New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-17
Let q man contend 20 the utternost
For liz ILfa-a sat nriZa. Il N VIM ft W

For lis lies SCI Prize l. 4 what I, will
Tho quotation was made By the doctor in defence
Of his argument. Our party on board the shire
was the small and ominOus one OK thirteen 1.-TWO Of
us wOmeu). and we were either attracted BY affinity
or driven by or common need OF cOmpanionship
aid o, iSebe G, and tf advent o{ the open
saloon ire at which the toasti1g OF buns for after
men who When, ashore were more or less absorbed
But there one man among Us who rarely
took part in the story telling and discussion with
him The Uulucky Number" a. hs had been the
He was young man not more than thirty-hvs
with iron gray hair and mustaChe. which slngu-
his almost Classical features ms skin was brouzsd
by long exposure 70 hot sun. and something about
OF his time on horseback: nothing OF the jockey but
that appearance which some men have Of being at
1t was not IN his mannerisuls. but in the absence
sunlight picks out srtiac5Iities. and emphasizes
vulgarity and enforced GompanlOiSIllp uSudlIy
Number as We designated him, appeared neither
10 attach his associates TO himself nor to repeI
power Of seIf-aIoofness which while It did not
offend by q suggestion or egotsm or indlnerence'
left one IN doubt as TO his personal bias -
Perhaps II was because he so seldom gave a clew
interest when he spoke He attracted me strongly
but whenever 7 was near him met his eyes. I
had odd possession Of sadness He had strange
gray IN light. steel blue in another. and some
tlmes-and 7 discovered this was when he felt In
tensely-a light sprang and glowed in them which
darkened and deepened the pupils
scious OF II. but ne usually began or concluded a
remark With a look IN my d al, s,, ,,
that the superlative degree Of his own maxim Con
in that quiet. non-committaI voice Of his. answer
ing the doctors quotation.
hind his glasses at The rays OF the too hot fire
toastins his bun was not 70 De drawn into eontro-
s9 but fo tb y6 @9 se6 1 s rag s ne
matter
syllable was neither disseRsion nor affirmation
There Is a query how far contention is justih-
able proceeded the voice which Vas T ls
dividual has many sides TO character. So many
It is difficuit to dfferentiate a man implies the
whole personality-dqn't you think so2. .--
rsdeship. The darkness had fallen early on deck
the creaking OF timber and straining OF cordage
the heavy occasional trampng Of feet and rattle OF
chains reminded one that. though homeward bound,
were leagues away, and our only tangible world
was that OF our small community. And the honey
smell OF tea and hot buttered cakes was grateful
and comforting But there was less between Us
from the seattle silence which barred each from
.'1f YOU feel taIkse taIkes spin a yarn-Tn hun
gry.'' said the doctor
The man addressed moved his position to a couch
in the shadow, and sat silently for some moments
with folded arms; then. looking up though re-
spending TO my unspoken desire. he smiled an In
he said The tale will not be gay
rs the ending happy" asked the aged lady OF
the party. odd folk and children love happy end
ings-the young because they have not lost their
illusions, and the old because they want 70 regain
them am sure don't know why the seers al
ways asked for knowledge life's supremest gift"
The doctor snorted and buttered his bun vfgOr-
ously.
To gain the wisdom 70 help fools. madam" he
retorted. There IS a remedy for every III. a mans
business Is 70 find and apply IT,"
sounds Ike poultice. doctor" laughed the
captain. who. after his second cup OF tea prop
erfy aroused from his afternoon nap. But II you
can't call any happy till he's dead. it's equally
impossible 70 pronounce on the end OF a story til
you've heard Il"
1T was the third year OF the drouth." began
the narrator. and the thirsty land was parchsd
for water. The grass had wirhered. the streams
dried. the trses-save the tall tops Of the blue
gums-were Ieahess sticks. Under the brazeu, cloud
less sky sheep and cattle sckened In thousands and
died Among the men who were ruined vas
(he heSitated as though for a nance Stanley
Smith reputed millionaire. His luck had been pro-
verbal Ten years earlier. almost pennlless
younger son. he shook OF the shackles Of conven-
ton, and. leaving the old family name 70 the care
of those better able 20 support it. adopted another
which called for less distinction. and set sail FOR
Australia
Was this man hinself' I wondered Certainly hin
bearing might fa< % accounted for. That be dId