The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-07-02

EM ms standing by one of the win
dows intently regarding
him. Andrew turned little farther
in his desk chair and looked at the
man. He was stout and below the
medium height. He might have been
forty-five There was no trace Of gray
in either his coarse black hair or his
short black beard. His face was flushed
and his steely blue eyes glittered with
the intentness of his glance.
do you wish to see me-" Andrew
asked.
YES" said the stranger. His voice
was low and deep, and Andrew fancied
there was peculiar accent to it. And
now that I've seen you want to talk
to you"
"Sit here said Andrew, and pointed
to chair beside the desk.
The stranger shook his head.
"No," he said. What l have to say
can be better said standing"
''Very WELL" said Andrew. and turned
so he could face his visitor.
my name is Rawdon," said the
stranger, James Rawdon." He paused
and locked hard at Andrew. I'm the
father of Anna Rawdon."
Andrews face slightly flushed. He
put out his hand.
''Glad to meet you, Mr.. Rawdon,"
he said.
The stranger waved aside the prof
fered hand.
That's as it may be-" he muttered.
"We'll find out how glad you arc a
little later on" "
Andrew stared at him. :. ::
Explain yourself" he said.
"All in good time" returned the
stranger. He stepped to the outer door
and turned the key. Now we can
have the little affair quite to our
Selves" ne muttered. as he met An
: drew's astonished gaze. 1T isn't going
to take long-unless you drag it out.
Now, who is Anna Rawdon:"
Andrews momentary anger at the
mans act and the mans tone vanished.
He would 4humor this singular visitor.
"Miss Rawdon Is one Of the stenog
Taphers Of my Office he replied. "She
is an unusually capable and intelligent
young woman. I assure you that both
her services and her personality are
highly esteemed"
"Fair words" said the stranger, ''fair
words-and easy said. And now who
am II"
you have just told me that you
are Miss Rawdon's father"
The stranger nodded.
True" he said. "And that is all
you know Of me?"
''That is ALL" Andrew replied.
perhaps it's all that's creditable."
said the stranger. II was the black
sheep of my family, and very respcc-
table family it is though Pm the last
man on earth to boast of such things.
I'm English, as you see, and an Eng
lishman whose prejudices are bitter is
not pleasant sortNe Of fellow. Pm an
advanced Socialist and kicker against
the established order of things. I've
had good education too, though 1
never made any good use Of it. The
class found myself in-or rather that
I sought-was not class to develop
a mans intellect. 1t developed my gift
Of gab,' however, and that made me q
leader among them. Perhaps it was
bad thing for me, yet I'll not admit
that the cause is bad. Anyway. good
or bad, I'm tied up to It," He looked at
> Andrew, and his frown deepened. you
have no sympathy with the cause, have
you? What is your fellow man to
you? You can't see anything beyond
your bank account" =
''You are wrong there" said Andrew,
and his face showed no resentment
II take lively interest in my fellow
men,.
The strangers face cleared.
"I'm just what I am" he said, mo
better, nor worse. Anyway, I'm too
: old to want to change. Oh. know
that I have been drag OIL my family.
My daughter would have been lady
If she had had less selfish father.
There was. nothing too good for her
while her mother lived. Her mother
was a lady. If ever there was one
God knows why she married me. But
she kept things straight, and she kept
me straight. and there was nothing she
wasn't ready to DO for our girl. And
now that she's gone"-he suddenly
passed his hand across his forehead
''why, things are all at skies and sew
ems. / left my work, went back to
the old associates and the old club, and
my daughter had to go out and earn
her own living. Understand me, I'm
not an idler, I'm an agitator. I'd rather
talk than eat. Some day, maybe, III
show I can fight, too" He paused alb
ruptly and stared at Andrew. Course
me-" he suddenly cried, "if I'm not
reeling off a lot of cheap CUFF about
myself. That's like me. I come here
to have reckoning with you, and
before I know it talking about
myself" He stopped short and ad-
vanced little nearer. "Well, there's
one good thing gained. You can easily
see that my girls not a bit like her
father. She's her mother over again,
and no one knows it better than know
it. And she's very dear to me. She's
so dear to me that if any man as much
as gave her an evil look I'd kill him in
his tracks. Do you understand that,
Nj. Andrew Barton?'
His eyes glittered. His attitude was
menacing.
Il think I understand you," said An
drew quietly.
The man nodded slowly. He drew
back little and passet' his hand across
his forehead.
MY dead wife gave Anna into my
keeping" he said. 81 have neglected
her, but there are limits to this neglect.
am her natural protector. her de-
fender-her avenger, if need be-"
1t