The Washington times., 1905-09-24


stood around him. listening rather stud
iedly to the conversation. The seemed
| Of the lower class of laborinR men
| Their appearance was so gro,esoue in
/ connection with the lofty title thoir
chief had given them, that Farnban
could not help smiling. in spite of his
anger
What is your special line of reform p.
he asked.-"spelling. or civil service?"
:, I'VE are labor reformers." said the
| spokesman I'VE represent the toiIinp
millions against the bloated capitalists
and grinding monopolies; we believe that
man is better
Yes. no doubt" interrupted Farnhau.;
but how are you going to help the toll
ing millions by stopping my horse on
the highway"
We was holding a meeting which
was KEEP secret for reasons satisfactory
to ourselves. These two gentlemen was
posted here TO keep out intruders from
/ the lodge II you had "a spoke civil
| to them. there would have been no
harm DONE None will be done now
IL you want to co.
Farnham at once mounted his horse
| Il would take it as great favor" he
said. If you would give me your name
and that of the gentleman with the pis-
toll Where is he, by the way?" he con-
| tinued. The man they called Bowersox
had disappeared from the group around
the spokesman. Farnham turned and
saw him a little distance away directly
behind him. He had repossessed himself
OF his pistol and held it cooked in his
hand
What do you want Of our names?''
| the spokesman asked
Farnham did not again lose sight Of
Bowersox- 1t occurred to him that the
interview might as well be closed. He
therefore said. carelessly, without turn
ing:
"A man has a natural curiosity to
know the names of new acquaintance
But no matter 7 suppose the police
know you," and rode away.
Bowersox turned 10 OMIT and said,
why IN did you let him go? I
could have knocked his head of and no
body knowed it."
Yes" said Ofltt, coolly, "and got
hung for it,
'It would have been self-defense.
said Bowersox- He hit me first
We'll. gentlemen said Ofitt. that
closes up Greenwood Lodge. We can't
lllccI III lIllS any 11lOIS 0OI
suppose he knows any of US by sight,
or he'd have US up tomorrow.
1T was a piece of - nonsense.
comm out here anyhow" growled
Bowersox, unwilling to be placated.
You haven't done - thing but lay
around on the grass and eat peanuts
and hear Bott chin"
Brother Bott has delivered splendid
address on The Religion of Nature +"
and he couldn't have had a better han
than the Canopy TO give Il under said
Ofitt- And now, gentlemen. we'd bet |
ter get back or own way"
* ~
AS Farnham rode home he was not
much puzzled by his adventure in the !
woods. He remembered having belong-i
ed. when he was a child of ten. TO a |
weird and mysterious confraternity can-
ed Early Druids,'' which met in the
depths OF groves, with ill-dehned pur-
poses, and devoted the hours of meet
ing principally 10 the consumption OF
confectionery. He had heard for the
past few months of the existence OF Sc
cret organizations of workingmen-
wholly outside OF the trades unions and
unconnected with them-and guessed at
once that ne had disturbed a lodge of
one Of these clubs. His resentment did
not last very long at the treatment to
which he lad been subjected; but still
he thought it was not a matter of jest
10 have the roads obstructed by rufians
with theories In their heads and re-
volvers in their hands, neither of which
they knew how TO use. He therefore
promised himself to consult with the
chief of police the next morning in re,
gard to the matter.
AS he rode along, thinking OF the oc-
currence. he was dimly conscious Of q
pleasant suggestion in something he
had seen among the hazel brush. and
searching tenaciously in his recollection
of the affair. IL all at once occurred TO
him that, among the faces of the men
who came out of the thicket in the
scuffie, was that of the blonde-bearded,
blue-eye6 young carpenter who had been
at work in his library the day Mrs.
Belding and Alice lunched with him He
was pleased to find that the pleasant
association led him to memories of his
| love- but for a moment cloud passed
over him at the thought of so frank
and hearty a fellow and such a good
workman being in such company. II
must see II l cannot get him out Of it,
he said to himself. and then reverted
| again 10 thoughts of Alice.
X AZ
Twilight was falling. and its melan-
chOly influence was beginning to affect
him He thought less and less of the
Joy of his love and more of its hope
lessness- BY the time he reached his
house he had begun to confront the pos
sibility of a life of renunciation. and af-
Ter the manner of Americans of fortune
who nave no special ties. his mind turn
cd naturally to Europe. Il cannot stay
here to annoy her" he thought. and so
began TO plot for the summer and win
ter. and. in fancy. was at the second
cataract Of the Nile before his horse
hoofs, ringing on the asphalt OF the
stable yard. recalled him to himself
The next day. he was compelled to go
to New York to attend to some matters
OF business. Before taking the train. /
he laid his complaint of being stopped
on the road before the chief OF police. !
who promised to make vigorous inquisi-
ton Farnham remained several days
In New York. and on his return, one
warm. bright evening. he found his table
prepared and the grave Budsey waiting
behind his chair.
He ate his dinner hastily and in /