Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-05-31


filed with water, preparatory 70 shaw
ing. Don't fear to burn the wood
Wood is not expensive in the country.
1t only costs the trouble Of gathering it.
Then he opened a cabinet and took out
pair Of razors, which he began TO strop
conscientiously.
Famous razors these. monsieur. This
one especially is an English razor, which,
If properly ground. could cut your neck
through without splitting a drop of
bloodl'
This pleasantly l had often heard be-
fore. but from the lips of this strange
individual it took ON peculiar charac-
ter. There was sound in his voice that
made me shudder.
As / sat there poking up the smol-
dering embers Of the fire the converse
ton of the peasants in the little inn
came forcibly back TO me. And the more
] thought Of II the less felt treasured
This fellow Bridevent did not belong
to this part Of the country. No one
seemed TO know where he came from
Beside his ostensible avocation of bar
Der, which surely did not bring in
enough 60 pay for the wood that. burned
in the great stove, no one knew OF any
other means of livelihood that he pos
eessed.
And his manner. Itoo. had reused my
suspicious. Why hstd he gone into the
other room and closed the door so can
tiously behind him? And those steps
had heard, what were they?
Some one had doubtless been In that
room whom he had thought 1t well to
get out of the way. All manner of old
tales of persons who had disappeared
and left no trace behind. of mysterious
assassinations ut night in lonely houses,
awoke TO life in my mind. until began
to feel that at any rate it was not pra-
dent to help the murderer to his task by
Offering my throat unprotected to his
razorsL
From this moment carefully watch
ed every movement of my man. He
walked mp and down the room, ever
stropping his famous razors and every
few minutes stopping to listen.
Every time he passed the half open
door saw him look nervously out over
the fields to tho right and left.
Presently his step became more hur-
ried and feverish, and-his face betrayed
marked impatience He appeared I'M
easy, undecided Was he hesitating?
II began to feel very uncomfortable
indeed and cast frequent Chances at the
door.
The darkness was coming ON rapidly.
The room was only lit up by the flicker
ing light of the burning wood Long
ago the water in the stone Jar had be-
gun to boil 1t had half boiled away and
was nearly empty.
Evidently the man was trying to gain
time Perhaps waiting till the shadows
Of fast approaching night would aid him
In his CHASTITY scheme
Suddenly he placed the razors upon
the edge Of the table, looked into the
steaming little stone jar. and WITHOUT a
word passed hurriedly into the next
room. When he returned, a moment
later, he found me standing up ready to
bring the adventure to the point.
"All things considered" / began.
looking him straight in the face, II do
not care to get shaved tonight. 1t is get
ting late, and / am expected TO dinner.
Will 1OOk III tOlihOkIOW AAs5A y
are 90 centimes for the operation. / pay
| in advanced"
But, without appearing TO hear me-
] think he was q little deaf-he ran to
the door again, end putting his head out
| listened intently for several seconds.
In tho distance could hear the bark
ing Of dog that was coming nearer and
nearer. Suddenly big dog sprang past
his legs.
"Down, Ronfiot. down." he cried an
grily.
Then child came in out.of breath,
with her hair flying like leaves before a
storm. She held something in her hand
wrapped in paper
"Give 1t here, quicki'' cried Bride
vent Monsieur has been waiting ever
so long. Here, give it to MEL
1t was a piece of soapi
sat down again. All was in readi-
ness Bridevent shaved me, and / must
honestly say that even if l was good
deal frightened have never been better
shaved in my life. From the French.