The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-10
The name was entirely unknovn "a

The name was entirely unknown to
me, as also the purport and occasion
OF the call. l debated for a second
whether ! should send Alice in search
OF Mrs. -Cllnber-who was, believed
writing in her own room-or whether
! should myself assume the responsi.
bility OF confronting the stranger.
This question was decided for me.
On the heels of the domestic ad dvancei
MIR. Lidaw; he, at least. appeared to
have no doubt as to the course tu
follow. Under sized, middle aged,
clean shaven, gray-this is the best
and fullest description which I could
have given at the moment OF the easy
going intruder, and it will suffice tor
my narrative.
"Ah, three OF you!" he said. "AIy
old friends's daughters and son,
presume. WASN'T aware he was Sc
favored"
The human voice is a wonderful
instrument. 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 dangerous
conspirator. The living enigma spoke,
and however puzzling and mysterio us
his presence continued to be nv
courage revived. The circumstance is
as | state; the explanation leave to
others.
"My name is Escott; this is nv
brother-and my sister," stamner.
insly answered. "But who-to what
do We owe'--I wa, pitlfully poor
inquisitor. Before had framed my
query was stopped.
"Who nm II" the CHEEKY stranger
said. "Well, l suppose one can't
ciaim 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
rcsuscitation OF old memories. Your
father and | used to bestanch friends.
You're not very like him, young gen.
tlcman." The latter sentence was, of
OF course, addressed to my brother
Valentine.
"lndeed," the boy said laconi.ally.
The strangers glance had fallen up.
on the strange medley that decorated
our center table. "Somc one here is u
collector OF autographs. l see." he
went on gayiy. "Mny l Inspect them?
Thank you. 1t is pursuit of great
, interest to me; sometimes have to
study-nhem-in q professional Gu
pacity contrast and likeness in pen
manship." He bent over Walls speci.
mems, among which were included
examples OF the hand of nearly all the
boys acquaintances, for Val played
havoc very impartially with charac.
ters ancient and modern. great and
and by | noticed queer little start,
looked up. "Who wrote this?" lie
said. 1t was n couple OF lines-aquo.
tatlon from Tennyson-and. beneath.
the signature OF Mrs. Climber.
1t was Alice who replied. "That's
the writing of our bousekeeper," said
she. wonderinsly. "Do you know Mrs.
Climber? She came to us from Leeds.
like her hand, it is so neat and pret-
ty."
"And it bcsppaks strong will. de-
cision, and perhaps finesse." said Val,
sententiously, quite in the Style OF the
lecturer.
But felt it was time to know more
OF the visitor who seemed to be tax.
ing his footing in our midst so much
for granted. broke in with n direct
| demand. II have never heard papn
speak of you. so far as Gun recolect,
Mr.. Lidlaw, and he is not ut home.
Did he expect you to nisht?"
I "a Co.
"Capt. Escott not at home"' he re-
peated. Expect me! am here in
response to his pressing invitation. +"
Val and had the clew to the riddle
simultaneously.
"iou nre wanting Valen tia Lodge
Walnsey Cross" said.
at is Mr.. John Escott who lives
hero; there's been O mistake" cried
Val.
Mr.. I.idlaw stood rs though paralyz-
cd hy the revelation OF his blundrr;
then Il shadow OF intense vexntion
passed over his features; and this in
turn yielded to smile Mt his own ex.
pensr. "Whew! This comes of not be.
III. sufficiently precise in investigation;
q lesson | hardly ought to need to
learn, after all these years" he grimly
soliloquized. Then he bowed hepre-
catingly to us, and proceedcd: "I'he
Storm was raging so iierccly that was
content in the station yard with little
delay and few words. asked the
coachman who was handicst ii he
could drive me to Capt. Escott's,
Wainscv, and he said 'ies.' sup.
pose he did not catch more than the
surname; and ] was ignorant that
Walnsey and Walnsey Cross are not
identical places"
"They are three miles apart" said
Val.
Mr.. Lidlaw carefully inquired his
way, and announced that he should
walk. lie asked. too-very oddly ,as
thought. with u new twinkle of doubt
the nearest route back to Dalc!ord
village. Walls directions were clear and, /,
full, and if the stranger obeyed them
he could not possibly go ast-ay IN
either direction. 1t seemed inhospit-
! able TO permit him to turn out unat-
tended in the night; but could per-
1 cci"e no alternative,and have reason
/ to think that he would have overrulcd
any ana every objection. Mrs Climber
/ had not appeared. This struck us
/ afterward rs strange. However busy
! she might be with her correspondence.
it WAS curious that she should have
heard nothing OF the arrival.
or that, hearing, she should
have kept away. Some twenty nm
utes after Lldllw had lett she entered
.hc drawing room and listened to our
JOINT narrative OF what had happen.
ed. fancied that she was preoccupi.
ell to the visitors inspection OF her
handwriting. and that then her man
ncr changed, and she listened with
more lnterest-even anxiety-thnn
she cared for us to observe. From
this fact-if such it were-I was. how.
ever, Mt Il loss to draw any particular
deduction.
PASS over tho hours that elapsed
between this episode and midnight.
We had retired early, and the house
ought to have been rs dark and still
as if inhabited. Older friends tell mo
that it is the privilege OF healthy girl.
hood to sleep soundly and with ease.
ldonotuoubt that t&ey are right, but
on this occaion continued obstinate.
" awake.
Suddenly. Il chill shot through my
veins; sat up among the pillows.
rigid, and. doubt not, blanched al
most to their own whiteness. listen.
ed i'll u very agony OF fattcntion. From
the depths below there had echoed