--Terminating in accomplishing what is wished
or intended.'--WEBSTER'S _Dictionary_.
CHAPTER VI.
About two weeks after Hiram's interview with Dr. Ephraim Peters, he had
occasion to spend a long evening in company with certain influential
members (of which he, of course, was the most influential) of St.
Jude's.
It was past eleven o'clock when the meeting broke up. It was a clear,
cold, December night, and Hiram buttoned his coat quite to his chin as
he descended the steps to commence his walk home. Some had carriages in
waiting; but he, fully alive to his brother's advice, preferred to go on
foot. One gentleman kept him company for a couple of blocks; after that,
he proceeded alone.
As he passed the corner of a street which ran at right angles to the one
he was pursuing, a man came suddenly upon him, and, standing square in
his path, demanded in a savage tone, 'Do you want your wood split?'
Hiram turned quickly aside, to avoid the questioner; but he had time to
observe that he was an athletic man, with a limping gait, and a fierce,
demoniacal countenance. He carried in his hand something like a
butcher's cleaver; and before Hiram could escape, he repeated the
question: 'Do you want your wood split?'
Hiram uttered a hasty 'No,' in response, and walked swiftly forward.
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