Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-29

On sunday morning came one OF the
thickest fogs of the year. M3sled by
the darkness of the midwinter morn
ing, was late for breakfast. When
got down to the dining-room found
only one person, young man of about
my own age, at the table. He had ar
rived very late the night before and
was quite unknown to me. His appear
ance and manner attracted my atten-
ton at once. He was tall, dark, good
looking, courteous. Several times dur
ing the meal, at which he only drank Q
cup Of coffee, he seemed on the point of
speaking to me about something. He
was restless and overweight. felt
strangely drawn toward him, and ex-
perienced a feeling of relief when at
last he said:
''My name is Victor Crane. The
landlord here knows me. Are you
going to church this morning? The
rest of the people have set off already"
We were alone.
"My name" said, sis Marcus Fall
had intended going to Newington,
but could no more find my way there
than through the center Of the earth to
New Zealand"
''There is" said he, "a part of Lon
don to which, if do not find my way
in a couple Of hours, shall be dead
man before night" He groaned and
dropped his head into his hands.
No one could mistake his words, tone,
manner.
Elm that case" said I, "of course the
fog will not hinder you"
mo, no." said he, raising his face
from his hands. '"The fog will not him
der me. could find my way if were
blind It is the place where the girl
am engaged to lives" He turned his
pale face to the window and stared at
it with eyes which did not see.
''She is not very i'll, hope2" said I.
mo; not i'll; and yet she may be at
the point Of death. If you have fin
ished your breakfast, and can spare q
fow minutes, will you walk outside?
This place snffocates me-"
When we reached the street the fog
was SO thick we could not see the house
opposite.
81 am in a terrible pos itionI" said
young Crane. 81 do not know a man
in London but Weldon, our landlord;
and he is too old for help. My girls
life is in danger-in danger from vio-
1ence."
"Good Heavens!' cried I. but aren't
there the police?"
"The policer' he whispered, with a
| swift glance round, and then a look of
| horror in his face. 'The mere rumor
| of the police would be fatal!-fatall
| Her life hangs on a thread" He leant
against an area-railing, and wrung his
hands.
In while he reused himself, drew
his hat low over his brows, caught my
arm, and turning toward the Strand
said:
"Mr. Fall, under ordinary circum-
stances it would be inexcusable to
trouble you, a stranger, with my at
fairs. But the circumstances are not
ordinary; they are extraordinary be-
yond belief, beyond endurance You
are young yourself. You can sympa
thize with me. If you permit me,
will tell you how I am situated"
"You may tell me with full as
surance of my sympathy and assist
ance," said.
"For twelve months" he began, 81
have been engaged to Miss FolRste
who IL now twenty years of age and al
only child. He father, a solicitor, Il
dead. Her mother was glad to take
the position Of housekeeper at Sir AR
thur Pennyfather's town house IL
Derby square. Miss Folgate lives witt
her mother, and now and then I come
up to Durham to see her. Mrs Fo1gat
Is only nineteen years older than he
daughter. She is q woman OF remark
ably youthful appearance and grea
personal attractions, romantic ant
painfully anxious to marry again.
: For some time, very stylish an
fascinating foreigner count, he say
has been leading Mrs. Folgats t
think he wants to make her his WIFI
: Sir Arthur and his family are in tn
[ | Riviera. The Derby square house ha
been used by this foreigner as a posta
address. There have been meetings G
foreigners in it-meetings Of men cor
nected with some illegal scheme. Yes
terday got this from Miss Folgate."
As he spoke he handed me q ragge
piece of paper covered with faint penc
9 lines, crossed and recrossed
"You can't make It out easily. an
there isn't time to puzzle over it. Th
substance is this: Miss Folgate has II
Il Voluntarily overheard what passed 9
one of those meetings. Tho conspir,
tors discovered her, and she is pri
oner in Derby square. If she make
any disturbance, they will kill her.
they are betrayed, they will kill h
i mother, who is no longer in the nous
To-day, between one and three o'clocl
there wall be no one in the house bl
my distracted girl am going TO Il
to snatch her from the knives of tho
murderous rufians-"
"And I will go with you-if ! may
He seized my hand and for momeI
could not speak.
IF you will help me to-day, you ms
- count on my devotion for life," he So
1T length
evil you 60 armed?"