The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-23
The Strange Sickness
OF Mr.. Whitaker
RanS0me
kdHSOme

In his mouth came rolling burlily up
the street. his hands in his jacket
pockets, cap pulled over his brows, his
eyes darling here and there, taking in
all the sights of the great city that
came in his way. A good student OF
character would set him down at once
as an English sailor ashore In a strange
country. his wages securely slowed
away in some secret part of his pain
fully new and i'll fitting suit of blue
serge. Short Of stature, but bulky and
solid, after the fashion of his native
oaks, with features whose natural StO-
lidity was enlivened startlingly by the
unexpected brilliance or his eyes.
which. though gray, were of so dark a
shade that the effect was nearly that
of piercing black, and with the assur-
ance of we'll considered and unshak-
able opinions in his manner, he was
plainly no sort of prey whatever for
the landsharks. If he had his roll in
his clothes he was able to keep it there,
as far as they were concerned. And
the proof was, if one had needed other
proof than his appearance, that here
he was two miles from the wharves
safe in the heart of the best residential
districts, having passed under the very
noses of the longshOre bankers, run
ners, heelers, and strong-arm men, like
q sturdy old battle-ship among river
pirates and mudscows. His build and
gait were enough to inspire respect,
even seen from distance, and the fiery
glitter of his eyes as he approached
would be nothing less than appalling
to a person with secret intentions
toward him.
Arrived at the entrance to the public
garden the sailor turned his back upon
it. spread his legs, took his pipe from
his mouth with his right hand, and,
blowing a cloud of smoke upward, with
a lift of the chin, ran his eyes over the
buildings across the way. Then he
lowered his gaze to the hurrying
crowds on the sidewalk. glanced swiftly
al the street signs. put his pipe back
into his mouth, relieved the congestion
of his nose between his thumb and
finger, wheeled and rolled into the park.
On an empty bench he seated himself,
fitted the tin stopper to his pipe, thrust
it into his coat pocket. and drew forth
a small piece of paper lined with dia-
grams. This he studied for ten min
utes, his face gathered in a perpleXed
scowl. Then, Dang" he burst out,
crashing his great fist down upon his
knees. He looked at the diagram again
for long moment, again said Dang"
and repeated the pounding of the knee.
From a little fat pin cushion which
he fished from his pocket he selected
four pins, picking them out with
sureness and grace that no ordinary
landsman would believe possible, after
a glance at the enormous thumb and
awkward appearing fingers. and with
these he fastened the small paper to
the Stats of the seat Then, following
the lines with careful forehnger, he
traced out certain figures, muttering his
calculations as he worked them.
This 'ere's a bloody purity how-d'-do,
this Isl As how? Why, then, here's
the ship, and here's the park, and
here's yore Commonwealth avenOo.
But then again here's yore Arlington
street. and here's yOTe blessed Church
street, way off up here, northeast by
east and yore Park street clean away
down here sou'east by halfeast, and
here is Summer street running the
same tacks identical as Winter, and on
the chart summer is west and Winter
is east, and blarst my bloody eyes If
l didn't heave out O. there a minute
back. and they're the other way about
or I'm landsman. And here 1 lay, up
here, oy Park street-here's the
church" casting his eve at the tall
spire over the way. but the signs say
Boylston. And the amt no BoyIston
on the chart, And this here's Beacon,
only little furder on its Common
wealth, and not Beacon. and here's
Beacon way off sOu'east again. and
Park street church becalmed under her
lee, when it Oughter be Iayin' up along
side about where be this blessed min
ute And, shiver me! here It is too,
on Boylston street, right in hail. but
stern fore-foremost, at the wrong end
of the park"
He Strengthened up with a perk and
cast his eve toward the heavens as if
IN search of the sun, by which to get
his bearings. but it was a gray day
and there was no sun in sight. He
pulled out his pipe with a surly growI.
lighted it. and sat putting stoIidIy, now
and then glancing at the map, and oc-
casionally looking up and down the
wall and into the near by paths among
the trees. Presently, as a young man
and woman entered the gates, strolling
slowly along. he gathered the map up
with a hdsty movement folded it in
his hand out of view, and turned his
head from the advancing couple. Three
other persons passed Immediately after
these, without gaining from him more
than a quick glance as they ap-
preached. But the fourth. who was in
the yeoman's uniform of the United
States navy, he accosted.
Mate" he said, where's this here
Arlington street,"
Right here" he answered. pointing
TO the street behind them.
Right here" he groWled. throwing a
suspicious. menacing look at the blue
Jacket. why. amt that there Park
street church? ,"
The bluejacket laughed.
SO you're up against the curves of
this town, 100" he said. We'll, we've
all been there The streets is sure
crooked, that's a fact. This church is
the Arlington street. Park street is at
the other end of the cOmmon-a mile
up there You've been sailing in cir
cles, likely. Where you from. mate?"
But the sailors only answer was to
get up and mutteTing anathemaS
against landsmen's charts. and every
thing else that belonged to them. or
was related to them in the remOtest
degree, walked off, putting his pine, his
hands in his pockets, his eyes set
straight ahead as if in search of some
known light
At the corner of Commonwealth ave
nue.. two blocks beyond, he stopped
short at sight of the long double rows
of trees stretching away into the dis
lance, with the graveled walk between
them. and pulled out his map A mo-
ment's scrutiny of il elected a grunt
of satisfaction from him. and he set of
along the sidewalk looking ut the