Wichita eagle., 1888-06-10

believed, writing in her own roon-or
whether l should myself assume the respon-
sibility of confronting the stranger. This
question was decided for me On the heels
of the domestic advanced Mr. Lidlaw; he, at
least, appeared to have no doubt as to the
course to follow Under sized, middle aged,
clean shaven, gray-this is the best and
fullest description which | could have given
2t the moment Of the easy going intruder,
and it will suffice for my narrative
"Ah, three of your be said "My old
friends daughters and son, | presume l
wasn't aware ne was so favored"
The human voice is a wonderful instru-
ment In one case it shall OF itself convey
suspicion, in another, reinsurance. 1t was
the latter here. A tyrannical imagination
had painted before my mental vision with
swift brush the portrait of a dangerous con-
spirator The living enigma spoke, and how
ever puzzing and mysterious his presence
continued to be, my courage revived The
circumstance is as l state; the explanation
leave to others
My name Is Escott: this is my brother
and my sister," stammeringly answered
But who-to what do we owe"- 1 was
pitifully poor inquisitor Before l had
framed my query was stopped.
"Who am IF' the CHEEKY stranger said.
"WeI, | suppose one can't claim universal
fame; but it certainly strikes me as curious
that you should have TO ask. AS to my
errand, that is just pleasure and the resusci-
tation of old memories Your father and
used TO be stanch friends. You're not very
like him, young gentleman. The latter
sentence was, Of course, addressed to my
brother Valentine.
Indeed. the boy said laconically
The strangers glance had fallen upon the
strange medley that decorated our center
table. "Some one here is a collector of auto
graphs, see," be went on gayly MAY in
spect themf Thank you 1t is a pursuit Of
great interest to me: | sometimes have to
study-aheml-in a professional capacity
contrast and likeness in penmanship." He
bent over Val's specimens, among which
were included examples of the hand of nearly
all the boys acquaintances, for Val played
havoc very impartially with characters
ancient and modern, great and small, famous
or obscure. And by and by noticed a queer
little start, seemingly Of recognition Mr.
Lldlaw looked up "Who wrote thisr" he
said. 1t was couple of lines-a quotation
from Tennyson--and, beneath, the signature
of Mrs Climber
1t was Alice who replied. ''That's the
writing of cur housekeeper," said she, won
deringly. do you know Mrs Cli1nberf She
came to US from Leeds. / like her hand; it is
SO neat and pretty
And it bespeaks a strong will, decision
and perhaps fincSse," said Val, sententiously,
quite IN the style Of the lecturer.
But felt that it was time TO know more
of the visitor, who seemed to be taking his
footing in our midst SO much for granted.
broke 10 with a direct demand Il have
never heard papa speak of you, so far as /
can recoilect. Mr. Lidlaw, and he is not at
home Did ne expect you to-nightP
Dir Lldlaw awoke as from reverie
Capt. Escott not at homer be repeated
Expect mel | am here in response to his
pressing invitation"
Val and had the clew to the riddle stimuli
taneousy
sey Cross said.
cit is MIR John Escott who lives here
there's been a mistake" cried Val
Mr Lidlaw stood as though paralyzed by
the revelation of his blunder then shadow
of Intense vexation passed over his features.
and Shls In turn yielded 10 a smile at his own
expense. ''Whewl This comes of not being
sufficiently precise in investigation, a lesson
hardly ought to need to learn, after all
these years." he grimly soliloquized Then
be bowed deprecatingly to US and proceeded:
'The storm was raging so tiercely that | was
content in the station yard with little delay
and few words. | asked the coachman who
was handieSt if be could drive me to Capt
Escott's, Walnsey, and he said Yes sup
pose be did not catch more than the surname.
and was ignorant that Walnsey and Vain
sey Cross are not identical places"
They are three miles apart" said Val
81 was uncertain of my train, or Capt.
Escott would have been sent to meet me- |
begged him not to do that The question
now is how to get away, for the driver-he
was none too sober-is gone, and my luggage
is in your hall. 1t is most unfortunate and
absurd and wholly my fault. for remem-
Der remarking that the fellow called your
home the manor'-which was not a familiar
name for it-both at Daleford station and
here on arrival tender thousand apollo
gies."
Forthwith our group of four resolved itself
lar emergency Our debate had but a lame
issue If papa had been here and had be-
come convinced of the bona fides of his unin-
vited guest, he would have sent Spence with
Mr. Lidlaw to Capt. Escott's. But both papa
and the men were absent. Josephs was old
and often ailing; kesitated to suggest any
scheme that should involve his going out into
the tempest. And certainly Val must not
venture any such exposure.
Mr. LiGlaw carefully inquired his way, and
announced that be should walk He asked.
too-very oddly, as | thought, with a new
twinkle Of doubt-the nearest route back to
Daleford village. Walls directions were clear
and full, and if the stranger obeyed them he
could not possibly go astray in either direc-
ton 1t seemed inhospitsble to permit him
to turn out unattended into the night, but
could perceive no alternative, and | have
reason to think that he would have overruled
any and every objection
Mrs Climber had not appeared This
struck US afterward as strange However
busy she might be with her correspondence,
1t was curious that she should have heard
nothing of the arrival, or that, hearing, she
should have kept away. Some twenty min
utes after Mr. Lidlaw had left she entered
the drawing room and listened TO our joint
narrative of what had happened / fancied
that ste was preoccupied, until Alice casually
referred TO the visitors inspection Of her
handwriting, and that then her manner
changed. and she listened with more interest
even anxlety-than she cared for US to OBJ
serve From this fact-if such it were-I
was. however, at a loss 70 draw any particu-
lai deduction
pass over the hours that elapsed between
this episode and midnight We had retired
early. and the house os;;sAt 20 have bsen ks
dark and still as II uninhabited Older
friends tell me that it is the privilege Of
healthy Cirlhood to sleep soundly and with