Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-11-06

fensiyp AMI lervid But weather beat
en-. tanned tnii1rientiy clad aud with
a small lro~n .iog following him. tie
newcomer PASSED along oblivious TO
the sidel,ng scrutiny lie did not stare
about him after the manner OF d stran-
ger, though So far as he knew be had
never been in the place before
But Harry Suuue.sUn NOW was not
the man who had ridden into oblivion
in the motor car The rector of St.
James was in strange eclipse. Men
tally and externally he had reverted
to the old Satan Sanderson Of the
brilliant flashing originality. of the
curt risk and daring The deeply hui
man aud sensitive side that had devel.
oped during his divinity years was in
allegiance. 1t showed itself only in
the affection he bestowed on the little
nanleless dog that followed him like
brown. shaggy shadow H
He was like that old self of his, aud
yet If be had but known 1t he was
wonderfully like some one else. too
some one who had belonged to the
long ago and garbed past that still
eluded him: some one who had been q
part also of the life of this very town
till a little over a month before. when
he had left 1t with dread logging his
footsteps!
Curious condolences had wrought
together for this likeness. In the past
weeks Harry had grown perceptibly
thinner. A spare beard was now on
his chin, and the fiery sun that had
darkened his cheeks to sallow had
lightened his brown hair shade. The
cut on hts brow had healed to the
semblance Of thin red birthmark.
Fate-or God-was doing strange
things for Harry Sanderson!
In the nomad weeks of wind and
sun. as the tissues of the brain grew
slowly back to q state Of normal ac-
ton, the mind seized again and again
upon the bitter question of his identi-
ty. 1t had obtruded into clicking
leagues on steel rails. into miles afoot
by fruit hung lanes, on white Pacific
shell roads under cedar branches. on
busy highways. 1t had stalked into
days of labor in hop fields. work with
hand and foot that brought dreamless
sleep and generous wage; into nights
of less savory experience in city pur-
lieus, where self forgotten man
gained and drank recklessly, auda-
ciously, forbiddingly. Who was he?
| From what equation Of life had he
been eliminated? Had he loved any
thing or anybody? Had he friend.
any friend, in the world?
The man Of no memories gave no
heed to the men on the street. who
looked at him askance. He sauntered
along unconsciously, his hands thrust
deep in his pockets. With a casual
glance at the hotel across the way he
entered a saloon, where score of pa
irons were standing at the bar or
shaking dice noisily at the tables
ranged against the wall The bartend-
er nodded to his greeting, the slightest
possible nod. The dog which had fol-
lowed him into the place leaped up
against him. its fore paws on his
knee.
Brandy, If you please" said the
new arrival, and poured indolently
from the bottle set before him.
The conversation in the room had
chilled. To its occupants the man who
had entered was no stranger. He was
Hugh Stires. returned unwelcome to q
| place from which he had lately van
ished Moreover, what they felt for
him was not alone the crude hatred
which the honest toiler feels for the
trickster who gains living by devious
knaveries. There was an uglier suspi-
cion afoat Of Hugh Stiresl A blue
shirted miner called gruf1y for his
score. threw down the silver and went
out, slamming the swing door.
The newcomer regarded none of
them. he poured his glass slowly full,
slipped from It and, holding 1t in his
hand. turned and glanced deliberately
about the place. He looked at every
body in the room. suddenly sensible Of
the hostile atmosphere. with what
seemed careless amusement. Then
he raised his glass.
said.
There was but one response A
solled, shambling figure, blear, white
haired and hesitating, with battered
violin under Its arm, slouched from q
corner and grasped eagerly for the
bottle the bartender contemptuously
pushed toward him. No one else
moved.
The new arrival looked smilingly
at the soiled figure beside him, frag-