Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-07
CHAPTER V.-tCoNrIxuEp.,

'.ident. or at the most an inheritance. NJ
nan likes to confess that another II
mmeasurably his superior in muscular
,ower. So, 1t is with feelings OF keeI
annoyance that am obliged to relate
he result of that hand-to-hand strug
gle. l was strong, and had measuert
ny strength with many, but never Will
such a man as this. The moment we
closed / felt that should be conquered
that right does not always gain the vic
tory. Grants arms were like bars OF
iron, the girth of his chest almost alb
normal; moreover he stood two inches
taller than did. Had I been told that
any man could have lifted me from my
feet carried me Though two open doors
and finally thrown me staggering. into
the center of the roadway, should have
laughed the idea to scorn. But Eustace
Grant did all this, and shut and bolted
the outer door before l could recover
myself.
Mad with the rage of defeat. I grasped
the ratings and painted for breath. /
cursed Eustace Grant. | cursed my
faithless wife. cursed myself and my
Impotence. Such was my state that,
could Thave obtained a pistol, l would
have waited on that doorstep and shot
the man who had betrayed me, as soon
as he had emerged from his place OF
safety-shot him dead without COM
junction. Nor was my mind any way
soothed by hearing the window thrown
up, and seeing my hat tossed out con-
temptuously. l was fain to stoop and
pick it up, in order to save myself from
becoming an object of curiosity to pass
ers-by.
What was to do? My mind at pres
ent could only grasp one fact-that
Grant had, by some diabolical means,
induced Viola to leave me and give her
self to him. For awhile my course
seemed limited to one issue; I must
wait here, outside his house, until at
last he came forth. Then 1 must dog
mis- footsteps until they led me to the
Taithless woman who had ruined my
life and brought me to shame.
,groaned at the thought of what little
more than twelve hours had done. This
morning l was the happiest man in
England; tonight was the most mis-
cradle!
So for hours walked up and down in
front of the house which held the trail
tor. / saw the lights extinguished.
Once OF twice l saw the blind drawn
aside, and guessed that Grant was look
ing out to see if l had left my post. No,
you traitor! you villain! am still there,
and shall be there until you come out.
Then I will dog you to the bitter end.
The hours went by, the dawn began
TO break. Still-an object of curiosity,
If not suspicion, to the policeman-I
Kept my post, and should have kept it
Tor hours longer had it not all at once
occurred to me that so long as | was
there, so long would Grant remain
where he was. | must perforce keep
watch until l could find some one to
whom the task might be deputed,
al Z o'clock l was able to gain ad
mission to an old-fashioned family and
commercial inn which stood some short
distance off. The bay window of the
coffee room commanded view of
Grants house. Here / seated myself,
and, having obtained London direc-
tory, wrote and dispatched letter to
well-known private detective, request
ing that clever, trustworthy man
might be at once sent to me. Then, from
the window of the hotel, resumed my
watch.
At 8 O'Clock the man whom I had
summoned arrived. told him what to
do. He was to wait until he saw Grant
depart. He was to follow him, and,
having ascertained his destination, was
To telegraph to me at once. Then left
the accused spot, went back to my
hotel and tried to sleep.
AS I entered the room which Viola
and had occupied, could almost per-
suade myself that I had dreamed the
events of the last twenty four hours. |
AL her personal effects were as she left |
them; her gloves, her brushes, her tot
let indispensables were all there. Even
her watch she had left behind her. She /
broke the spring at the seaside, and .
there was no time to get it repaired .
before we started for the continent; be- .
sides, had intended buying her new Y
one in Paris. To-morrow-yes to-mor-
ROW would be hursday-to-morrow we
had proposed crossing to France. Heav-
ems! what did it all mean?
Sleep with my mind in this whirl was
Later in the day, more
for something to do than in pursuance
Of any hore, went to Viola's old home,
and asked if she had been there to-day.
No, not since yesterday morning. This
the servants rather wondered at, as
Miss Rossiter was very i'll; two doctors
we're with her now.
In my present state of mind, cared
nothing for the old lady's illness; but l
knew that the motive which kept Viola
from her side when suffering must be
a strong one. Yet, little woman who
could leave her husband as she had left