor.
/ told him that / wanted a berth
found there would be a vacant on
on board the sleeper" at my dispose
and sat down in the smoking room
ostensibly to wait while the bed wa
made up for me.
Il A man came into the smoking room
had been alone before.
We looked at each other. he was
! tall, slim youngfellow, with smoot
face. At the sight of me he stoppe
/. short flushed to the roots of his clos
cropped hair, and would have precip
lately retired had ! not taken on
quick step forward and grasped hin
by the shoulder.
Gone was the padding from the che:
and abdomen: gone was the curly vii
a the DedIu, Ine lump OH Ine hOSes WHO
had been modelled after Farnhamt
gone was the green shade. fine slin
; and the limp; but much OF the odd r.
7 semblance, which had been heightene
in so artistic a manner, still remaine
CHAPTER XXVI
mo, you don't?' i remarked chez
fully, and with the force OF SUPERB,
muscles pulled him toward m
Come sit down here by mc.o sa
IT want to talk to you" And someho
4 1t came about that we subsidized on Il
. cushioned seat together.