The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-11-01
CHAPTER l.
A DESPERATE MAN NEEDED.


leaning in an attitude expressive of
WEAKNESS and detection against one OF
the guard walls of a bridge over the
Seine.
The spot, as 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 crimiaals. 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 TO himself. THE prospects
are delightful"
\ shiver ran through his frame. He
looked down at the dark, forbidding
: water. 1t swirled below his feet eli
ther in invitation or derision. 1t de-
pended on the man.
Buckford Wallace was an American.
He was young. He had sought Paris
with a well filled purse, a heart full Of
hope and ambition and belief that he
was q born artist. Within less than n
year he had emptied his purse, lost
hope and changed his belief to this
that he was a born fool.
At any rate he could not draw, nei-
Their 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.
\ month before he had believed him
self TO hold a fortune securely in his
hands and to possess talent enough TO
make q name for himself Today he
knew that francs was all he had and
did not know where another frame was
to come from.
Despair was in the young mans
heart. and it was a pity, for he was a
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 a 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
Buckfords 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 a rude dis
guise. A SLOUGH 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 a 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 strange sentiment to come
from the lips of a man who skulked in
the dark, wearing a disguise.
"And," he added, as Buckford leaned
farther out over the water Just when
we need a 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, 'lf
had not been born 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 1t. You
might succeed, but there is doubt If
you must do 1t, there is a way
What the deuce do you meanT ask
amazement from the stranger.
"Hushl Not so loud The police can
hear even in the dark and on this
bridge. We are two brothers in mis-
fortune. l, who am older, have learn
ed the way out. l pity you. | will
lead you as l myself was led when
younger"
T-I thank you" stammered Wal
lace. "But l really don't need to be
led"
"ComeI We are fencing. Do you
deny that in one moment, had l not
accosted you, you would now be in the
,ISeine?"
For a moment Wallace hesitated in
doubt as to the others meaning. Then,
the dark cloak and SLOUGH hat acting
as a source of inspiration, he laughed.
ooh, my friend" he said, II had not