The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-03
GOALS OF FIRE.

the hills of San Francisco. IL was
cold and the biting wind whirled down
the lighted pavement of Market street
and blew the rags Of smoke-only one
could not see that-from the face of
the waxing moon which began to flare
family above the myriads of colored
lights.
Bliffkins turned up his coat collar
and thrust his hands into his pockets,
and bent forward at an angle against
the wind. He walked swiftly, reck-
lessly, never feeling it as he roughly !
jostled passerby after passerby, nor
needing the hard glances that were di-
rected at him by the disgruntled ones.
His brain was in q whlrl. He was
conscioa 70 of a dim desire to get among !
~people-a crowd-noise, excitement.
1t was the tumult within him calling
for response in his environment.
Emmabelle Harrington had just re-
fused him. 1t was not the first time,
but 1t was vastly different from the
other times. On this occasion it had
been borne in upon him that she
meant what she said. Emmabelle was
q typewriter girl, a gray eyed mite who
lived in Oakland, and her ways were
so quiet and her speech was so gentle
that when she said no at first Bliffklns
had never dreamed that she meant it.
Perhaps it is true that she was in the
wrong not to have made her refusal
more decided, but something must be
set down to Bliffkins' overwhelming
conceit: anyhow, there 1T was-he had
been going on loving her, ever more
and more, until when the final wrench
came it seemed to BliGkins that there
was nothing left in life for him.
Of course, Bhffkins' was not a man
of decided character or of wide export
ence, or his better sense would have
asserted itself. He was of the emo
tional type rather than the intellectual
and an emotional PERSONS strength ls
Just his strength in his most dangerous
mood-the chain no stronger than its
weakest link. He was a clerk in one
of the Wholesale houses of the city al q
salary of seventy-five dollars a month,
Bliffklns was not angry with En-
mabellc. He was filled with wonder
at her strange perverseness, and Will
pity for himself. Also there was 6
rage of blind jealousy within him, fol
he reasoned that if she did not love
him we'll enough to marry him it mus
be because she loved SOMEBODY else
better. But nobody could love hel
better than he, he was certain of that
Why, he would die for herl Tha'
would prove his devotion. She would
be sorry then. An image of his starl
corpse, and Emmabelle weepingly
identifying it, filed his eyes with tears
Go toll He would commit suicide.
He really meant it, for he loved hel
sincerely and she had given him 6
mortal hurt. He turned abruptly
walked a few blocks and stood wait
ing for a car to the Oakland ferry.
He reflected that be had a few hun
dred dollars in the bank. She might
as we'll have that. He left the corne,
and entered the Office of a notary pub
lie. The business took nearly al
hour.
He came out of the office feeling de
cidedly better. The necessary atten
ton to details had diverted his mint
from his trouble. IL occurred to HIN
that he ought to leave the world de
Gently attired. He walked the few
blocks to his hotel, bathed and shaved
and exchanged his colored shirt ant
gray business suit for his best blacl
broadcloth and white linen. He don
ned his new topcoat and caught the ca
for the ferry.
1t was the first ferry after six ant
was crowded with city workers goins
to their suburban homes. But thu
night was cold and everybody stayed
inside
That is, everybody except Bliffkin:
and one other man. The stranger
paced back and forth on the deck or
the port side, smoking. Something il
his air arrested B)iffkins' none toe
alert intention. He was shabby anC
discouraged looking, but bore certain
marks of refinement. Bliffkins fell
vaguely annoyed; somehow he resent.
ed a strangers presence when he
should do the deed. This was foolish
as he presently reflected. 1t would be
well to have a witness; they would find
him the more quickly.
He approached the rail and stood
looking down at the dancing of the
lights on the dark water. He shivered
a little; it was deucedly cold. The
stranger paced back and forth behind
him for q time, then stopped. "What
are you doing here?" he said harshly.
Waiting" returned Bliffkins with
simplicity.
waiting Tor WnatI"
Waiting for the ferry boat to get
opposite Goat island" with a sugges-
ton of dramatic emphasis. He was
following the then prevailing fashion
in San Francisco suicides in the choice
of place. He was somewhat in Won
der tt find himself not only unresent-
full, but communicative.
$50 am l." the stranger returned.
He Knocked his cigar against the rail
and replaced it between his lips. 81
am going to jump overheard when we
get there. Now don't betray me-"
he said quickly, " for if you should you
would merely cause me the trouble of
making a return trip"
al have no intention of betraying
you," Bliffkins sail in a suppressed
tone. "I'hat is just what / am going
to do myself"
The two stared at each other. Final
ly the stranger ventured, " What fOr?"
What are you doing it for?'' re-
torted Bliffkins.
"I have no hesitation in telling you.
1 am suffering from a lingering and
incurable disease. II not only makes
me wretched, but unfit for work. l
have no means and / haven't any de-
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