The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-11
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
TIE THIRD NAN.
BY Annie Hinrichsen

Inc man kneeling at the rivers edge
vigorously washing his hands, turned
at sound behind him.
A woman stood few feet from him.
In the dim light he could see that she
was young and tha5 her eyes were
large and dark and full OF wonder.
What are you doing?" she asked.
washing my hands"
To remove evidences OF a crime?"
The man started. How did you
know?"
The girl sat down on a log near
him. "A man does not wash his hands
IN the river at night unless he desires
TO remove from them proofs of a
wicked crime. Was it a very greae
crime?"
The man raised his hands to his
race, examined them carefully, shifted
at them and plunged them again into
the water. 1T was dastardy deed"
he avered.
me-"
He dried his hands on his handker-
chief, turned the collar of his long
coat up around his eyes and sat down
on the sand near her. Lady" he
said the details OF my crime are un-
mt for gentle ears
~AAO yOO
The man pondered. "If tonighS's
work may be called the result of my
natural inclinations l may say that |
am an habitual criminal"
Il have always wished to know a
social outlaw"
"Why?"
Because l am an adsenturer, a per-
son who seeks new expenditures.
can the city a few months ago
fro provincial little town. l can
not AFFORD to travel and see foreign
lands. l must find adventures in the
city among new types OF people. To-
night l came here 20 the river, hoping
to find something interesting, a des-
pairing girl or a starving waif.
found the character l most desire TO
study, a criminal"
Little country girl" said the man
slowly, you wish to see lifes thou
sands of types and the environs of
these types. How fer would your ad-
Venturing spirit carry your
Into every crack and corner of the
world"
Would you like to visit the haunts
Of criminals?"
Eyes. should" she began impetu
ously.
He stopped her. Would you really
like to travel the paths that lead
through habitations of lawbreakers,
and the darker paths that lead
through the minds OF these malefac
tors. Do you wish to study a people,
who have no regard for human life
or the rights of others, to whom ideals
and honor Of any sort are unknown?"
L theught / did" said the girl I'M
certainly. But l was mistaken. I
When you speak as you do you make
that sort Of adVenturing seem very
dreadful"
The man laughed. Good for you.
/ didn't think you would care 20 as
sociate with thieves and slaggers."
He threw open his coat, pushed
back his hat and stood before her, tall,
broad-shoulGered. with wide forehead,
steady laughing eyes and a mouth and
chin which held NO lines OF weakness
or cruelty.
You are not a criminal. But you
said"
II said had committed a bastard
ly deed. ] had. Out there in the river
is the yacht OF q stubborn man, one !
of my best friends He intended to
ing. although three Of as desire him
ors' dinner tomorrow.
I'VE three made his yacht temper
arily unlnhabitable. We carried on it
tonight while he was away several !
bushels OF sliced onions and carefully |
strewed them where they would be |
most ineonveninesly odoroHs. He will |
not sail tomorrow.
my house Is ND there on the drive. |
The others left me here. The perfume |
On my hsnda WAS so strong that l de- |
sided 20 remove 10 al once. You dis
covered me-"
She rose from the log and without a
word walked up the path which led to |
the street. He hurried after her.
"Don'a be angry with me-" he plead |
ed. II am Gwfully sorry have offend |
ed you. For both OF US it was an adj
venture"
"An adventure" she blazed. at was
. cruel joke. All the time you were ;
laughing at my ignorance and silh-