The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-10
A MARK OF MANHOOD.
BY EDWARD n. CLARK.

tapped the fender before the cracking wood
fire lightly and bit nervously with her
tiny foot. Then she turned to her mother
and said: "Well, dearie, I've answered it."
"Oh, Helen, you ought not to have done
it. There must be something sinister, per-
haps a crime, behind an advertisement like
that"
Helen laughed Criminals don't have /
frst-class references, dearie, and then you I
know we need the money"
Read it to me again"
The girl took up morning paper and read /
this: "Wanted-By a man 80 years old, /
comfortable room in suburban residence |
where there are no visitors; absolute seclu-
sion the first consideration. Applicant will |
refer to people Of standing; highest price |
paid Seciusion, Box IS, Breeze Office"
There was step on the yeranda. Helen
exclaimed "Dearie, there's the answer"
A moment afterward man with tall, we'll
knit figure stood in the little parlor. One
side of his face was shrouded III the folds OF
a scarf This side he kept ever away from
the lamphght. The voice had in it ring
suggesting that at times its keynote was
command.
SIS this Mrs. Martin? l have called in re-
spouse to an answer to nay advertisement.
My name is George Sidney. know, Mrs.
Martin" he continued, that my advertise
ment may have seemed strange. do desire
absolute secusion and freedom from callers.
My reference is Gen. Nelson, army head
quarters, Pullman building | should like
to see the room, and if you find my creden-
tials satisfactory | think other details may
be arranged readily"
Helen led the way up winding stair to
wellappointed room. Lighting the gas, she
turned to look at her follower He was in
the act of drawing still more closely the
folds of the scarf about the right side OF BIS
face What she could see OF his counte-
nance was strikingIy handsome. Mother
and live here alone" she said. After my
fathers failure and death we came here
from distant city. We have lew friends
and no visitors"
Il like the room" said the stranger;
kindly look me up and let me know if
shall make a satisfactory ledger. Then he
said good night and left the house.
Helen called on Gen. Nelson in the Pull
man building. Did he know Mr. George Sid
ney?
yes, well. He is an officer OF the army,
retired for disability received in line OF duty.
Mr.. Sidney is now working on some ord
nance plans, and for reasons of his own he
works only at night He is a soldier and a
gentleman"
For two months the members Of the little
Lake View household saw George Sidney in
frequently. He left for his work after night
fall and returned just before daybreak. At
one o'clock every day closed cab was
driven to the doorstep. The recluse drove
away in it, presumably to his breakfast.
Whenever Helen caught GLIMPSE of their
mysterious lodger she saw the ever present
,c1rf concealing the greater part of his fea-
lures One morning her surprise almost
overcame her when she heard his voice call
ing from the upper floor. Lieut.. Sidney was
standing in the doorway of his room with
his head averted. Il am sorry to trouble
YOU, Mss Martin" he said, but | wish you
/ would ask the cabman wnen he comes to &c
/ for Dr. Girard, the headquarters surgeon
/ at once"
The surgeon came. He saw the Martins
| ledger, and then, going to the little parlor
/ said to Helen: MIR. Sidney is suffering in
! tensely | have expected this trouble anc
have urged rest. Now he must take 1t. H'
must keep his room and on no account is h
to use his eyes"
Thus it was that Lieut. Sidney became tn,
patient as well as the lodger Of the Martins
For weeks he sat in darkened corner o
his room while Helen read to him from
where the light found its way through
half-opened shutter How she had come I
do this she did not just know; but it cam
about naturally. The girls life had been
lonely one and it needs but to say tina
there slowly stole into her heart somethin
deeper than a mere interest in her charge
The day for the patients release from th
dark room had come. Helen heard his volc
calling her The girl went to the doorway
Sidney had thrown wide the shutters an
the room was bright with sunlight. He wa
standing with folded arms at the windo'
where she had sat when reading. Tn
strong light was full on his face and the scan
which he had ever worn was gone. The gil
gave one searching look at the face so Ion
concealed. Sidney's eyes were on her
cry came from her lips and she reeoiled wit
a feeling half fear, half horror. Sidney sa'
the action and heard the cry. In an instan
he had closed the door quietly. Helen, wit
white face. fed to her mothers room.
Child, what is it," exclaimed Mrs. Ma
tin.
Mother, saw his face. He showed
purposey Mother, it is the face of
fiend."
The mother led the girl to sofa and too
. her in her arms. They heard him pass Q
10 the veranda, and both mother and daugl
ter felt that George would not return.
month passed Helen went about her duti'
as usual. striving to be cheerful, but Il
mother knew.
At the end of the month Gen. Nelsc
called. Mr.. Sidney had not returned to h
work as expected after his recovery. ID
Mrs Martin know OF his whereabouts? \
Well, for years Sidney had been man
moods. you see. said the general, "wh6
Sidney was in active service he riskeu b
life TO save brother officer. It's an o
army story. It's enough to say that Sidn'
jumped between his friend and shell Il
fuse OF which had become accidentally j
nited The shell exploded. Sidney receive
fearful wound and was marked for life, b.
n he saved his fellow. Marked for life, did
n say? Yes, marked worse than Hugo's 'Als
u Who Laughs That shell fragment gave
the handsomest man in the service the la
face of a fend. He was to be married, pc
chap, but the girl saw his face and file
She was the sister of the man whose Ii
ne saved What a world it isl The face
a devil and his life hell. That is Geor
y Sidney's fate"
1t was the anniversary of the day tn
George Sidney left the Martin cottal