Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-12
copyrish.. 1918. ~ Doubleday, Peg. 1 CO.


clubs formed for the purpose OF get.
ting at least some Of their members to
California, and discussed heatedly the
merits of the different routes, and
went into minute and fascinating d.
tails as to processes Of which we knew
less than nothing. and sang "Oh. Su.
sannah" and talked ourselves into q
glorified fever of excitement, and went
home with our heads In the clouds.
Once in great while some Of these
clubs came to something's a body,
l mean-for Individual members were
constantly working themselves up the
summit of resolution to rush headlong
and regardless down the other side and
out Of our sight When a man had
reached a certain pitch Of excitement
he ran amuck. He sold anything, de-
serted anything, broke through any
thing In the way OF family, response
bility or financial lacks in order to go.
But, as l say, occasionally one Of these
clubs pooled its individual resources
and bought some old tub Of whaler
or QUILTED a wagon train and started
of. But generally we got only as far
as "Oh, Susannah" remember once
in coming out from one of our meet.
ings finding myself next a solemn and
earnest youth originally from my own
village. He walked by my side for
several squares lost in a'brown study.
Then suddenly he looked up.
Frank" said he, with conviction, II
believe I'll 60. know most of this
talk Is wildly exaggerated, but I'm
sensible enough to discount all that
sort of thing and to disbelieye absurd
stories. l shan't 60 with the slightest
notion Of finding the thing true, but
will be satisfied II I do reasonably
we'll. In fact, If l don't pick up more
than hatful of gold day shall be
perfectly satisfied"
Which remark sufficiently indicates
about where we all were.
We had many sorts of men In our
club, but nearly all young. One in es-
pecial early attracted my attention and
held 1t through all the changing yicis-
STUDIES Of our many meetings. l say
attracted me, though fascinated would
be perhaps the better word, for after
the first evening Of his attendance l
used deliberately so to place myself
that could watch him.
He came always In a rather worn
military cape, which on entering the
door he promptly threw back in such
a manner as to display the red lining.
This seemed an appropriate envelop-
ment Of his flaming, buoyant personal
ity. He walked with his chin up and
bis back straight and tod directly on
sepd pvar fha assds ~ kls Moi
he seemed fairly TO spring with vigor.s
Hts body was very erect and tall and
plant, bending easily to every change
Of balance. II were never to have
seen his face at all l should have
placed him as one of the laughing spir-
its of the world. His head was rather
small, round, well poised, with soft
close set ringlets oil over 1t like cap,
In the fashion Of some marble gods !
have seen. He had very regular. hand
some features, with q clear. biscuit
brown complexion, and close clipped,
stubby, light mustache. AL these
things were interesting and attractive,
though no more so than are the vigor
and beauty Of any perfect animal But
the quality Of his eyes placed him, at
least to me, in class apart. They
were sober. clear eyes that looked out
gray and contemplative on the world
about them, SO that one got the In
slant impression Of soul behind them
that weighed and judged. Indeed,
they were not laughing eyes at all and
rather negatived the impression made
by the mans general bearing. But
somewhere down In them something
flickered like a strong burning candle
In q brisk wind. Occasionally 1t was
almost out; then again 1t blazed up
clear, 30 that one thought to see 1t
plainly through the steady brooding
look. It always fascinated the behold
er, for It was mysterious. Whether 1t
came and went, grew and shrank, fol-
lowing delicately the moods or reflec-
tons of the spirit within, or whether
it was purely fortuitous effect Of
light and refraction no man was ever
able to say. And some men later
made some very bad guesses. my
self think 1t was the devil Of genius
a devil behind the steady control Of
clear brain. His name, soon dlscoy.
cred, was Talbot Ward.
At this period l was starting in as
an assistant bookkeeper to large ex-
porting firm. They were enterprising
people. and already they were laying
plans to capture some Of the California
trade. The Office talk heard concern,
ing the purchase Of ships. the consign-
ment of arms, the engagement OF cap
tains and Of crews further infamed
my Imagination. received the vast
sum of 50 per week. AS was quite
alone In the world and possessed no
other resources, the saving Of the $500
agreed upon as the least sum with
which 1t was possible to get to Califor-
MIA was fairly out Of all question.
One evening after the meeting, to
my great surprise, Ward fell into step
with me. We had up to that moment
never exchanged q word.
In New York long?" he demanded.
about six MONTHS" l told him.
Farm bred, Of course?' he remark.
ed. "Where?"
"Ashbury, in Vermont l replied,
without the slightest feeling that he
was intrusive.