The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-09-21
THE DIAMOND RIVER

BY DAVID MURRAY

Then the engine shrieked at the signal,
and the train gave first sign of relent-
ing in its pace. He rose for another look.
It'll take lot more than that" he
said. "a lot more than that"
He had Travelled by crooked ways for
days past, making apparently purpose
less Journeys across country, and chang
ing one railway system for another, and
he was now in city to which he was
an entire stranger. He left a porter in
charge of his belongings and walked from
the station platform into the hotel.
II sent a telegram from Burton yes
terday-Jenes-reserving bed and sitting
ROOM"
"Quite right, sir. Roberts, 33 and "a
for this gentleman"
This way, sir.'
Jethroe followed the waiter and stood
by while he lighted the fire, the materials
of which were already arranged.
ANY orders, sir?"
Barber in the hotelT'
Yes, SIR"
"Send him here"
The waiterd melted self-deprecatingly
away, and in few minutes returned to
usher in the barber. Jethroe stood by
the window with his collar still turned
above his ears and the ribbons of his
tapped travelling cap tied beneath his
chin He reflected that he had been bare
ly glanced at, and that he could make
what change he would without exciting
observation.
Just trim me up, will your he said
carelessly. as he threw his cap and coat
upon chair.
The man hustled about, spread a cloth
upon the floor, set chair in the midst
of it, smothered his seated client in q
wrapper, and took a professional look at
him.
Much off, sir?'
Make me as smart as you can, my
lad" Jethroe answered, with a laugh.
''I've been abroad this twenty years, and
I'm going to an old pals wedding to-
morrow"
81 can take them twenty years of you
in twenty minutes"
"Take it." Jethroe answered.
The barber beamed, and set to work
at once. He cut the grizzled wiry hair
away by the handful, and then fell 10 a
more delicate manipulation. He trim
med the bristling eyebrows close, and
shaped the struggling mustache.
"A touch of cosmateek, sir?' he said
almost pleadingly.
Anything you like" said Jethroe,
laughing again. MAKE a job of it."
The man fell to work once more with
dark, viscous mixture and miniature
brush and comb. Then he produced a
hand glass with a triumphant flourish
and Jethroe, looking into it, saw q wholly
unfamiliar face.
They won't know me-" he said.
The neat dark eyebrow, the trim dark
mustache, the military crop of the griz-
zled hair, the absence of the beard, had
made another man of him. When he
had paid and dismissed the artist who
had wrought this change, he strolled into
the bedroom. and, finding there a full
length cheval glass, surveyed himself in
sort of wonder. The metamorphosis OF
the head seemed to have changed his
whole personality. His figure was still
1.-the and upright, and the well-cut, dark
tweed suit he wore sat smartly on him
THE neck gear won't do" he said, smil-
ingly. THE vanished beard has left me
throat like vulture's. And the boots
The hat will be another. I'll mend all
| that straightway"
| He rang his bell, gave his orders, and
in less than an hour was equipped tc
his liking.
Upon my word he declared, as be
examined himself anew. I'm a very pas
sable looking fellow. 1 was never much
addicted to personal vanity, and
haven't given my attractions much of 9
chance of late years You're very wei
preserved, Martin, and you'd pass for =
hard-bitten forty anywhere"