The Washington herald., 1915-01-31
Copyright, l9l5l

the man in the corner OF
= the carriage, abruptly
breaking the silence.
Mr.. Hinchcliff hooked up, hear
ing imperfectly. He had been lost
in the rapt contemplation of the
college cap tied by string to his
portmanteau handles-the outward
and visible sign of his newly
gained pedagogic position-in the
rapt appreciation of the college
cap and the pleasant anticipation it
excited.
For Mr.. Hinchcliff had just ma
circulated at London University,
and was going to be junior assist
ant at the Holmwood Grammar
School-a very enviable position.
He stared across the carriage at
his fellow-traveler.
"Why not give it away?" said
this person. Give it away! Why
not?"
He was a tall, dark, sunburned
man with pale face. His arms
were folded tightly, and his feet
were on the seat in front of him.
He was pulling at a lank, black
mustache. He stared hard at his
toes.
WHY not?" he said.
Mr.. Hinchcliff coughed.
The stranger lifted his eyes
they were curious dark-gray eyes
and stared blankly at Mr.. Hinch-
cliff for the best part of a minute,
perhaps. His expression grew to
interest.
Yes" he said slowly. "Why
mott And end it."
Il don't quite follow you, I'm
afraid" said Mr.. Hinchcliff, with
another cough.
You don't quite follow me-"
said the stranger, quite mechani-
cally. his singular eyes wandering
from Mr.. Hinchcliff to the bag
with its ostentatiously displayed
cap, and back to Mr.. Hinchcliff's
downy face.
you're so abrupt, you know"
apologized Mr.. HinchcIiff.
why shouldn't l be-" said the
stranger, following his thoughts.
You are a student?' he said, ad-
dressing Mr.. Hinchcliff.
Il am-by correspondence-of
the London University" said Mr..
IIinchclif, with irrepressible pride,
and feeling nervously at his tie.
In the pursuit of knowledge"
said the stranger, and suddenly
took his feet off the seat, put his
fist on his knees, and stared at Mr..
Hinchcliff as though he had never
seen a student before. Yes" he
said, and flung out an index finger.
Then he rose, took a bag from
the hatrack, and unlocked it. Quite
silently, he drew out something
round and wrapped in a quantity
of silver paper, and unfolded this
carefully.
He held it out toward Mr..
Hinchclif-a small, very smooth,
goIden-yellow fruit.
Mr.. Hinchcliff's eyes and mouth
we're open.
He did not offer to take this OBJ
ject-if he was intended to take it.
That" said this fantastic stran-
ger, speaking very slowly, ''is the
Apple of the Tree Of knowledge. |
Look at it-Small. and bright, and
Observation-Disclosures | am
going to give it to YOU"
Mr.. Hinchcliff's mind worked
painfully for a minute, and then
the sufficient explanation, 'Mad|
flashed across his brain, and illu-
minated the whole situation.
One humored madmcn. He put
his head a little one side.
The Apple of the Tree of
knowledge, eigh!" said Mr.. Hinch-
cliff, regarding it with a finely as
sumed air of interest, and then
looking at the interlocutor. But
don't you want to eat it yourself 4
And besides-how did you come
by it"
1t never fades I have had it
now three months. And it is ever
bright and smooth and ripe and
desirable, as you see it
He laid his hand on his knee
and regarded the fruit musingly.
Then he began to wrap it again
in the papers, as though he had
abandoned his intention of giving
it away.
But how did you come by it,"
said Mr.. Hinchcliff, who had his