The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-07-30
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Observation-Disclosures called frequent
ly, and this was Col. James Franklin
AS. has already been animated in Thu
story, Col. Franklin was a man VIII
uabbled in a great many enterprises
but he had considerable reputation a:
I~chancefy--lawyef.- He was a mai
whom it vas worth while to consulr
+ eaaA :5essate 1uE !, saaqaies
?tons Involving titles and intricate is
sues connected with the settlement o.
estates and the rights of ownership
Frequent consultations with FRANKLIN
could only be explained on the GROUND
that business of considerable import
anse was contemplated, business re:
/ quiNngsfhesserSices of an astute law,
syer:.a Warde knew that it would be
useless to try to elicit any informa'
ton from Franklin, but Hillsmar
might be. induced to become garrul:
Sfis and tell what he knew. The
colonel's clerk was a person to KEEP
his ears open, and who had an inordi.
nate foqdness for gossip. Dissipated
and INSCRIPTIONS, he had q certain
natural cunning Which had developed
in him the peculiar mania of!colleet=
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 flushed up
or forgotten, he was as happy as a
stamp collector or an autograph fend
over a fresh find. A clipping from an
old newspaper narrating 4 long-for-
gotten scandal in the life of some
prominent officer or respected citizen,
a letter: in (which some: fnically proper
personshad Sgirehs himself away, =. !: d
copy. Of a paper which was w in
tended to see the light of day, a
gamblingsL. O.eU. that had never. been
paid, r the notes In the suppressed
divorce case were objects as. valu=
able in Hillsman's eyes as: rare bric-a-
hrac to a virtuoso:E""He first began
this collection with the idea that per-
.haps some day, he might need these
odd bits of Information for his own
self-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 or, them. No
one knew anything of Hiflsman,s
strange collection, but people, did
that he had a, wonderfully in
quiring mind, and a memory of other
mems lapses and peccadillos which
was both appaHing and; embarrassing.
sAVarde at first surmised~fhat the
consultations between Merivale and
Franklin had not taken place in the
l%atter's office without Hillsman's
learning something of them, and so
he began quietly to cultivate that
Individuals society ii -!
The clerk did not prove very COM
municative, and Warde came to the
conclusion. that it was, because he
knew but little. HiIlsman's idea was
that a big land purchase of some
kind Was:+ins contemplation. but:for
whatpurpose.he could~notSsay.sa4
While Warde was still hoping that
he would be able to learn something
from this source. .Hillsman was. dis
chargedssf Col. sFrankhn's employ
ment on the ground of too frequent
drunkenness, and because he had coll
lected a2considerableasumzof 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, front, Hills
man. I -. ( sS =
But a singular thing happened that
very night. Warde's, habit was to
take a light lunch. about midnight,
and hes USUALLY got it at. a restaurant
which was then a great resort in the
city. This hostelry kept open ali
night, and sold everything in the line
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 filled with
guests. 1t was a great rendezvous
for actors and persons who had been
to the theater. The fast young men
about town and the gentlemen gam
hlers made it their midnight meeting
place. Here well-known politicians
who had been at work under cover
of darkness usually topped off their
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.
a distant corner, however, he saw
Hills%man sitting alone. 40
The clerk saw him at the. same time
and rather hi~lariously beckoned to
him. Irving accordingly seated him
self at Hillsman's table. He soon dis
covered that Hillsman was ina weav-
ing way. his face swvsaszfushed, his
eye,Shad IAN artificial lIstEe.} 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 a sense of relief,
which he easily persuaded himself
was delightful. There was really
some funin getting fired, and he was
determined to celebrate in a thorough
and painstaking manner. And so with
1paiiee aforethought she was rapidly
approaching a state of complete al
coholic Nirvana.