The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-25
CHAPTER I.

moist April morning there knock
ed at a modest lodging house in
Rolls buildings. Fetter lane, Il re-
cent lodger who could no longer afford
even the attic's trihing rent. So now
he made his bed In the parks OF the
metropolis or in the damp green fields
outside. And for all he professed to
care, the damp was welcome TO kill
him IL only it would kill outright.
The man was very fair and spare,
but of a medium height. His hands
and feet were notably small, the wrists
and arms little deceptive. These
looked lean, but were made Of muscle
and quickeEed with hot. keen blood
He was very young; but. though as
fact not five and twenty. the thin, sar-
doric, reckless face looked half as old
again. An abiding bitterness had curl
ed the full nostrils. deepening the lines
thence to the sensitive red lips and
drawing the latter too habitualIy apart
upon set teeth or a sheer Nor was the
bitterness OF the kind sown in proud
hearts by capricious circumstance and
crushing but not dishonorable defeat.
1t was rather the Dead sea fruit of
willful riot and Il contemplate. impen-
itent remOrse. And yet in the full
brown eye and lifted chin, as in the
Ill clad, well carried figure. there was
lingering something that was gallant
and fine and debopair.
To this loSt youth the door In Rolls
buildings was opened by gray haired
woman, who nodded knowingly in re-
sronsc 70 an inquiry for letters and
handed one over with an invitation to
enter and read it within. But the
kindly words fell on inatfentive ears.
Looking fondly and yet fearfully at
the superscription-to Thomas Erich
sen, Esq, and the rest-the needy own
er of that name suddenly pocketed his
letter with unbroken seals. He was
turning as abruptly away when the
blank face of his former landlady led
him to pause a moment.
NO, bless you. no, It's not from
him." said Erickson grimly. This is
from a friend / met yesterday. who
would insist on having my address.
What was 1 to do? I thought you
wouldn't mind. SO I gave my last"
Mind! 1t is your address and might
be your 'ome IL you wasn't that Ugh
and 'aughty. Dear, dear. dear, So
you've not heard from that villain
yetT"
mot line"
Nor Of himT'
Not a word. Give me time. II
don't root him out by this day month
sensible man." -
But what IL you do?" demanded the
landlady, who was herself directly in
terested in the event
What il do, Mrs. Adcock? Well, 1
shall probable half murder him, TO be-
gin with. He has wholly ruined me.
Yes, 1t will. be my money-and your
money-or his life. He knows it. too,
IL he's got my letters. Feel the weight
OF that
And he put in her hands heavy ash
stick. green and sinewy. with the knob
still creamy from the knife.
Lord save usi'' cried the woman
els this the rod in pickle for him?'
That's the rod In pickle. Nice and
heavy. fsn't ftp
Zoo 'eavy, Mr.. Erickson. Too 'eavy
by 'alf. I'd show no mercy to thieves
and swindlers. but l should be very
careful what I did with that
wouldn't take the law into my own
hands if were YOU
You wouldn't?" cried he. "Not l.
you'd been cleaned out as l have by
blackguardly a dodge? BY the Lor
that made him. I'd break every bon
in his Internal body and will. too. If
find him and he won't pay up. I'll d.,
him. 1 grant you il was my ow
cursed fault in the beginning. Blu
what about that last t35? Who &,
that? Why am / rotting and starvir
here3 Who threw me on the mercyo
Kind, good folks like you-yes. an
made a sponge of me in my t,lrn
Whose doing is 1t that I've got to paw
the clothes OF my back or beg {
meals, to tramp the streets all day.
lie all night in the fields
Your own" exclaimed the woma
coming hastily down from the SIT
upon which she had been standing
this time. Its your own fault. is tha
however. You know we'll II isn't mine
Our attic has been empty ever since