The Mankato free press., 1903-01-23

Sne was ureSScU IN "a remarkably Ofu
fashioned style that struck John Cor
don as exceedingly interesting rather
than grotesque. She was very oad, ali
least ninety, but straight and Nigor,
Gus. Her keen blue eyes looked search.
ingly at John Gordon, and she spoke
In a sharp but remarkably clear voice
"Are you Mr. Barton?"
mo. madam. i am his friend, Mr.
Gordon. Mr.. Barton is asleep and
not well. What can i do for you
Win you be seated?"
I'm nsoment, sir" She placed up.
on the hoor a faded old carpetbag
took handkerchief out of her pocket
carefully busted one Of the hall
seats and then sat down. AS she
took out the handkerchief a delicate
aroma was waited to John Gordon.
1t reminded him of the fragrance
he remembered once while visiting the
East India Marine museum at Salem,
Mass, when the attendant opened an
old sea chest, lined with cedar and
packed with silk shawls.
John Sordon was now thoroughly
awake. The sharp eyes looked at him
kindly.
II am exceedingly sorry to hear that
Mr.. Barton is i'll. l very much wished
to see him. First | must be pardoned
for calling at this unreasonable hour
But i had the address and saw the
light and knew that newspaper men
kept queer hours. | have called at
the office Of the paper and was told
Mr.. Barton was at his apartments.
must go on my journey stonight'-
John Gordon had not the remotest
inkling as to the old lady's errand She
was evidently person, of great refine
ment and culture.
Ar. BartonT'
The question was so direct and frank
that Gordon smiled.
81 am his dearest friend"
Man or womanT the old lady asked,
with q twinkle Of the eyes that made
John Gordon smile again.
my friend has never had any love
affair. He is confirmed bachelor"
"Ah, don't deceive yourself, young
man. am old enough to be your
grandmother, your great-grandmother
almost, and have seen q great deal of
the world. But, pardon NEIL / must tell
you what came for.'
She put her hand into "a little bag
that hung from silk cord tied about
her wrist. AS she opened the bag the
same delicate aroma penetrated the
hall again.
She handed card to Gordon He
took it and read:
Mrs. Captain George Rffingham. Sa-
lem"
'tWell?'' Gordon said.
81 am Captain Effingham's widow.
day Captain. Effingham died His name
was Clark Effngham. He ran away to
sea when he was sixteen. Since then
] have heard nothing of him until
week ago | had a letter from him
dated Colorado Springs. He was con-
sumptive, but is getting better. am
on my way to see him.
She paused, and John Gordon, still In
the dark as to the object of her call on
Barton, said:
''Well?"
''You said you were Mr.. Barton's
nearest friend? How much of his real
life do you know"
Gordon was thoroughly surprised
For the first time he looked suspicious
~ and even doubtfully at the OLD lady.
81 know him well. There is mot q
kinder, purer, truer soul in this city
than David Barton
II believe you," the old lady nssde6
vigorously. But know more az
him than you do. Listen! o. .iah'
.nx months agoa young man. pt isess
homeless, alone in this great ci waf
walking its streets in a cold, ctrat
ing rain. An east wand blew IF the
water. The young man was proud. ""
would not write his reiatives for b ..
BE was afraid to let his aristocra tie
grandmother know that he had ,drifted
oT the sea, into one kind of vagabond
hfe after another, until he was ON the
verge Of starvation and crime in a
great, merciless city.
"Out In the night, that night, this
had stumbled against your friend Mr..
Barton. He gave him shelter and food.
Then he sent him out to Colorado be-
fore it was too late. Them Gordon
was crying. The old lady had some
thing in her sharp eyes that glittered
brighter than the eyes.
'Then this lad discovered a secret
The ERnghams always Were quick.
he found out that he WAS not the only
one Mr.. Gordon, do you know that
this friend of yours has during the last
ave years sent a little colony Of con
sumptixe people to Colorado and paid
all their expenses there, saving at least
a dozen liyes2 This much my grand
son has discovered He was the first
one Of them to find out iais benefactor's
name and address 1t first came to
him through an accident. But your
friend Island you did not know 1t? l
want to thank him. I want to tell him
how much my boy owes him. You
said he was i'll. l trust 1t Is nothing
seriouST
John Gordon let the tears fow down
his face. His friends Jealously guard
ed secret was out at last Now he
knew why he had so stubbornly re-
fused to go to Colorado himself. He
knew it was too late and had always
been. But, knowing it, he had put his
own life aside and had thus saved
others. And it was too late for him
now. The cynical, careless. great
hearted friend suddenly grew into an
image that would always sit on the
throne Of his memory in the high place