The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-14
A MYSTERY OF EVIL.

1t began to rain early that evening. l
remem ber not feeble drlZZle either,
but IA driving, splashing. downpour that
smote upon the flags with Kissing
sound, and Rurgled down the cutters in
turbid streams. BY rare good luck | had
got through my full round of professional
visits just In time; the first heavy drops
were dashed in my face as sprang from
my Kali car and made for the door.
Fortunately, had no very grave rases
on hand TINT day, and looked forward
with the keen anticipation gendered bv
fatigue TO the luxury Of slippers, dress
ing-gown, the latest number ot the Ian
Get, and comfortable arm chair by the
study fire. OF course there was an Off
chance of my being routed out again at
any moment, for doctor In one of these
wretohed little country towns, whose
practice dips eight or ten miles into the
surrounding country. may consider himself
lucky If, on an average he gets four un-
disturbed nights out of the seven, and
doubly LUCKY If those nights upon whicH
he Is called out do not prove the very
worst in the whole week.
Somehow, when had settled down to
my paper / found it impossible to give
myself up TO thorough appreciation II
It's contents. From the very first ! had
y sort of intutive feeling that an urgent
case would crop up. perhaps far out in
the country. Once or twice | Got uT,
walked TO the window, and drew aslGe
the blind What a nj ight = Black, WEI,
the wind bowling, and great sheets oil
water collecting in the deserted street
With cold sihver. which Involuntary
seized upon me, l went back 10 my arm.
chair by the fire.
think it was getting we'll on for mid
night, when, in one of the fltful lulls of
the storm, sound reached my ears which
caused mo TO lay aside my paper and sit
up in expectation. 1t was the STEADY,
numbering trot Of n farm horse; long ox-
perience enabled me TO recognize Ii at
once. A few yards from INV doJr the trot
changed into slow, heavy Walk then
there was an impatient Whoa" IA clat.
ter Of hobnailed boots on the flags, a jerk
OF the bell handle, and zeal loud
enough to have wakencd me II had been
fast asleep in the most distant iart Of the
house.
1 went to the door myself. for tae house
was locked up and the servants had Como
TO bed al Lour ago. The instant |
opened II. in came the wind and rain
with "a rush and n roar, as IL bent upon
giving mo n sample Of what l might ex.
poct should dare to venture out on such
night 80 fierce was the gust, 10 made
me gasp for breath as it swept In along
the hall, rafting the pictures on the walls
and addyiDg round tae lamp until ex-
pected every moment To finu myself in
total darkness l peered out into the wet,
and dscerned n slCuohing figure, with
rack wrapped around the shoulders as n
protection from the storm. n miller's
hat jammed upon the head and tied down
over the ears with piece Of string.
"Rovdon " Mile, " came voice from be-
meath the hat: you're wanted Z"
With that, tho hobnails clinked uron
the flngs again. and the messenger
stral ghtway rctreatcd toward the spot
whore tho horse stood, steaming md
blowing. with his head between his tore
legs.
i called out after him What's wrong
at ths Mills ehY'
The fellow already had one foot In the
stirrup and barely c1ndesoended To
turn his head n he flung back over bis
shoulder the two words, Child sick J"