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"But there were times when he had been seen to leave this apartment
in a very different garb, and while there was no one to insinuate
that he was slack in paying his debts or was given to dissipation
or any overt vice, it was generally conceded by such as casually
knew him, that there was a mysterious side to his life which no one
understood. His friend - a seemingly candid and open-minded
gentleman - explained these contradictions by saying that Mr.
Brotherson was a humanitarian and spent much of his time in the
slums. That while so engaged he naturally dressed to suit the
occasion, and if he was to be criticised at all, it was for his zeal
which often led him to extremes and kept him to his task for days,
during which time none of his up-town friends saw him. Then this
enthusiastic gentleman called him the great intellectual light of
the day, and - well, if ever I want a character I shall take pains
to insinuate myself into the good graces of this Mr. Conway.
"Of Brotherson himself I saw nothing. He had come to Mr. Conway's
apartment the night before - the night of Miss Challoner's death,
you understand but had remained only long enough to change his
clothes. Where he went afterwards is unknown to Mr. Conway, nor
can he tell us when to look for his return. When he does show up,
my message will be given him, etc., etc. I have no fault to find
with Mr. Conway.
"But I had an idea in regard to this elusive Brotherson. I had
heard enough about him to be mighty sure that together with his
other accomplishments he possessed the golden tongue and easy
speech of an orator. Also, that his tendencies were revolutionary
and that for all his fine clothes and hankering after table luxuries
and the like, he cherished a spite against wealth which made his
words under certain moods cut like a knife. But there was another
man, known to us of the -- Precinct, who had very nearly these same
gifts, and this man was going to speak at a secret meeting that
very evening. This we had been told by a disgruntled member of
the Associated Brotherhood. Suspecting Brotherson, I had this
prospective speaker described, and thought I recognised my man.
But I wanted to be positive in my identification, so I took Anderson
with me, and - but I'll cut that short. We didn't see the orator
and that 'go' went for nothing; but I had another string to my bow
in the shape of the workman Dunn who also answered to the description
which had been given me; so I lugged poor Anderson over into Hicks
Street.
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