The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-02-03
CHAPTER II.

~ Mis- is going to be unpleasant,fT
muttered SteinmetZ as he
cumbrously left the saddle.
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 wila
be unpleasant"
Paul had leaped to the ground and
was already l%oosening the dead mans
foot from the stirrup. He did it with d
certain sort Of skill, despite the stiff
ness Of the heavy riding boot, as if he
had walked a hospital in his time.
Very quickly Steinmetz came to his
assistance, tenderly lifting the dead
mar and laying him on his back.
Zach" he exclaimed. I'VE 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 it owe a face which had be-
come unrecogniZable.
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.
1t 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. z
The two finders of this silent tragedy
stood up and looked around them. 1t
was almost dark. They We're ten miles
from a h%abitation.
Steinmetz had pushed his fur cap 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 it. l wonder where
his passport is? We have here a TRACE
dy."
Paul was still examining the dead
man with that c%allousness which de-
notes one who for love or convenience
has become a doctor. He was q doctor,
English medical school.
Steinmetz looked down at him with
a 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-
tious disease said Steinmetz grufHy.
II should not care to handle any stray
moujik one finds dead about the road
side; unless. of course, you think there
is more money about him. 1t would be
a pity to leave that for the police"
Paul did not answer. He was exam
lining the limp, dirty hands Of the dead
man. The fingers were covered with
soil. the nails were broken. He had ev.
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 shape
in Russia"
Steinmetz stopped down. He held
out his own square tipped fingers In
comparison. Paul rubbed the dead
hand with his sleeve as II 1t were a
piece Of statuary.
Look here he continued, 'the dirt
rubs on and leaves the hand quite q
gentlemanly color. This"-he paused
and lifted Steinmetz's handkerchief,
dropping 1t again hurriedly over the
mutilated face-.this thing was once .
gentleman"
III certainly has ser better days