Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-03-18
THE MYSTERIOUS LODGER.

"You say he never sleeps here, Mrs
Allen?" said young Mr.. McCandless
who had lodged and boarded with tl.a
worthy woman for seven years, ant
was much esteemed by her for his
knowledge of the world.
We'll. never find the bed disturbed
although the counterpart. Is sometime!
soiled by his muddy boots In the morn
Ing" replied the landlady, smoothing
the wrinkles out of her apron with hel
pudgy hand.
''Ahem. that is curious" unused Nc
Candless. removing his glasses ant
wiping them with his handkerchief.
And he never spends the whole
night here" pursued she.
You don't mean to say he leave:
before daylight"
That's just what do mean to say
and can't make up my mind that he.
a respectable rsln," said the landlad,
severely.
Just tell me when he comes and
when he goes. and all you know about
MIN, MrS. Alien.
well, let me see About month
ago-shall l describe him?"
Eyes, yes, go on; omit nothing"
Hes a slim young man with a very
thin face-a Ratchet face, l should cal
it very small, piercing, black eyes
and just bit of dark mustache."
Then he is rather a mysteriou:
. looking MANI" put in McCandless
comprising his lips.
"FIe is. indeed" returned the land
lady. but not half as mysterious a.
his doings."
And how was he dressed?"
McCandless had taken out an en-
velope and was busily making notes or
the back Of it.
His clothes were shabby" said the
1andlady. land he always carried 6
rough oak stick. Wel., as l was say
ing, about a month ago he rang the
door bell one afternoon, and l went tC
the door. He was pale and worried
and"
"Sort of a hunted look?" queriet
McCandless.
"That is just what thought" cried
Mrs. Allen.
There may be something in this,
said her ledger darkly; but go on
Mrs. Allen"
Where was L? Oh, yes, he asked
in low, broken voice if / had room
to let. The side room on the top floor
was the only one vacant, and told him
so with misgivings. for l didn't think
he was good pay. He asked me the
rent, and l said 81 week. Looking
up and down the street In queer way
he said he'd take it.
did he appear to think he might be
followed?" asked McCandless, wipine
the perspiration from his brow, for he
had been trying to take down Mrs
Aliens statement in long-hand.
II don't know what he thought, but
he seemed to be nervous and uneasy
Well, l took the 81, which he offered
me, and asked him when he wanted
to move in, and Where his trunk was
He stammered out that he had nc
trunk, but would it matter so long as
he paid in advance? l said l didn't
care, if he paid me regularly"
Don't you think you ought to have
asked him for references, Mrs. Allen?'
IL never expect references for hal
bed rooms, Mr.. McCandless, especially
when they're on the top floor"
McCandless coughed uncomfortably
and his landlady went on:
when l asked him how soon he was
coming, he said he would be here the
same night, upon which l gave him a
latchkey on the usual condition-pay-
ment of a quarter. Just as he was
going down the steps l inquired his
name and he turned red and mumblet
something"
by George! Mrs. Allen, it looks pc.
culiar. l have a theory. But you in.
sisted upon knowing his name, Of
course?"
"Yes, l put the question again, ant
he said might call him Peterson"
PLAINLY a nom de guerre. I NEAR
a fictitious name. When did you see
him again."
That's the surprising part of It,
said Mrs. Allen, who was now all of 9
fiuster with excitement. II didn't see
him for three days, and then he came
after dark, passing me in the hall with
out so much as How d We do?' THAI
night-it must have been in the
morning. heard a foot on the stair!
and opened my bed room door to lool
out. Who should l see but Mr.. Peter
son going down. Then / heard the
front door SIAM"
WAS he carrying anything out?'
demanded McCandless.
"Oh, you may be sure l thought o.
that. No, he had nothing in his HAND
but the oak stick which he Away!
carries"
McCandless looked disappointed ant
the landlady continued her story
HE came the next night and de
parted just as mysteriously, but thu
queer thing about 1t was that he al
ways banged the door when he wen
away"
Hem! / don't know that that wa
anything more than low cunning, Mrs
Allen. He may have wanted to giv'
some body-the police, for instance
the idea that he had right to come
and go unmolested. Now, I think tina
was a more suspicious circumstance
than II he had closed the door aftel
him noiselessly."
The landlady looked at McCandles
with admiration written on every feat
ure.