The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-06-06
CHAPTER X.

Ciaud IyarS walked through the mar
row streets, westward, without noticea-
bic haste. His gait was neither that Of
the busy city merchant nor the easy
lounge of the sailor out of work. Pres
emily he seemed to recognize some famil-
lar landmark. He turned suddenly up
narrow passage and, pushing open
swingglass door, climbed flight of lead
covered steps. On the second floor he
stopped before door bearing on small
brass plate the name, m. NJ. Easton."
Without knocking he opened the door,
and on his entrance an elderly man rose
from his seat at low table, anu, after
q quick glance, lowered his colorless eyes,
bowling gravely. Tyars returned the sal
utation with short nod.
The elderly man then turned to go into
a room beyond the small, bare Office.
When he turned his back, this city clerk
was no longer elderly. His back was
that of young man. Addressing him
self to some unseen person in the inner
room, he uttered two words only--the
name Of the visitor waiting in the outer
Office without prefix or comment.
"Come in, Tyars ~ called out a cheer
ful tenor voice, Immediately; and the
clerk, turning into an old man again,
stepped aside to let the visitor pass
through the doorway.
The man who rose to greet Tyars, hold
ing out a thin hand across the table at
which he had been seated, was singularly
slight. His narrow shoulders sloped at
a larger angle from the lines of his sin
envy neck than Is usually to be found in
men OF the Anglo-Saxon race. The hand
held out was unsteady, very white and
long. The face was narrow and extreme
iy small; at school Matthew Mark Eas-
ton had been nicknamed Monkey" Eas-
ton. Despite his youthful appearance it
was some years since he had left school,
and indeed men of his year at Harvard
were mostly married and elderly, while
Easton still retained his youth. In addi-
ton to this enviable possession there was
still noticeable in his appearance that
slight resemblance to a monkey by which
ne had acquired nickname singularly
appropriate. 1t was not only in the small.
Intelligent face, the keen, anxious eyes
and thin lips, that this resemblance made
itself discernible, but In quickness of
glance and movement in that refined and
nervous tension of habit which is only
found In monkeys and all the lower ami
mails.
by way OF greeting this man whistled
two or three bars Of "See the Conquering
Hero Comes" softly through his teeth,
and pointed to chair.
Smith" he said, raising his voice.
you may as well go to the bank now
with those checks"
'lharQ mo IL.
tion, but presently the door of the outer
Office closed quietly.
call him Smith," continued Easton
In a thin and pleasant voice spiced by .
distinct American accent because his
name Is Pavloski. That unfortunately
iuxuriant crop of gray hair standing
straight up gives him foreign appear
ance, which the name of Pavloski would
seem to confirm. Besides, it takes such
a long time to say Pavloski."
while he was speaking Easton's face
had remained quite grave, and, conse-
quently, very sad. There was a short ST.
Ience. Both had much to say, and they
appeared to be thinking and searching for
a suitable beginning. Easton spoke first.
Il see" he said, shat you are trim
and taut and ready as usual. The ex-
ecutive keeps up to the mark"
Eyes," replied Tyars, my department
is in working order. The ship is getting
on well, and l have found my first Off
GER"
The slight, delicate man looked at his
companions large limbs and half sup
pressed sigh. His wistful little face
contracted into grave smile, and he
nodded his head.
= dislike you," he said, in his peculiar
Iy humorous way, when you talk like
that. 1t seems to imply an evil sense
of exul-ation In your physical superior
fty, which, after all, Is fleeing. You
are only dust, you know. But-but it is
rather poor fun staying at home and pull
ing strings feebly."
1T has its advantages" said Tyars. In
an unconsciously thoughtful tone, which
brought the restless eyes to his face at
once. Besides" he added, more lightly.
'.you do not pull feebly. The tugs are
pretty strong, and the strings, you must
remember, reach good distance"
"Ye-es!" Mathew Mark Easton had a
singular habit of elongating the little
word into several sylables, as if in order
to gain time for thought. "Ye-es! sup
pose it has. But" he said, rousing him
self, II have not been idle. That is to
say, Smith-Pavloski Smith. you know.
He has been working terrifically hard.
Poor fellow His wife is out there-at
Kara
Eyes, know. You told me-" inter
rupted Tyars, and his manner uncon-
sciously implied that fact once impart-
cd to him was never forgotten. HAS he
heard from-or Other YETI"
NO, not for two years. He believes
she Is alive still, and report came from
Riga that she had been sent to Kara"
The Englishman listsned without COM
ment. His strong, bearded face was not
pleasant to look upon Just then. for the