The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-05-14
CHAPTER |.
a Danuerous Errand,

taius as they stretched away in the
distance to right and left; confused
mass of buildings coming to the
waters edge on the fiat; a forest OF
masts, ships swinging in the stream,
and the streaked, yellow, gray-green
water OF the bay taking cold light
from the setting sun as it struggled
through the wisps of fog that tlut-
tered above the serrated skyline of
the city-these were my first impress,
Sions of San Francisco.
The wind blew fresh and chill from
the west with the damp and salt of
the Pacific heavy upon it, as
breasted il from the forward deck of
the ferry steamer, Ell Captain. AS
drank in the air and was silent with
admiration of the beautiful panorama
that was spread before me, my COM
panion touched me on the arm.
Come into my cabin he said.
You'll be one of those fellows who
cant come to San Francisco without
catching his death of cold, and then
lays it on to the climate instead of
his own lack of common sense, Come,
cant spare you, now I've got you
here at last. | wouldn't lose you for
a million dollars
'T'll come for half the money"
returned as he took me by the arm
and led me into the close cabin.
My companion, | should explain,
was Henry Wilton, the son of my
fathers cousin, who had the advan-
tages of a few years of residence in
California. and sported all the airs
of a pioneer. We had been close
friends through boyhood and youth,
and il was on his offer Of employment
that had come to the city by the
Golden Gate.
What a resemblance! | heard a
woman eXClaim. as we entered the
cabin They must be twins"
There, Henry" | whispered with
a laugh, you see we are discovered y
Though our relationship was not
close we had been cast in the mold
of some common ancestor. We were
so nearly alike in form and feature as
TO perpleX all but our intimate ac-
ouaintanCes, and we had made the
resemblance the occasion of many
tricks In our boyhood days.
Henry had heard the exclamation
as we'll as l. To my surprise, it ap-
pearad TO bring him annoyance or ap-
prehension rather than amusement.
81 had forgotten that it would make
us conspicuous" he said more to
himself than to me, | thought; and
he glanced through the cabin as
though he looked for some peril.
I'VE were used to that long ago"
| said, as we found seat. is the
business ready for me? You wrote
that YOU thought it would be in hand
.oy the time ! got here"
We can't talk about it here he
SAID in a low tone. There is plenty
of work TO be done It's not hard, but,
as wrote you, it needs man of
pluck and discretion. It's delicate
business. you understand, and dan
gerous if you cant keep your head.
Bur the danger won't be yours. I've
got that end OF it,
of course you're not trying to do
anything against the law?' ! said.
"Oh, it has nothing to do with the
law" he replied with an odd smile.
In fact. it's little matter in which
W. ara--well, you might say-outside
tfc law"
! gave gasp at this distressing
suggestion, and Henry chucklcd as he
saw the CONSERVATION written on my
face. Then he rose and said:
Come, the boat is getting in
"Hut ! want to know" began.
"Oh, bother your 'want-to-knOWS.'
It's no against the law just outside
it, you roderstand. III tell you more
of it whet' we get to my room. Give
me that NA!ise. Come along now"
And as the Noat entered the slip we
found ourselves at the front of the
pressing CrU% that is always SUrg'ng
in and out of San Francisco by the
gateway Of the Market Street ferry.
As we pushed our way through the
clamortng hack-drivers and hotel-run-
ne:s who blocked the entrance to the
city. | was reused by sudden thrill
of tle instinct Of danger that warns
one when he meets the eye of
snake 1t was gone in an instant, but
[ had time TO trace effect to cause.
The warning came this time from
the eyes Of a man. "a 1.-the, keen-faced
man who flashed a look of triumphant
malice on US as he disappeared in the
waitingroom of the ferry-shed. But
the keen face and the basilisk glance
were burned into my mind in that
moment as deeply as though / had
known then what evil was behind
them.
My coiupanion swore softly to him
sG,s
What's the matter?" | asked.
Don't look around" he said. I'VE
are watched"
rhe snake.eycd man."
Did yOu see him, too?" His man.
ner was careless, but his tone was
troubled. Il thought | had given him
the slip" he continued. Well, there's
no help for it now"
Are we to hunt for q hiding place."
| asked doubtfully.
"Oh, no; not now. ! was going to
take you direct to my room. Now
Wa are going to :,otel with all the
publicity we can get. Here we are"
In another moment we were in i
numbering coach, and were whirlirg
over the rough pavement, through a
confusing maze of streets, past, long
rows of dingy, ugly buildings, to the
hotel
"a. room for the uisht," ordered
Henry. as we entered the hotel OF.
ice and saluted the clerk.
Your brother will sleep with you"