The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-03-08

came TO the window where he paused,
and lit a cigar,
"Thats Mr.. Sanford" said my ac-
quaintance, whom | judged to be the
janitor of the building whose occu-
pants We were discussing. "He owns
that house, and l don't know how
many Others, down in the city. It's
queer that he should want to live up
here out Of the way. Still his rooms
are wonderful; l never saw such fur
niture; and there's things worth a
fortune, from all over the world"
"What does he do?1 asked.
HE? Oh, he doesn't have to do
anything. He's worth a mint O.
money, that fellow"
"And he's been all over the world"
said l, with a sigh for the many fair
lands l should never see. "Why
doesn't he travel some more"
"Says he's been everywhere" was
the reply. "He spends lot Of time in
his room, mostly alone; but often men
come to play cards. He gives them
wine by the cart load, and cigars that
cost a quarter apiece, in lots of a
thousand. Girls come to see him, too,
in the afternoons, and he makes tea
for them in a queer bronze thing that
used to belong to a prince out in
China or Japan. They don't al drink
tea, either; some of 'em drink wine
as well as the men. They're summers,
tell you; some Of them way up in So
ciety, Pmtold, though never NEEDLE
with other peoples business. Byjin-
60" he said, suddenly can see
the diamond on his little finger
sparkle, all the way from herel It's
big as your thumb"
Indeed it seemed to me that | could
see a fash Of light from the mans
hand. l sat up in my box and looked
at him. Instinct had told me that
there was some one in that house
whom / should envy. We faced each
other across the dark; he in his fine
dress suit. looking out from his nest
Of riches; | with my torn clothes,
couched in a box blythe wayside.
'He wouldn't have to walk a thou
sand miles to find a friend" said l..
He has plenty, | guess was the
reply. There's 30 many that it
seems to me | never see the same ones
twice, either men or women. Hello;
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayland are having an
other fuss. They're ust ike children
quarrel and make up. Lookat him
now, trying to get hold Of her hand.
He'll kiss it. I've seen them end their
s~quabbles like that before"
His prophesy proved true. Our
friends upon the lowest story had
grown tired Of quarreling. He kissed
her hand, and then her lips; and pres
entity they sat in the broad Window
seat together, her head upon his
shoulder, while they looked out at
the warm, dark, fragrant night.
From above came the sound Of the
mandolin, in an old love tune; and
many forms Of old and young people
appeared near to the invalid, listen
ing. Her mother-as | judged-was
stroking her hair, as she played,
The young man on the second floor
ceased to look away at the stars. He
returned to his desk and | saw him
seal a letter, and lay upon it lin box
which he took from a pigeon-hole.
Then he turned the light low, and
walked again TO the window where,
for a few minutes, his cigar glowed
with extraordinary brightness. Sud
denly it dropped from his lips; | saw
his hand clutch the sash above his
head, and his right come up to the
49,
level Of his breast. There sprang out
a great reddish yellow flash, in which
| saw his face as white as paper.
1t must have been a heavy weapon
for the report was very loud. The
music ceased above. | saw all the
people crowd around the invalid as
if to shield her from they knew not
what. All the lower windowth child
ish, married lovers stood with clasped
hands, as we two ran across the lane
and the garden.
III the midst Of quaint luxury
brought from many different lands
lay the young man dead. Thetin box
on the desk held some documents Of
.