Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-11-01

Bradshaw was a companion of his
which was in constant requisition
Thumbed and dog cared, pencil marked
on the margin, 1t showed a mutilation
or an indignity upon almost every
page. To me Bradshaw has always
been a WEAKNESS to the flesh, a thing
devised to drive men mad and hurry
their souls to perdition, but to my fa-
Their IL was an endless page of Iunatic
delight. II didn't matter where the ed
itors hid away a train, he bounced up
on 1t like hawk. Their ingenuity was
wasted on him. He reveled In noun
tains OF bewildering figures; he read
the columns Of hieroglyphics as easily
as could read the English alphabet.
The compilers little knew when they
chuckled In secret over their fendish
work that they We're creating an in
finite source of intricate happiness for
at least one son OF man.
After studying the mystic pages for
some time he, having absorbed his in
formation, carefully deposited the pre-
cious tome once more In his bag. Then
he began to collect his various papers,
which he also placed in the bag. 1t
looked to me as though he was making
preparations for leaving the train; but
knowing this to be an impossibility,
merely regarded 1t as another of his
little eccentricities. However, as we
began to slacken down he cried out
suddenly, "Stand by"
looked aS him. BE repeated almost
harshly: ''Stand by. Get ready. Don't
stare at me like fool"
but this is Shrewsbury"
Il know that as well as YOU"
Thinking It just possible that the
liquor he had slipped might have made
him forget, l said. but we started for
Denblgh?"
I'VE did nothing OF the kind. We
started for Shrewsbury, and here we
are"
AT that moment the train glided into
the station and so cut short all further
remonstrnnce. But I think he saw
that he had annoyed me, for as we
logged away together In the cab he
explained, with some attempt at plaus-
Utility, that il had been his original IN.
tention to stop the eight tat Shrews-
bury, but that he had forgotten TO
make me acquainted with such tri-
ding detail. assured him that his ex-
PLANTATION was quite unnecessary. In
deed, IL was a. matter OF perfect indif-
ference to me where we went, since ey-
cry place was sure TO prove distaste-
full. Ny father and did not yet quite
understand each other, and to have as
a travelling companion one with whom
you are In no sort OF sympathy is dis
unotly distressing.
Arriving at the hotel, his first in
quiry was for a room with two beds.
and I may here state that during the
remainder of our wanderings we al
ways slept in the same room when II
was possible, and when not he insisted
upon two rooms communicating will
each other. In this instance a very ex.
cellent room on the second floor was
shown US, a glance at which at one,
convinced me OF It's suitability, but he
was harder to please. He felt the
beds, examined the windows, saw that
the door had both bolt and key
and then and not until then declared
himself to be fully satisfied.
AS it was already late he ordered
dinner to be brought to the room, and
1 thought that he now seemed like a
rational man for the first time. His
frigid reserve thawed in the most re
markable manner, and he condescend-
ed to crack an occasional Joke at my
expense. What wrought this change
IN him I could not then imagine. for /
did not think II was the good food, and
L felt sure that 1t could not be the
quantity OF wine. 1t seemed to me,
that he cast aside his suspicious as on
would cloak and that for the first
time that day he felt the blessing OF Sc
curity.
That evening we retired to rest at a.
comparatively early hour, but before
so doing he once more examined the
windows very carefully and saw that
the door was locked and bolted Then
he lifted his bag on to the table, opened
1t and drew forth an extremely hand
some six chambered revolver This he
handled very carefully, almost loving
ly, thought, and then, after balancing
1t and taking sundry imaginary aims,
he turned to me.
Il suppose you know what this is?''
Truly he had but an Indifferent opin
Ion Of me, an opinion bred of ignorance.
no doubt, like so many Indifferent opin.
Ions, yet none the less offensive on that
account
''Yes," / said.
Have you ever fired onef"
could not help smiling as thought
or the weeks of daily tuition had un-.
dergone with my uncle.
Often"
Come" said he, apparently much re-
heved, that's not so bad. Do you think;
you could hit that window yonder?"
The window In question was an ordi-
nary one, some 10 or II feet from my
bed. He evidently had not heard of my
prowess with the gun.
81 think So" / said. "What Is more,
could put a ball between a man'sI
eyes If he stood outside"
"Good," he cried, ''if you see him
there put ball between his eyes"
"See himT 1 echoed. not a little star
tied at his sudden vehemence.