Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-03-18
THE MYSTERIOUS LODGER,

Allen?" said young Mr.. McCandless,
VINO had lodged and boarded with that
worthy woman for seven years, and
was much esteemed by her for his
knowledge of the world.
Well, never find the bed disturbed,
although the counterpart is sometimes
sofled 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 daylight"
That's just what do mean to say,
and can't make up my mind that he's
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 a month
ago-shall I describe him."
Eyes, yes, go on; omit nothing"
Hes slim young man with very
thin face-a hatchet face, l should call
it very small, piercing, black eyes,
and just bit of a dark mustache."
"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. Well, as l was say
ing, about a month ago he rang the
door bell one afternoon, and I went to
the door. He was pale and worried
and"
''Sort of hunted look?" queried
McCandless.
'"That is just what thought" cried
Mrs. Allen.
"There may be something in this,
said her lodger darkly; "but go on,
Mrs. Allen"
Where was I? Oh, yes, he asked
in a 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
Won1 Tnnkjnv
up and down the street IN queer way,
he said he'd take it."
did he appear to think he might be
fo1lowed?" asked McCandless, wiping
the perspiration from his brow, for he
had been trying to take down Mrs.
Aliens statement in long-hand.
"I 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? I said [ didn't
care, If he, paid me regularly"
Don't you think you ought to have
dShCu ulIIl lOI iClC1 CnOOo, NAA % NAAASA~
81 never expect references for hall
bed rooms, Mr.. McCandless, especially
when they're on the top floor
McCandless coughed uncomfortably
and hB landlady went on:
when I asked him how soon he was
coming, he said he would be here the
same night, upon which gave him
a0nditinn-n4V-
ment of quarter. just as he was
going down the steps / inquired his
name and he turned red and mumbled
something
"By George! Mrs. Allen, it looks Pc
culiar. ] have a theory. But you IN
sisted upon knowing his name, OF
course?'
eyes, 1 put the question again, and
he said I might call him Peterson.
"Plainly nom de g,Aerre. / 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 a
fuster with excitement. Il didn't see
him for three days, and then he came
after dark, passing NE III InS noAA " 49,
out so much as How d We do! Tnat
night-it must have been In the
morning. heard a foot ON the STAIRS
and opened my bed room door to look
out. Who should l see but Mr. Peter
son going down. Then l heard the
front door SIAM
"Was he carrying anything out =
demanded McCandless.
ooh, you may be sure thought OF
that. No, he had nothing in his hand
but the oak stick which he always
carries"
McCandless looked disappointed and
the landlady continued her story:
.He came the next night and de-
parted lust as mysteriously, but the
queer thing about it was that ne al
ways banged the door when he went
away"
.'Hem! I don't know that that was
anything more than low cunning. MIS-.
Allen. He may have wanted 70 ave
some body-the police, for instance