Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-04-05
CHAPTER NJ

More conspiracleS have failed from i'm
pecuniousity than from treachery. If a
man has money in sufficient quantity. Sc
crecv is easily purchased. Even if he has
enough money to buy a respectable coat
he is already on the high road to success
If the conspirators assemble in swallow
tail coats and white ties, they are almost
free from danger. Suspicion fixes herself
upon the impecunious, the unfortunate
the low in station. She haunts the area
steps, and flies at the luxurious sound of
carriage wheels. She never enters the
front door, but If she wishes to reach
the upper floor, creepeth up the back
stairs. Under the respectable shade of
silk hat, gloved and washed, any of us
may trespass where he with but shabby
coat and forlorn boots will call down
ignominy on his head Well dressed, we
| may steal horses; shabbily clad, we must
not even look over walls.
There was in the temperament of Mat
| thew Mark Easton that small seed of ag-
gressive courage which makes conspira-
tors, agitators and rebels of sensible men.
Under the influence of such men as
Claud Tyars and Pavloski, he was capable
Of developing great energy, and there is
lIIIlc uOuDL rlHdI iHcSc lWO, unCOuSClOuSlV
working together, forced the American to
assume a gradually increasing weight of
responsibility, to the dimensions of which
he remained partially ignorant.
In persuading Tyars to espouse a
cause of which the particulars will be
hereafter narrated, Easton had, some
years previously, unwittingly cast his
own lot with that cause to a greater and
fuller extent than his easy going nature
would ever knowingly have allowed He
had set the torch to brand of which the
flames soon enveloped him. Meeting "
ars at an international aquatic compe-
tition, friendship had sprung up be-
tween them, both being lonely men with
no sisters or cousins to admire their
prowess.
These slight retrogressive explanations
will serve, perhaps, to make clear the po-
sition of Matthew Mark Easton with re-
gard to Claud Tyars in the events that
follow. To some extent the outcome of
these past incidents was a dinner party
given by the American one November
evening. OF those assembled some are
living to this day, but others, though
young, are now dead, leaving to the sur
vlyors the memory of a brave example,
| the unanswered question of a useless life,
lived and lost.
There was nothing singular or remark
able about the fare provided. 1t was. in
fact, supplied "all hot by a neighboring
confectioner, but the guests formed as
unique a collection of feasters as could
we'll be found even in the metropolis of
England.
he,
"P. Smith," as Easton playfully called
him. The old young clerk of the little
Office in the city, Pavloski Smith, was
dressed in irreproachable swallow tail
coat and white tie. He shook hands with
Easton, bowling his gray head in a pc
culiar jerky manner, as if they had not
parted at the Office two hours before.
After him came at intervals three
men; the first elderly and stout, the 9th
er two younger, but all alike had that
peculiar repose of manner which was espe-
cially noticeable in the man called Paw
loski. They were evidently foreigners.
They spoke English remarkably we'll, and
made few mistakes in grammar. Easton
received them with a few words of wei
come.
.Tyars," he said TO each in turn, ''has
found a gentleman who will serve as first
officer. He brings him tonight
is" inquired the stout man, who was
of somewhat ceremonious habit, lis
Mr.. Tyars well?"
Quite well, thanks; at least, / sur
mise so" was the answer.
The two younger men heard the news
without comment. Without awaiting an
invitation Pavloski drew a chair for
ward TO the hearth rug and sat directly
in front of the fire, holding his two hands
out toward the warmth. In this position
it became evident that he was q contem
porary of the two younger men, who
presently moved toward the fire and stood
talking together in their peculiar Eng
fish, while Easton and the stout gentle
man exchanged meaningless platitudes.
The three younger men had thus
grouped themselves together, and when
placed in proximity there was some sub
tie point of resemblance between them
which could not at first sight be defined.
1t lay only in the eyes, for IN build and
complexion there was no striking like
ness. Each of these three men had a
s:ngularly slow glance. They raised their
eyes to ones face rather after the man