The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-02-10

gentleman, snuff1ng gently and with an
air of consideration from his fingers
Yes, / dare say / should know him.
but / am sure you will allow me to
manage this affair my own way.
have stood the racket, you know
though l heartily acknowledge you
have acquired certain claim to atten
ton. 1t is very good Of you," he said
politely, and then, Yes, I think
should know him again-if we met
which is of course extremely improb
able" he concluded, with q twinkle In
his eyes,
Now, the self possession of this old
fellow, with his air Of imperturbable
courage, puzzled me hugely and In a
manner was very disconcerting. He
had taken the outrage, which had evil
IDENTIFY been committed upon his per-
son, with such mildness, even with
amiability. l could scarce credit my
senses to see him discoursing there,
with his snuff between his fingers, so
pleasantly and broadly, of the event.
He seemed quite unruffled, though his
body still painted with the efforts of
his struggle.
us your watch safe? / suppose it
was robbery?'' said, feeling somehow
rather mean and cast down by the I'M
expected situation.
Thank you, quite SAFE" he replied.
without troubling to ascertain. Yes,
quite safe. Certainly 1 must suppose
it to have been robbery-yes, robbery,
no doubt"
His air was so distracted that l took
leave to doubt his sanity; but, after
all, it was no business of mine if he
was foolishly disposed to mercy, and
one needs but little Imagination to con-
ceive of dozen deep reasons for an
assault save the plain motive Of theft.
He turned to me presently as ! was
upon the point of withdrawing.
Il am at loss to know" said he, la
boring over his words and speaking
very deliberately, what devil of folly
pursues men that they win hazard ali
on a piece of carelessness. wanton
within or just mere Indifference or idle
ness. / cannot say He paused as
we emerged upon the road. This must
be your horse, then, good, serviceable
animal, that would have warmed my
heart thirty years since. l cannot
say" he resumed, clutctling gently at
my arm, that my adventure today
was due to any other cause than that
Of mere carelessness." He paused
again, surveying my horse with appar
ent interest. ''In the first place,
should not have been so far from home;
secondly, should not have been with
out my revolver; thirdly. should have
used my stick harder when l got home,
concurrence Of negligences which
made my fate almost a certainty but
for your arrival" he added as polite
afterthought. squeezing my arm.
confess that l was utterly at loss
what to make Of him and was inclined
to interpret him for a mild lunatic, but
we proceeded along the roadway,
with the bride of my horse over my
arm. He still chung to me, discoursing
quietly in a melodiOus voice upon mis-
views of life and the philosophy we
should derive from it, while | listened.
for the most part, in silence. But after
walking for quarter of an hour, the
latter part of which time was spent II,
a somewhat laborious ascent. We came
out upon the summit of little hill clad
IN the splendid livery of summer aud
surmounted by what seemed In the
distance to be the ruins of a castle.
Here the old gentleman came to a halt.
ceasing simultaneously of his chatter,
and looked toward the building
Il am fully conscious, Mr.. -: don't
think caught your name, Mr..
"Greatorex," told him.
''Thank you," said he Il am fully
conscious, Mr.. Greatorex, that | en-
under Il deep obligation to you for your
great service this afternoon Great
OreX. There are, if | remember Alright,
Gfeatorexes in Hampshire"
l explained that we were cadets of
that family He bowed his acknowl-
edgments of my explanation and pro-
ceeded
Hospitality tells me that can do no
less than offer you the opportunity of
refreshment for yourself or"-his eyes
dwelt abstractedly upon my horse
for your animal. But l am reluctant
to press the offer upon you, seeing that
it is very probable you have ridden
far"-he was observing poor Jupiter's
fanks-"and are still far from your
destination"
His eyes Intercepted me, but with
no rude curiosity, rather as if they of
fered a remark which | might consider
a question or not, as | chose / an
swered frankly:
81 am STAYING at the Swan in Rar-