Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-29
CHAPTER XIX.


on to the pavement. and could only hope,
as slipped into the house and hastily
closed the door, that he had lost sight Of
me in getting down from the car
With the terrors of going home alone be-
fore me found little pleasure in trying on
my dress and discussing the matter with
my dressmaker, but fingered till she had
nothing more to say and could invent no
pretext for staying longer.
l looked around eagerly when we went to
the door. and to my great relief saw no one
who looked like Drigo. l concluded that
he had lost sight of me or gone of on
wrong scent.
ut rains little. May lend you an um-
brellai" asked the dressmaker.
mo, think will wait for q TRAM" said
|. that will take me home to my door,"
and when the car came in sight bade her
good night" and ran down to stop It. AsI
stepped in my heart quaked. for saw the
man dreaded come out from the shadow
of the wall. and before I had found seat /
heard his foot grating on the steps outside.
1t was Westminster car-not, as had
hoped, one that would take me to Lambeth.
To avoid the terrible stretch Of deserted
street went on as far as Hercules build
inga That gave me little start, for until
he saw me get out my pursuer could not
tell which turning should take. CHANGING
up, saw Drigo's hidc,us face peeriug over
the railing to discover who was alighting,
and the moment he recognized me he began
to scuttle down the steps
ran without stopping till reached the
tavern at the Lambeth road end of the
buildings. thinking In my weakness that
would seek protection II he was on my heels
rather than venture alone on that last strip
OF deserted road had made up my mind
now that the enemy Of Taras had resolved
to put me out Of theway as preliminary to
attacking him and had given the Job to
this villain. But he was still at some dis
tance-just near enough to keep me in sight,
no moro Itwould be absurd to ask for pro
lection from a man SO far of, said to my.
sell. and ashamed Of my cowarlice again
took to my heels. lie might have overtaken
me in q few minutes. and there was no one
to prevent him stranglipg me In the open
road had he chosen, but he came no nearer.
Whether ran or whether walked, when.
ever turned. he seemed to be precisely at
the same distance from me-just near
enough to keep in sight-no nearer, and %
stood painting at the door waiting for Mere
Lucas to let me in I perceived him stand
ing motionleas BY the lamppost at the cor
ner Of Lambeth palace.
Concealing my trepidation from Mere
Lucas AZ we'll az I could, hurried up to my
room and there tried to And an explanation
OF this strange pursuit. As grew calmer
and my thoughts more collected one fact
became more and more evident Drioo
would not have suffered me to escape In
this way had his designs been directed
against me- His spirit Of revenge would
not have rested content with giving me q
scare. And as he had not taken advantage
Of this opportunity to injure me 1t was
scarcely credible that he would make any
further attempt In that direction.
Probably" said. going to the window
to reassure myself, seeing that I have
come in and am not likely to 60 out again
tonight, he has gone away"
But looking out under the window blind
discovered him standing on the embank-
ment over against the bridge nearly oppo-
site the house What did that meari A
solution OF the mystery began to dawn
upon me as soon As perceived that the
man had been posted here to watch my
movements and quickly took the definite
form Of conviction. An attack was to be
made. not on ME. as had foolishly imaa-
ined In my fright, but upon Taraa. He
was to be waylaid on his return by the
gang, who had detached Drigo to prevent
me communicating any suspicion Of their
design to him. But a week before had
watched outside Grandson chambers and
followed Taras home. That fact might
very well be known to the secret enemy,
who seemed to be acquainted with every
Of Taras and clearly explained
the object in setting an outpost to watch
me. As recalled this incident the figure
Of the man who drove Kavanagh's brouRh-
am came before my mind. and I saw
again the furtive glance of suspicion with
which he regarded me. Might be not be
spy obtaining information by some covert
means from kavanaghi
Mere Lucas came to the door and bade
me good night. When she was gone, Invent
to the window and peeped again behind the
blind. Drigo had not stirred from his place
at the foot Of the bridge. His presence
served to confirm my suspicious and saw
that Taras. to be saved, must be warned Of
the danger. But how was l to reach himf
saw clearly enough that 1t would not do
TO expose myself to a personal encounter
with Drigo. That would not save TaraS
Yet how could I get to Taras without that
riski
In seeking an answer to this question It
occurred to me that workmen
had been doing something to the wall
which separated the yard from Gordon's
pottery. and recollected hearing that an
opening was to be made to facilitate the
transport OF the group to the kiln. where 1t
vas to be burned. II could get into the
pottery. might find an exit In the street
4 the back. and SO get away unseen and
nv Drigo.
Leaving the light burning in my room, I