The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-06-17
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
80
OUR MUTUAL
FRIEND
~
By CHARLES DICKENS
SINISTER bird Of prey SCENE,
By CHARLES DICKENS
Condensation by
Alfred s. Clark

Jesse Hexam, crouched in the
"A stern of a dirty rowboat, his
eyes fixed upon the broad waters of
the Thames. his arms bare, his hair
matted, his clothes Undetermined.
Twilight deepened the shadows cast
by the huddled buildings of London.
but his gaze did not swerve. His
daughter, a girl of twenty, rowing in
obedience to his mods, regarded him
with a fascinated dread. Suddenly he
stiffened; the bird of prey had sighted
the quarry. A few minutes later be-
hind the boat body bobbed and
lunged. Hexam had found another
corpse, the pockets of another drowned
soul TO rifle. 1t was this grisly liveli-
hood that was reflected in the fright
ened eyes of Lizzie Hexam.
The story of that find was to be
talked about in drawing rooms; in
dingy homes along the waterside and
in the comfortable bar of the Six Jolly
Fellowship Porters; in the musty shop
of Mr.. Venus where skeletons leaped
out of corners as the fire frightened;
in Bofin's Bower behind which rose
the dust-monnds that had created the
Harmon fortune. For the body was
identified as that of John Har-
mon, returned to England to claim
a fortune of 100000, left him by an
eccentric father upon condition that
he wed girl whom he had never
seen.
John Harmon was decreed dead and
the fortune came to Nicodemus B01in.
He remained the same unaffected and
lovable man he had been in the past
when he was foreman in charge of the
dust heaps. They were singularly
happy, were Mr.. and Mrs. Boffin. Men
and women laughed at their oddities
but never with malice. Commonplace
as they were, there was a sterling
worth to them.
Eager to atone for his lack of school
ing, Mr.. Bofin hired SiIas Wegg,
wooden-legged vendor of sweets and
ballads, to read aloud Gibbons story
of Rome. His eyes popped with
astonislnnent as Wegg plowed stoIidly
ahead, making havoc of Roman names.
IT didn't think there was half so many
Scarers in print" Mr.. Bofin muttered
sagely.
He acquired, too, ward and a sec
rotary. Bella WiIfer had been named
In the Harmon will as the sons future
bride. Her blighted hopes so troubled
Mr.. Boffin that he installed her in his
home treating her like a beloved
daughter. And soon after John Har-
mon disappeared there came into Lon
don mysterious John Rokesmith, who
obtained the position of secretary. A
secretiye man was John RokesmitG,
unwilling to speak of his past.
Rogue Riderhood, former partner
and now sworn enemy to Jesse HaXam,
set afoot suspicious that Hexam had
murdered John Harmon and the law
trailed the vulture of the Thames. II
found Jesse dangling behind his boat
as so many had dangied there before,
swept overheard and caught in his
rope. Eugene Wrayburn was one of
the trailers, and again he looked into
the clear eyes of Lizzie Hexam.
Lizzie found refuge with Fanny
Cleayer, better known as the Dolls
Dressmaker, a fantastic little creature
with tongue as sharp as the needle
she so necessarily piled. Intrudine
into Lizzie's life came the love of
Bradley Headstone. morose man, and
of Eugene Wrayburn, conscious that
she was too far below him for mar.
rage, unwilling to do her harm, and
Upf mn 60. CO Afc cvfncY RI hp
near her.
Rejected, Bradley Headstone vowed
vengeance upon the man whom he be
heved responsible. In the Boffin
home, too, unhappiness was broodfng
Bella Wilfer, her head turned by
wealth, remembering poverty at home
set her heart upon wedding rich
man and discouraged John Roke-
smith. The secretary had other trou.
bles. he was trying to put together
the past. He recalled a voyage. q
ship upon which he was known as
John Harmon. He remembered com
ing ashore and going with mate II
the house of Rogue Riderhood. Some.
where was a room where he drank cot
fee. Then stupefaction. with CLEANS
of memory concerned with fight,
slide, cold water swirling about him
rescue and decision to test Bella
oF taking another name. After that
the discovery of the mates body, mis-
taken for that of John Harmon.
Suddenly Mr.. Boffin seemed to lose
his amiability. He was gruff with his
secretary; he turned to stories about
misers. sThe more l save, the moro
You shall have" he said to Bella, but
she did not like the cunning look in
MS eyes. Nor was Silas wegg alooi
frnrn AZ, I..s4 = =. ~. ..,.k .,r,,-