The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-01-21

tor lie had been by chance, artist ne
was by nature; an artist in words he
professed himself gravey, a lover OF
apt phrase and finely balanced sen
tcncc. one Of that happy confraternity
whose goal in a strange room Is al
ways the bookcase. He had as many
interests as ideas, but this reigncd par
amount.
The wind blew, and the rain came
with it.. 1t may have been the cold. or
it may have been the weight Of MIS-.
Searle's baby or it may have been the
inevitable sequence of his disease
which suddenly arrested the writer's
hand and made him. choking, press Il
handkerchief to his lips to quell the
flow. He knew how to meet the at
tack and, lacking any other couch, lay
down in the road. He could not we'll
be wettcr. and a mud bath at least is
warm. His handkerchief was drenched.
but the stream did not stop. Presently
the moo dimmcd before his eyes, and
his own troubled breathing seemed a
faroff sound.
Ten minutes later Il train passed
southwards across the arch. 1t had
discharged passengers at the station
and among them one who soon came
driving down the lane in Il high dog
cart fitted with pneumatic tires, acety-
lcne lamps and IL correct groom sitting
up behind. AS it turned the corner the
horse. a handsome chestnut Signally
we'll "rooned. SHE'D violently ut John
Smiths PROSTATE figure and was
promptly checked by the driver, who
had him we'll in hand. He looked back
owe his shoulder. ''What's that, Simp-
son.
"Drunkcn man, sir" said the correct
groom stolidly.
"Plcasant weather to lie in the road.
Still. will you:' He gripped the reins
as though to curb the FESTIVE horse
gave him pleasure. Just 60 and see
if he's all right, Simpson. He'll get
run e lying under the arch there"
Simpson got down. He resented his
masters charitable fads when they af-
fected his comfort, but he dared not
complain. 1t was true tina Mr.. Far
quhar carried generosity to his serv-
ants to it's extreme limit, but those who
~transgressed his laws had to go. He
bent owe John Smith and announced
with undertaking stolidity, Been fight
ing. sir"
"Fighting, has he? Come and hold
the horse for a ninut
Servant and master changed places.
and %I'arquhar in his turn scrutinized
the features Of John Smith. He moved
the stained handkerchief, shifted at his
lips, laid a finger on the spot where
the pulse should have beaten and then
stood up.
"Shift the seat as far forward as it'll
go. Yes: now put the cushions in the
bottom of the cart, the rug over them.
Is the back let down: That's right"
He picked ny John Smith and Shout
dered him as if he We're a g,ln. The
llckless artist in words weighed less
than eight stone. but the strength re-
quired to lift him so easily was very
great and was shown more remarkably
still when Farquhar raised him up at
arms length to put him into the dog
cart.
About Il mile beyond the arch Simp-
son had to get down to open a gate.
and the dogcart drew up ut the front
door Of The Lilacs. which was the
pleasing name of Farquhar's bachelor
residence. 1t vas a large modern villa
built of red brick and white stucco,
boasting EliZ lbcthan mullioned Win
dows OF the first floor, modern bays
below, a caStellated turrct md q BY
zantine porch with a cupoln. which
+cctnf,,1 lonp,ofir,n ~, cff;.;,,,o ;,,,
had done its best to veil. Inside the
house was furnished we'll and, before
all things, comfortably. 1t was heated
by an arrangement Of hot air pipes in
the Russian fashion and cooled in sum-
NOR by genuine punkahS. John Smith
was carried in and laid before the IL
hrary fire; Simpson WAS sent to fetch
the doctor. and the master of the house
himself attended on the muddy stran-
ger. Farquhar vas Il wonderfully good
Good Samaritan.
He began by stripping off John
Smiths wet clothes. noting that the
shirt, which had seen its best and al
most its worst days. WAS neatly marked
in a Woman'S writing with the name
Of l.ucian de SaumareZ. His other gar
ments. which We're in better condition.
bore only the rcd cotton hieroglyphics
of the laundresS. Few people could
have cXcellcd Lucian Gle Saumarcz in
the art OF dressing badly. His hat
alone would have reused envy in a
scarecrow. FarQuhar did not dare to
give him brandy, but he began to prac-
tee Il remedy potent as alcohol and
safer. kneeling beside the parchment
covered articulateu skeleton on the
sofa, he ran his fingers over him with
subtle. measured movements unpleas-
untly suggestive Of the coiling and un-
coiling of q snake. lie had learned the
art of massage among strange people
in Il strange land. 1t seemed literally
to recall the spirit to the body it had
dllittnl