Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-23

ly, and this was Col. James Franklin
AS has already been intimated in this
story, Col. Franklin was man who
dabbled in great many enterprises,
but he had considerable reputation as
a chancery lawyer. He was a man
whom it was worth while to consult
about real estate investments, ques-
lions involving titles and intricate is
sues connected with the settlement of
estates and the rights of ownership.
Frequent consultations with Franklin
could only be explained on the ground
that business of considerable import
ance was contemplated, business re-
quiring the services of an astute law
yer. Warde knew that it would be
useless to try to elicit any informa-
| ton from Franklin, but Hillsman
| might be induced to become garrul-
Gus and tell what he knew. The
colonel's clerk was person to keep
his ears open, and who had an inordi-
| nate fondness for gossip. Dissipated
and unscrupulous, he had a certain
natural cunning which had developed
| in him the peculiar mania Of collect
| ing all the discreditable things he
could find against those with whom
he was acquainted or likely to come
| in contact. If he could secure the
| evidence of anything crooked in the
life of an apparently respectable man,
something that had been hushed up
| or forgotten, he was as happy as a
| stamp collector or an autograph fiend
over a fresh find. A clipping from an
old newspaper narrating a long-for-
| gotten scandal in the life of some
| prominent officer or respected citizen,
a letter in which some finically proper
person had given himself away" a
copy Of a paper which was never in
tended to see the light of day, a
| gambling I. O. y. that had never been
| paid, or the notes in the suppressed
| divorce case were objects as valu-
able in Hillsmanss eyes as rare. bric-a-
brac to a virtuoso. He first began
this collection with the idea that per-
haps some day he might need these
odd bits of information for his own
lf-protection, and if any Of the peo-
pie on his list undertook to impose
on him or to hold him to account for
any of his vagaries or Irregularities
why, he had the edge on them. No
one knew anything of Hillsman's
strange collection, but people did
know that he had a wonderfully in
quiring mind, and a memory of other
mems lapses and peccadillos which
was both appalling and embarrassing
Warde at first surmised that the
consultations between Merivale and
Franklin had not taken place in the
latter's office without Hillsman's
learning something of them, and so
he began quietly to cultivate that
individuals society.
The clerk did not prove very COM
munica tive, and Warde came to the
conclusion that it was because he
knew but little. Hillsman's idea was
that a big land purchase of some
kind was in contemplation, but for
what purpose he could not say.
While Warde was still hoping that
he would be able to learn something
from this source. Hillsman was dis
charged from Col. Franklin's employ
ment on the ground of too frequent
drunkenness, and because he had col
lected considerable sum of money
for his employer and while under the
the influence of liquor had gambled it
| away. When Warde heard this he
abandoned any hope of getting any
trustworthy information from Hills
man.
But singular thing happened that
very night. Warde's habit was to
take a light lunch about midnight.
and he usually got it at a restaurant
which was then great resort in the
| city. This hostelry kept open all
night, and sold everything in the line
of liquors and food, from a glass of
beer to a crisply cooked pompano.
There was scarcely an hour of the
night when it was not filed with
guests. 1t was great rendezvous
for actors and persons who had been
| to the theater The fast young men
about town and the gentlemen gam
blers made it their midnight meeting
| place. Here Well-l1nown politicians
| who had been at work under cover
NN'A ANNAN0''
| labors with a plate of oysters or a
bottle of champagne. The place was
| always cheerful and inviting, and gave
| a bright side to the night life of the
| city.
| When Warde entered nearly all the
| tables were occupied by the guests.
In distant corner, however, he saw
Hillsman sitting alone.
| The clerk saw him at the same time
and rather hilariousfy beckoned to
him. Irving accordingly seated him
| self at Hillsman's table. He soon dis
covered that Hillsman was in a weav-
| ing way; his face was flushed, his
! eye had an artificial lustre, and it
was evident that he had imbibed not
wisely, but too much. He was in a
| maudlin good humor. He had been
| fred that morning, and he was
glad of it. He had sense of relief,
which he easily persuaded himself
was delightful. There was really
| some fun in uattinU fred and he was