The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-03-16
CHAPTER XI.

Il suppose you're the same exaspe-
ratinsly calm individual you always
were, aren't your
Dave Maddox took two or three
short pufIs on his briar-wood pipe, as
though to make up for time wasted in
speaking, and then inhaled a long.
deep breath of the smoke before he
glanced at Kennard.
Some years ago." he began, care
fully tapping the bowl of his pipe with
his foreinger, Il thought I'd reform,
but fear that some of my enemies
might become my friends restrained
me. | guess you'll recognize enough
ear-marks for the purposes of identi-
fication. How long can we swop lies?"
He took off his coat as he spoke,
and throwing it on the bed, reseated
himself before the open fire.
Dinners at 1880. We've got half
an hour"
wish It were two and a half.
dread having to meet those people
downstairs. You lnow them all, I
suppose"
NO, only some of them"
"Thanl; the Lord. Mrs. Parsons put
rs in the same room. For a minute
feared 7 was to be paired with that
elegant Croydon. Not a bad fellow
eh? Well. | don't think he'd be good
for me- How many moons Is 1t since
YOU and | camped in the same tent,
Jack? It's all of three years since we
made the Mogin lake trip, and I
haven't been east since"
When Maddox was District Attorney
Of Tohama county, people used TO say
that If prisoner could keep silent for
half an hour in the official presence, he
was probably innocent. Most criminals
seemed driven to talk in self-defence.
Had any one credited him with hyp-
motto powers. Maddox would have been
vastly amused, but wholly uncon-
yinced. And yet unconsciously he
often exercised such an influence. One
had 20 know the man for years to over
rome the barrier of his silent reserve,
but even his intimates sometimes
found themselves abashed at his un-
dcmonstrativeness. II was the one pc
culiarly English trait which cropped
out In him untempered.
why in the world didn't you let
me know you were coming east,
Dave?"
Maddox hitched up one leg on the
brass rail before the fireplace, crossed
the other over It, covered his pipe
bowl with his right hand, and sup
porting the elbow with his left, puffed
contcntedly toward the chimney.
Didn't know it myself" he replied
at last.
How long have you been here?"
1.-TWO weeks"
"And never looked me up? You're
q fish-blooded human"
Didn't have time for calls Be-
sides, there wasn't any hurry. I'm
here TO stay"
What! Deserted the paradise of
California for the purgatory of New
York;"
"Is 1t only purgatory? Whew!"
The whistle sent a tiny rihe-puff of
smoke toward the chimney.
You feel you deserve the other
place? I congratulate you on getting
off better than you expected. But
what was the crime which carried you
as far as this?"
THE Knowlton will case. Got
hooked up with old man Peyton's firm
and they offered me a partnership.
There is price at which I'd live in
New York and they guessed it,"
Kennard laughed.
That's the way with all you west
erners. You love your own state, but
long for this one"
Well" drawled Maddox, you re-
member what Kipling said Of London,
Good place to bank in, bad place to
bunk in I've revised that for New
York. Good place for brief space, bet
ter for briefer.' You can take 1t
with or without the pun, whichever
you prefer. How is manufacturing"
Pretty fair"
Maddox glanced swiftly at his
friends face, as he noted the changed
gaze to the fireplace again, and
watched the threads of tobacco smoke
slowly stretching toward the chimney,
up which they suddenly shot as though
pulled by hidden strings.
mot so wildly enthusiastic as we
once were, eh?" he asked after pause
"Yes-and no. The truth is, I've
gone stale with work Of late, Dave
and I'm mighty glad to get away for
a while"
Maddox nodded gravely and compre-
hendingly.
Let's go down TO dinner" was all
he said.