Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-12-13
CHAPTER |.

cuShlonS or the StuHy compartment.
thought how strange a company we wert
then being carried over the dull, drea1
pasture land of France, to the lights, the
music and the life of the great capital.
Roderick and had been at CaiuS Col
iest. Cambridge. together, friends drawn
the closer in affection because our condl
tons in kith and kin. in possession ant
In purpose. in ambition and III dlenesS
were SO very like. Roderck was an or
Ihan ~ years of age, young, rich. des.r r
ing TO know life. caring for no man, not
vital enough to realize danger, good
fellow, a gentleman. His sister was his
only care. He gave to her the strength OF
an undivided love.
For myself, Twas 25 when the strange
things of which | am about to write hap
rened to ME. My father had left me
450,0oo, which l drew upon when | was
Of age; but shame that | should write
il, had spent more than 100000 in four
Years, and my schooner, the Celsis. with
some few thousand pounds. alone remain
ed to me. OF what was my future to be,
/ knew not. In the senseless purpose of
my life, | said only 1T will come, the
tide in my affairs which taken at the
food should lead on to fortune. And in
this supreme folly lived the days, now
in the Mediterranean. now cruising round
the coast of England, now flying of sud
den to Paris \ journey fraught with
folly, the child of folly. to end in folly,
so might it have been said; but who can
foretel the supreme moments of our lives,
when unknowingly we stand on the
threshold of action? And who should ex-
pect me to foresee that the man who was
TO touch the spring of my lifes action sat
before me-mocked of me, dubbed the Per-
feet Fool-over whose dead body was to
tread the paths of danger and the ntri-
cate ways of strange adventure?
But | would not weary you with more
of these facts than are absolutely neces-
sary for the understanding of this story.
surprising strange. Mary and Roderick
slept, while the Perfect Fool and l faced
each other, sick to WEAKNESS with ret1ec
tions upon the probability of being late
or arriving before time. At last he spoke,
and, speaking. seemed to be the Perfect
Fool no longer.
They're both asleep, aren't they?" he
asked suddenly Would you mind max
ing sure. for | have a favor to ask"
He was looking at me with a ftful
shown previously. | assured him at once
that he m.g ght speak his mind that, even
If Roderick should overhear us. | would
pledge my word for his good faith.
Il wanted to speak to you some days
ago" he said earnestly and quickly, as
his hands continued TO play with a paper.
at must seem curious in your eyes that
], who am quite a stranger to you, should
have been in your company for some
weeks. and should not have told you more
than my name, Martin Hall. AS the thing
stands. you have been kind enough TO
make no inquiries; # | am an impostor,
YOU do not care to know it: If | am
rascal hunted by the law, you have not
been willing TO help the law; you do not
know if | have money or no money,
home or no home. people or no people,
vet you have made me-shall l say,
friend:"
He asked the question with such a gen
tie nfexion OF the voice that | felt
sof or chord WIS touched, and n response
/ shook hands with him. After that he
continued to speak.
Il am very grateful for all your trust,
believe me, for | am a man that has
known few friends in life. You have
given me your friendship unasked, and
il is the mors priced. What | wanted to
say is this, if | should die before three
davs have passed. will you open this
packet Of papers | have prepared and
sealed for you. and carry out what Is writ
ten there as well as you are able! AS for
the dangers, they are big enough. but you
Gre the man to overcome them as | hope
to overcome them-if | live w
The sun fell over the lifeless scene with
out as Martin Hall ceased to speak. |
had thought the man a fool and witless,
Eighty in purpose and shallow in thought,
and vet he seemed to speak of great mys-
teries-and of death. In one moment the
testers cloak fell from him, and | saw
the mail beneath.
Tell me. are you quite certain that you
ere not talking nonsense?" | asked. IF
YOU are not playing the fool, Hall. you
must be more explicit. In the first place,
how did you get this absurd notion that
YOU are going to de into your head: sec
undy. what is the nature of the obligation
YOU wish to put upon me: Why should
YOU. who are going to Paris far as |
know. simply as common sightseer. have
any reason to fear some mysterious ca
Iamity in a city where you don't know
soulE"
WHY am ! going to Paris without aim.
do YOU say? Without aim. who have
waited years for the work | believe that |
shall accomplish tonight / will tell you.
] am going TO Paris to meet one who, be
fore another year has gone, will be want
ed By every government in Europe; who,
II / do not put my hand upon his throat
in the midst Of his foul work. will make
grave. as thick as pines in the wood there
before you know another month one who
Is mad and who is sane, one who, If he
knew my purpose, would crush me as
crush this paper one who has everything
that life can give and seeks more, a NAN
who has set his face against humanity.
and who will make war on the nations.
who has money and men, who can com
mand and be obeyed in ten cities. against
whom the police might well hope 10
fyb, "a against the white wall % the
South Sea: man of purpose 50 deadly
that the wisest in crime would not think
Of it-a man, in short, who is the product
si eliminating vice-him l am going to