The river press., 1886-03-03


tioning eyes of the self-appointed
his blood. He looked up as usual, and
what!-just above the unsuspecting shad-
aW. distinctly drawn upon the smooth,
white surface, is another 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 ap-
peal, 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 Wylhs'
agonized gaze, and shaking 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 passageway
on the second floor. Gaining the fateful
door with bound, he stops short to re-
cover breath and listen. Not a souudl
Absolute, awful silence! Sick at heart Y
for what this stiffness may mean, he
dings the door wide open-and is con-
fronted in the brilliantly lighted room
III tWo figures who spring to their feet
and stare at him. There are, suspicious
signs which make it probable that he
has interrupted g. love scena, 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 recover
himself sWhat the - what do you
mean, anyway, by bursting 10 here ike g
cyclone?" he said, angri1y. @...
"I-I beg your pardon began Wylis,,
and stopped short, blushing like q girl.
over; his absurd position Then seeing
that something more Id the. way Of ex-
planation was expected---@I- thought it
was murder" he added. r.
"Thought what was murder" de-
manded the young man contemptuo ously. :
"Your ur-your shadows y, stammered
WylIis * s=# ... e.
The other looked as If in doubt whether =
to conclude him insane or intDxicated,s
but before he could make up his mind.
the door was opened again, ard gay,
voice was heard to exclainl: s55i Nv hat
makes Maggie SO economical Of the gas
tonight, I wonder Twas almost-why,
Dick!'-as she entered.
"Oh, this is you'll" exclaimed Wyllis in
relief, as he turned to recognize the
pretty face and yellow hair of the true
Shadow.
aOh, Bell? Do you know him?" from
the other girl; and simultaneously from
Dick
$50 this gentleman is an acquaintance
OF yours, is hep"
The newcomber blushed crimson. "I-
L 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 ses startling
and dramatic in his style as he is to-
night?"
IT don't know" getting still more COW
cred with confusion under their gaze.
"I've never-never met him, but be-
ieve he-he lives opposite"
aAh Lives opposite, does he? [ begin
to smell MICE" said slangy Dick.
'WelI, Miss Bell, judging from the muir
der -and-shadow business just now, /
can't say think he's a very desirable &C
quaintance for damsel all forlorn."
"Oh, Bell do hope you haven't been
doing anything imprudent, alone by
yourself here,n murmured the other girl,
with an elder-sisterly readiness to dis
trust the wisdom of her junior. s.
@Of course / haven't Clara" retorted
Bell, a flash Of anger in her blue. eyes
SHOWING GIldC Sllc W6tS uOu stb ttl1 CG4SotAeS1s
Wyllis was finding the situation,un-
bearable He felt like g. fool, and feared
he must look like one And this. in the
presence Of the divinity whom he hadfor
weeks been adoring! He clasped his hat
convulsively and struck into the conver.
satior, y
ALLOW me to explain! II think I can
make it all clear"
II wish you would, then, for / give it
up, said Dick. "Wait minute, though!
II you're sure you're not wrong any
way" and he look significant, suppose
you just sit down while you tell US the
conundrum Might as we'll take it easy,
eh? Don't be afraid girls" in a stage
aside, -"I'm between him and you.
Wyllis, for all his even temper, glared
at the irrepressible Dick, but accepted
which was interrupted by frequent peals
Of laughter from the young man.
$50 you thought wanted to murder
herr" he explained. u say, Clara, if
that's the way our spooning looks to out
siders-n
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: aAre you anything to Eugene
Wyllis, of Philadelphia; see you spell
| your name the same way, with a y"
eyes" said Wyllis, eagerly, Il have q
cousin Eugene Wyl1is In Philadelphia.
| He is III the grain business.
aThat's the man. Why,I know him
! very we'll Let's see, now" continued
| Dick, suggestively, If you know any
4 other friends Of mIna2n
| aWho are some Of your friends?" asked
Wyllis, overjoyed at this unexpected
opening OF 4 better knowledge Of the
/ Shadow.
Dick. began to run over some names of
acquaintances common to himself and
/. Eugene Wyllis, and at the third Arthur
1 Wyllis stopped him.
~rom Rutherford and are old chunas." !"
! he said. Here is q letter got from him
yesterday. Read it-no, really, insist
| as favor to me-