Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-05-10

start and then followed him, keeping
in the shadow Of the walls and moving
as noiselessly as he could. He did not
want to be accosted out-of-doors, hay-
ing an impression that he would be
better able to hold his own during the
coming interview within four walls.
There was no moon, but the sky was
clear, so that he was able without diff
Guilty to keep in sight the dark form OF
the Russian, who never looked round.
Souratkin made his way through the
struggling outskirts Of Deal into the
country beyond, and, after proceeding
some little distance along the high-road
toward Sandwich, turned abruptly
down a lane to the right. A walk OF
about a mile across the fiat, low-lyipg
region which here borders the sea,
brought him and his pursuer to a la
bOrer's cottage, which for loneliness of
situation certainly seemed to deserve
the character given Of 1t by the waiter.
Everard heard the key turned in the
lock, and directly afterward a light ap-
peared at one of the latticed windows.
Then for the first time it struck him
that the proper course for a prudent
person to pursue would be to go home
and call again in the light of day. He
was a fairly strong man, but he hardly
believed himself to be S~ouratkin's equh
in physique; and as to weapons of de-
Tense, h" han nothing with him but a
light Y g stick. Any stick, how
ever. ' We to beat a cur with, and
he felt 3d. that this fellow was a cur.
Besides, nobody likes to walk two miles
at night in pursuit of a certain object
and then turn back out Of prudential
considerations. Everard, therefore, adj
vanced and raped boldly or the door.
Almost Immediately 1t was flung open,
and Souratkin, n candle in one hand,
and a revolver in the other, stood be-
fore him.
Don't shoot me-" said Everard,
quietly; Il I'm not a burglar"
S~ouratkyn manifested no surprise.
always enchanted to see you. dear
sir, at any hour Of the day or night.
Pray, come in"
Everard did as he was requested, and
the moment after he had crossed the
threshold the door was slammed, locked
and barred behind him. He turned
round and saw that Souratkin was
standing with his back against 1t. For
an instant he experienced an unpleaS-
ant shock, as if he had walked ipto a
trap with his eyes open; and this impress
sion was evidently detected by his host,
who said. with a faint, irOnical smile:
You will pardon my precautions,
Mr.. Everard-the district is such a sol
itary enc, you see. Are you It all ucrv-
ous?"
mot in the least" said Eve:lrd, stol-
idly.
How fortunate! VIII you do me the
favor to walk into the humble sitting
room? I cannot offer you many lux
uries, but 1 have some brandy and I
believe | have two chairs. | shall feel
greatly honOred if you will occupy Ii
of them"
Count SOuratkin had used no cOnven-
tional language in calling his sitting
DON a humble one, for it had neither
carpet nor curtains, and It's furniture
consisted solely Of n bare deal table
and a couple of wooden chairs. Upon
the table were writing materials and Il
mass Of letters and papers, some half
dozen books were piled upon the NAH
telpiece, and there was absolutely moth
ing else in the room.
The count went to a cupboard in the
wall and took out a bottle and two
glasses. please be seated" he said.
DO you take water With your bran
dyY'
II won't have anything to drink,
thank you" answered Ererard.
Are you indeed so a~bstemious? I
envy you"
He more than half filed his own
glass, and tossed off the contents with
out so much as winking. This heroic
potion appeared to produce no effect
upon him, except to make his eyes
somewhat brighter. He was standing
opposite to his guest, whom he wds sur
yeying, as usual, from between half
shut eyelids. while 4 smile lowered
about his lips.
ITO Be C~ontinued.)