Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-16

a brown. shaggy shadow.
He was like that old self OF his. aud
yet IL he had but known il be was
wonderfully like some ore else. too
some one who had belonged to the
long ago and ghrbled past that still
eluded him: some one who had been a
part also OF the life OF this very town
Till little over month before. when
he had left IL with dread logging his
footstepsl
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 bad
darkened his cheeks TO sallow had
lightened his brown hair shade. The
cut on his brow had healed to the
sembiance 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 state of normal ac-
ton, the mind seized again and again
upon the bitter question OF his identl
ty- It had Obtruded into clicking
leagues on steel rails. into miles afoot
by fruit hung lanes. on white Pacific
shell roads uuder cedar branches. on
busy highways. II 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 I'm city pur-
lieus. where a self forgotten man
gained and drank recklessiy. auda-
ciOusly. forbiddingly Who was he?
From what equation OF life had he
been eliminatedE Had be loved any
thing OF anybody? Had he a friend.
any friend. In the world?
The man OF no memories gave no
heed 90 the meu on the street. who
looked at him askar.e He sauntered
along uucousciously. his hands thrust
deep In his pockets with a casual
glance at the hotel across the way be
entered saloon. where a score Of pa
irons were standing at the bar OF
shaking dice noisuy M 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. SIS fore paws ON his
knee
Brandy. 90 you please" said the
new arrival, and poured indolently
from the bottle set before him
The conversation i'm the room had
Chilled To its occupants the man who
had entered was no strange. lie was
Hugh Stircs returned unwelcome TO a
place from which he had lately van
ished- Moreover. what they felt for
him was not alone the crude hatred
which the honest toler feels for the
tric6s'er who gains living los devious
knaverics. There was an ug,ier suspi-
cion adoat OF Hugh Stlrcs, 4 blue
shirted miner called gruGly Tor his
score. threw down the silver and went
out. slamming the swing door
The newcomer regarded none OF
them He poured his glass slowly fun.
! slipped from II and. holding IL in his
| hand. turned and glanced deliberately
about the place. lie looked at every
body IN the room. suddenly sensible OF
the hostile atmosphere. with what
seemed careless amusement Then
he raised his glass.
win you join me. genuemenT' he
said
{ There was but one response. A
soiled. stumbling figure. blear. white
haired and hesitating. with a battered
violin under its arm. slouchcd from a
corner and grasped eagerly FOR the
/ bottle the bartender contemptuously
pushed toward him No one else
moved.
Tie new arrival looked smilfnrlv
at the soiied figure beside him. frag-