The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-09

smile an approval tempered with irony,
and that one other might be added to
the sum of enjoyable hours. But even
while he hesitated, toying with tempta-
tion. he shrugged his shoulders at his
vacillation and decided to face the
night. The dinner had been very pleas
ant; that was so much to the good.
Lanceiot was a king of hosts; the com
pany had been quite to his taste; the
memory of some green curacao still
fingered, dreamiest of drowsy sirups,
on his plate and in his mind. All had
been well: 1t might not have proved
better If he had loitered longer with the
Lancelot fellowship. And, besides-be-
sides, there was always that bit of pa
per, which might, after all, mean some-
thing.
AIle read 1t over again, in memory, as
Re stood there, with his back to the
brightness of the club hall, with his
face to the darkness and the discomfort
of the embankment. 1t was small
piece of paper, obviously the half of
sheet that had been torn carelessly off.
and it came clumsily folded UP in an
envelope of q size and shape destined
for q quite different kind of paper But
the note inside was written on letter
paper of an attractive simplicity, and
the writing was in woman's hand
that had distinction, that carried
boldness of script almost to exaggera-
tion. All 1t said was: "Can you be
seen on the embankment at midnight
on Christmas eve, near Cleopatras
Needle?" That was all. but the few
words with their large black strokes
and bold curves filled the page from
corner to corner. Philo Ames had
smiled as he read 1t.
He had received some curious letters
in his time, but none, as 1t seemed to
him, quite SO curious as this in the cool
simplicity Of its peremptoriness. At
first, after smiling at it, he was for tear
ing 1t In two and forgetting all about It.
But somethingfascinating in the hand
writing restrained his fingers. The let
ter could not be answered. so he might
leave for later decision the temptation,
which seemed suddenly almost de-
sire, to obey his unknown correspond
ent. He was dining with Lord Lancelot
at the st. Stephens club on that day.
Did the writer know that, Philo Won
dered, In naming the ,embankment for
the mysterious tryst? This possibility
added to the interest. The thing might
be Joke, might be a plot, might be ear
nest and urgent. Philo Ames had put
the letter in his pocket, telling himself
that he would think about It,
He crossed the road, and, pausing
for a moment. looked up at the moon
face Of the clock tower. 1t wanted
three minutes to ~. He turned away,
and, leaning over the parapet, looked
Into the blackness of the river below
him. It's aspect chilled MN, 1t seemed
20 still and cold and desolate; .nueed.
. spirit of desolation seemed to be over
the whole place.
His way was uneventful for the first
few hundred yards. The highway
seemed absolutely deserted, and the
footpath. as far as he could see ahead
OF him, was as idle as a desert. No
loafers seemed to be lounging on the /
benches; the night was too raw and cold
even for wretchedness to seek repose
In so unkind place. No policeman
seemed to own that weary way for his
beat. and Philo, as he noted tnis. !
thought that II mischief were indeed |
afoot, he should have to face 1t by, him |
self as best he might.
He was now within few yards of the |
great obelisk that had lasted through !
20 many gaps of time to be his goal
this night, and he could still discover