Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-11-12

nave done Mere Lucas great mJusuce.
You have far better knowledge OF her
character than l. Do you think her capa-
BILE Of deceit and trickery-of conspiring at
the ruin of her masterW
mo, that don't. | believe she's as good
as any one"
Ppm sincerely glad to hear you say so. It
seemed unlikely to me; that is why felt
it necessary to say nothing on the subject
to Taras"
He'd never have believed you"
THAT was another reason for saying
nothing till had absolute facts to support
my suspicion. You have not said a word
to him or her either, L hope, with respect to
my communicationw
NO not a word. But how about that
friend you spoke OFF,
"Ahl there again | believe was all at
fault. believe she is no more a conspira-
tor than poor old Mere Lucas herself. |
find she is a cook at a restaurant in Greek
street, and so Of course she is not at liberty
to come here and see Mere Lucas"
He looked terribly vexed as he admitted
this do you know a man named Mat
veefp he asked abruptly.
II think I've heard the name, but don't
know him"
Hes one Of the poor beggars who come
to sponge on Taras. 1t was he who put this
precious nonsense into my head. The fact
is, the lower class of nihilists are like set
Of starving dogs-joalous Of each other and
ready to snap at any one who seems little
better off than the rest. 1t is natural that
they should envy the old woman her com
Portable position here, but it simply proves
what treacherous, faithless lot they are
when one can circulate such ISLANDERS as
this. fear have made you very anxious.
hope you will forgive mo For the sake
of Taras whose life is so dear to us, and Of
such enormous Importance to the welfare
OF his country, one cannot afford to turn u
deaf ear to any hint at such time as this,
when real peril exists"
That's all right. feel Just like that.
Don't you mind telling me anything. I'd
rather know it than not If it makes me
ever so frightened Besides it makes you
feel so light hearted and happy to find it
isn't true that you can't be evoked by what's
past"
You cannot have better philosophy or
better feeling than that" said he, shaking
my hand kindly us he rose.
The feeling of relief, now that | had no
longer any serious reason to regard Mere
Lucas with mistrust or look for the devel.
opment of some sinister design, afforded me
such happiness that almost forgot the ex.
istence OF danger, and when Taras about a
week later told me that he should not re
turn probably till 2 or 8 o'clock from the
smoking concert to which he had been in
vited babe him good night when he went
out after dinner without any feeling Of
alarm.
That afternoon my dressmaker had sent
to say that the dress she was making for
me would be ready to try on in the even.
ing. Nothing could have happened more
opportunity, for intended to take Taras
by surprise with this beautiful velvet, and
hero was the very chance | needed of get
ting the Important work Of fitting done
without his knowing anything about it.
The moment he was gone ran to my
room, dressed, and telling Mere Lucas
where was going-for she was in the Sc
cret-l started oil for Remington road.
where my dressmaker lived
1t was betweeu 5 and o. At that time
Lambeth road is deserted. Heavy rain had
fallen in the afternoon, and such sounds as
there were seemed particularly clear. The
rattle Of train over the railway bridge, a
whistle from n tug on the river behind me
Were noticeable by their distinctness; my
own footsteps as | hurried along made
quite CHATTER on the wet pavement.
Struck by this fact, presently faucied |
could hear an echo to my football. Was IL
that or some one followingl To satisfy the
idle doubt | glanced back. Just within
sighta man was following There was moth
ing In that to call for particular attention
but when had gone another hundred wards
or so the echoing sound arrested my wan-
dering thoughts and glanced round agnin
The mans figure was there exactly at the
same distance. 1t was odd that both should
be walking in one direction at precisely
similar pace, Forthe next hundred Yards /
walked slower, but the following step came
no nearer, and when turned the mans fir
ure appeared TO be just as far of us before.
1t was unpleasant even to fancy that my
steps were logged and turned the corner
OF Lambeth road sharp with the determi.
nation TO go on at a still quicker pace now
that was out Of the mans sight, but the
whistle of a tram suggested a still better
means of avoiding annoyance, and stop
ped with the determination to ride the re-
naming distance,
Just at stepped into the car the man
came running round the corner from the
Lambeth road, and as took my seat he
sprang on to the footboarl As be passed
the door to 80 up the steps the light from
within Tell on his face. There was no mis-,
taking the yellow complexion, the sparse
b'ack beard and high cheek bones nor tine
SINK head and high shoulders
1t was Drigol