The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-22
ow FIRST PUBLISHED
CHAPTER xXvr.-CoxrIxUED.

CHAPTER Nll-CONTlNUED.
In his encounter with Dom, or during the
latter half Of it at least, Hetheridge had
conducted himself with a SURPRISING cool
ness. but when once the necessity for tbs
continued strain was over, he began &c
know how much in nervous force his defen-
sive instinct had cost him. He had stood
and watched Dom from the room and had
waved his hand after him with gesture OF
fnsolent triumph and disdain, but before the
retreating enemy's footsteps had traversed
half the stairway. be fell back in a state of
extreme collapse into the chair he had just
quilted. His head spun like a teettum, and
there was 8 sound in his ears like that made
by the rush Of train through a tunnel.
The beating Of his heart and the free play
of his lungs seemed restricted by an iron
pressure.
Little by little these alarming symptoms
relaxed in force, and after a pause Of per-
haps ten minutes he crawled gddily to the
bell pull, rang the bell, and stumbled back
again.
The waiter appearing. ne demanded an
other glass of brandy, and after drinking it,
felt somewhat better, though still alarmingly
standing on the edge of a precipice He
was ashamed TO ask for a further stimu-
liant, and go, feebly fumbling for his purse,
paid his score, and crept away to dive into
the first house of public resort he came to,
and to take a third glass Of brandy and
water there.
His shadowy enemy was at his shoulder
again, and in form far more real than he
ever assumed before. He saw him in his
habit as he lived at the time when he had
first really began to hate him. The figure
was always behind him, and yet was present
to his mental gaze clear TO the least detail.
He saw the candid brown eyes, the plain,
manly features, the fresh color, the little bit
of side whisker on the cheek, the homespun
dress. he saw the very pattern Of the
CATERS, the stain of country soil upon the
Boots. He did not recall any special mo-
uaept at which he had seen his victim pre-
oisely thus and yet he knew that at some
special moment his mind had seized the
image and now reproduced it with an abso-
lutte fidelity. Had any one been interested
IN watching him he would have seen the
furtive fearful glance across the shoulder.
which had become habitual with him, re-
peated half dozen times a minute.
With the fourth glass of brandy he
screwed his courage to the sticking point,
and ventured anew into the streets. They
we're almost deserted at that hour, aud he
walked swiftly but shakily TO Broad street
station, and there paced the platform whilst
he waited train for Richmond due in some
ten minutes. The silent invisible avenger
haunted him, though 1t never moved foot
or made the faintest change in posture or
expression. It was SO real to him that
whenever, In his pacing to and fro, he
turned sharply round upon bis own track
foolish relief and amazement possessed his
mind when he failed 20 see il. He walked
briskly, he Jagged, zg-zagged purpoaely
here and there, paused altogether. The i'm
movable, unacceptable, dreadful thing was
always at his shoulder, ready to lay a hand
upon him This living nightmare had been
his companion more or less for years, but
had never been SO near, SO real or so threat
ening as now. Il would have been blessed
relief to scream aloud, beneath the intolera-
BILE anguish of its presence, but that way
madness lay, and there was no guessing
into what madness of self-denunciation he
might be hurried TX once he allowed the
presence to break down his nerve. He must
endure the uneudurable-must carry the
torment of the damned about with him and
make no sign. When the train backed into
the railway station he took his place in a
lonely carriage, and by mere physical in
stinct screwed himself tight into corner
seat; but the physical obstacle he interposed
made no difference to the position of the I'M
relenting phantom.
Apart from the awful clearness OF his ap-
prehension Of its presence, it carried ter
Yor with it be had never known before. All
these years he had seemed to be free even of
suspicion, and at last one man had formu-
lated against him charge which his own
soul had never failed to bring in any wax
ing hour Of any day since the deed was
done. He had foiled his accuser for the
time, but that meant nothing, or might
mean nothing. Any wind of chance might
carry new evidence to the man who knew
so much and guessed so much already.
he drank deep that night and drugged his
fears at last, but when he awoke, sick with
excess, he found his ghost still in It's place.
implacably serene and cheerful, the
George Redwood of a quarter of a century
ago.
he felt that business was impossible for
the day, and he sent q telegram TO that effect
TO town.
"If necessary to consult me, come down.
Too i'll TO leave house. Refuse all inquirers
address
An hour or two later his confidential man
appeared with bundle Of important pa
pers, and left them for his employers con-
sideration.
Come down again, Jessamer :" he said.
Come in the afternoon, or better still,
come in the evening. There are score of
things about which may give you instruc-
tions. I'm not altogether we'll, and may
be forced to take a holiday"
The mockery of the phrase hit him hard,
and some of Its bitterness found its waY
into his tone There was small hope of a
holiday for him while that placid bugbea r
stood changeless at his shoulder.
Bring your handbag with you and stay
the night 1 may detain you late"
This invitation was equal to a command,
and Jessamer accepted 1t, bowling low.
Hetheridge was his man of men; king in
finance, and with every sign of growth in
his importance in financial circles Jessaner
took higher rank among his compeers. He
had never had such an honor placed upon
him as Hetheridge now offered. To be in.
vited as a guest at Hetheridge's house, il
only for night, was in itself high dis
tinctlon. If he had known the compelling
dread of loneliness which dictated the invi-
tation, be might, perhaps, have felt less fat
tered by it.
Can you be here to dinnerP Hetheridge
asked.
AT what hour, sirI"
''Say O'Clock"
II fear, SIR returned Mr.. Jessamer with
smooth obsequiousness. that that will be
impossible. The American mail leaves TO.
night. 1 shall be scarcely able to quit the
Office before Z"
"Ah, yes" said Hetheridge; "of course
OK course. l had forgotten. Get down a:
seen as you can. l can give you bottle o.
good wine, Jessamer." he added, with &
clumsy pretense at QeniaIitv which fat