The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-02-10
IL.
HIS is going to be unpleasant
muttered Steinmetz as be

"AISOAS0 0IC41h1ClL d6 III AG
cumbrously left the saddle.
1 THAT man is dead-has been
dead some days; he's stiff. And the
horse has been dragging him face
downward. God in heaven, this will
be unpleasant"
Paul had leaped to the ground and
was already loosening the dead mans
foot from the stirrup. He did it with a
certain sort Of skill, despite the stiff
s Of the heavy riding boot, as II he
had walked a hospital in his time.
Very quickly Steinmetz came to his
assistance, tenderly lifting the dead
man and laying him on his back.
"Ach" he exclaimed. 1--WE are unfor-
tunate to meet a thing like this"
There was no need of Paul Alexis
medical skill to tell that this man was
dead; a child would have known It.
Before searching the pockets Stein
metz took out his own handkerchief
and laid 1t over a face which had be-
come unacceptable.
Paul was unbuttoning the dead
mans clothes. he inserted his hand
within the rough shirt.
"This man." he said, was starving.
He probably tainted from sheer ex-
haustion and rolled out of the saddle.
It is hunger that killed him"
with his pocket full Of money!
added Steinmetz, withdrawing his
hand from the dead mans pocket and
displaying a bundle Of notes and some
silver.
There was nothing in any Of the 9TH
er pockets-no paper, no clew Of any
sort to the mans identity.
The two finders Of this silent tragedy
stood up and looked around them. It
was almost dark. They were ten miles
from a habitation.
Steinmetz had pushed his fur zap to
the back Of his head, which he was
scratching pensively. He had a habit
Of scratching his forehead with one
finger, which denoted thought.
"Now, what are we to do?" he NUT
tered. Cant bury the poor chap and
say nothing about 1t. l wonder where
his passport is? We have here a TRACE
dy."
Paul was still examining the dead
man with that callousness which de
notes one who for love or convenience
has become a doctor. He was a doctor,
an amateur. BE was q graduate Of an
English medical school.
Steinmetz looked down at him with
q little laugh. He noticed the tender.
ness Of the touch, the deft lingering
which had something Of respect in it.
Paul Alexis was visibly one of those
men who take mankind seriously and
have that in their hearts which for
want Of a better word we call sympa.
thy.
Mind you do not catch some infec.
dous disease" said Steinmetz grufay.
Il should not III to handle any stray
moujik n finds dead about the road.
Side; unless. of course, you think there
u more money about him. It would be
a pity to leave that for the police"
Paul did not answer. He was exam
ming the limp, dirty hands Of the dead
mar. The fingers were covered with
-S A0AAo WSIS OEOkSu. he Q8O oV.
identity clutched at the earth and at
every tuft Of grass after his fall from
the saddle.
Look here at these hands," said
Paul suddenly. "This is an English.
man. You never see fingers this shane
In Russia"
steinmetz stopped down. He held
out his own square tipped fingers in
comparison. Paul rubbed the dead
hand with his sleeve az IL 1t were a
piece Of s~tatuary.
Look here" he continued, "the dirt
rubs on and leaves the hand quite a
gentlemanly color. This"-he pausad
and lifted Steinmetz's h,ndkerchies
dropping it again hurriedly owe ~
mutlated face-"this thing was once 4
gsntleman."
IT certainly has see better days"