The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-08-31
The Liar.
By L. Lundsley.

""AI INC luCOLlluS Tue, Wnen the
widgeon would return through the
dusk light, in low, suspicious flights,
to their night haunts.
At length l picked up my gun,
rose, shook myself and started to
walk back along the sea wall, aban-
doning all thought of a chance shot.
l had not proceeded many yards
when, in the hollow between the
ridge and the dixie which cut it off
from the saltings, saw the body of
man. He was lying on his breast,
/ his arms stretched out stifly before
him, his face buried in the grass.
| The attitude could mean only one of
two things -despair or
'Hullo!"
The call was involuntary. The
man sprang up with the quick, ner-
yous action of one taken unawares.
why can't you leave me alone?"
he snarled fiercely, at bay on the in
slant.
Then, evidently finding l was not
whom he had expected to see, he
scrambled up in front of me, and
stood silhoutted against the sky-a
pitiable, ragged, wasted figure. He
commenced to whimper.
Its those birds; they're always
calling, calling. Curse them!" he
broke out savagely; they'll end by
sending me mad. You can't think
what it is, he went on, more quietly,
and making a motion toward the
bank from which he had risen,
when that's your bed-to lie awake
on, listening to those screams, fall
ing asleep with them still haunting
you and making you dream you're
tormented by screehcing devils.
He had come a step nearer, and
his eyes fell on my gun. Involuntar-
lily he put out his hand, much as does
a child who longs to touch some OBJ
ject, but half fears to do so. In a
moment his manner changed.
by Joven' he cried; "eight-bore?
That must pepper em up a Bit"
AS he spoke the words, in a flash
l knew the man-Abolsford Abols-
ford, lost, strayed, dead? Nobody
knew, nobody cared He was one of
those who have lived" and gone
out. Clearly the light of his memory
shed no CLEAN of recollection upon
me. The sudden recall of his old
manner, too, had passed as sudden
ly as it had come; yet in his bearing
there lurked something apologize.
That isn't what | have been used
to-long, you know"
He spread out his hands deprecat-
ingly toward the beach and the few
eel catchers' huts that dotted 1t.
"Once l used to be a pretty rich
chap"
True, he had been.
But" he went on, struggling his
shoulders, 81 had no luck; it all
went"
Gambled, flung wantonly away.
well"
ut doesn't bother you to listen?
It's months since l met a man l
could talk to-"
1T interests me" l replied.
1t did.
well, then the poor old governor
went broke-that was devillsh bad
luck"
SO it was; to be ruined in his old
age, turned out of his home to APP
pease his sons creditors, to die bro
ken-hearted-devi bad luck in
deed. But l merely nodded my head.
After that" he sniggered uneas-
ily-"of course l had to get mar
ried Not a bad sort, with a pile OF
her own; but that wouldn't work.
You know what women are?"
Yes, l knew the woman who had
been tied to this man, who had been
cheated of her money by him, drag
ged down by him, insulted by his
associates, and, finally, deserted by
him for-I shuddered at the recol-
lection.
After that" he proceeded, 81
went in for speculation, but-my
luck again-everything went against
me; yet it's a game lots of chaps
win at"
The game of the bogus company!
Why did l let him go on salving his
wretched mind by one more flash of
imposture? All l know is that I
stood mechanically listening. me-
chanically translating lie to fact.
cat last" he proceeded. feeling in
his tattered coat, and drawing out
blackened briar pipe, everything
came to an end, everything but the
bad luck, and that stuck. Pish!"
He dashed off his cap and l saw
that his hair was flecked with white.
Strange as 1t semed, this man was
growing full Of pity for himself as
he believed he was impressing me
with the sorrows of the past.
l remembered the end, too; a
card scandal, expulsion from clubs,
the slow falling away Of all men.
l could not speak. He looked at
me expectantly.
In the pause that followed he be-
gan to. grumble under his breath
and whimper once more. Then, ap-
pearing to recollect his pipe In his
hand. he looked up.
"You don't happen to have a
pouch, do your" he asked tnsinuat-
ingly.
handed him my tobacco box.
Across its lid my name was cut bold
ly. He took the box in his hands
greedily, and, as he bent to open 1t.
his eyes rested on the lid. For mo-