The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-01-21

'Ouc OF the TOnr creatures has some
how given 'cm the Slip" said Mrs.
Gludec-.'a 'an English gentleman from
Montreal. us has only been there few
DAYS"
lie might have told mcn cried
Indignantly.
Anyway, | don't think he ought to
have left YOU here alone" said Mrs.
Giuhge. severely.
But you've come to stay with me.
Mrs. Gludge?"
Bless your heart. Miss Ruth, no!
I'm on my way to carry a letter to Mr..
R0mney's, up the road-a very inn
portant letter. And-by the way I'd
! nearly forgot tive got a letter for
you. too. That's what brought me
here"
For me- Mrs. Gludge?'
Ins;nctiveIy put ont my hand to
grasp the treasure. while the woman
fumbled first in one and then in au-
other of her pockets.
Its very strange" said she. Il
made sure | had it. did have it when
| started away from home: but now |
remember. just at the foot of Gibbs
Cliff took ont my handkerchief TO tie
! arouId my neck. the wind came so
keen around the rocks and | must a
pulled it out with that. and every
thing too pitch dark around me to see.
Oh, Miss Ruth. I'm SO sorry. Please
don't report me, there's good young
lady. or shall lose my place."
''Oh, never mind the letter" l inter
rupted, Il dare say it is only from
Jack. Tomorrow morning viii do
very well for that. But Mrs. Giudge.
You'll come back and stay with me till
Peter gets back? Jean is away, you
know, and"
Yes, my dear. I'll do that" assent
ed The woman. evidently relieved to be
let off so easily on the score of the
letter.
With good-hunored nod sac Gisap
peared into the rain and darkness. and
ran back to pile fresh logs on the
waning fire. Bank burglars, extra
dited wanderers lunatlc at large
with all these possibilities whirliug in
my brain it is not strange that | light
ed n second lamp.
I'll 20 up 10 the garret and bring
down some butternuts," thought |.
land then I'll get some cider from the
cellar
Cheered by this happy thought, |
caught up Il lamp and flew TO the gar.
ret of the roomy old house where my
father had bestowed all the nutty
treasures of the autumn woods. |
came down. with the lamp in one hand
and an apronful of butternuts in the
other. Through the open Keeping
room door streamed Il ray of light into
the Cimmeriau darkness of the hall.
stopped abruptly Surely ii: I'd closed
that door when | came out, remember
ing certain trick it had of sEimmng
TO and fro in windy weather like this.
Aud at the same time Il curious con-
sciousneSs of some human presence
near by crept over me like an unseen
magnetic current.
Nor was it a false premonitfon. As
L stretched my neck 10 peep cautious
IL into the room saw seated before
the fire Il gentleman-a youugish gen.
tleman. pale, biack-haired. and. rs
thought, rather unsettled of aspect.
How had he gained IN entrance?
Had | carelesslv neglected to bolt the
big door after Mrs. Gludge's depart
ure? Yes. | must have done so-and
that was proof of how utterly anfit
| was to be left by myself.
had never seen Il bank burglar to
be sure; but / was pretty certain this
black-haircd gentleman &C mid not be-
long 10 that race. Aud | lid not thin X
he acted like anv other scuundrei who
was fleeing from the ri,,ors of the law.
de must be The Eu"i4:s gentleman