The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-08
CONTINUED from Last Sundays News
CHAPTER XII.
JERRY. THE TELLER.

JERRY, THE TELLER.
At midnight a small brougham stop
ped at the gates of the city hospital
in Rouen short distance ahead, the
lamps of a cab, drawn up at the curb
ing, made two dull orange sparks I'M
der the electric light swinging over
the street. A cigarette described a
brief parabola as it was tossed from
the brougham, and a short young man
Jumped out and entered the gates.
then paused and spoke TO the driver
of the cab.
Ibid you bring Mr.. Barrett here?"
Eyes, sir" answered the driver;
''him and two other gentlemen"
Lighting another cigarette, from
which he drew but two inspirations
before he threw it away, the young
man proceeded quickly up the walk.
As he assembled the short flight of
steps which led to the main doors, he
painted a little, in a way which sug-
gested that (although his white waist
coat outlined an ellipse still respecta-
ble) a creseendo of portliness was play
ing diminuendo with his youth. And,
though his walk was brisk, it was not
lively. The expression of his very red
face indicated that his briskness was
spurred by anxiety, and a fattish
groan he emitted on the top step add
ed the impression that his comforta-
BILE body protested against the mental
spur. In the hall he removed his mar
vsr,r -l,,esf, 11aa6 -trer hot
a rotund and amiable head. from the
top of which his auburn hair seemed
to retire with a sense of defeat; 1t fell
back, however, not in confusion, but
in perfect order and the sparse pink
mist left upon his crown gave, by
supreme effort, an effect of arrange
ment, so that an imaginative observer
would have declared that there was
part down the middle. The gentle
mans plump face bore a grave and
troubled expression, and gravity and
trouble were patent in all the lines of
his figure and in every gesture; in the
way he turned his head; In the uneasy
shifting of his hat from one hand to
the other and in his tanning himself
with ii in a nervous fashion; and in
his small, blue eyes, which did not
twinkle behind his rimless glasses and
looked unused to not twinkling His
gravity clothed him like an ill-fitting
coat; or, possibly, he might have re-
minded the imaginative observer, Just
now conjured mp, of a music-box set
to turning it's cylinder backwards.
He spoke to an attendant, and was
directed to an office, which he entered
without delay. There were five men
in the room, three of them engaged
in conversation near the door: an
other, a young surgeon. was writing
at desk; the fifth drowsily nodding
on a sofa. The new conner bowed as
he entered.
'Mr. Barrett?" he said. inquirlngly.
One of the men near the door turned
about. yes, sir" he answered, with
a stern disfavor of the applicant a
disfavor possibly a perquisite of his
office. What's wanted?"
Il think | have met you" returned
the other. MY name is Meredith"
Mr.. Barrett probably did not locate
the meeting but the name proved an
open sesame to his geniality, for he
melted at once. and saying: "Of course,
of course. Mr.. Meredith; did you want
a talk with me?''. clasped the young
mans hand confidentlally in his, and,
with an appearance of assuring him
that whatever the atrocity which had
occurred in the Meredith household it
should be discreetly handled and
hushed up, indicated disposition to
conduct him toward a more apprOpri-
ate apartment for the rehearsal of
scandal The young man accepted the
hand-clasp with some resignation, but
rejected the suggestion OF privacy.
A telegram from Plattville reached
me half an hour ago" he said. II
should have had it sooner, but have
been in the country all day"
The two men who had been talking
with the superintendent turned quick
ly, and stared at the speaker. He went
on: HAIRLESS was an old--and--"
He broke off, with a sudden, sharp
choking, and for a moment was I'M
able TO control an emotion that SEEM
ed, for some reason, as surprising and
unbefitting, in a person of his rubicund
presence, as was his gravity. An as
tonished tear glittered in the corner
of his eye. The grief of the gayer
sorts of stout people appears. some
times, to dumbfound even themselves
and wiped them slowly. AN old and
very dear friend of mine" He re-
placed the glasses insecurity upon his
nose. Il telephoned to your headquar-
ters, and they said you had come
here"
Yes. sir; yes. sir" the superintend-
ent of police responded, cheerfully.
These two gentlemen are from PIatt-
vile; Mr.. Smith just got in. They
mighty near had big trouble down
there to-day, but 1 guess we'll settle
things for 'em up here. Let me make
you acquainted with my friend. Mr..
Smith, and by friend, Mr.. Horner.