Этюд в багровых тонах
The Avenging Angels.
Attheendofthattime,however,hismemoryofhiswrongsandhiscravingforrevengewerequiteaskeenasonthatmemorablenightwhenhehadstoodbyJohnFerrier’sgrave. Disguised,andunderanassumedname,hereturnedtoSaltLakeCity,carelesswhatbecameofhisownlife,aslongasheobtainedwhatheknewtobejustice. Therehefoundeviltidingsawaitinghim. TherehadbeenaschismamongtheChosenPeopleafewmonthsbefore,someoftheyoungermembersoftheChurchhavingrebelledagainsttheauthorityoftheElders,andtheresulthadbeenthesecessionofacertainnumberofthemalcontents,whohadleftUtahandbecomeGentiles. AmongthesehadbeenDrebberandStangerson;andnooneknewwhithertheyhadgone. RumourreportedthatDrebberhadmanagedtoconvertalargepartofhispropertyintomoney,andthathehaddepartedawealthyman,whilehiscompanion,Stangerson,wascomparativelypoor. Therewasnoclueatall,however,astotheirwhereabouts.
Manyaman,howevervindictive,wouldhaveabandonedallthoughtofrevengeinthefaceofsuchadifficulty,butJeffersonHopeneverfalteredforamoment. Withthesmallcompetencehepossessed,ekedoutbysuchemploymentashecouldpickup,hetravelledfromtowntotownthroughtheUnitedStatesinquestofhisenemies. Yearpassedintoyear,hisblackhairturnedgrizzled,butstillhewanderedon,ahumanbloodhound,withhismindwhollysetupontheoneobjectuponwhichhehaddevotedhislife. Atlasthisperseverancewasrewarded.
