Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-27
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CHAPTER /.

pretty head had fallen against the cushion
As ! reclined at greater length on the
cushions OF the stuffy compartment, |
thought how strange company we were
then being carried over the dull. drear
pasture land of France, to the lights, the
music and the life of the great capital.
R0derick and | had been at Caius Col
Iegt, Cambridge together friends drawn
the closer in affection because our condi-
tions in kith and kin. in possession and
in purpose, in ambition and IN idleness,
were so very like Roderick was an or
phan "a years Of age, young, rich, desir-
ing to know life, caring for no man, not
vital enough to realize danger, good
fellow, a gentleman. His sister was his
only care. He gave to her the strength of
IN undivided love.
For myself, Twas - when the strange
things of which / am about to write hap
pened to me. Ny father had left me
$4,000, which | drew upon when l was
Of age but, shame that | should write
it, | had spent more than 100000 in four
years, and my schooner, the Celsls, with
some few thousand poun1s, alone remain
ed to me. OF what was my future to be,
| knew not. In the senseleSs purpose OF
ny life, | said only, 1T will coBe, the
tide in my affairs which taken at the
flood should lead on to fortune" And IN
this supreme folly l lived the days, now
in the Mediterranean, now cruising round
the coast of England, now flying of a sud
den to Paris. A journey fraught with
folly, the child Of folly, to end in folly,
SO might it have been said: but who can
foretelI the supreme moments of our lives,
when unknowingly we stand on the
threshold Of action? And who should ex
pect me to foresee that the man who was
to touch the spring of my life's action sat
before me-mocked of me, dubbed the Per
feet Fool-over whose dead body l was to
tread the paths of danger and the intri
cate ways of strange adventure?
But I would not weary you with more
of these facts than are absolutely neces-
sary for the understanding of this story,
surprising strange Mary and Roderick
slept, while the Perfect Fool and l faced
each other, sick to WEAKNESS with refec-
tions upon the probability of being late
or arriving before time. At last he spoke,
and, speaking seemed to be the Perfect
Fool no longer
They're both asleep. aren't they?" he
asked suddenly. Would you mind max
ing sure, for | have favor to ask"
He was looking at me with ftful
pleading look unlike anything he had
shown previously. | assured him at once
that he might speak his mind that, even
if Roderick should overhear us, | would
pledge my word for his good faith.
Il wanted to speak to you some days
ago." he 81 earnestly and quickly, as
his hands CO tinued to play with paper.
"It must sen curious in your eyes that
|, who am g tie stranger to you, should
have been il your company for some
weeks, and ; lpuld not have told you more
than my NAM. Martin Hall. AS the thing
stands, you have been kind enough to
make no inc tries if l am an impostor,
you do not care to know 1t; if / am
rascal hunted by the law, you have not
been willing to help the law; you do not
know if l have money or no money,
home or no home. people or no people,
yet you have made meLshall | say, a
friend?"
He asked the question with such gen
tie inf1exion OF the voice that | felt
softer chord was touched, and in response
/ shook hands with him. After that he
continued to speak.
Il am very grateful for all your trust
believe me, for l am a man that has
known few friends in life. You have
given me your friendship unasked, and
it is the more priced. What l wanted to
say is this, if should die before three
days have passed, will you open this
packet of papers | have prepared and
sealed for you, and carry out what is writ
ten there as we'll as you are able? AS for
the dangers they are big enough, but you
are the man to overcome them as l hope
to overcome them-if | live :"
The sun fell over the lfeless scene with
out as Martin Hall ceased to speak.
had thought the man 4 fool and witless,
Eighty in purpose and shallow in thought,
and yet he seemed to speak of great mys-
teries-and Of death. In one moment the
testers cloak fell from him, and l saw
tha mail beneath.
Tell me, are you quite certain that you
are not talking nonsense?" l asked. IF
you are not playing the fool, Hall, you
must be more explicit. In the first place,
how did you get this absurd notion that
you are going to die into your head? sec
ondly, what is the nature of the obligation
you wish to put upon me? Why should
you, who are going to Paris. as far as l
know, simply as common Sightseer, have
any reason to fear some mysterious ca
lamity in a city where you don't know a
soul?"
why am l going to Paris without aim,
do YOU say? Without aim-I. who have
waited years for the work believe that |
shall accomplish tonight. l will tell you
/ am going to Paris to meet one who, be-
fore another year has gone. will be want
ed by every government in Europe; who
if l do not put my hand upon his throat
in the midst of his foul work will make
graves as thick as pines in the wood there
before you know another month; one who
is mad and who is sane. one who if he
knew my purpose, would crush me as
crush this paper one who has everything
that life can give and seeks more mar
who has set his face against humanity
and who will make war on the nations
who has money and men. who can com
mand and be obeyed in ten cities, agains
whom the police might as we'll hope Il
fight as against the white wall of thu
South Sea a man of purpose so dead,
that the wisest in Crime would not thinl
OF it--a man, in short, who is the produc
OF eliminating vice-him | am going t,
meet in this Paris where l go withou
aim-without aim, ha -
And you mean TO run him down."
asked. What interest have you in him?
AT the moment none; but in mont
the interest of money, AS sure as yor
and l talk of ii now, there will be fit
thousand pounds offered for knowledge o
him before December comes Don us -
l looked at him as at one who dream
dreams. but he did not finch.
Tonight l shall be with him; within
three days l win all or lose all for hi
secret will be mine. If l fail, it is 70
you to follow up the thread which 1 hav
unravelled by three years hard work
Dare you risk coming with me- NEE
him at eight o'clock"
Dare risk poor, there can't b
much danger"
There is every danger but, so, til
girl is waking =
It was true Mary looked up suddenl