Mower County transcript., 1904-07-13
CHAPTER XXXV.

CHAPTER XXXV.
@lHORPE walked through the ST.
lent group of men without see
ing them. He had no thought
for what he had done, but for
the triumphant discovery he had made
In spite of himself
1t was then about 6 o'clock in the
morning. Thorpe passed the board
ing house, the store and the Office, to
take himself as far as the little open
shed that served as a railway station.
There he set the semaphore to flag the
east bound train from Duluth. At 6:36,
the train happening on time, he climb
ed aboard. He dropped heavily into a
seat and stared straight in, front Of
him until the conductor had spoken to
him twice. -. i
where to, MI. Thorpe?' he asked.
'Oh! Mackinaw City,"
Thorpe descended at Mackinaw City
to ind thatff the: noon: train had, gone.
Hee.ate lunch: at; the: hotel. borrowed
500 from the agent of Louis Sands, q
lumberman of his acquaintance and
seated himself rigdly in the little wait
Ing room, there to remain until the 9::20
that night. When the cars were backed
down from the siding he boarded the
sleeper. In the doorway stood q .disap-
proving colored porter. II; ..:4..
!''::Yo'n fin' the -smokin' cab up fo'wu'd,
ssh," said the litter, firmly barring the
way. ,-'.14 - =; '.>'-:e :.@':;> ~.
"1t's generally forward" answered
Thorpe. = .%%,:t,
':Ehis yeah's the sleepah,"' protested
TIE functionary. "Yo' pays extry.", =.
: II am aware Of it," replied Thorpe
eurtly:' *aaive rae q 3ow1er.e iJ!&+s*: .::s> 3,
.7$'.YYesy sab; ~ jacquiesced the darky;
s4ving way, but still:in doubt. He: fol-
lloWed Thorpe cautiously, i :peering into
the, smoking room On him from time to
tune. 8 a little after 12 his patience
gave out. The stolid, gloomy man !of
haver s seemed to intend sitting up all
night. .;;::=u, ,i:,zv, ,s.t> 80,
y ""Yo' "Yo berth 10 ready, sab," he delicate
T. snggeeted. -; 4 s:dft -: ...y* T.
8 :ss Thorpe arose "obedientiy, walked TO
ieHsr e5ana without undressing threw
himself ON the ,>bed. Afterwaril; the
porter in conscientious. discharge Of his
duty looked diligently beneath the seat
Tor boots to polish. Happening to glance
up after fru1tless search he discovered
the boots still adorning the feet of their
owner.
"Well, for the lands sake:' ejaculat-
ed the scandalized negro, beating a
hasty retreat.
Thorpe descended at. Twelfth street
IN Chicago without any clear notion of
where he was going. For moment he
faced the long, parklike expanse of the
lake front, then turned sharp to his left
and picked his way south up the inter-
m1nable reaches of Michigan avenue.
Block after block he clicked along, the
calks of his boots striking fire from the
pavement.
After an interval he seemed to have
left the smoke and dirt behind The
street became quieter; boarding houses
and tailors' shops ceased; here and
there appeared bit of lawn, shrub
berry and flowers. By and by he came
to himself to find that he was staring
at the deep carved lettering in a stone
horse block before a large dwelling.
His mind took the letters, in one after
the other, perceiving them plainly be-
fore it accorded them recognition. FL
nally he had completed the word Far
rand" He whirled sharp on his heel,
mounted the broad white stone steps
and rang the bell. ...,... s.. -: .....
It was answered almost Immediately
by clean shaved, portly and dignifed
man with the most impassive counte-
nance in the world. This man looked
upon Thorpe with lofty disapproval. !
us Miss Hilda Farrand at home? - he
asked. '1'',' ~'@'
II cannot say" replied the man. III
you will step to the back door will
ascertain" -, ,s-..z. ,-.]. -.-..-
''The flowers will do. Now see that
the south room is ready, ANNIE" float
ed a voice from within.
"AIAAoue q "OAu, UuL Will b u0duly
earnestness. Thorpe reached forward.
seized the astonished servant. by the
collar, yanked him bodily outside the
door, stepped inside and strobe across
the hall toward a closed portiere whence
had come the voice. The river. mans
long spikes cut little triangular pieces
from the hardwood floor. d Thorpe did
not notice that He thrust aside the
pertiere. -. H.. ..'..... .:.. ...ss
Before him he saw a young and beau.
t1ful girl. She was seated, and her lap
was filed with: flowers. At his sudden:
apparition her hands few to her heart,
and her lips slightly parted. For a
second the two stood looking at each
other, just as nearly year before their
eyes had crossed over the old pole trail.
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