Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05

small town in New Jersey and entered the
first house on which l saw the sign OF
Room to Let The result was the most
fortunate. No sooner had l crossed the
threshold Of the neat and homely apart
ment thrown open to my use than it re-
called room in which / had slept two
years before and in which / had read q
little book l was only too glad 10 remem-
Der at this instant. Indeed. it seemed like
an inspiration to do so. for. though it was
simple childs story written for moral
purposes. 1t contained an idea which prom
ised to be invaluable to me at this junctur..
Indeed. l believed myself in this one mo-
ment CT memory to have solved the prob
lem that was puzzling me. and. relieved
beyond expression, 1 paid for the nights
lodging l had now determined to forego,
and returned Immediately to New York,
having spent just fifteen minutes in the
town where l had received this happy in
spiration.
My first step on entering the city was
to order a dozen steel coils made similar
to the one which 1 still believed answera-
BILE for James Holmes death. My next
to learn as far as possible all of John era
hams haunts and habits. AT weeks
end l had the springs and knew almost
as we'll as he did himself where he vas
likely to be found at all times of the day
and night. 1 Immediately acted upon this
knowledge. Assuming slight disguise 1
repeated my former stroll through Printing
Hots Sc Square, looking into each doorway
as passed. John Graham was in one of
them. staring in his old way at the passing
crowd, but evidently seeing nothing but
the images formed by his own disorderei
brain. A manuscript roll stuck out of
his breast pocket. and, from the way his
erVous fingers fumbled It, l began TO I'M
derstand the restless glitter of his eyes,
which were as full of w-etchedness as any
eyes / have ever seen.
Entering the doorway where he stood /
dropped at his feet one of the small steel
coils with which 1 was provided. He did
not see it, but, pausing a step or two away,
I ttenf
Pardon me- but did l not see something
drop out of your hand?'
He started. glanced at the seeming in
offensive toy at which pointed and altered
suddenly and wildly that it became in
stantly apparent that the surprise l had
planned for him was fully as keen and
searching a one as l had anticipated Re
CoilinS sharply. he gave me quick look,
then glanced down at his feet If Ealf eX-
pecting to find the object vanish I'd which
had startled him. But, perceiving it still
lying there, he crushed it viciously with his
heel, and uttering some lncoherent words,
dashed impetuously from the building.
Confident that he would regret this hasty
impulse and return, l withdrew few steps
and waited. And, sure enough, in less than
five minutes he came sinking back. Pick
ing up the coil with more than one sly
look he examined it closely. Suddenly he
gave sharp cry and went staggering out.
Had he discovered that the seeming puzzle
possessed the same invisible spring which
had made the one handled by john Holmes
SO dangerous?
Certain to the place he would be found
in next, l made short cut to an obscure
little saloon in Nassau street, where took
up my stand in spot convenient for seeing
without being seen. In ten minutes he was
standing at the bar asking for a drink.
"WhiSky!' he CRIED Straight
1t was given him, but as he set the
empty glass down on the counter he saw ly-
ing before him another of the steel springs,
and was SO COMPOUNDED by the sight that
fhn tafo -ho bod
my instigation. thrust out his hand toward
him if half afraid he would fall
Where DID that-that thing come from?"
stammered John Graham, ignoring the 9TH
ers gesture, and pointing with a trembling
hand at the seemingly Insignificant bit of
wire between them.
Didn't it drop from your coat pocket?'
incurred the proprietor. 1T wasn't lying
there before you came in.
With horrible oath the unhappy man
turned and fed from the place. lost sight
of him after that for three hours, then /
suddenly came upon him. He was walking
up and down with a set purpose in his face
that made him look more dangerous than
ever.
OF course I followed him, expecting him to
turn toward 18th street. but at the corner
OF Madison avenue and 47th street he
changed his mind and dashed toward Sd
avenue. At Park avenue he faltered and
again turned north, walking for several
blocks as if the fiendS were behind him
began to think that he was but attempting
to walk off his excitement, when at a sud-
den rushing sound in the cut beside Us he
stopped and trembied An express train
was shooting by. AS 1t disappeared in the
tunnel beyond he looked about him with a
blanched face and wandering eye; but his
glance did not fall my way, or, IL it did, he
failed to attach any meaning to my near
presence.
He began to move on again, and this
time toward the bridge spanning the cut.
l followed him very closely. In the center
of it he paused and looked down at the
track beneath him. Another train was an
preaching. AS it came near he trembIed
feeNNs