Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-01-22

wrenohed himself violently from her hold
and disappeared by the samo way he
had come.
II was fashionable clearinghouse,
and the lady was well-known in society,
and the whole affair naturally made
great sensation in the city. Wyllis,
however, had his own special reasons
for feeling excited about 1t. Did not
the Shadow also live on the second
floor, and though there was no porch to
the house, was there not trells, by
means of which an evil-disposed and
tolerably agile fellow could gain an en-
tranccP When Wyllis came home on
the evening following the burglary, it
was with beating heart. He had
heard the details, as given by the daily
papers, discussed all day long, and his
ready imagination had varied and ex-
panded them to suit the case he had in
mind, AS soon as he came in sight of
the window he looked up with eagcs,
anxious haste. But there was the be-
loved shadow peacefully outlined upon
the still, white curtain, and stirring
only with the movements of the hands
as they went up and down the key
board in the eXigencies of the music.
Wyllis drew long breath of relief, as
he turned the latch-key in his own door
and went up stairs.
For few evenings all went well, but
on the fourth the questioning eyes of
this self-appointed guardian saw
sight that chilled his blood. He looked
up as usual, and--What! Just above the
unsuspecting Shadow, distinctly drawn
upon the smooth, white surface is an
other head, and two hands that slowly,
cautiously descend until they reach the
girls shoulders, where they fasten in
vise-like grip. Turning with start
she struggles TO rise, she throws
up her hands in vain appeal,
her head drops backward, and she falls
fainting from her seat
In far less time than it takes to tell it,
all this has passed before Arthur Wyllis'
agonizcd gaze, and shaken off the hor-
ror that stiffens him, he dashes across
the street, through the door standing
ajar, past some one in the vestibule,
and up the unlighted stairs to the pas
sagc-way on the second floor. Gaining
the fatefll door with bound, he stops
short to recover breath and listen. Not
sound! Absolute, awful silence! Sick
at heart for what this stiffness may
mean, he filings the door wide open
and is confronted in the brilliantly
lighted room by two figures who spring
to their feet and stare at him. There
are suspicious signs which make it prob
able that he has interrupted love scene,
and it is certain that the girl who now
stands looking at him in surprise and
confusion is not his Mabel!
Her companion was the first to re.
cover himself. "What the what do
you mean anyway, by bursting in here
like cyclone P' he said angrily.
'1-beg your PARDON began Wyllis,
and stopped short, blushing like Il girl
over his absurd position. Then seeing
that something more in the way of eX-
planation was eXpected-'1-1 thought
it was murder" he added.
Thought what was murder P" de-
manded the young man, contemptuous-
ly.
"Your-your-shadows-" stammcr-
ed Wyllis.
The other looked as if in doubt wheth-
er to conclude him insane or intoxica-
ted, but before he could make up his
mind the door was opened again, and n
coy NOltS W 40 hSti W vacuum. w ll.tu
makes Maggie so economical of the gas
why Dick PAS she entered.
"Oh, this is you!" exclaimed Wyllis
in relief, as he turned to recognize the
pretty face and yellow hair of the true
Shadow.
"Oh, Bcll Do you know himp"
from the other girl; and simultaneous y
from Dick
$50 this gentleman is an acquaint-
ance of yours, is hep"
The newcomer blushed crimson. 81
i have seen him. she answered, eva
sively.
"Then perhaps you'll explain him, ="
said Dick, still indignant, .'for he goes
beyond me. Is he always as startling
and dramatic in his style as he is to-
nightP'
II don't know" getting still more
covered with confusion under their
gaze. 1--WE never-ncver met him,
but | believe he-he lives opposite"
AHA! Lives opposite, does hep /
begin to smell a mice" said slangy
Dick. "Well, Miss Bell Judging from
the murder-and-shado business just
now, can't say think he's very de-
sirable acquaintance for damsel all
forlorn."
"Oh, Bell! 1 do hope you haven't t
been doing anything imprudent, alone
by yourself here" mulmured the other
girl, with an clder-sis.erly readiness to
distrust the wisdom of her junior.
"Ofcourse haven't Clara" retorted
Bell, Il flash of anger in her blue eyes
showing that she was not at all celestial.
Wyllis was finding the situation I'M
bearable. He felt like fool, and feared
he must look like one. And this in the
presence of the divinity whom he had
for weeks been adoring! He clasped his
hat convulsively and struck into the con-
versation.
"Allow me to explain! IL think
can make it all clear"
~ wish you would, then, for give
it up said Dick. "Wait a minute,
though! If you're sure you're not
WrOng anyway" and he looked signifi-
cant, "suppose you just sit down while
you tell us the conundrum. Might as
wSll take it easy, ehP Don't be afraid,
girls, v in a stage aside, I'm between
him and you"
Wyllis, for all his evil temper, glared
at the irrepresssble Dick, but accepted
his invitation, and began an explana-
ton which was interrupted by frequent
peals of laughter from that young man.
$50 you thought wanted to murder
herp" he exclaimed. II say, Clara, if
that's the way our spooning looks to
outsiders"
But here Clara swept down upon him
wrathfully and reduced him to silence.
When the story was finished and they
had exchanged cards Dick said thought
fully: "Are you anything to Eugene
Wyllis, of Philadelphia; see you spell
your name the same way with y"
Yes" said Willis, eagerly, II have
cousin Eugene Wyllis in Philadelphia.
He is in the grain business.
That's the man. Why, know him
very well. Let's see, now" continued
Dick, suggestvely, 'if you know any
other friends of mineph