Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
PART ".
The Man of Mystery.
CHAPTER XIV.
Death Eddy.

1t was a gray day, chill and ominous. AS
the three most interested in the event came
together on the road facing the point from
which HaZen had decided TO make his des-
perate plunge. the drearineSs of the scene
was reflected in the troubled eye of the
LAWYER and that of the still more pro-
foundry affected Ransom. Only Hazen
gazed unmoved. Perhaps because the spot
was no new one to him, perhaps because
an unSympathetc sky. a stretch of rock,
the swirl of churninG waters without any
of the liGhtness and color which CHANGING
sunlight gives. meant for him but one
thing-the thing upon which he had fixed
his mind. his soul.
The rocky formation into which the
stream ran at this point, into a pocket,
revealed itself in the bald outlines of the
point which. curving half way upon itself,
held in its cold embrace the unseen vortex.
One tree, and one only. disturbed the Sky
line. Stark and twisted into an unusual
shape from the steady blowing of the
prevalent east winds, it imprinted Itself
at once upon the eye and unconsciously
upon the imagination. To some it was the
keeper of that hell gate; the contorted
sentinel of bygone woes and lons-buried
horrors if not the gnomiSh genius of
others vet to come Today it was the sign
post to a strange deed-the counting of an
uncannv death that one of the many Sc
crets hidden in that hole of miseries might
be unlocked.
Under this tree small group of strong
and determined men was already collected /;
not as spectators but helpers in the ad-
venturous ATTEMPT about to be undertaken
by their old friend and playmate. The
spectators had been barred from the point
and stood lined up in the road overlook
ing the eddy. They were numerous and
very eager. Hazen's brows drew together
in his first exhibition of feeling, as he saw
women and even children in the crowd,
and caught the expression of morbid an
ticipation with which they all turned as
he stepped with his two associates over
the rope which had been stretched across
the base of the outcurving head line.
"Cormorants!' escaped his lips. They
look for a feast of death. but they will be
disappointed" He was almost bitter Il
shall survive this plunge. l have no wish
for my death to be the holiday for a hun
bred gloating eyes. l am not handsome
enough. When l die. 1t will be quietly,
with some hand near kind enough to cover
my poor face with napkin.
Harper and Ransom both remembered
this remark little while later.
Mr. Hazen?" 1t was Harper who spoke.
They had passed little thicket of brush
and were drawing near the group under the
tree Have you duly considered what you
are about to do? ! have talked with sew
eral men of judgment and experience about
this attempt, and they all say 1t can have
but one termination
Il know That is because they know
little or nothing of the life | have led
since l left this town. There is not
man among them so slight and seemingly
frail of figure as myself. but none of them,
not one has been so often up TO the very
gates of death and ESCAPED as / have. My
schooling has been long and severe. per-
hans In preparation for this day. | have
been through fire: | have been through
water The swirling of my own native
stream does not appall me. l rather well
come it; 1t is but another experience"
But for money! broke In Ransom.
You acknowledge 1t is for no other pur-
pose Will it pay? l own that in my eyes
no amount of money could pay man for
so superhuman risk as this Take a
few thousands from mel had rather give
them to you than see you leap into that
water opening beneath us like a hungry
maw.'
Hazen stood silent. his eyes glistening,
his hand almost outstretched. Harper
thought he would yield: the offer must
have struck him generous and very
tempting-a good excuse for a hot-headed
man to withdraw from very doubtful ad-