The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-30

9Mere Lucas came in to bid me lugubri-
Gus adieu, and then began to listen to the
footsteps In the street, though had no rea-
son to expect Taras in for at least another
hour. At 10 o'clock went out as nose-
lessly as could and looked up at Mere Lu-
cas- window. There was no light In the
room, but as | reached the door of the work
shop the window sash was thrown open,
and her head in its white nightcap APP
peared. She had heard me unbolt the back
door
"Who is there" she cried in q tone of
alarm.
told her It was I, who had come out to
see IL the lock which had been put on the
workshop door was secure
my poor little FRIEND" said she, "do
you think / could lie down if had not
made sure Of thats Is 1t that my good lit
tie master has not returned yeti"
told her that expected him in every
minute. and with a mutual good night"
she closed the window, and entered thu
house.
had left light in the kitchen. Look
ing round / saw that everything was in
its place and the bright latchkey of the
front door, which Mere Lucas used when
she went out in the daytime hanging over
the dresser.
"Surely,"I said to myself, reassured by
these signs, "Kavanagh has been deceived.
There is no necessity to watch Mere Lucas
tonight"
returned to the front room to listen
again for Taras' footstep. At rare inter
walls my ear caught an approaching sound,
and my heart rose with hopeful anticipa-
ton, to sink lower than ever when the step
became sufficiently audible for me to dis
tinguish that it was not my friends AS
the minutes dragged on my anxiety in,
creased II occurred to me that kava-
naghs hint referred to some personal at.
tack which he had reason to believe would
be made upon Taras in the house that
night, an attack which Mere Lucas was to
facilitate by admitting her accomplices
when he slept 1t might have been agreed
that in the event of his going out the at
tack should be postponed in view of the
uncertainty with regard to the hour of his
return. That would account for Mere
Lucas present inactive attitude.
After waiting little while another sup
position suggested itself What il the
scene of attack had simply been shifted
by Taras going outa had heard rumors
of persons being robbed on the embank-
ment and thrown into the river. Taras had
an infatuaton for the embankment, which
might be known to his watchful enemies
They might waylay him at some point be
tween Westminster bridge and Lambeth
and silence" him in that expeditions way
AT that moment Big Ben ohimed the
three quarters past 10. | strained my ears
to catch some other sound, but none break
ing the intense silence l resolved to end my
intolerable suspense by going out to find
Taras,
slipped off my shoes and ran silently
I'm ctr ErODn r,u I
hat and a dark blue ulster, shut the door,
and having assured myself by the sound
of Mere Lucas peaceful breathing that
there was certainly no danger in leaving
her l descended to the living room and in
couple of minutes completed my prepara
| ton
Not a soul was in sight when looked
out. With the key had taken from the
kitchen ! closed tho door carefully and
then sped off on my strange mission. The
Albert embankmeut was deserted but for
poor wretch asleep under the wall of the
hospital. 1t struck IL as | crossed West
minister bridge. Keeping the north side
FASTENED along the Victoria embnnkment
eagerly scanning every figure that came
within my range Of vision turned up VII
liers street and thence oil to the Adelphi
terrace. A broughnm stood before an open
door. The driver was doing something to
the horses bit. No one else was to be seen
on the terrace. saw him stop to look at me-
but as drew nearer he turned his face and
busted himself again with the harness. On
the fanlight of the door was written,
"Grandison Chambers" 1t was there that
Gordon had his rooms. | stopped asking
myself what should do now.
The brisk walk had dissipated that part
of my anxiety which was due to morbid
Imagination. 1t was on my mind to ask
the driver of the brougham if he had seen
any one leave the house when he cast his eyes
around and gave me another furtve look.
He was a peculiar looking man, gaunt
and unganly, with deep sunk eyes and hol.
low cheeks, and tho sidelong glance under
his beetling brows was so suspicious and
uncanny that in my nervous, hesitaLing
mood could not summon resolution to
question him. walked toward the end Of
the terrace to settle what course should
take, but before had gone n dozen yards
from the door turned round, impatient Of
my indecision, with the resolve to speak to
the man. Some one had Just come from
the open door and stood now looking down
the terrace in the opposite direction. lie
turned his head sharply and looked to
ward me.
1t was not Taras. | saw that at the first
glance, but the next instant | perceived
that it was Kayanagll. | knew him by his
slight, erect, military looking figure, his
close fitting coat and the correct hat drawn
low over his brows. lie must have seen
me and might have recognized me, for
stood under the light of lamp, but as If
from indifference or polite discretion he
took no further notice of me, but sauntered
to the driver of the brougham spoke few
words to him, inaudible to mo at that dis
tance, and then sauntered back into the
house.
His presence reassured me, and | was
glad that had neither gone up to Gordon's
rooms nor spoken to the driver Obvious
ly he had dropped in and prolonged the Wis.
1t of Taras. Nevertheless could not make
up my mind to 60 back to Lambeth yet. i
turned again and walked OH to the end Of
the terrace, where the ratings at the cor
ner of Adam street screened me, and there
waited.
Very soon afterward Taras came out with
Gordon and Kavanagh. They stood chat
ting for d few minutes; then they shook
hands, Kavanagh stepped into the brough-
am, and Gordon strolled off with Taras in
the direction of yilliers street.
The brougham passed me at the corner
of Adam street, and the driver cast another
furtiye glance at me, but kavanagh was
occupied in lighting n cigarette.