The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-01-19
CHAPTER I.

| thought how strange a company we wer,
then being carried over the dull, drea
pasture land of France, to the lights, tn
music and the life of the great capital.
Roderick and had been at Caius Col
legt, Cambridge, together, friends draw
the closer in affection because our condi
tions in kith and kin, in possession ant
| in purpose, in ambition and in idleness
were so very like. Roderick was an or
phan "a years of age, young, rich, des.r
ing to know life, caring for no man, moi
| vital enough to realize danger, a good
fellow, a gentleman. His sister was his
| only care. He gave to her the strength OF
an undivided love.
For myself, Twas % when the strange
things of which l am about to write hap
pened to me. My father had left me
100000, which | drew upon when | was
Of age but, shame that l should write
ii, l had spent more than 100000 in four
years, and my schooner, the Celsis, with
some few thousand pounds, alone remain
ed TO me. Of what was my future to be,
| knew not. In the senseless purpose of
my life, | said only, 1T will come, the
tide in my affairs which taken at the
food 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 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
foretell 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 Follower whose dead body was to
tread the paths of danger and the intri-
cate ways Of strange adventure?
But l 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 reflec-
tons 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 l have favor to ask"
He was looking at me with a fitful.
pleading look unlike anything he had
shown previously. | assured him at once
that he might speak his mind; that, even
II Roderick should overhear us, / would
pledge my word for his good faith.
II wanted to speak to you some days
ago." he said earnestly and quickly, as
his hands continued to play with a paper.
1T must seem curious in your eyes that
I ybn 70 .tr 20
have been in your company for some
weeks, and should not have told you more
than my name, Martin Hall. As the thing
stands, you have been kind enough to
make no inquiries; if l am an impostor,
you do not care to know it; If l am
rascal hunted by the law, you have not
been willing to help the law; you do not
know il l have money or no money, a
home or no home. people or no people,
yet you have made me-shall l say, a
friend?"
He asked the question with such a gen.
tic inflexion OF the voice that l felt
softer chord was touched, and in response
shook hands with him. After that he
continued to speak.
II am very grateful for all your trust,
JSlicNc kOf dlu u Ludu lldl mas
Known few friends in life. You have
,iven me your friendship unasked, and
t is the more priced. What wanted to
'ay is this, IL l should die before three
lays have passed, will you open this |
packet of papers l have prepared and |
ealed for you, and carry out what is writ
en there as well as you are able? As for
he dangers, they are big enough, but you
Ire the man to overcome them as l hope
% overcome them-if live"
The sun fell over the lifeless scene with
,ur as Martin Hall ceased to speak.
lad thought the man a fool and witless.
lightly in purpose and shallow in thought.
Ind yet he seemed to speak of great mys-
eries-and OF death. In one moment the
ester's cloak fell from him, and saw
The mail beneath.
Tell me, are you quite certain that Won
Ire not talking nonsense?" asked. "If
1ou are not playing the fool, Hall, you
must be more explicit. In the first place,
low did you get this absurd notion that
Tou are going to de into your head? sec
'ndly, what is the nature of the obligation
1ou wish to put upon me? Why should
'ou. who are going to Paris, as far as l
Inow, simply as common sightseer, have
my reason to fear some mysterious ca
amity in city where you don't know a
oul?"
why am going to Paris without aim,
10 you say? Without aim, who have
waited years for the work believe that I
hall accomplish tonight will tell you.
am going to Paris to meet one who, be-
ore another year has gone, will be want
d by every government in Europe who,
do not put my hand upon his throat
n the midst Of his foul work, will make
raves as thick as pines in the wood there
efore you know another month one who
5 mad and who is sane, one who, if he
new my purpose, would crush me as l
rush this paper one who has everything
hat life can give and seeks more, a man /
rho has set his face against humanity,
nd who will make war on the nations,
rho has money and men, who can COM
iand and be obeyed In ten cities. against
fhom the police might as well hope to
ght as against the white wall of the
outh Sea; man of purpose so deadly
hat the wisest in crime would not think
{ it-a man, in short, who Is the product
eliminating vice-him am going to