The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-24

BTOptu uDouJ unIll my mana tOucncd
the knob of the inner door. This, also,
yielded to my touch. pushed il wide
open with my stick and il swung back
without obstruction until it struck the
wall. For a moment, before the inky
blackness of the void which now con
fronted me. / hesitated. Then, fixing
my hat firmly upon my head and get
ting good grip, with both hands held
ont in front of me, upon my stick, be-
gau to move cautiously forward.
PART II.
There was not glimmer Of light in
front of me, but, as | advanced into the
passageway, was distinctly conscious
that was not alone there. Weakened
as l was by my illness, and at the dis
advantage under which man must al
ways be In place which is both strange
and dark, / found myself for the mo-
ment quite ready to turn tail and make
good IA retreat. / knew well, however,
that as great danger (werc danger
near) would attach itself to such a
course as TO going forward; so i cursed
myself inaudibly for n coward, and,
dashing aside the drops of perspiration
which had gathered on my face.
reached out boldly and gave resound-
ing rap with my stick upon the nearest
wall. At the same moment i detected
a soft movement near me. like the switch
of a woman's gown. Something gently
touched me and j wheeled rapidly
about. My left hand instinctively
sought my trousers pocket. Ii was
empty. i tried the other. That, too!
Both my pistols were gone. For the
space of three or four minutes, as it
seemed Ia me, | stood still and breath
less, not knowing what next might
come. And then, suddenly, burst of
strong light struck me full in the face.
a door, against which / should have
been brought to IA standstill in mo-
ment more, opened, and upon the
threshold stood the same figure which
! had already seen upon two occasions.
Blinded for an instant by the sudden
illumination, my hand went quickly 10
protect my eyes. The man who con-
fronted me went through the same per-
iOi t1t 'b'n ptRull W
away from me into the room beyond,
motioning me TO follow. Once inside,
with the door closed behind us, he toon
in either hand a lamp from one of the
tables in the room and guided me up
fight of steep stairs which led from it
10 the room above. As upon the former
occasions when had seen him, he was
Nxsif nt of md OF
wore the cotton nightcap tied closely
under his chin. A pair of baggy
trousers. worn and shiny. completed
his attire. ] noted that his hands were
discolored with stains of brown aud
yellow, such as are left by contact with
chemicals of certain descriptions.
There was slight. scarcely perceptible
limp in his walk, vrH~yhen he turned
toward me | saw that he had recently
lost the brow and lashes which proper
~ belonged te his left eye.
No word passed between us. but
now, as we reached the top of the stairs,
my guide wheeled suddenly about,
and. flashing the light full in my face,
stood gazing steadily into IL. Then
he turned and went on again, mutter-
ing audibly to himself:
Three times he hes given the sig
nal" / heard him say. Yet he should
not be trusted. They are growing care
less or desperate. They have" I
could not catch the rest of il. a sub
dued muymur of other voices reached
me from room beyond. My guide
deposited his lamps upon table near
at hand, and, pushing open the door
OF this room, again motsoned me 10
enter. Once more the extreme bril-
liancy of the light which flooded 1t
struck my eyes painfully. and again,
10 shield them, my hand went quickly
up. The three people who were i'm the
room languidly mimicked me, and be-
gan 10 perceive another light. Three
times he has given the signal" my late
guide had said. Apparently had now
raised the count To four. IL was
handy thing To know, but this knowl-
edge also informed me that, through
some misrepresentation, | was looked
upon by my new acquaintanccs as
confederate. Should | be unable to
keep mp the dclusion. IL occurred 10
me that my situation might not be nm
Cnviable one, and | began TO have an
uncomfortable longing for my re-
Nolvers. The room into which had
entered was, apparently. the large
drawing-room of the house. Rich and
heavy draperies- hung at all the win
dows. so arranged a. 10 carefully pre-
vent any ray OF light from within be-
ing visible from the street. and MAX
ing the air hot and sitting. This was
further intensified by the all-pervnding
odor Of Turkish cigarettes. OF the
three occupants, two were men in the
full rcg1lia Of evening dress. the third
MAa n Mnnnn N-hn-n .nncrh a. Nhitc