Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-10-19
CHAPTER I

CHAPTER l.
pom certain dreary April
afternoon In the year Of grace
1906 the apprehensions Of
~ Philip KirkwoOd. ESQ.,. paint
or, were enlivened by the discovery
that he was occupying that singularly
distressing social position which may
he summed up succinctly in n phrase
through long usage grown proverbial.
'alone in London" Inevitably an eX-
tremist because Of his youth (he had
just turned twenty-five). he took no
count Of mitigating matters and would
hotly have resented the suggestion
that his case was anything but alto
gether deplorable and forlorn.
That he was not actually at the end
Of his resources went for nothing He
held the distinction a bubble, mock
ingly immaterial, like the store of
guineas In his pocket. too insignificant
for mention when contrasted with his
needs. And his base of supplies. the
American city Of his nativity. whence,
and not without glow Of pride In lis
secret heart. he was wont to register
at foreign hostelries. had been arbi-
trarily cut of from him by one Of
those accidents sardonically classified
by insurance and express corporations
as acts Of God
Now. to one who has lived all his
days Serenely in accord with the die.
tates Of his own sweet will. taking 10
thought for the morrow, such stu-
alton naturally seems both appalling
and intolcrable, ut the first blush. 1t
must be confessed that, to begin with.
Kirk wood drew long and disconso'
late face over his tx.
Then he resolutely shrugged II CT
and went In search Of mans most
faithful dumb friend-to wit. his pipe.
the which. when found and filed. he
lighted with spill twisted from the
envelope Of cable message.
Its about time" he announced,
watching the paper. blacken and burn
In the CRATE fire. that | was doing
something to prove my title to liv-
ing" And this was all his valcdictory
to a vanished competence. anyway.
Pm q sight better of than those poor
devils over there. l really have
great deal to be thankful for now that
my attentions drawn to It,
For the ensuing few minutes he
thought II all over, soberly. but with
stout heart. standing at window Of
his bedroom In the Hotel Pless, hands
deep In trousers pockets. pipe fumins
voluminously. his gaze wandering out
over blurred infinitude Of wet. shin.
Ing roofs and sooty chimney pots.
There came rapping at the door.
Kirkwood removed the pipe from be-
tween his teeth long enough to say
Come inw pleasantly.
The knob was turned, and the door
opened. Kirkwood, swinging on one
heel. beheld. hesitant upon the thresh.
old, dlmlnutive figure In the livery
Of the Pless pages.
"Mr. Kirkwood?"
Kirkwood nodded.
gentleman to see you, sir"
Kirkwood nodded again, smiling
"Show him up. please" he said. but
before the words were fairly out OF
his mouth a man stepped into the
room.
"Mr. Brentwickr' Kirkwood almost
shouted, jumping forward to seize his
visitors hand.
"My dear boyw replied the latter.
"im delighted to see you. Got your
note not an hour ago and came ut once
you see."
1T was mighty good Of you. Sit
down, please. Here are cigars. Why,
a moment ago | was the most miser-
able and lonely mortal on the foot
stool"
"I can fancy" The elder man looked
ND, smiling, at Kirkwood. "The man
agement knows me-" he offered ex-
PLANTATION Of his unceremonious appear
nnce, 80 took the liberty Of following
On the heels of the bell hop. dear boy.
And how are you? Why the anxious
undertone I detected in your note?"
He continued to stare curiously int0
Kirkwood's face. At glance this
Mr.. Brentwick was a man Of tallish
figure and rather slender, with coun-
tenance thin and flushed a sensitive
pink. out Of which his eyes shone,
keen, alert. humorous and a trace
wistful behind his glasses. His years
were indeterminate, with the aspect OF
fifty, the spirit and the verve Of thirty
assorted oddly. But his hands were
old. delicate. fine and fragile, and the
lips beneath the dropping white mus
tache at times trembled, almost i'm
perceptlbly. with the generous senti-
ments that come with mellow age. He
held his back straight and his head
with IN air-an air that was not q
swagger. but the sign token Of sea-
soned experience In the world. The
most carping could have found no
flaw in the quiet taste Of his attire.
TO sum up. Kirkwood's very good
friend, and his only one then in Lon
don, Mr.. Brentwick, looked and was
an English gentleman.
"WhyT' he persisted an the younger
man hesitated. II am here to find out.
Tonight l leave for the continent In
the meantime"-
"And at midnight I sail for the
States" added Kirkwood. 'That Is
mainly why I wished to see you-to
say goodby for the time"
You're going home A shadow
clouded Brentwick's clear eyes.
ITO fight 1t out shoulder to shoul-
der. With my brethren IN advsrsity."