The morning call., 1891-05-24

was significant and felt the cold sweat
break out on my forehead through all the
heat of my indignation.
But l did not mean to show him that ne
had intimidated me.
Excuse me-" said /, ''and put down your
pistol. Though you are making me lose
irredeemable time, l will try and control
myself enough to give you In opportunity
for explaining yourself. Why have you en-
trapped me into this placer
" have already told you, said he, gently
laying the pistol before him, but in easy
reach of his hand.
" But that is preposterOus," ! began, fast
losing my Self-control again. You do not
know me, and if you did"
!" Pardon me, you see | know your name
Yes, that was true, and the TACT set me
thinking. How did he know my name? L
did not know him, nor did l know this
house or any reason for which / could have
been beguiled into it. Was l the victim OF
conspiracy or was the man mad? Looking
at him very earnestly l declared: My
name is Atwater. and so far you are right,
but in learning that much about me you
must also have learned that l am neither
rich nor influential or of any special value
| to a blackmaileT. Why choose me out then
for yOur-society? Why not choose some
| one who can-talkY
81 find your conversation very interest
Ing"
Baf1ed, oxasperated almost beyond my
power to restrain myself, I shook my fist
in his face, Notwithstanding l saw his hand
fly to his pistol.
of this place. l have business, l tell you.,
| important business, which means every
| thing to me and which, ii ] do not attend 10
it tonight, will be lost to me forever. Let
me go. and | will so far reward you that l
will speak to no one OF what has taken place
here tonight, but go my ways forgetful OF
fOFUatfHl Of hnncl fnTpptful
| connected with i"
You are very good" was his quiet reply,
but this wine has TO be drunk" And he
calmly poured out glass, while drew
back in despair. YOu do not drink wlne?D
he queried, holding up the glass he had
filled between himself and the light 1t is
pity, for 1t is of most rare vintage. But
| perhaps you smoker"
Sick and disguised l found chair and
sat down in it. If the man were crazy there
was certainly method in his madness"
! Besides he had not crazy eve. There was
calm calculation in it and not little good
nature. Did he simply want to detaln me?
and, if so, did he have motive 1t would
pay me to fathom before | eXeited myself
further TO insure my releaseP Answering
the wave he made me with his hand, by
reaching out for the bottle and filling my
self glass, l forced myself TO speak more
atfably as ] remarked
IF the wine must be drunk we had better
be about it, as you cannot mean to detain
me more than hour whatever reason you
may have for wishing my society"
he looked at me inquiringly before an
Swerlng, then tossing OFF his glass he re-
marked:
Il am sorry. but in an hour a man can
scarcely make the acquaintance Of another
| man exterior
Then you mean"
''IO know you thoroughly, If you will be
so good; l may never have the opportunity
again"
He must be mad; nothing else but mania
could account for such words and such ac-
tiOns; and yet if mad, why was he allowed
TO enter my presence? The man who brought
me here, the woman who received me at the
door had not been mad.
And | must stay here?" | began.
It'll | am quite satisfied. | am afraid
that will take till morning"
/ gave cry Of despair, and then, in my
utter desperation, spoke up to him as l
would 20 a man Of feeling
"1 GU don't know what yOu are doing, you
don't know what l shall suffer by any such
cruel detention. This nights not like other
nights TO me. This Is q special night in my
life and / need it, | need it, tell you, to
spend as l will. The woman | Iove"-it
seemed horrible TO speak of her in this place,
but 1 was wild at my helplessness and madly
hoped | might awake some ans weTing chord
in breast which could not be void of all
feeling or he would not have that benev0-
lent look in his eye-"the woman love-" |
repeated, sails for Europe tomorrow. We
have quarreled but she still cares for me
and If | can sail on the same steamer, we
viii yet make up and be happy"