Dodge City times., 1883-12-20
THE MAN In THE SHADOW.

-Hczekial ButtcrWOrtI, in Ctristidn Union.
THE MAN IN THE SHADOW.
1t was bitterly cold that night. The
wind swept furiously down the lons
avenues, sending the light snow, fla
had just ceased TO fall, flying hithel
and thither through the air, sweeping
it up with methOdical carefulness or
the other; driving it in long, feathery
drifts from the housetops and busting
it down the necks of unfortunate pc.
dcstrians in spite of their closely but
toned coats and turncd-up collars. AL
sbivered as they came to that corner
and then with half-averted heads hur-
ried past into the more sheltered street
beyond. The Man in the Shadow
crouched closer yet into the archway OF
the big bank building and looked curl
ously out on tie passing throng.
Everybody seemed to be anxious to
get home-as who wouldn't be in such
weather?-but that was no reason why
everybody should look SO happy and
eXpectant over such an ordinary event.
Then, too, by another extraordinary co,
incidence, everybody seemed provided
with bundle or package of some sort
and such packages! Whitey-brown
parcels, tied up snugly, mysterious in
their every aspect; brown paper par
GELS whose very folds breathed de-
lightful suggestiveness of turkey and
pudding; smooth, trim packages with
c1n al 81 1,-
conventional and respectable; broken,
disreputable ones, with perchance a
skate-strap or china dolls head peep
ing out, and thus basely betraying its
owners secrets; long ones and short
ones, little packets that could be car
ried in the waistcoat pocket, and valua-
BILE, no doubt. in inverse proportion to
their size, and big bundles tightly bound
with manifold shawl-straps and proving
almost too much for their struggling
owners. Everybody that was anybody
seemed passing that particular corner
that particular night and carrying
everything that could be bought in the
city.
The Man in the Shadow looked puz-
Zlcd. Across the way the door of q
shop opened, and little girl, with long
fair hair flying out from beneath her
red worsted hood, came running over
the crossing. But the ground was
slippery, and the rash little adventures
suddenly disappeared into the big snow
drift beyond the curbstone. The Man
in the Shadow uttered low exclama-
ton and, darting out, lifted her up.
. nbf I'ra hr,l-n,, IL ~
anxiously pulling out something from
her tiny pocket. ''No, it isn't either:
Tn so glad. It's for Christmas, you
know, and Pm ever so much obliged to
YOU" Then, turning quickly around,
she sped away again.
"Of course that's what it all means
Eve"-muttered the man,
going back to his old shelter. "Much
good it does me''--and he frowned as
he kicked the snow off his boots and
drew his thrcadbare coat yet more
closely about him. sit is growing late
and the crowd is getting thinner
Suddenly a tail figure closely en-
veloped in long ulster hurried past.
The slouched hat was pulled low down
over the pedestrians forehead, but as
he came into the circle of light under
the lamp-post a sudden gust of wind
lifted it off his head and sent it flying
on ahead of him. The Man in the
Shadow started and took step for
ward rs though about to follow him.
"Pshaw, what fool ami" he said.
as he shrank back; las if it could be
even if it were''-
"Come, my man, move on; no loafing
around here! met his ear, and Police
man Buffer looked in suspic;ously upon
the crouching figure. He looked up de-
family and then, with gesture of
assent, stepped out into the street.
"One of the kind rs II need watch
ing" remarked Mr.. Buffer, confiden-
tally, to white-coated waiter who had
stepped out into the street for moment
to see what was going on.
'.As desperate lookin' cove rs ever
I seed," said the waiter, who had not
seen him at all; s'but you'd better be
coming inside. It's mortal cold out
here and your coffee is about ready
.'Wot a fool was to let him stay
there so long" said Policeman Buffer,
"How do l know but wot
he's been drillin hole under the lock
and pluggin' it full of blastin' powder
while was up the street?'
"Taint no call for you. Mr., Buffer,
to be throwin' yourself away investigat-
in, and come to think of it, he couldn't
have been doing anything like that for
he's been out and in from there dozen
times"
..Mebbe / ought 10 have stroked him
of little with the club" hesitated
Mr.. Buffer, scaressing that fifth member
IF himself fondly; .but he's out of my
beat now, and anyway he's pretty sure
TO be run in before morning. and
with this censolatory reflection he re-
s.red. rvs
s Downstne well-nigh deserted streets;
With head bent down and with rapid
steps,. the man hurried along: Pres
entity he stopped and looked around
nim. Atoy-shop across the way with
orilliantly-lighted show-windows caught
MS eyes; On the pane was lettered in
"Merry Christmas. Every
where the same old story" he muttered,
mpatient!y. "ana It seems I can't gst