Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-12
A GHOUL'S QUEST.
Strange, Uncomfortable Passion Of
e. Monomaniac.

G. Monomaniac.
Ono windy morning in January, when
passing frame building on Ellis street,
where a large force of carpenters was at
work swinging on giddy scaffolds many
feet from the ground, observed tall
and unusually thin man seated on pile
of lumber, watching with the utmost in
tentness the worlmen. With the in
stinct of the newspaper reporter, ever
seeking information, / asked him to
whom the building belonged, and what
was it intended for, believing that he
was the architect, or possibly the con-
tractor.
81 do not know, sir. ] am q stranger
in the city," he replied, in voice of
singular harshness.
II beg your pardon, / thought you
might be the architect" | said; ''you
seem to take an interest in the work"
mot in the work, but in the work
men," he rejoined, with grin, which
made his small, mean face, with its lit
tie red eyes, absolutely diabolical.
"Then possibly you are yourself
carpenter" continued; ga flno trade
the carpenter and mason are, to my
mind, the noblest order of mechanics;
they are the creators or rather the in
struments that carry out the inspiration
Of tho architect"
"They do not interest me in that
way" said the stranger, shutting off the
lumber pile and moving off, palpable
hint that he required no more of my
conversation.
This incident left no impression on
my memory, for, although frequently
passed the new building on my way to
my office, saw no more of the red-eyed
man. One fine Sunday, attracted by
the announcement of balloon ascen-
sion at Bakers Beach, / strolled out to
that picturesque curve in the harbor's
entrance. As tho acronaut took hold of
the parachute and gave the word to let
go, saw the stranger. The expression
on his face was one of intense, and,
might say, malignant concentration.
His eyes were fixed on the bespangled
figure of tho athlete with ferocity
which not alono astonished me, but
gave mo such decidedly uncomfortable
feeling that l involuntarily stepped
from beside him.
81 am all right, and away we go"
cried tho aeronaut, and the crowd
cheercd as the graceful sphere sailed
skyward. Under and over the bar the
aeronaut tumbled, now holding on by
ono arm, now clinging with his toes,
still leaving the dull earth farther and
farther behind him at every moment
'By heavens! he'll get down safely.
He's not nervous, unless--unless the
parachute should collapse. Then we'll
be all right, and there won't be whole
bone in his body"
This peculiar speech was uttered by
tho mysterious stranger who, in the
forward movement of the crowd, was
again at my elbow. Determined to dis.
cover the source of this extraordinary
display of malignity, l said:
sit seems, sir you do not feel we'll
disposed toward our friend, who is now
tim bling in Tnid-air. Is he an enemy
OF yours or rival professionals"
''IIe is neither. l come here, as every
ono else, yourself included, young man,
hoping that he will fall. l am candid
enough to say so, and presume you are
hypocrite enough to declare that you
hope he will descend in safety"
~ certainly do hope so, with all my
heart" I replied, warmly; ''why, no one
but fiend incarnate would wish that
yonder daring fellow might come to
grief"
The stranger smiled, but the smile
was sardonic enough to come under the
head of grimace. 81 have met you be-
fore" he said; lone morning on Ellis
street l remember your face now.
Come, l feel rather companionable this
evening. Dine with me. / am almost
perfect stranger in this city, and you
will be doing lonesome man favor il
you accept my invitation"
/ consented, overcoming the repug.
nance felt, for the sake of knowing
more about this person, who was
evidently a man of mystery. He named
an address on Pine street, the hour
seven, and lifting his hat with an
agreeable, almost an amiable air, Of
which l could not believe his hard,
grim features capable, we parted until
that hour.
While dressing for dinner, 1 was full
of conjecture aboutmy strange acquaint
ance. His name he had not given me
nor had he mentioned whether he was Z
married man or bachelor. As he had
not appointed a restaurant for oul
dining-place, concluded that No. :
Pine street must be boarding-house
However, at ten minutes to the hour o
dining, / rung the bell of large, old
fashioned house, dingy and neglected
looking to a degree. A Japanese serv
ant admitted mo, and found my hos
seated in hauieomely-furnished par
lor. He was in evening-dress, so / a
once decided that we were not to b
without ladies' society.
"You must pardon me- he said, cour
teously. "for my neglect to give you &c
name. am such hermit, that L rna
almost forgotten Is soareadnoes
Albert lie Mour, an American, DO,
French parents, traveller. a citiz