The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-11-01
CHAPTER I.
A DESPERATE MAN NEEDED.

MT Tor the gl0omleSt man.
| kzTs5ssSI The words were spoken by
| ASGGy a young man who stood
leaning in an attitude expressive Of
Wearness and detection against one Of
the guard walls of a bridge over the
| Seine.
| The spot, rs might be inferred from
the remark. was far from the brilliant
lights and gay life Of the chief bridges,
the boulevards. the principal quays.
| 1t was dark with the darkness loved
by criminals. Few people passed that
| way at night, and had there been many
the young man would scarcely have
| been noticed.
Il believe l have francs left" he
| muttered 10 himself. "The prospects
are delightful"
A shiver ran through his frame He
looked down at the dark forbidding
water. 1t swirled below his feet Ell
ther in invitation or derision. 1t de-
pended on the man.
Buckford Wallace was an American.
He was young. He had sought Paris
with well filled purse, heart full of
hope and ambition and belief that he
was q born artist. Within less than
year he had emptied his purse, lost
hope and changed his belief to this
| that he was born fool.
| At any rate he could not draw, nei-
ther could he paint. The full shock of
the realization did not come to him till
he had spent his money and learned
| that the uncle who had been support
ing him in luxury had died and left his
fortune to his nieces. none of whom
was on marrying or even friendly
| terms with Buckford.
Buckford Wallace saw nothing ahead
| but the bitterness and gloom of pov-
erty.
A month before he had believed him
self to hold a fortune securely in his
hands and to possess talent enough to
| make a name for himself. Today he
knew that 3 francs was all he had and
did not know where another franc was
to come from.
Despair was in the young mans
heart and it was pity, for he was
handsome youth, free from the follies
| and vices so common to those who live
idly and at ease in Paris. He was
brave enough too. But at % one does
not face poverty and misfortune as one
faces human antagonist.
Buckford Wallace had not contem.
plated suicide. He had, in his heart
misery, wandered to that lonely spot to
think over his next necessary step.
Even had he thought of ending his
life and his troubles he would be for.
given by all except those who have
had little life and no troubles
But whatever was passing through
Buckford's mind, his attitude was GER
tainly that of a man who was about to
| plunge into the Seine
Perhaps at that moment he did not
even know the Seine was there.
1t was the appearance of his sinister
motive that set the pieces of this hiSto-
| ry in motion.
| A man was lurking in the still Deep
| er shadows on that bridge. This man
wore large cloak which almost envel-
oped him and served as rude dis.
| guise. A slouch hat was drawn over
his eyes. These eyes were like those of
a cat. They could see in the dark.
They could stand anything but honest
light.
| Heavens" this man was muttering
to himself There is young fool who
is sick of life. Weary of the struggle,
he is about to end himself ignobly,
| when, if he chose, he could devote his
life to the service of humanity and win
immortality and fame"
This was a strange sentiment to come
from the lips of man who skulked in
the dark, wearing disguise.
And" he added. as Buckford leaned
farther out over the water. ''just when
we need man who courts DEATH"
Buckford oblivious of the presence
of the other gazed down into the swirl.
ing water.
Il believe" he said to himself. "if 1
had not been born a Wallace or had
not had my own dear mother to teach
me in my youth l would feel tempted
TO jump into that water and find rest"
! A light touch on his shoulder startled
/ him.
Monsieur, do not attempt it. You
might succeed but there is doubt. If
/ you must do it. there is way
What the deuce do you mean" ask
ed Wallace, drawing back in startled
amazement from the stranger.
II Hush! Not so loud! The police can
hear even in the dark and on this
bridge We are two brothers in mis-
fortune. !, who am older. have learn.
ed the way out l pity you. l will
lead you as l myself was led when
younger"
IL thank you" stammered Wal
lace. But l really don't need to be
led"
Come! We are fencing, Do you
deny that in one moment, had ! not
accosted you, you would now be in the
SeineT
For moment Wallace hesitated in
doubt as to the others meaning. Then.
the dark cloak and slouch hat acting
as source of Inspiration. he laughed.
"Oh, my friend" he said, Il had not
got so far down as that"
But you Were near it, Listen. II
am not mistaken, YOU are an AmerI.