The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-03-09
CHAPTER XI.

Until 10 o'clock next morning / slept
a calm, dreamless sleep. and arose more
fresh and invigorated than | had felt
for months 1t had been arranged that
l should breakfast at Martha's. SO &C
cordingly, as soon as | was washed and
dressed. l adjourned to No. 3. Two
strange men were in the room when
went in.
The elder Of the two was tall. thin
man. with a sallow complexion. sharp.
aquiline features. hollow cheeks, full
beard and mustache, and dark, grizsled
hair, which he wore very long and parted
in the center. He was dressed in seedy
black: an extremely open waistcoat dis
played a somewhat dilapidated fancy
shirt front, very much soiled and crum-
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 what had
once been radiant patent leather. His
hands were white, and carefully tended.
and ornamented with two large brass
rings. He greeted me with great polite
ness as / entered.
His companion was a young man of
about twenty; full-faced. rather sanguine
ttAuPirAlOnr viii al r&pArr-AOu VI O%lull
mixed good-nature and self-satisfaction-
His dress was less pretentious than that
Of the elder, although there was the
same style OF shabby gentility and the
secondhand clothes shop.
Martha introduced the elder as PRO
lessor Montgomery" and the younger as
Mr.. Fitzwalton. The elder acknowledge
ed the introduction with an air of great
he NTH 20
nod, and twinkle Of amusement in his
eye at my odd appearance. which slowly
changed to one Of doubling recognition:
an expression which was reflected in my
own face: for, in Mr.. Adolphus Fitzwal- |
ton, / believed that recognized my |
whilom bed-fellow, Josiah Cook We |
both came to the same conclusion at the |
same moment
''Can it be possible"
at can't be"
"That you are Josiah Cook?v
What, Silas Carstonv'
Martha, who was preparing my break
fast, looked very much astonished at this
recognition
Zone Of the Rev. Mr.. Porter's old
boarders," I said. in explanation.
"Why, you don't mean to say that you
know that old hypocrite?7 cried Josiah,
turning round to her.
"She was servant there for two years
only left about a month ago. I said.
for her.
@Well, if this isn't the queerest start
ever knew" cried Josiah. whoever
bould have thought OF seeing you here.
What are you doing? How's old Snuff
les getting on? Has Miss Gooseberry |
yes got husband YETI"
These questions were very cmbnrrass-
ng, and / should have been greatly put
o for an answer, but Martha came TO
ny assistance.
well, look here, Mr.. Fitzwalton."
he said with a sign to me; Master
ilas has got some very particular bust {
ess on hand just now that obliges him :
o be cautious, 80 I know you'll excuse ,
i'm answering your questions for a day
r two"
"Oh, / don't want to pry into any
ody's secrets" retorted Josiah, with
omething Of pique in his tone.
There was an awkward silence for !
ONE minutes, during which / discussed !
~ breakfast, with the embarrassing Il
ensation that the Professor" as ] af- Il
srwards heard he liked to be called, o
'as sharply scrutinizing me.
IL was impossible for Josiah to keep
lent for any length Of time. or to re- :
-ain from talking about himself. So. y
spite OF my reticence, he soon put me j
possession OF the whole Of his his
,ry, from the time he quilted Mr.. Por-
RS establishment up to the time In II