Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-19
y MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of " The House Of Thousand Candles

! from him:
Don't you know me? am Oscar.
Don't you remember me and the great
forest, where I taught you to shoot
and fish? You are'
He bent toward Armitage with q
fierce insistcnce. his eyes blazing in his
! eagerness to be understood.
John Armitage turned again to the
window. leaned lightly upon the iron
| railing and studied the title OF book
attentively. He was silently absorbed
| for full minute. IN which the man
| who had followed him waited. Taking
his cue from Armitage's manner. h"
| appeared to be deeply interested in the
booksellers display. but the excitement
| still glittered In his eyes.
Armitagc was thinking swiftly, and
his thoughts covered very wide
| range of time and place MS he stood
there. Then he spoke very deliberate
ly and coolly, but with certain per.
emptory sharpness.
go ahead Of me to the New Ameri
can and wait in the Office until !
come"
The mans hand went to his hat.
"None of THAR
Armitage arrested him with a ges-
ture. MY name is Armitage--John
,Armitage," he said. II advise you to
J remember 1t. Now go!"
! The man hurried away, and Armi-
tage slowly followed.
1t occurred to him that the man
might be Of use. and with this In mind
he returned to the New American, got
his key from the office, nodded to bis
acquaintance Of the street and led the
way to the elevator.
Armitage put aside his coat and hat,
locked the hall door. aud then, when
the two stood face to face in his little
| sitting room, he surveyed the man
carefully.
| what do you want?" lie demanded
bluntly.
He took cigarette from a box on
the table. lighted it aud then, with an
| air of tinality. fixed his gaze upon the
| man, who eyed him with q kind Of
stupefied wonder. Then there flashed
into the fellows bronzed face some
thing of dignity and resentment. He
stood perfectly erect, with his felt hat
clasped In his hand. His clothes were
! cheap. but clean. and his short coat
was buttoned trinity about him.
II want nothing. Mr.. Armitnge." he
replied humbly, speaking slowly and
with marked German accent rs
Then you will be easily satisfied
said Armitage. You said your name
| vas
"Oscar-Oscar Breunig."
Armitage sut down and scrutiniZed
the man again without relaxing his Sc
verify.
You t.lnk you have seen me some
where. so you have followed me In
| the streets to make sure. When did
this idea first occur to you?' te
II saw you at Fort Myer at the drill
last Friday have been looking for
you since and saw you leave your
horse at the hotel this afternoon. You
ride at Rock creek -yes!'
"What do you do for living Mr..
Breunig?" asked Arnitage.
II was in the army. but served out
my time and was discharged few
months ago and came to Washington
to see where they make the govern
ment-yes2 am going to South Amer
lea. Is it Peru-yes? There will be a
revolution"
He paused, and Armitage met his
eyes. They were very blue and kind.
eyes that spoke of sincerity and tidel-
ity, such eyes as a leader Of forlorn
hopes would like to know were behind
him when he gave the order to charge.
Then curious thing happened. 1t
may have been the contact of eye with
eye that awoke question and response
between them. 1t may have been a
need in one that touched a chord Of
helplessness in the other, but suddenly
Armitage leaped to his feet and grasp
ed the outstretched hands, Of the little
soldier
Oscar" lie said. and repeated very
softly, "Oscar!'
The man was deeply moved, and
tears sprang into his eyes. Armitage
laughed. holding him at arms length.
"None Of that nonsense! Sit down.!
He turned to the door, opened it aud
peered into the hall, locked the door
again, then motioned the man to a
chair.
$50 you deserted your mother coun-
try. did you, and have borne arms for
the p!OriOus reDublic?"
II served in the Philippines yes"
Crank. titles, emoluments. Oscar?"
II was sergeant, and the surgeon
could not find the bullet after Big
Bend, Luzon. so they were sorry aud
gave me certificate and So month
to my pay" said the man SO succinctly
and colorlessly that Armitage laughed.
"You have done well, Oscar; honor
me by accepting cigar"
The man took cigar from the box
which Armitage extended. but would
not light it. He held it rather absent.
mindrily in his hand and continued to
stare.
You are not dead--Mr.-Armftage sc,
but your father
''My father is dead, Oscar"
HE was good man." said the sol
dier.
Yes; he was good man." repeated
Armitage grarely. II am alive. ala
yot A., fN@oar DO YOU It...s.i1