The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-01-07
CHAPTER I.

CftAfIEh 1.
Pstsr Constable sat forward on IN.
main deck Of bis own yacht. the Madam.
de stzel. which had Just been hltchsd tc
thu bottom Of Saint Pierrs's hsrbor. His
single guest for tho cruise. Hayden Breen.
was bach In the cabin. with book and a
long. thin glass. Thrss weeks previously.
early In April. Constsbls had met Brssn
Tor the nrs< tins. And Of that meeting
you must hear.
II cana about SONS sixty hours before
The Madame cleared from New York hsr-
Dor. and 4 queer night for both men
Constable had been pacing the deck alone.
when be heard q sofr step bslow on the
Brooklyn pisr. he bent over the railing.
and perceived that a stranger was kbout
70 throw himself into the water.
Constable called sharply. The figure
a. the pier edge stifsned. and fses
swunx upward The two Darlsysd for a
moment. and the voice that was borne
to Constable was that Of a gentleman.
The man below hssitatsd-considered
then accepted with a laugh an invitation
70 come aboard Presently In the cabin
the owner Of the Madame faced an Indi-
vidual, taxtefuIly. even freshly attirsd.
and ons whose manner betrayed no flaw.
The face was pale. imposing: q reckless
facs. but not devastated-though the eyes.
perhaps. had a look Of having seen too
much. For two hours the pair talked
about books. pictures. dollars; the tropics.
and suicide At the end. Constzbis was
80 strongly Impressed that be invited the |
stranger to Be his guest for the cruise
Breen glanced at him whimsically. II /
wonder II really did drop OF the dock. |
and this Is the astral plane" he unused
This IL the edge Of Brooklyn. and /
am serious" Constable said
This IL the edge Of Brooklyn, and I /
am astonished,' Breen replied
80 far as I know. you woaid Be- my
only guest"
Had you better not wait until te-nor-
rcw7 Think xEsin."
Il should prefer that you say yes
BOW"
Better bear more sbout ne 6rrt. III
have spoken only IN rensrsiitiss. Ny past
= at your disposal" Brsen warned.
Il should like to hear much about you.
,ut not In ths light Of your dscision. WIN
rou 90 with msf-
Yea"
-whsr. DO you intend to ss.y to-
,irht7"
You altered my only plan. you Win
smsmber, Mr.. Constable"
~T'li have q bsrth mads up for you |
{ once I'm glad you hsvs found II poo
ibis to look MP the tropics again." the {
wnsr finished.
Breen appeared content. and sccsptsd
be various Offices from bis host With a
ne, hslf-humorous appreciation. Con-
tabls found. In thsir early intercourse.
OF the slightest Gauss to regret his I'M }
ulsivs Invitation. That the other did
Of harry him with references to bis kind n
eos was, to ConstsbIs's way Of thinking,
10 ssverest test Of thoroughbred. Breen
Ia not leave the ship, and seldom the
bin, during the entire period Of prspsrs- ?
on. He sat In a reclining chair and .
sd the essayIsts, mildly spirited. What q
'er had been his attitude before, he 40 v
pied what life offered him now IN calm
as. He still had the faded humans Ct
st resource, when this unexpected but L
easant portion Of life was at an end. a.
ich seemed TO be the philosophy Of this al
eafurs who had passed the death SEN nj
nee upon himself. 81
Constable slept aboard the last night Il
fore sailing, and was at breakfast with ~
> guest about eight In the morning, hi
aen servant entered the saloon to an II