The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-11
CHAPTER LVI.

Thorpe walked through the silent
group of men without seeing them. He
had no thought for what he had done,
but for the triumphant discovery ne
| had made in spite of himself.
1t was then about o'clock in the
morning. Thorpe passed the boarding
I house. the store and the Office, to take
himself as far as the little open shed
! that served as a railway station. There
he set the semaphOre to flag the east
bound train from Duluth. At 6:32, the
train happening on time, he climbed
aboard He dropped heavily into a seat
and stared straight in front of him
until the conductor had spoken to him
twice.
Where to. Mr.. Thorpe?" he asked.
The latter gazed at him uneompre-
hendingIy.
"Oh, Mackinaw City" he replied at
last
The act of paying for his fare
brought to his consciousness that he
had but a little over $40 with him. He
thrust the change back into his pocket
and took up his contemplation of
nothing. The river water dripped
slowly from his cork boots to form a
pool on the car floor. The heavy wool
! of his short driving trousers steamed
! in the cars warmth. His shoulders
dried in a little cloud OF vapor. He no
ahead, his gaze vacant, the bronze of
his face set in the lines of a brown
study, his strong capable hands hang
ing pUrposelesS between his knees. The
ride to MackinaW City was six hours
long. and the train lost some ninety
minutes. but in all this distance Thorpe
never altered his pose.
Thorpe descended at Mackinaw city
to find that the noon train had gone.
l. ate I
500 from the agent of Louis
Sands. Zimmerman of his
acquaintance, and seated him
self rigidIy in the little waiting
rOoms there to remain until the nine
twenty that night. When the cars were
backed down from the siding he board
ed the sleeper. In the doorway stood
a disappearing cOlOred porter.
You'll fin the smokin' cab up
fo'wu'd, sub" said the latter, firmly
barring the way.
It's generally forward, answered
Thorpe.
This yeah's tn sleepah," protested
the functionary. you pays extry."
Il am aware of it." replied Thorpe
CURLY. Give me lower"
"Yessah," acquiesced the darby.
giving way, but still in doubt. He fol-
lowed Thorpe curiously, peering into
the smoking room on him from time
10 time. At a little after L his patience
gave out. The stolid, gloomy man of
lower six seemed to intend sitting uD
all night.
"YO' berth is ready. sah, he deli
cately suggested.
Thorpe arose Obediently, walked to
lower six. and. without undressing,
threw himself on the bed. Afterwards
the porter in conscientious discharge
of his duty, looked diligently beneath
the seat for boots to polish. Happen
ing to glance up, after fruitless search.
he discovered the boots still adjoining
the feet of their owner.
well for tn lands sakel" ejacu-
lated the scandalized negro, beating a
hasty retreat
He was still more scandalized when,
the following noon, his strange fare
brushed by him without bestowing the
expected tip.
Thorpe descended at Twelfth street
in Chicago without any clear notion
of where he was going. For a mo-
ment he faced the long, park-like ex-
panse of the lake front, then turned
sharp to his left and picked his way
south up the interminable reaches of
Michigan avenue. Block after block
he clicked along, the caulks of his
boots striking fire from the pavement.
Some people stared at him little cur
iously. Others merely glanced in his
direction, attracted more by the eX-
Nession of his face than the pc
culiarity of his dress. At that time
rivermen were not an uncommon sight
along the water front
After an interval he seemed to have
left the smoke and dirt behind. The
street became quieter. Boarding houses
and tailOrs' shops ceased. Here and
there appeared a bit of lawn, shrub
berry, flowers The residences estab-
lished an uptown crescendo of mag
nificence- Policemen seemed trimmer.
better gloved. Occasionally he might
have noticed in front of one Of the
sandstone piles besilvered pair
champing before a stylish vehicle. BY
and by he came to himself to find that
he was staring at the deep-ca<ved let
tering in a stone horse block before
large dwelling.
His mind took the letters in one
after the other, perceiVing them plain
ly before it accorded them recognition.
Finally he had completed the word
''Farrand." He whirIed sharp on his
heel mounted the broad white stone
steps and rang the bell.
II was answered almost Immediately
by a clean~shaven. portly and dignified
man with the most impressive coun-
tenance in the world. This man looked
upon Thorpe with lofty disapproval
rs Miss Hilda Farrand at homer"
he asked.
Il cannot say" replied the man. .If
you will step to the back door. 1 will
ascertain.
"The flowers will do. Now see that
the south room is ready Annie.
f1oated voice from within.
Without a word, but with deadly
earnestness. Thorpe reached forward,
seized the astonished servant by the
collar, yanked him bodily outside the
door. stepped inside, and strobe across
the hall toward a closed Dortiere
whence had come the voice. The riv-
ermans long spikes cut little triangular
pieces from the hardwood fioor Thorpe
did not notice that. He thrust aside
the portiere.
Before him ne saw young and
beautiful girl. She was seated. and
her lap was filled with flowers Al his
sudden aDDarition. her hands flew to
her heart, and her lips slightly parted.
For a second the two stood looking
at each other just as nearly year
before their eyes had crossed over the
old pole trail.
To Thorpe the girl seemed more
beautiful than ever. The red OF this
violent, unexpected encounter rushed
to her face her bosom rose and fell
in Suffering catch for breath: but
her eyes were steady and inquiring.
The butler bounced on Thorpe from
behind with the intent TO do great
bodily harm.
Norris commanded Hilda sharply.
what are you dOing?"
The man cut short his heroism in
confusion.
You may 60" concluded Bilda