The Dickinson press., 1896-12-19
|CbristMastidQCrisiS.|
BY JUSTIN HUNTLEY MCCARTHY.

philo Ames shivercd slightly as the
club doors swung to behind him. The
contrast between the warmth and the
brightness. the noise and laughter of
the place he had Just quilted with the
cold, the darkness and the stiffness OF
the scene he surveyed. had in it sutti-
cient elements of depression to chill
even one less lightly susceptible to ex-
ternals than Philo .Ames. He stood for
a few seconds irresolutely OH the
threshold. Should he think better OF
it. he asked himself. and return to the
mirth. the comfort and the companion
ship he had just Abandoned? His host
had approached him when he left with
the severest reproacll that Lord Lance
lot ever addressed to a guest. the re-
proach of being IL "quitter," one who
0uitted too early the society Of his fel-
lows and the triune intoxications OF
wine, tobacco and wit. He knew that
IL he chose to return his cOlnfades OF
three minutes ago would welcome him
with enthusiasm. that LancelOt would
smile an approval tempered with irony.
and that one other might be added to
the sim of enjoyable hours. But even
while he hesitated, toying with tempta-
,iOn, lie Shrugged his shoulders at his
yacillatiOn and decided to face the
night. The dinner had been very pleas
ant; that was 80 much to the good.
Lancelot was king Of hosts; the COM
many had been quite to Ills taste: the
aMem0ry of some green curacoa still I'm
geY<,d. tlreamiest of drOwsy syr,fps. Oh
his patate and in his mind. All had
been wen. It might not have proved
better If he Aa.l lOitered longer with the
Lancelot fellowship. Aud. besides be-
sides there was always that bit OF pa
Der. which might, after all, meait some
thing.
He read 1t iver again I'll memory as
he stood there. with his back to the
brightness of the club hall. with his
face to the darkness and the dfsc0n,-
fort Of the embankment. 1t was 4
small piece of paper, obviously the half
of sheet that had been torn carelessly
off, and 1t came clumsily folded up III
nm envelope of size and shape des-
tined for Il quite different kind Of pa
Der, But the note inside was written
ON letter paper Of an attractive SIM
plicity; and the writing was in
wonmn's hand that had distinction,
that carried boldness of script almost
10 exaggeratiOn. All 1t said was: Can
you he seen OH the embankment at
midnight on Christmas eve. near Cleo
patrn's NeedleY' That was all, but the
few words. with their large black
strokes and bold curves, filled the page
from corner to corner. Phil0 Al9es
had smiled as he read it.
He bud received some curious letters
in his tine. but none, as 1t seemed to
him, quite 80 curious as this in the cool
simplicity of It's peremptoriness. At
first. after smiling at it. lie was for
tearing 1t in two and forgetting all
about it. But something fascinating
In the handwriting restrained his fin-
gers. The letter could not be answered.
80 he might leave for later decision the
temptation. which seemed suddenly al
most desire. to obey his unknown
correspondent. He was dining with
Lord Lancelot at tho st. Stephens club
on that day. Did the writer know that.
philo wandered. in naming the en-
baukment for the mysterious tryst!
This possibly added to the interest.
Inc zubnS nllSnt pt Johe' HIiSHe "e -
plot, might be earnest and urgent.
Philo Ames had put the letter in his
pocket. telling himself that he would
think about 1t.
He crossed the road. and. pausfng
for moment. looked UP at the moon
face of the clock tower. 1t wanted
three minutes to II. He turned away.
and. kaning over the parapet, looked
into the hlackness Of the river below
him. Its aspect chilled him. it seemed
80 still and cold and lesolate; indeed,
n 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