Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-22
NUMBER 43.

to be in the middle Of the highway, and
il living person he must have OBJ
served me.
gazed intently and suspected / was
mistaken.
We all know that when our gaze,
wandering over tho heavens. first rests
OH the Pleiades the seven stars show
distinctly, but surveying them closely
and attempting to count them there are
but six. One modestly withdraws from
view.
II may have been somewhat the same
in this case / had no expectation OF
seeing any person when the shadowy
outlines appeared, and when / studied
the situation all became blank darkness.
IL was easy 10 solve the question. /
might make a sudden rush and DO upon
the stranger before he was aware, but
il he were an innocent person what ex-
plGnation should offer for my conduct?
Instead of that, / began stealing
slowly toward him. He could not see or
hear me until made sure whether he
was a reality or figment Of the imagina-
tiOn.
took possibly five steps in this
guarded manner, when laughed silent
ly No person was there.
Il shouldn't feel nervous, mutter.
ed, for there's nothing in this business
to compare with the risks have run
many tune y
Nevertheless / remained standing for
several minutes, peering into the gloom
and listening No suspicious sound
reached me, nor could make out the
shadowy figure that had given me such
start. Common sense told me was
mistaken, but an odd feeling whispered
that | had never more noed Of being on
my guard than at that moment
Walking softly back 10 the entrance
Of the avenue. again paused, with my
senses on the alert. Once more the faint
whistle of passing engine nearly q
mile away fell upon my car, but that
was all. From the trees surrounding the
house at the end Of the lane shone dull
light, the whole being so similar 10 that
which greeted me the night before that
i, was hard 10 believe was not stand
ing on the same ground that had then
stood on.
One Of the worst failings man Of my
profession can have is impatience. IL
has brought many well laid scheme 70
naught.
So profound was the stiffness that
heard the door Of tho house open and
close.
Now, il some one comes out with
cigar and walks up and down the porch,
the resemblance will be complete. y
had turned into the lane and began
walking toward the dwelling. Ny steps
were noiseless, the soft earth making
such precaution easy. There was nor
son seemingly for this extreme care, bus
l was unmistakably nervous.
looked behind me rs often as 10 the
front and never took \ dozen steps
without stopping TO listen. The deep
stiffness was unbroken. II any one was
shadowing me, he could Dc as noiseless
rs myself
had passed about half the distance
from the highway to the house when
received my second shock. There was
no mistake this time. \ man was in
front Of me, standing ~ niotionless as /.
The poplars ut the sides Of the avenue
threw him into such deep shadow that
could not make ont the figure until
within rod Of il. There it was IN the
middle Of the road like q statue carved
out of the night itself.
A creepy feeling came over me, andI
slid my hand to my hip. Ny weapon
was at instant command.
We must have seen each other at the
same instant, so that the halt was ST.
multaneous. he was rs suspicious as /.
But why this mutual distrust! We
were in civilized country and simply
meeting in the lane Of q country farm
house. We ought 10 pass with friend
ly greeting perhaps, but at least with
ont molesting each other.
IL will be understood that with my
attention absorbed by the sight Of the
figure before me / forgot that shadowy
form which | fancied had appeared in
the other direction.
IL was idle 10 stand thus, and took
a step forward, meaning to make bold
front Of il.
At that moment tho faintest percepti-
bic rustliug behind caused me to turn
my head AS did SO the figure Of
man leaped out of the gloom and bore
me res.s lessly to the ground. IL was
an Asiatic who had leaped upon mo
with the stealthy fury Of jungle tiger.