The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-01-05
SHADOWED.

Soon after Maxamilian had estab-
,lished himself in Mexico l landed in
New York direct from Paris. I had
been in France nine years, but was
things. I may have had a "Frenchy"
look. Indeed I may have looked like a
French agent or diplomat. At least,
Uncle Sam seemed to think so. He
rot it into his head that I had arrived
N New York to "sound" the North in
egard to French occupation of Next
%, and he determined to watch me.
had no suspicion that such was the
,ase, and had planned to enjoy myself
n the big city for a couple of weeks.
Two days after my arrival, a. I sat in
The Office of the Astor House, reading
u Newspaper, I had the feeling that
omeone was looking at me. You
probably had the same feeling,
and have raised your eyes to End some
stranger looking you over. AS I low
cred my paper I discovered a spare,
consumptive-looking nan of 40 sizing
me up. He dropped his eyes when I
raised mine, and had scarcely taken in
his "points" when I felt a hatred for
him. 1t was than aversion-it
was positive hatred. lie seemed snak-
ish to me, and rather than endure his
presence I arose and passed out on the
street.
My first call was at the general de-
livery window of the postofice. When
I had given my name three letters
were passed out to me. I stood for a
moment looking at the chiography and
postmarks. and as I turned away I
bumbed against the fellow I had left
in the Office. He had been looking
' my shoulder: 4
"Ah, beg pardon!' he said in a thin,
piping voice. as he moved aside for
me- 9
If / had hated him for his looks 1
should certainly have hated him for
his voice. 1t did not strike me as
queer that he should have followed
me, but l left the building saying to
myself that I would like to do him a
bad turn.
I returned to the office and read my
letters, and then took a seat in the
reading room to answer them. They
were letters from relatives, and there
was no call for extraordinary precau-
tions in answering them. As each
epistle was finished l inclosed it, di-
rected the envelope in a plain. bold
hand, and laid it aside. When the
three were finished and ready to be
stamped I felt the presence Of that
snake again. AS l turned to look be-
hind me he moved away with cat-like
step and disappeared in the office.
BEG pardon. sir" observed a gen.
tleman reading a newspaper at my
right, shut that fellow acted in a queer
manner"
"FIow?"
nf oSAACFO AC GOoh uOWll CllS duuT0SS
of your letters. He came in so noise
lessly that Inever heard him?"
"Do you know him?"
"No."
I was thoroughly vexed. and at once
proceeded to- the Office to call the fell
Low to account. He had disappeared,
I posted my letters and then walked
up Broadway, the sight and scenes Of
which soon drove the man from my
thoughts. at the corner of Canal
street a verftable Frenchman accost4d,
me in his native language and in
quired for the Office Of the French Con-
sui. My prompt reply, in good French,
delighted him. and he drew me aside
for q short chat. We asked and n
swered various questions, and were on
the point of separating when my new
ly-found friend lowered his voice and
said:
"The deucel Do they have spies in
this conntry2"
/ wheeled about. and the snake, a 8 I
shall hereafter call him, was only two