ed. No, he thinks that death is near; I'll
freeze the thought to his very soul! He is on the death-trail now? With
me rests when and where it shall end."

The face of the young man was almost fiendish in its expression as he
spoke. It seemed as if his heart was the concentration of hate and a
fell desire for revenge.

He strode along the streets swiftly, and, glancing in at the saloon
which the two men had entered, paused one second, with his right hand
thrust within his vest, as if clutching a weapon, and debating in his
mind whether or not to use it.

A second only he paused, and then muttering, "It is not time yet," he
passed on.

"He went a little way up the same street and entered a German
restaurant. Throwing himself heavily on a seat, he said:

"Give me a steak, quick. I'm hungry and dry. Give me a bottle of the
best brandy in your house."

"We've got der steak, und pread, und peer, und Rhein wine, but no
prandy," said the German, who kept the place.

"Cook the steak in a hurry, and send for some brandy then!" cried the
young man, throwing down a golden eagle. "Your beer and wine are like
dishwater to me. I want fire--fire in my veins now."

"Dunder and blixen! I shouldn't dink as you wus want much more fire as
dere is in your eyes, young fellow. But I send for your prandy."

The young man threw one glance around the room to see if he were the
only occupant.

There was another person there, one who had evidently just come in, a
traveler, judging by a good-sized valise that was on the floor beside
his chair. This person looked young, for the face, or as much of it as
was not hidden by a very full black beard, was fair and smooth as that
of a woman; while the hair which shaded his white brow was dark as
night, soft and glossy as silk, hanging on short, curling masses about
his face and neck.

He was dressed rather better than the usual run of travelers; in a good
black broad-cloth suit--wore a heavy gold watch-chain, had on a fine
linen shirt, with a diamond pin in the bosom, and appeared to feel quite
satisfied with himself, from the cool and easy manner in which he gave
his orders for a good, substantial meal, in a voice rather low and
musical for one of his apparent age.

The last comer eyed this person very closely, and a smile almost, like
contempt rose on his face, when the dark-eyed stranger called for claret
wine, or if they had not that, for a cup of tea.

But his own strong drink was now