The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-11-03
xI.

Until 10 o'clock next morning I slept
a calm. dreamleaS sleep. and arose more
fresh and i~nviEcrated than l had felt
for months. II had been arranged that
I should breakfast at Martha's. SO ac-
cortinxly. as soon m l was washed and
dressed, 1 adjourned e No. 3. Two
strange men were In the room when i
went In.
The elder OF the two was n tall. thin
man. with q sallow complexion. sharp,
Equiline features. hollow cheeks, full
beard and mustache. and dark. Eriz.led
hair, which he wore very long aad parted
In the center. He war dressed In seedy
black; an extremely open waistcoat dis
played a somewhat dilapidnted fancy
shirt front, very much soiled and crym-
pied. A frayed black satin necktie sur
rounded a very frayed and limp shirt
collar: his boots were old and patched.
but they were the remains OF Whist had
once been radiant patent leather. His
hands were white. and carefully tended.
and ornamentsd with two largo brass
rings. He greeted me with great polite
ness as I entered.
His companion was a young man Of
about twenty; full-fsced. rather s~anguine
complexion. with an eKpressiou OF oddly
mixed geod-nature and self-satisfaction.
His dreas was less pretsntioas than that
OF the elder. although there was the
same style OF shabby gentility aud the
secondhand clothes shop.
Martha introduced the elder rs PRO
lessor N~oatgonerJ." and the younger rs
Mr.. Fltswaltsn. The elder seknowledE-
cd the introduction with an air OF great
p~olitonsss: the younger. with q familiar
nod, aud a twinkle Of Amusement In his
ere at my edd appearances. which slowly
changed 10 one OF doubling recognition
an expression which was rejected In my
w face: for, In Mr.. Adolphus FitSwal-
ton. believed that l recognized my
| uhilom hed-fellow. josiah Cook. We
both came TO tie same conclusion at the
same moment
"Can II be possibie-"
''It can't be-"
THAT you are JOSIAH CookT'
What! 9llns Csrston!"
Martha. who was preparing my break.
fast. looked very much sEtonished ut this
recognition.
zone OF the Rev. Mr.. Portsr's old
boarder." ! said. In explanation.
why. you don't mean 90 say that you
know that old hypoeritsT' cried Josiah.
turning round 20 her.
"She was servant there for two years
only left about q month ago." | said,
answering fer her.
well. 10 this isn't the queerest starr
I ever knew" cried Josiah. Whoever
should have thought OF seeing rot here.
What are you doing? Hcw's old Snuff
des getting ont Has Miss Cooseberry
eyes got a husband yst?'
These qnestloIs were very cplbarrass
inE. and I should have been greatly pui
TO for an answer. but Martha cane to
my assistance.
We'll. look here. SIR. FitEwal,on,'
she said with a sign 10 nc: Master
Silas has got ON very particular bust
ness on hand just now that obligeS him
TO be- cautious. 40 | know you'll excuse
him answering your questions for 4 dsy
o. two."
''Oh. I don't want 70 pry into any
body'a secrets" rctor;ed Josiah, with
something Of piQue In his tone.
There was an awkward silence fol
some minutes. during which discussed
my breakfssi. with the embarrassing
sensation ihat the Professor as ! af'
forwards heard he HE'D to be called
was sharply scrutini=ing nc.
IL was Impossible tor Josiah 10 keeE
sileut for any length OF time. or to ~
frsin from talking about himself. 40
In spite Of my rstlcsnce. he soou put m'
in possession OF the whole Of his his
tor,. fron the time he quilted Mr.. Per
tsfs extshlhAnsnt NJ % the time "