Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-30

about n white house He hesitatcd n
moment. then walked slowly up the
broad. weed grown garden path to-
ward its porch. In the half light the
massive silver door plate stood out
clearly. He had known lnstinctively
that that house had been part OF his
life, and yet n tremor caught him rs
he read the name-Stires The intui-
ton that had bent his steps from the
street, the old stirring OF dead memory
had brought him TO his past at last.
This house had been his home.
He started. \ man I'm his shirt
sleeves was standing 10y a half open
eide door regarding him narrowly.
Thinking OF buylngT" The query
was good humoredly Satire. ''Or may
be just looking the old ranch over with
a view TO q shakedownw
The trespasser smiled grimly. II
was not the FIRST time he had seen that
weather beaten face. you have Civ
en- up surgery as a profession. see"
he said.
The other came nearer. looked at
oim in n puzzled way. then laughed
''If IL isn't the cove we picked up on
she railroad track" he said. dog and
all! ! thought you were far down the
coast, where it's warmer. Nothing
much doing with you. ehg"
Nothing much" answered the man
ne addressed. Others might recognize
him as the black sheep. but this non
<iescript watchman whom chance had
set here could not He knew him only
as the dingy vagabond whose broken
head he had bandaged in the box car.
I'm in better luck" went on the
man in shirt sleeves. II struck this
about two months ago as gardener
first and now I'm kind or a sort OF n
w1tchman. They gave me a bunk IN
the summer house there"-he ierked
his thumb backward over his shoulder
but ] know game worth two OF
that for these cold nights. I'll show
you. can put you up for the night"
he added. 'if you like"
The wayfarer shook his head. 'T
must get away tonight but I'm much
obliged"
Haven't done anything have your"
asked his one time companion curl
ously. you didn't seem that sort"
The bearded face turned away. I'm
not wanted by the police. no, but I'm
on the move. and the sooner / take the
trail the better. / don't mind night
travel"
You'd be better for n rest" said the
Waterman, "but you're the doctor.
Come in. and well have a nip OF some
thing warm anyhow"
His guest followed him into a spa
cious hall, scarce conscious OF what he
did. A double door 10 the left was
shut but he nevertheless knew perfect
Iy that the room it hid had a tall
French window letting on to a garden
where camellias had once dropped like
blood. The open door to the right led
90 the library.
There the yellow light touched the
dark wainscoting, the marble mantel-
piece. dim paintings on the wall and a
great brass bound Korean desk I'm a
corner. What black thing had once
happened In that room? What face
had once looked at him from that
wheel chair? 1t was an old face gray
and lined and passionate. his father
doubtless. He told himself this calmly.
with an odd sense of apartness.
The others glance followed his pride
fully ITS fine property" he said
The owners an invalid. hear, with
one leg in the grave. He's IN some
sanitarium and can't get much good OF
st. Nice pictures them" he added.
sweeping q candle round. That's a
good locker o7er there. Must be the