Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-10-04
CHAPTER XII.
Waylaid By the Ogre.

quick DloWs.
That's kind of you, Artemus," he
said, Immediately, land l shall be
only too pleased to meet the captain. -
Fate decreed that they should
meet Capt. Brand as they sauntered
toward the exit.
Both gave him a cold bow.
1t was no more nor less than he
was accustomed to from these friends
of Airline, and yet he looked after
them suspiciously.
Ali had he but dreamed of whittier
they were bound, and for what pur-
pose, the ogre would have considered
that the case called for something
beyond suspicion.
Keep an eye on him, Artemus, y
said Charlie.
We'll, rather. 1t would precipitate
matters if he chanced to see us meet
the original ghost, of we may SO term
Capt. Brand"
But apparently the ogre had awak-
ened to the fact that he was assailed
by a thirst which would not be de-
MED, for the last they saw of him
he was heading in a bee line for the
barroom.
Once clear of the hotel, the two
friends turned along the avenue.
Artemus knew where he was going;
this was his old stamping ground,
over which he had ranged for years,
always searching for that will-o'-the-
wisp which until now had eluded his
grasp-a sensation that would take
the theater-going public by storm,
and make his reputation at a bound.
So he led Charlie at length into a
public house, where many men came
and went, where silver and cut glass
cleaned upon the buffet back of the
bar, and tables invited a social chat.
Before they reached a distant table,
Charlie had located his man; it was
easy enough after he had points given
to him.
Nor was Artemus an iota out of the
way in his rough-and-ready diagnosis
of the mans character.
Charlie saw he had been a bluff,
genial sailor, and these years of wild
ing tribes of nomads into whose
hands he had fallen, had not eradi-
Gated these predominant traits.
Warmly he shook the hand of the
wanderer.
Eye looked into eye and read there
the nature of the man back of it.
And Capt. Brand was thanking
heaven mentally that his child had
been beloved by one whom he recog-
l. y a.. 20 ho
man.
Long they sat there and con-
versed.
The hours passed unheeded.
Charlie was enthralled by what he
heard.
There was no braggadocio about
this man, as in the case of the ogre,
and yet he had evidently passed
through adventures beside which
even the imaginary ones of the other
paled into insignificance.
He asked eager questions about
his child, and it could be seen how
anxious the father was to enfold her
in his arms.
Taken in all, they passed a most
pleasant time of it, and were finally
astonished when one of the walters
came with the information that mid
night had arrived-it was time to
close the house, and would the gen
tlemen have the kindness to vacate?
Which, of course, they did.
Arrangements were made for an
other meeting.
Capt. Brand also yearned to en-
brace his wayward boy, whom he felt
sure he could easily lead into the
right path.
Charlie walked on air as he re-
turned alone to the hotel, Artemus
pleading private business elsewhere.
Possibly his study of dramatic art
included also the stars of the stage,
and he thought it his duty to See
some divine Casino girl to her home.
There were many reflections to
keep Charles poor mind in trouble,
and ward off sleep.
This appearance of the real Brand
on the scene was a remarkable event
so opportune that he could not but
look upon it as providential. Indeed.
had the affair been left entirely in his
hands, the chances were he would
never have conceived so brilliant a
climax as to raise Brand from the
grave he was supposed to occupy in
Africa, and bring him upon the scene
to confound the ogre.