St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-08

ne should most likely ere this have
been able to attain his end-find what
he desired. Soberly attired, he attract
slums. breeding spots Of the criminal
classes. The denizens knew John
Steele. He had been there oft before.
He had on occasion assisted some of
them with stern good advice or more
substantial services He was acquaint-
ed with these men and women. had
perhaps a larger charity for them than
most people find it expedient to cher
ish. One man had seen the object of
Steele's solicitude. and to this person,
weakened little undesirable the
red headed giant had confded that
London was pretty hot and he thought
of decamping from it,
"'Arter all this time that's gone BY
he says to me. bitter like, to think a
man can't come back to is native 'ome
without being spied on for what ought
long ago to be dead and forgot!
What brought him to London?
81 expect 1t was 'omesickness, sir.
Els been a bad lot, but e has cart,
arter all. 1t was to see is mother e
came back; the old woman drew i'm
ere. You see, e had written 'er from
foreign parts, but could never ear
cause she had moved Used to keep
a place where a woman was found
"Dead?''
Murderer said the man John
Steele was silent. And she, is moth
er, 'ad gone, aving saved a bit, out
into peaceable-like little 'amlet,
where there weren't no boobies, only
instead 8its of flower gardens and
bright bleomin' daffy-down-dillies But,
blime me, when Tom come and found
out where she 'ad changed to if she
'adn't gone and shuff1ed off, and all
e lad for is pains was the sight of
mound in the churchyard."
eyes; she's buried said John Steele
thoughtfully, land all she might have
told about the woman who was-mur-
dered is buried with her."
''But she did tell, sir. at the time
quickly, "of the trial"
''True." The visitors tone changed.
eff you can find Tom give him this
note. You'll be well paid
81 amt askin' for that You got me
off easy once and gave me lift arter
was let OUT
"Well, wellr' Steele made brusque
gesture. I'VE all need helping hand
sometimes he said, turning away
And that was as near as he had
come to attainment of his desires
Summer passed. Sometimes. the
better to think, to plan, to keep him
self girded by constant exercise he
repaired to the park, now neglected by
fashion and given over to that nebu-
lous quantity of diverse qualities call
ed the people
tHow do you do. Steele? Just the
man wanted to seer
Near the main exit toward which
John Steele had unconsciously step
ped the sound of a familiar voice and
the appearance of well known stocky
form broke in with startling abrupt
ness on the dark train of thought.
"Deep in some point of law?" went
on Sir Charles "'Pon honor. believe
you would have cut me. However,
don't apologize; you're forgiven!'
Most amiable of you to say so. Sir
CharlesY' perfunctorily.
''Not at ALL Especially as our meet
ing is quite apropos. Obliged to run
up to town on little matter of bust
ness; but, thank goodness, it's done.
Never saw London more deserted.
Dined at the club. nobody there. Sup
ped at the hotel. dining room empty.
Strolled up Piccadilly. not soul to
be seen. That is he added, mo one
whom one has seen before. which is
the same thing. But how did you en-
joy your trip to the continent?"
"It was not exactly a trip for pleas
ure," returned the other. with slight
accent of constraint.
"Ah, yes; SO / understood. But
fancy going to the continent on bust
ness! One usually goes for-which
reminds me. how would you like TO go
back into the country with me?''
ST? 1t is impossible at the moment
for
But Sir Charles seemed not to listen.
'Deuced dull journey for a man TO
take alone, good deal of it by coach.
You'll find a few salmon to kill. trout
and all that. Think of the joy of
whipping a stream after having been
mewed up all these months in the
musty metropolis. Besides, l made
wager with Jocelyn you wouldn't re-
fuse a second opportunity to bask in
Arcadia He laughed. al really
couldn't presume to ask him again.
is the way she expressed it, but If
you can draw a sufficiently eloquent
picture of the rural attractions of
Sstro<hory, RI woo him from his hpIovad
dusty byways you have my permits
sion to try"
ITO be continued.l