The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-03

tuPtT W start.
Having put ON thicker coat and Sc
leoted "a heavy walking stick, hastened
out again into the night and turned my
steps toward Limehouse.
When reached the railway terminus,
near Fenchurch street, was told that
train would start for the docks in few
minutes, and as ! hurried up the stair
case it came slowly into the station.
A journey across the tops OF houses
and through smoke issuing from for
lst of chimneys is not, at the best OF
seasons, calculated 10 awake cheerful
thoughts To. me, glancing out OF the
window at this dismal prospect, or what
glimpses were visible in the dark night
the effect was SO depressing that
again became troubled with melancholy
forebodings, and yet as we tore along
toward the docks these forebodings de-
veloped into no distinct fear IN my
mind. They were shadowy, like the
housetops and the smoking forest OF
chimneys. They conveyed no meaning
beyond general sense OF gloom.
Limehougo was reached at last. Turn
ing down the street TO the left after leav-
ing the station, / walked quickly along
in the direction which leads through
narrow ways and over iron bridges into
the Old Ferry road. 1t was my inten-
tion, when I got there, to make In.
quiries at the police station concerning
Frank Bowser, for he had mentioned
having taken detectives into his conf
dence, and there. / thought, Ishould be
most likely To gain information about
him.
The waywa straight and sufficiently
well lighted until came 70 the Bridge
road, but here the great dock walls,
like the walls of a prison, rose up on
each side, and the lamps were dim and
far apart, and as / hurried along not u
person passed me on the way.
/ had walked some distance along
this dark roadway, sometimes gaining
a glimpse of the canal or of wharf as
i crossed the bridge, but always coming
again into the shadow Of these high
walls, when suddenly / saw, in this dim
light, a solitary figure approaching-a
fgu.e with q slouching swing about the
shoulders, which made my heart beat
quickly. Walking with hurried step,
this figure soon became more distinct,
and in another minute had recognized
the face.
But as the figure passed by could
find no voice. If sound had escaped
my lips, it must have been a cry OF hor-
ror. As had seen the face Of Scroggie
ON the preceding night, so / had seen it
now, pale and haggard, with the eyes
Of a hunted animal, dead beaten and
nearly brought to bay. But there was
something more than that There was
an indescribable expression Of some fresh
crime committed overshadowing him,
and he seemed to be cropping his way,
like man who is eager TO avert his
own destruction. So he went by, and
not word or look was exchanged be-
tween u.s. So he passed into the dark.
ness and out of sight.
Voices now reached me from the di-
rection in which Scroggie had come.
and / ran on, for fancied that / recog-
nized Frank Bowser's voice among
them.
AS came in sight of the Old Ferry
road some one stepped abruptly in my
path and turned the light of dark Ian
tern full in my face. Itwas a constable,
who eyed me with evident suspicion.
When / mentioned Bowser's name
and told him who was, the man ap-
peared satisfied, for he said, "Come this
way" and making beckoning motion
q hn
Something in his manner suggested a
dreadful thought. A question was on
my lips, but / feared to ask it and fol.
lowed him in silence.
At a corner Of the road we found an
other constable. He came forward as
we approached and turned his lantern
upon me as the other had done.
Friend of his, said my conductor,
introducing me, friend from the tenn
pie. "
Fright, I" said the other in swapping
manner.
now Observed third lantern flash
ing about down dark turning which
appeared to lead to some entrance into
the docks, for there was the shadow OF
gateway beyond.
The man i had first met again beck
oned with his bullseye and led me to-
ward this gate, while the other remained
stationed as though on the watch.
i groped along after the bullseye un-
der a high wooden fence, ON the other
side of which saw the dim outlines OF
the masts and rigging of large vessel.
AT the farther end of this fence, near
the gateway, three men were bending
down, and one of them, apparently a
surgeon, was bandaging the head of q
person who was being supported by the
others.
The constable who had conducted me
TO this spot now gave me quick look
as he threw the light from his dark lam
tern upon a deathlike face.
A cry escaped me. 1t was Frank
Bowserl
He uttered my name in a faint voice
x..k,,, I leaned nVos. him