The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-08-11
CHAPTER II.

AN by profession u reporter, and
writer for the press. L live at Pultney-
vile. | have always had passion for
the marvellous, and have been distin-
guished for my facility in tracing out
mysteries and solving enigmatical oc-
currences. On the night of the seven
teenth June, 1915, left my Office and
walked hOmeward. The night was bright
and starlight. l was revolving in my
mind the words of a singular item had
just read in the Times. | had reached
the darkest portion of the road, and
found myself mechanically repeating
An elderly gentleman week ago left
his lodgings on the Kent Road" when
suddenly, heard a step behind me.
l turned quickly, with an expression
of horror in my face, and by the light
of the newly risen moon beheld an
elderly gentleman, with green cotton
umbrella, approaching me. His hair,
which was snow-white, was parted over
II broad, open forehead. The expression
of his face, which was slightly flushed,
was that of amiability verging almost
upon imbccility. There was strange,
inquiring look about the widely-opened,
mild blue eye--a look that might have
been intensified to insanity, or modified
to idiocy. AS he passed me, he paused
and partly turned his face, with a
gesture of inquiry. / see him still, his
white locks blowing in the evening
breeze, his hat little on the back of
his head, and his figure painted in relief
against the dark blue sky.
Suddenly he turned his mild eye full
upon me. a weak, irresolute smile
played about his thin lips. In voice
which had something of the tremulous-
ness of age and the selt-satisfed chuclile
of imbeciIity in it, he asked, pointing
to the rising moon, "Why ?-Hush !"
He had lodged behind me, appeared
to be looking anXiously down the road.
L could feel his aged frame shaking with
terror as he laid his thin hands on my
shoulders and faced me in the direction
of the supposed danger.
Hush! did you not hear them COM
ing""
l listened; there was no sound but
the sOughing of the roadside trees in the
evening wind. | cndcaVorcd to rcas-
sure him, with such success that in few
moments the old weak smile appeared
on his benevolent face.
N'h1-O - p,,t hn Dr ;,@
CATION was succeeded by hopeless
bankness.
"Why! repeated with assuring ac-
cents.
Why" he said, a CLEAN of intelli-
gence suddenly tiickering over his face,
SIS yonder moon, as she sails in the
blue empyrean, casting flood of light
over hill and dale, like-Why," he re-
peatcd, with feeble smile, is yonder
moon, as she sails in the blue empy-
rean-" He hesitated-stammcr and
gazed at me hopelessly, with tears drip
ping from his moist and widely opened
eyes.
took his hand kindly in my own.
Casting Il shadow DER hill and dale"
/ repeated quietly, leading him up the
subject, " "like-Come, now."
"Ahw he said, pressing my hand
tremulously, "you know il? ?"
81 do. Why is it like-the-eh-the
commodious mansion Oh the Limehouse
Road ?"
a blank stare only followed. He
shook his head sadly.
Like the young men wanted for
light, genteel employment?"
He wagged his feeble old head cum
ningly.
"Or, Mr.. Ward" l said with bold
confidence, like the mysterious disap-
pearance from the Kent Road"
The moment was full of suspense. lie
did not seem to hear me. Suddenly he
turned.
"Haw
| darted forward. But he had vanish
cd in the darkness.