Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-09-20
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER i.
WN the year 1897 and on Warni'
moist April morning there knock
g ed at a modest lodging house In
Rolls buildings, Fetter lane, re-
cent lodger who could no longer afford
even the attics tri1ing 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 10
care the damp was welcome to Kill
him If only it would kill outright
The man was very fair and spare,
but of medium height. His hands
and feet were notably small, the wrists
and arms little deceptive. These
looked lean, but were made of muscle
and uuickened with hot, keen blood.
He was very young; but, though as
fact not five and twenty, the thin, sar-
donic, 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 ana
drawing the latter too habitually apart
upon set teeth or q sheer. Nor was the
bitterness of the kind sOwn IN proud
hearts by capricious circumstance and
crushing but not dishOnOrable defeat
It was rather the Dead sea fruit OF
wiIlfu, riot and a contemplate, impen-
itent remOrse. And yet in the full
brown eye and lifted chin, as III the
fiji clad, we'll carried figure, there was
q lingering something that was gallant
and fine and debOnair.
TO this lost youth the door In Rolls
buildings was opened by gray haired
woman, who nodded knowingly in re-
Spouse to an inquiry for letters and
handed one over with an invitation to
enter and read it within. But the
kindly words fell on inattentive ears.
Looking fondly and yet fearfully at
the superscription--to Thomas Erich
sen, Esq, and the rest-the needy own
err 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 moment.
"No, bless you, no! It's not from
him." said Erichsen grimly "This is
from a friend / met yesterday, who
would insist on having my address.
What was l to do? l thought you
wouldn't mind, so gave my last"
mind! 1t is your address and might
be your 'ome II you wasn't that Ugh
30, to,
you've not heard from that villain
yet"
mot line"
"Nor of himf'
mot a word. Give me time. If I
don't root him out by this day month
well, then he's fed the Countrywide a
sensible man."
"But what If you do?" demanded the
landlady, who was herself directly In
terested In the event.
"What If l do, Mrs. AdcOck? Well, I
Shall probable half murder him, to be-
gin with He has wholly ruined me.
Yes, it will be my money-and your
mOney-or his life. He knows 1t, too,
II he's got my letters. Feel the weight
of THAR
And he put In her hands heavy ash
stick, green and sinewy, with the knob
still creamy from the knife.
"Lord save usr' cried the woman.
SIS this the rod in pickle for him?
"Thats the rod in pickle. Nice and
heavy, isn't it?
"Too 'eavy, Mr.. Erickson. Too 'eavy
e. by 'alf. I'd show no mercy to thieves
and swindlers, but 1 should be very
careful what did with that.
wouldn't take the law into my own
hands If I were YOU"
"You wouldn't?" cried he. "Not II
you'd been cleaned out as have by as
blackguardly dodge? BY the Lord
that made him, I'd break every bone
in his internal body and will, too, If
find him and he won't pay up. I'll pay
him! l grant you 1t was my own
cursed fault in the beginning. But
what about that last f35? Who got
that? Why am I rotting and starving
here? Who threw me on the mercy OF
kind, good folks like yOu-yes,. and
made sponge of me in my turn!
Whose doing is it that I've got to pawn
the clothes off my back or beg my
meals, to tramp the streets all day, to
lie all night in the fields
"Your own!" exclaimed the woman,
coming hastily down from the step
upon which she had been standing all
this time. "It's your own fault, is that
however. You know well 1t isn't mine
Our attic has been empty ever since
you went. You're welcome to 1t unit
it's wanted again If only you'll com
back. Nay, sir. do assure you II
rather have you for nothing than mos
of them that pays. Come back tonigh
or Pm sure l sha'n't sleep wink TO
thinking of you. Come in now, ant
I'll get you some nice 'Ot breakfast"
Erichseu held out his hand.
mo, no." said he. -"I owe you quilt
enough already, Mrs. Adcock. Besides
I'm as strong as horse and doini
much better than you think. But tn
world Is full of kindness after all, ant
God bless you for yours!'
And his dark eyes, that but now hat
flashed and burned with bitter fires
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