Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-06-22

7
He colored instantly. His nervous
ness became more apparent as be at.
tempted to conceal it by silently con.
tinuing his work. Finally he pied
his type Seeing that my presence
only tended to increase his embarrass-
meut | left the office with an addi.
tional mystery" on my mind:
What did my innocent question
imply to cause fear or create anger
What ho! what ho i. this fellow is dancing
He hath been bitten by TarantuIa.
-1H iH the Wrong.
1t was night, and big heecy snow
fakes were dancing about, playing
catch 10 the air and hide on the
ground | was seated ut my Office
desk, nervousIy revolving my pencil
around my fngerS and in my miad
revolving thoughts of the Man in
Black. He was a man of the average
size with fine physical proportions.
I here was something strange and
sad in his features. His black eyes
had a peculiar iustre and shone from
their sockets like gems from their
caskets, while his face was thin and
paid, bearing o resemblance to the
wan countenance of university re-
clouse. His mouth was small and
had mild expression bordering on
the indefnable mewhere between
the expression Of constant sorrow and
an habitual smile. A couple locks of
his raven black hair hung over his
forehead in utter disregard of all
style or propriety. His hair was
black; his eyes were black; his clothes
were black in short, he was a veri
table human raven He walked with
his eyes fixed to the ground and with
slow, measured step and pensive
mien; and when thus apparently lost
in himself, he was continuously
twisting his moustache, an act which
attracted attention to a ring of re-
uarkable design on his engagement
finger. 1t was in the shape OF q
black serpent whose eyes consisted OF
two bright rubies. Whether the Pc
culiar ring and the finger upon which
it was worn had any special signiti-
cance | was unable to divine. OF
course his cravat was black black
plush he wore standing collar,
which gave him clerical air. But
his scarf pin was deviation from his
sombre attire. In the soft plush
nestled a red coral heart, pierced di
agonally with a gold dagger, the
handle of which held large diamond
of great briliancy. This strange
man-this distant, taciturU being
was the observed in that Argus-eyed
community Whence he came,
whittier he was going, what he was
doing, were secrets. Beyond the
bold signature, Benz. Rush Legrand,
at which half of the village loungers
had curiously gazed, on the hotel reg
lister, all was black mystery.
Whether there is communicative
sympathy between the minds of
friends. so that the approach of one
will suggest thoughts Of him in the
mind Of the other, | do not know; but
this have observed, that intense
thoughts OF friend frequently pre-
cede his appearance. 1t was 50 that
evening when the Man in Black en-
tered. | had a volume of the Sand
pump from the heyday OF oildom be-
fore me. There is strange fascina'
tion about old newspaper files, and as
| turned the pages my mysteri Gus
friend looked over my shoulder
Under the head STRAY Sand, :" a very
appropriate caption for locals in that
region, | found this item which read
aloud:
Tuesday night about 10 O'Clock
the report Of q revolver was hear on
the second floor of the Continental
hotel. A few minutes afterwards a
woman, closely yelled, was observed
leaving the house. Clarence Clee-
land, the well known operator who
made the big stfike on the Western
Belt, and who lodges at the Cont
mental when here, has not been seen
since. John Hartz and Miss Evan
geline Afford whose marriage was
announced to take place Wednesday
are also missing since that night.
The porter claims he saw Cleeland in
his room at $50 pm When it was
forced open Wednesday noon every
thing was suspiciously in its place,
even the bed being unrulfled. Cir
cumstances point to foul play.
To be GOntinMed