Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-25

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time he spoke no word save to direct
me at the crossroads, but lay back on
his seat With his arms folded, his hat
lowering upon his eyes and his eyes
fixed upon the immediate purview. But
after awhile he uttered a little sigh, as
Of one whose deliberations had relieved
him, and turned a mild eye upon NE.
"You drive well, my friend" he said.
"From all appearances you have Il
hard nerve. 1t is we'll. 1t is we'll. 1t
is the one thing 1 have aimed at, and
I might have succeeded had not my
ascendants weakened the blood"
l told him that so far us l could see
he had no reason to complain Of his
nerve.
"You think so? Then it seems that
you are not only a silent but an OBJ
serving person." he said, smiling. But
you are Trong-you are wrong. Never
theless, l an glad to find you so OBJ
servant. My dear sir, there is nothing
so important as observation. Educa.
ton and breeding and birth, these you
may buy or feign, but observation is
the measure of a mans character"
With that he sank into silence once
more, nor, SO far as l can recall, did
we exchange Il sentence till we ar.
rived in Raymond.
We drew up in the main street. off a
large and formless building, upon the
door Of which was emblazoned the
name of a solicitor and public notary.
And here, begging me to await him,
the old gentleman alighted and entered
the house. 1t was not very long after
ward that he reappeared with a pleas
ant little lawyer behind him, and l no.
ticed that he himself seemed very we'll
pleased. He talked as if a load was
off his mind: but, to tell the truth, l
felt that it was time I had some eX.
PLANTATION. 1t was not that l grudged
the old gentleman my fellowship, such
as it was, and it certainly was not that
1 was tired Of the experience. Quite
the contrary. | was tantaliZed by
these strange tastes Of adventure. My
nose took up the scent of mystery as Il
hound shifts the air, and when l spoke
so abruptly it was only in the wish to
let him understand that I thought my
fidelity had earned its wages.
at is we'll to be armed at all points,
my friend" he had remarked compla-
Gently. 81 find a complete equipment
is a solace against possible evils"
THAT'S very true" l said, land l
am delighted if my small services this
afternoon have. as it would seem, been
the happy occasion of suggesting to
you this comfortable reflection. But
now, if YOU will Reuse me, Mr.. Kes-
teven, I will put my thanks in your
hands for a very agreeable hospitality
and
He was visibly disconnected. as Ihad
hoped he would be.
"Iou are not thinking of your inn:'
he demanded after a pause in which he
recovered.
my dear sir" l replied, 81 have been
thrust upon you, q complete stranger,
for a day and a night
His face Sutfused with amusement.
II don't think we are strangers to each
other, Mr.. GreatoreX," he observed
Ao'StiS. q 81. we understand
one another better than appears. If.
however, it be any relief to YOUR con-
science, / assure you that l am much
better for your company. But" he
added dryly, Il should be the last to
hold you if your duty claims YOU else
where"
We looked at each other for q mo-
ment, in which time / noted a twinkle
cleaning in his eyes, and then stimuli
t%aneously, / think, we burst forth into
laughter.
Come, come, | think I understand.
MI. GreatoreX,' said he, "and the uu-
Outstanding notches another score to
you in my stick. | admit that YOU have
q right to something further. freely
confess it, only | am an Old man and
must take my time. Are we agrccd?,
"My dear sir" said ! hastily, ST
would not press you for the world, and
l am N more inQuiSitivc than any hon
est man who hopes that he might be OF
some service to Il friend in trouble"
you are very good,' he returned
gently. You can be silent, ANA Won,
can protlcr Il question mt the right tllnn
! think all the better of you. And for
what you say OF friendship, why, | am
sincerely obliged to you, and / think