Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-05-06

Carhuckle. In pursuance Of this resolve
he ordered an early dinner, and sat dowr
to that meal in all the dignity conferred
by finding himself sole tenant of the
somewhat dingy coffee room. The door
was suddenly opened, and stoutish
horid man hustled In, bringing with him
such breeze of life and irrepressible
activity that the whole place seemed at
once peopled.
Here you are, waiter; let some OF
them take these rugs and traps to my
room. Now. what have you got to eat
in the house? Don't be all day thinking
about it, but pull yourself together at
once, man. Hurry up, tell you, Of to
town tonight. sir?" asked the stranger
interrogatively.
Rngwood nodded assent.
There" said the stranger, pointing
to the bill of fare which the waiter had
just placed in his hand. II know Of course
that you are out of everything good to
eat, which. freely translated, means you
never had it in your lives. Get me some
Of that, and that Been here long, sir?''
Ringwood could not help smiling at his
companion's curiosity as he replied, II
came down here the day before yester-
day."
Rum place to take into your head to
pay a visit to-" returned the stranger.
This is about the most one-horse old
town | ever came across. 1t hasn't NOV
ed a bit since | first knew 1t twenty
years ago. If it wasn't that | had to
see old Lawyer Pegram occasionally on
a bit of business | would never set foot
in the old ramshackle place again. The
old man did me turn he let me stand
in with himself in the little ring Of
the early developers of Llanbarlym-a
watering place close by. l made good
bit of money out of it at the time, and
have got some house property now there
that is worth having However, | did
the old fox a bigger turn than he did
me, little as it looked like it at the time.
| persuaded him to take a share in lot
terry that was a great craze in those days; !;
not likely you ever heard of it. 1t was
a thing that happened before you were
breeched: but people went pretty mad
ubOul lllt olcul OllllliC Ut ILAtiN liihSs
can tell YOU
Ringwood here intimated that he knew
all about the Great Tontine,' and al
ways felt intense curiosity concerning it.
well, sir, the Great Tontine' is just
about winding up. There are only two
left in it. and Pegram is one. | believe,
by the way. there is an old lady who
can't find her nominee that's probably
because he is dead AS | said the other
day, it's lucky for the nominees that
their names are kept dark, or else |
should think they would have sickly
summer Oh. | can tell you,' said the
stranger laughing, there's fine melo-
drama here. Can't you fancy the two
last nominators each trying to do away
with his opponents man in five acts?'
"Ah. WELL" said Ringwood, 81 don't
suppose Mr. Pegram would dream of
to such extreme measures
well, murder is strong order, no
doubt: but | don't think old Pegram
would be over scrupulous about smoothing
his way to a hundred and sixty thousand
SO you have spent two days at
Rydland, have you? Excuse me, but
why did you do it,
"Oh. like YOU" replied Ringwood,
laughing. perhaps l also am assisting in
the development of Llanbarlym."
Guess you are rather late in the field
then" replied the stranger 1T really
i, curious what you could have found to
do for two days in Rydland. Why, l
could do the whole business Of the place
for the week in an hour
1T is time l was off, said Ringwood,
rising. II have novel here which killed
nv time for me last night. If you will
accept it perhaps it will do the same for
you this evening"
Thank you" replied the stranger. It's
a good place to do it in," he continued,
with assumed gravity. But you are
the first man I ever heard Of who with
drew to this solitude to read his book.
Good-by; my name is Hemmingby, and
| boss show in town. | dare say you
have heard of my name as manager of
the 'Vivacity' Theater: and III have
that Great Tontine' dramatized as sure
as YOU are alive; mind you come and
see it.