Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1904-02-11

! isau Oh huFphhblHk bflilhncy ana bpleh~
dor.
II was a more respectable evening than
Ordinary, owing to the scanty attendance.
Mr. Splud, lessee, counted 6fty-tw0
with the babies 10 arms. Reuben stood
under shady tree, an old blue Scotch
cap drawn down 20 his eyebrows. and n
waterproof coat turned up TO bis ears.
Mr.. splud mixed In a friendly way with
the company. He was a tall. lank man,
Of q melancholy aspect. lie finally took
bis stand under the tree where Reuben
was.
This Is bad night for our business.
sir" he said at last.
80 | should think" answered Reuben.
Rain always keeps the people away;
no matter what you offer them In the way
Of attraction---they won't come, sir"
Here the eyes remained 30 long In the
corners next 10 Reuben's that Reuben
was afraid that Mr.. Splud's vision had
become permanently fixed.
Il have seen you somewhere. and that
IL what bothers me a bit," said Mr..
Spiud. by way Of apology.
Reuben did not tell him that he was
lodging next door but two, and that they
had passed each other In the street with
tolerable frequency: but the idea had sug-
gested Itself 10 put a few questions on
his own account, when a third person
Joined them. The newcomer was small,
spare men. In long seedy great coat
with blg horn buttons, extending from
his CHA 10 his heels, and who wore a
dirty yellow handkerchief tied loosely
| RnnnA hfa thrnaN IL nfa nm
unearthly pallor, and pltted 30 deeply
with smallpox that one wondered how he
had eTer struggled out Of his malady
alive.
"You don't want me tonight, l sup
poser he said TO the proprietor.
"Yes, do want you. Because pay
you," said Mr.. Splud, sharply; you don't
want your money next Saturday, sup
poser he asked, with 80 much biting
sarcasm.
"Yes, do--and I'll take care get t."
said the other. far from ciyilly, "along
with last weeks. What's the use Of
dressing up and performing In the bless
ed rain before nobody There's nobody
here, there's nobody coming, and it5s a
beastiy shame on me-"
IL 4 uhNe tuo nOnOr OF undressing
Signor Vizzobini, l may add that have
come here this evening expressly to wit
ness his performance" said Reuben.
Have you. Thought" said the acrobat.
surprised In an extraordinary degree.
well, II you can't let fellow off, Ill
20 and Dress" and he walked away in
deep thought.
"He Is a vagabond not up to his work, I"
said Mr.. Splud. II took him by adver-
/ tisement. on the faith Of his recommenda.
[ tions. He has fallen of three times this
week. and If he breaks his neck one of
these fine days ii will be a happy release
TO the profession"
'What is that mans real name" ask
, ed Reuben.
II haven't the slightest idea; Jack
: Sheppard, perhaps"
''You know his address, surely7"
ooh, yes. No. Potter's court, Wal
worth road"
Thank you. Good night"
, Reuben knew nothing of Potter's
, Court; but he muttered, "PoOr Sarah!"
, as he went down the cavernous entry In
search Of No. 2. He knocked at a par
lor door with the handle of his stick,
and a grim-looking individual In his shirt
, sleeves answered the appeal.
whats upT" he said, in not too civil a
style Of address.
''Do you know a Mr.. VixzObiniF said
} Reuben. "He performs at the Sake
Gotha gardens on the slack rope"
"Oh! said the parlor floor, disparag-
ingly; top of the 'ouse-front room."
Reuben went up the dark stairs, reach.
ed a front room door with his stick, and
raped gently.
"Whos thereI" said a faint, weak
voice, which Reuben did not recognize.
: II come from the Saxe-Gotha."
From TomT
= eyes"
: The door was cautiously opened, and
{ there streamed through the aperture,
through which a woman's face was peer
ing-white and wan and pinched--a rush
: of hot air as from furnace mouth.
''Is he locked up?" said the woman,
l somewhat alphabetically.
mo. He will be back presently, l
+ think" 4
"Come In If you like, then; we don't
. charge any more," said the woman, with
/ ulHRuhIys ahu HhuCu ONCA flOtHC~
lessly to the side of big fire that was
[ blazing In the CRATE, sat down In the
I chair she had quilted, and leaned her
head against the wall like woman tired
/. out.
But It was not her at which he gaxed
5 so intently as at the figure of a girl in
4 a striped cotton dress, who lay face-fore-
! most on the patchwork counterpane OF
the bed. 1t was a figure of despair that
thrilled him; it was surely Second-cousin
Q Sarah covering from him in that hour
of her discovery.
, II say, what's your messager asked
i. the woman. "What have you got to say
, about Tom, and what has Tom to sayT
: "Are you Toms wifeT
a "Yes, / am"
3 "And that's Toms sisterr'
Here the woman burst into paroxysm
: of coughing, for the cessation of which
5 Reuben waited patiently, keeping his eyes
: upon the figure on the bed, and doubtful
: still If 1t were sleep that kept Sarah &C
K dumb and passive. II was violent
:, cough, that of Mrs, Eastbell's, which was
0 rending away all the life that was left
Y in the sufferer, who carried consumption
Il in her every look and fitful breath.
+ "You have come for her." said Mrs
/ Eastbell, in husky voice.
/ 'Yes, have come for her, il shell
d trust me,"s
You're just the chap for the likes Of
us to trust" said Mrs. Eastbell, ironical
ly, "and poor Sally is sure to be uucom
y mon glad to see you. Not that shell
f mind much which way it is, for she's beer
) awful down."
y Indeed! Has she?"
i, "If it amt Worcester prison, it'll b,
q the Surrey canal Here-hi-SallvI I,