The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-04-17
THE MYSTERIOUS LODGER.

knowledge of the world
"Well, never find the bed disturbed
although the Counterpart is sometimes
| soiled by his muddy boots in the morn
ing" replied the landlady, smoothing
the wrinkles out Of her apron with her
pudgy hand.
"Ahem, that is curious unused Nc
Candless, removing his glasses and
wiping them with his handkerchief.
And he never spends the whole
night here" pursued she.
"You don't mean to say he leaves
before daylght?'
That's just what I do mean to say,
and can't make up my mind that he's
a respectable man." said the landlady
severely.
Just tell me when he comes and
when he goes, and all you know about
him, Mrs Allen"
"Well, let me see. About month
ago-shall l describe him?"
yes, yes, go on; omit nothing
Hes a slim young man with very
thin face-a Ratchet face l should call
it very small, piercing, black eyes,
and just bit of dark mustacho.'
"Then he is rather a mysterious
looking man." put in McCandless,
COMPRISING his lips
He is, indeed returned the land
lady, but not half as mysterious as
his doings.'
"And how was he dressed?'
McCandless had taken out an en-
velope and was busily making notes on
the back of it.
His clothes were shabby" said the
landlady, "and he always carried a
rough oak stick. Wen, as l was say
ing, about a month ago he rang the
door bell one afternoon, and l went to
the door. He was pale and worried
and"
Sort of a hunted look?" queried
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 1? Oh, yes, he asked |
in low, broken voice if l had a room
to let The side room on the top floor |
was the only one vacant, and l told him .
so with misgivings, for l didn't think
he was good pay. He asked me the .
rent, and l said 50 a week. Looking
up and down the street in a queer way,
he said he'd take it."
Did he appear to think he might be
fOlloWed?" asked McCandless, wiping
the perspiration from his brow, for he
had been trying to take down Mrs
Aliens statement in long-hand.
Il don't know what he thought, but
he seemed to be nervous and uneasy
Well took the 50, which he offered
me, and asked him when he wanted
to move in, and where his trunk was.
He stammered out that he had no
trunk, but would it matter so long as
he paid in advance? | 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 hall
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
latchkey on the usual condtion-pay-
ment of a quarter. Just as he was
going down the steps I inquired his
name and he turned red and mumbled
something" "
by George! Mrs. Allen, it looks pc
culiar. l have a theory. But you in
sisted upon knowing his name, of
course?"
yes, I put the question again, and
he said I might call him Peterson"
Plainly a nom de guerre ] mean
a fictitious name. When did you see
him again?'
That's the surprising part of It."
said Mrs. Allen, who was now all of s
huster with excitement 81 didn't see
him for three days, and then Re came
after dark passing me in the hall with S
out so much as a How d We do?' That {
night-it must have been in the '
heard a foot on the stairs {
and opened my bed room door to look
out. Who should I see but Mr.. Peter
son going down. Then / heard the g
ront door slam" C
Was he carrying anything out?" !
demanded McCandless. t
"Oh, you may be sure l thought of a
hat. No, he had nothing in his hand
)ut the oak stick which he always 0
aries"
McCandless looked disappointed and v
he landlady continued her story: v
He came the next night and de-
Darted just as mysteriously, but the n
ueer thing about it was that he al d
Ways banged the door when he went D
way" r,
"Hem I don't know that that was O
nything more than low cunning. Mrs. 81
.llen. He may have wanted to give D
ONE body-the police, for instance n
he idea that he had a right TO come Ii
nd 90 unmolested Now, think that id
'as a more suspicious circumstance al
nan if he had closed the door after w
i'm noiselessly." OF
The landlady looked at McCandless W
it'll admiration written on every feat m
re- HI
Well, you have a head full of ideas, co
IT, McCandless. Nobody could fool oC
lu." TO