The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-08-21
A knave of Conscience
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
Copyright, 1900, by Francis Lynde.)

that matter-the lawbreaker always
did leave a trace behind him, and
determined for once in way to
demonstrate practically that it was
quite as easy to create an inerrant
fugitive as an infallible detective.
Joining the throng on the sidewalk,
he made his way leisurely to Canal
street, and thence diagonally
through the French quarter to the
French market. In a narrow alley
he found what he was looking for
a dingy, sailors barber shop. The
barber was a negro, fat, unctuous
and sleepy looking; and he was
alone.
Eyes, sab; shave, boss?" he asked
as Griswold entered.
'No; haircut" Griswold pro-
duced silver half-dollar. go
around the corner and get me CT
gar to smoke while you're doing it.
Get good one, if you have to go to
Canal street," he added, climbing
into the rickety chair.
The negro shufHed out, seeming
tips. The moment he was out of
sight Griswold snatched the scissors
and began to hack recklessly at his
beard; recklessly and swiftly, but
with thoughtful purpose. The re-
suit was complete metamorphosis
speedily wrought. In place of the
trim beard and curling mustache
there was a rough stubble, stiff and
uneven, like that on the face of a
man who had neglected to shave for
week or two.
II think that will answer" he said,
standing before the cracked looking
glass to get the general effect. "And
it's decently original. I fancy your
professional blunderer would have
shaved, and the first amateur detec-
tive he met would reconstruct the
beard on the sunburned lines. Now
for an uncle the more avaricious
the BETTER
He went to the door and looked up
and down the alley. The negro was
not yet in sight, and he walked
swiftly in the direction opposite to
that taken by the man. A pawn
brokers' shop of the kind he required
was not far to seek in that locality,
and when it was found Griswold
drove hard bargain with the Portu-
guese Jew behind the counter. The
pledge he offered was the clothes
he wore; and the bargain was con-
cluded for pair of jeans trousers,
a calico shirt, a sailors cap and a
red bandanna handkerchief. These,
and trif1ing sum of ready money,
the inconsequence of which Griswold
deplored piteously before he would
consent to accept it.
The Portuguese, most suspicious
of men, suspected everything but the
truth, as Griswold had intended, ac-
cusing his customer fatty of having
stolen the clothes. And when Girls
void departed without denying the
accusation, suspicion became con-
viction, and the clothing, which
might otherwise have given the po-
lice a most important clew, was
carefully hidden away until time
should have quoted the Jews ap-
prehensions.
Having thus disguised himself,
Griswold made the transformation
artistically complete by walking for
quarter of an hour in the dust of
loaded cotton float on the levee.
Then he made tramp's bundle of
the manuscript of the dead book,
the pistol and the money, in the
red handkerchief, and having sur
veyed himself in the bar mirror of a
sailors pothousc. was minded to test
his disguise by going back to the
restaurant where he had break
tasted.
The experiment was made forth
with, and was an unqualified success.
The proprietor not only failed to
recognize him, but drove him forth
with revilings in idiomatic French
and broken English
"Bete! Go back to da levee were
you belong to go. I'll kip da cafe
for zhentlemen. Scelerat! Col"
Griswold went, smiling between his
teeth.
"rhat settles the question of pres
ent safety" he said to himself. II
believe l could walk into the bank
and not be recognized.''
The idea was SO temptingly ad.
venturous that he gave place to it
on the spur of the moment. Taking
five-dollar bill from his store, he
fouled it in the mud of the gutter
and then went in to ask the paving
teller to give him silver for it. The
teller shifted at the money, scowled
at the man and then turned back
to his cashbook. Griswold's smile
broke into laugh when he reached
the street.
THE dragon may have teeth and
claws, but it can neither see MOI
SMELL" he said, contemptuously
bending his steps riverward again
Nov I have only to choose nv
route and go in peace. How and
where are the only remaining ques.
lions ho