The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-08
JAIL RIGHTS RESERVED,

LESS uldn coming out or the inner room at
this minute, and walking briskly away with
a crisp good afternoon to his subordinates,
he began to see that the actual closing time
had arrived and that he would have little
opportunity Of waiting further. The clerks
themselves locked up their desks, and ex-
changed their office coats for smarter gar
| ments.
Nov, sir, if you please" said one of
them, and he walked perforce on to the
| landing.
The outer door Of the office snapped be-
hind him, the clerks with an explosion of
laughter, dashed Gathering down the stairs
and he was left alone. He followed the re-
| treating footsteps slowly down the street.
which just then was thronged with hurry
| ing figures. Three minutes later he stood in
solitude, and only the rumble of near and
distant traffic was left to tell him that Lon
don was not suddenly transformed into a
| desert,
He walked thoughtfuily up and down,
keeping the entrance to the offices con-
stantly in view, and by aud by a lonely
policeman walking toward him, he hailed
him and posed a question.
sis there any back way into this row of
| buildingsP'
mo, sir" returned the officer. "The
only entrance is from the 'front.'"
THANK you" said Mons. Dom, smiling
grimly. THAT will do"
he walked up and down the deserted
| pavement, whilst the afternoon sunshine
and its following shadow slid higher and
higher up the walls Of the houses opposite.
de saw it redden the high chimney pots and
disappear, and still he paced up and down
| with constant eye upon the doorway. The
rumbIing OF traffic in the near and distant
streets lulled and swelled. lulled and
| swelled again, and after one prolonged roar
| like that of a sea grinding on a pebbly
beach, died away altogether. The lamp
| lighter went his rounds. The stars began
to twinkle family in the paling sky. An
| oppressive silence reigned, broken only by
| the sound Of Mons. Doms own footsteps.
The dusk OF night was falling thickly
round him, when at last his resolute pa
thence was rewarded, and Hetheridge came
out upon the street. glanoing swiftly and
suspiciously this way and that along the
street. AS it CHANGED, Dom stood in
shadow, and lamp Immediately opposite
the entrance to the offices revealed Hether-
idge quite plainly. After an instant's
pause, he turned, unconscious for the mo-
ment, of pursuit, and walked with a gait
| too relaxed and shaken for a man of his
years, along the street. Dom followed with
a swift and resolute step, and laid a hand
"Excusez moi, monsieur, parlez-vous
| Fraucais2"
No" said Hetheridge, bluntly, aud
| walked on.
"Excusez moi, encore" pursued Dom,
sardonically, and then in the same Ian
guage, Monsieur compels me- to inform him
that he is a liar"
He had marked out his plan OF cam
paign, and was determined on one swift
| coup. Hetheridge started at the reply thus
| flung at him, but possessed himself again,
walked on and made no sign.
| Monsieur has not understood that obser-
| walton, continued Mons. Dom, still clineing to
/ his natiVa asUaru nynnd 70
another. Monsieur will permit me to in
form him that accuse him to his face"
| he paused OF set purpose, and HetheridRe
looked at him. his writhing face ghastly in
the gloom, " charge him to his face as a
| murderer"
Hetheridge gave a gasping cry and stag
| gered forward, and if Dom had not sup
ported him, he would have fallen.
"Ah," said Dom, dropping the tone of
cruel badinage he had hitherto adopted, but
still speaking In his own tongue, "you un-
derstand me now"
mo" said Hetheridge, beside himself
with horror, pas un mot. Je ne perle
pas Franeais. Je le jure."
Scattered as his wits were he had soarcelv
| spoken the words when he recognized his
own amazing folly. The street rocked and
| whirled with him. There were dancing
sparks of fire and blackness before his eyes,
and there was siok frost of terror in
his heart. His accuser stood regarding him
| In silence, and that silence lasted, to Hether-
idges fancy, for long space of time,
though In reality it was but brief.
II have trapped you at last, fox that you
| are,n said Dom.
Hetheridge's mind began once more TO
serve him. How much did the man knowl
How much was guesswork9 He felt that his
own best safeguard lay for the time in ST.
| lence. Was 1t vengeance, or Justice, or
blackmaili How did he know that he really
had anything to fear!
81 shall have to talk with you," said
| Dom. "You will not refuse me an audience
this time, think"
~ am not well" said Hetheridge, speak
ing in English. II have not been well for
months past did not know you at first.
You startled me. thought you meant to
rob me-"
"Where shall we have our talkF Dom
| demanded.
He still spoke in his own language, but
Hetheridge was not TO be further beguiled.
He feigned not 60 understand, and muir
| INJURED something about getting old before
his time. He was horribly shaken, but he
| purposely exaggerated his own symptoms to
gain time and to recover his power of fence.
Dom disdained a suDterfuge and addressed
him in English:
"Where shall we gor'
"There is an hotel not far away said
Hetheridge. "If you would help me to 1t
should take IL as a favor"
Dom seized him by the arm and led him
in the direction he had indicated.
mot 80 fast" said Hetheridge. 81 am
not strong, and a shock of this kind I'M
mans me. Was IL you who called this
morning? l had forgotten your name until
l recognized you a moment back. You
should have sent a statement Of your BUSH
ness. Perhaps you may be able to tell me
its nature by and by, when fhave recovered
myself a little"
He spoke with hating breath and with a
strange catch In his voice. These came by
nature, but he made them more marked
| than they need have been. Dom watched
and questioned within himself. The shock
might have possibly upset the villains
faculties for the moment. or he might be
| foxing.
Hetheridge, walking with apparent diff
Guilty, indicated the turnings to be taken by
a wordless gesture, and in a few minutes
they reached an old-fashioned city hotel and
entered together, Dom still retaining his
hold upon his captive's arm.
Let US have private room, he said to
waiter who lounged In the passage. This
| gentleman and have business together"
And send me a glass Of brandy and
water" said hetheridge. 81 am not very
| well. / have received a shock"
The waiter obeyed their orders, and they
| we're left alone In a somber and ill.li1htAd